1997 Ford Aerostar Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 1997 Ford Aerostar, and owners have filed 63 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 1997 Ford Aerostar
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Cables (vehicle speed control)
Vehicle description: minivans equipped with 3.0l engines. An accelerator cable was kinked during installation, causing the core wires to eventually fray.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new accelerator cable.
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Switch (electrical system)
Vehicle description: MINI vans. These vehicles were produced with a higher than specified electrical load through the accessory power feed circuit. The potential for contact between the b2 (battery), a2 (accessory), and p1 (proof) circuits can occur, creating a short circuit, allowing current to flow through the ground wire.
Remedy: Dealers will install a jumper harness with a relay which will re-route and activate all a2 accessories through the relay.
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Transfer case (4-wheel drive) (power train)
Vehicle description: all wheel drive passenger minivans. These vehicles can develop powertrain bending resonance or transfer case output shaft bushing displacement. The powertrain bending resonance or the output shaft bushing displacement can result in structural failure of the transmission and/or transfer case. Fluid explusion,…
Remedy: Dealers will install a new transfer case rear output shaft bushing and an aluminum driveshaft will be installed.
63 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1997 Ford Aerostar have filed 63 complaints with NHTSA; 5 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. Reports cite 8 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 100,318 miles. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 15 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“I found two incomplete recalls. I called the dealer 9/28/2020 at [xxx] and spoke to [xxx]. She put the VIN in her system, saw the two recalls and said the parts would be ordered. No response. I call [”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 9, 2020 · Electrical system
“I was given this van with a handicapped lift as a present from some people at our church. Ever since i got it the engine light has been on. I've had it checked several times but no one seems to know h”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 19, 2014 · Engine
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1997 Ford Aerostar Wagon (Aerostar Wagon AWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 15–17 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 13–15 / 17–22 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Vans |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 3/4 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Automatic 5-spd |
Compare Ford Aerostar model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Aerostar model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 Ford Aerostar | 7 | 53 |
| 1987 Ford Aerostar | 4 | 114 |
| 1988 Ford Aerostar | 4 | 177 |
| 1989 Ford Aerostar | 5 | 260 |
| 1990 Ford Aerostar | 6 | 195 |
| 1991 Ford Aerostar | 3 | 223 |
| 1992 Ford Aerostar | 3 | 317 |
| 1993 Ford Aerostar | 2 | 374 |
| 1994 Ford Aerostar | 3 | 257 |
| 1995 Ford Aerostar | 5 | 157 |
| 1996 Ford Aerostar | 4 | 104 |
| 1997 Ford Aerostar | 3 | 63 |
| 1998 Ford Aerostar | 0 | 4 |
| 1999 Ford Aerostar | 0 | 7 |
| 2000 Ford Aerostar | 0 | 6 |
Checking a specific 1997 Ford Aerostar
How do I know if my 1997 Ford Aerostar has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 1997 Ford Aerostar; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 00V425000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Ford models
- F-15037,961 complaints
- Explorer34,566 complaints
- Escape27,430 complaints
- Fusion22,405 complaints
- Focus22,096 complaints
- Taurus18,159 complaints
- Windstar14,158 complaints
- Edge14,065 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.