1990 Ford Aerostar Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1990 Ford Aerostar has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 8,881,142 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 254 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 98V190000 1998-08-11 140,000 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALABAMA, ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA (10 SOUTHERN COUNTIES OF LOS ANGELES, ORANGE, SAN BERNADINO, SAN DIEGO, RIVERSIDE, VENTURA, SANTA BARBARA, SAN LUIS OBISPO, IMPERIAL, AND KERN), FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA,…

Consequence

IF AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD RESULT.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE, THROUGH MARCH 31, 2002. THIS COVERAGE WILL ONLY BE FOR STRUCTURAL CRACKS AT THE TOP OF THE TANK AND WILL NOT INCLUDE OTHER DAMAGE CAUSED BY AN ACCIDENT OR ROAD DEBRIS.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 96V071000 1996-04-25 7,900,000 affected
Defect

THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

POWER TRAIN 91V189000 1991-11-04 792,000 affected
Defect

WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, THE PARK PAWL DOES NOT ALWAYS ABUT OR ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR.

Consequence

DRIVER MAY BELIEVE THE VEHICLE IS SAFELY ENGAGED IN PARKWHEN THE GEAR IS NOT TRULY ENGAGED. THIS CAN LEAD TO THE VEHICLE JUMPING OUT OFGEAR UNINTENTIONALLY, VEHICLE ROLLAWAY WHEN PARKED ON A SLOPED SURFACE, ANDINADVERTENT MOTION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. ALL OF THESE CONDITIONS CANRESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy

REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION WITH A NEW PARK PAWL.

SEAT BELTS 91V164000 1991-09-20 4,842 affected
Defect

SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE BAR FOR REAR SOFA FAILED TO SUSTAIN LOADS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210.

Consequence

VEHICLES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 210.

Remedy

REPLACE NONCOMPLYING SOFA BAR WITH BAR THAT MEETS REQUIREMENTS.

SEATS 90V144000 1990-08-06 14,300 affected
Defect

THE SECOND ROW RIGHT HAND SEAT ASSEMBLY HAS A TILT FORWARD FUNCTION. A LATCH RETAINS THE SEAT IN THE NORMAL RIDE POSTION, AND THIS LATCH MAY RELEASE UNDER SEVERE FRONTAL IMPACT CONDITIONS, ALLOWING THE SEAT TO PIVOT FORWARD.

Consequence

IN THE EVENT OF VEHICLE ACCIDENT, THE SEAT COULD PIVOTFORWARD, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.

Remedy

REPLACE SEAT PAWL ASSEMBLY WITH A REVISED DESIGN ASSEMBLY.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 89V223000 1989-12-11 30,000 affected
Defect

INABILITY TO MAINTAIN PRESSURE IN THE SECONDARY SYSTEM OF THE MASTER CYLINDER (CONTROLS BRAKING OF REAR WHEELS) COULD INCREASE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL AND REDUCE BRAKE PERFORMANCE AT TEMPERATURES LESS THAN 40 DEGREES.

Consequence

THIS WOULD CAUSE REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS ANDINCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE THAT COULD RESULT IN A CRASH OR COLLISION.

Remedy

INSTALL NEW DESIGN MASTER CYLINDER INCORPORATING A REDESIGNED SEAL.

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
23
19fires
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
18
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
18
5crashes4injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
14
3crashes2injuries
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
14
10crashes10injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
13
9fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
11
8fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
9
6fires
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
8
2crashes
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
8
1crashes1injuries
Total complaints254

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“1990 ford aerostar had crack in fuel tank causing consumer to replace the tank. ***no answer required*** *ts the consumer received a recall letter in dec 1998 regarding the gas tank, however at the time he was not experiencing problems with the gas tank. The consumer is now requesting…”

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY · reported 2005-10-04

“Consumer requesting information on whether or not there were any recalls for van. *mr the recalls are as followed: #96v071000, 98v190000, 91v189000, 91v164000, 90v144000, 98e010000, 98e010000 and a recall on the tire temporary spare. *sc”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2005-04-01

“Braking system -- master cylinder”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER · reported 2004-10-01

“Braking system -- master cylinder”

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER · reported 2004-10-01

“Braking system -- master cylinder”

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS · reported 2004-10-01

“Braking system -- master cylinder”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR · reported 2004-10-01

“Upon starting the vehicle, it accelerated at a high speed and crashed into a building. The driver's foot was on the brake pedal when sudden acceleration occurred. The vehicle was totaled. The insurance company indicated that the incident was inconclusive. There was a transmission recall 91v189000,…”

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL · reported 2004-05-14

“Upon starting the vehicle, it accelerated at a high speed and crashed into a building. The driver's foot was on the brake pedal when sudden acceleration occurred. The vehicle was totaled. The insurance company indicated that the incident was inconclusive. There was a transmission recall 91v189000,…”

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · reported 2004-05-14

Defect investigations

Investigation EA91015 Opened 1991-02-01 · closed 1991-09-20

LIFTGATE FAILURE

There is no summary currently available

Investigation EA96030 Opened 1996-12-20 · closed 1998-08-13

CRACKED FUEL TANKS

CRACKED FUEL TANKS ARE LEAKING FUEL

Investigation EA99002 Opened 1999-01-07 · closed 2000-11-14

TRANSFER CASES AND REAR DRIVE SHAFT

There is no summary currently available

Investigation PE91127 Opened 1991-09-16 · closed 1991-11-08

PARK PAWL BENDING

There is no summary currently available

Investigation PE91127 Opened 1991-09-16 · closed 1991-11-08

PARK PAWL BENDING

There is no summary currently available

Investigation PE96050 Opened 1996-08-06 · closed 1996-12-20

CRACKED FUEL TANKS

CRACKED FUEL TANKS ARE LEAKING FUEL

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1990 Ford Aerostar as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.