This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The consumer received a recall letter concerning ignition switch failure on 03/99. On 10/21/03 consumer stopped, parked vehicle, took key out of the ignition, and ignition cylinder came out.
3 months ago, I brought our van to the local dealer because the check engine light was on. They said the problem was a faulty spark-plug wire, which they replaced and reset the computer, for $130. A month later, the van started having engine problems, so I had another garage diagnose the problem, and they said there was a head gasket problem, and possibly a cracked head. I took the van to a top mechanic, who removed the heads and had them inspected. Results were that they were both cracked. We never ran the van hot, and kept the van in good running service. We rarely went out of town, so the van was used about 20-25 miles a day. My mechanic says the engine was run hot, and he feels all Ford Aerostars have an inherent problem of running too hot, over time, due to the air/fuel mix during combustion. Our van is the 5th Aerostar they've replaced heads on in the past 2 months. We're out $1400 for this repair.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Chicago, IL, USA