Audited US model-year file

1986 FORD Aerostar

Exact make, model and year evidence from official US sources. Recall campaigns, ODI investigations, complaint allegations and EPA estimates remain separate.

Model-year evidence is not a VIN check.

A campaign may cover only certain production dates, plants or equipment. A zero result here is not safety clearance. Use NHTSA’s official VIN tool for the individual vehicle.

Official VIN lookup ↗

01 · Safety actions first

9 NHTSA recall campaigns

Exact model-level NHTSA results for 1986 FORD Aerostar. Campaign records are official safety actions; applicability to a particular car still requires its VIN.

01
NHTSA Recalls · US · received 2007-08-27

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Campaign 07E064000
Summary

CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM IN CERTAIN PRODUCTION RUNS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR INADEQUATELY TESTED WHICH MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO LEAK.

Consequence

A LEAKING FUEL PUMP COULD CREATE A VEHICLE FIRE HAZARD.

Remedy

FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 248-354-7700.

02
NHTSA Recalls · US · received 1998-04-08

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR

Campaign 98E010000
Summary

EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: AFTERMARKET BRAKE ROTORS FOR USE ON CERTAIN FORD AND MAZDA TRUCKS. CRACKED CASTINGS CAUSED CRACKS TO APPEAR ON THE OUTER DIAMETER OF THE ROTOR HAT OR AROUND THE STUD HOLE.

Consequence

LOSS OF BRAKING CAN RESULT.

Remedy

AIMCO WILL REIMBURSE CONSUMERS/INSTALLERS FOR THE COST OF REPLACEMENT ROTORS AND INSTALLATION. CONSUMERS ARE REQUESTED TO RETURN TO THE LOCATION WHERE THE ROTORS WERE ORIGINALLY PURCHASED/INSTALLED FOR REPLACEMENT.

03
NHTSA Recalls · US · received 1989-12-18

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

Campaign 89V226000
Summary

VANS WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT PLASTIC COVER DESIGNED TO COVER OUTBOARD SEAT BACK PIVOT HINGE ALLOWING WEBBING OF FRONT PASSENGER-SIDE SAFETY BELTS TO BECOME ABRADED OR CUT DUE TO CONTACT WITH EXPOSED HINGE.

Consequence

DAMAGE TO BELT WEBBING COULD WEAKEN BELTS TO POINT OFFAILURE INCREASING RISK OF INJURY IN AN ACCIDENT OR A SUDDEN STOP.

Remedy

INSTALL PLASTIC PIVOT COVER; REPLACE BELTS AS NECESSARY.

04
NHTSA Recalls · US · received 1990-02-08

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

Campaign 90V021000
Summary

INSUFFICIENT INTERFERENCE FIT BETWEEN FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE AND GROMMET COULD RESULT IN AN INADEQUATE SEAL WHICH COULD ALLOW FUEL TO SEEP FROM THE JOINT.

Consequence

IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, FUEL LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy

INSTALL A REVISED DESIGN GROMMET.

05
NHTSA Recalls · US · received 1988-09-02

SEATS

Campaign 88V145000
Summary

WIRING FOR THE POWER LUMBAR SEAT SYSTEM WAS ROUTED DIRECTLY BENEATH THE SEAT CUSHION SPRINGS AND MAY BE ABRADED BY THE SPRINGS.

Consequence

THIS COULD RESULT IN A SHORT CIRCUIT WHICH MAY CREATESUFFICIENT HEAT TO START A FIRE IN THE SEAT CUSHION PAD AND/OR TRIM COVER.

Remedy

INSTALL A FUSE WITHIN THE POWER LUMBAR ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT.

06
NHTSA Recalls · US · received 1987-09-04

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Campaign 87V139000
Summary

SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.

Consequence

COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.

Remedy

INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.

07
NHTSA Recalls · US · received 1986-09-02

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Campaign 86V123000
Summary

FUEL TANKS MAY HAVE BEEN SCORED OR PENETRATED WHEN FLOOR PAN MOUNTING HOLES FOR THE PARTITIONS WERE DRILLED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: FUEL LEAKAGE MAY OCCUR AND IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE WOULD EXIST.

Consequence

Remedy

REPLACE FUEL TANKS AS NECESSARY.

08
NHTSA Recalls · US · received 1988-06-06

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Campaign 88V091000
Summary

VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TRAILER TOW PACKAGE HAVE A TRAILER TAILLIGHT RELAY ASSEMBLY THAT CONTAINS WIRES OF SMALLER GAUGE THAN THE FUSE LINK WHICH PROTECTS THE CIRCUIT.

Consequence

SHOULD A SHORT CIRCUIT OCCUR IN THE WIRING WITHIN THERELAY OR IF WATER INTRUSION OCCURS THE SMALLER GAUGE WIRE IN THE RELAY WILLFUNCTION AS A FUSE LINK AND OVERHEAT. THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS FOR A FIRE IF THEWIRES ARE EXPOSED TO COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS.

Remedy

INSTALLATION OF A RELAY WITH WIRES OF GAUGE ADEQUATE TO PROTECT THE CIRCUIT.

09
NHTSA Recalls · US · received 1986-01-22

SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY

Campaign 86V006000
Summary

THERE MAY BE INADEQUATE WELDING IN SOME UNDERBODY STRUCTURAL AREAS, INCLUDING THOSE AT THE REAR SUSPENSION ATTACHMENTS, WHICH MAY CAUSE IT TO SEPARATE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF REAR SUSPENSION ATTACHMENTS SHOULD SEPARATE FROM THE UNDERBODY DURING VEHICLE USE, THE AXLE COULD SHIFT DURING ACCELERATION OR BRAKING AND MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT THE STEERING CONTROL WHICH MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT.

Consequence

Remedy

REINFORCE SUSPECT WELD LOCATIONS AND MODIFY TO PREVENT WELD FAILURE.

02 · Owner allegations

72 NHTSA complaints

Counts are not adjusted for sales, vehicle age, mileage, publicity or reporting behavior. They are allegations, not defect findings or a reliability score.

Crash mentions
3
Fire mentions
26
Injuries reported
1
Most-reported component labels
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM23
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING18
POWER TRAIN7
SEAT BELTS5
FUEL SYSTEM4
GASOLINE4
Complaints across nearby Ford Aerostar model years

Totals for the same nameplate, scaled against its highest year here. They are not adjusted for how many were sold, how old they are, how far they are driven, or how much publicity a fault received — an older or better-selling year will usually carry more reports. This shows where the reporting sits, not which year is better.

  1. 721986
  2. 1141987
  3. 1771988
  4. 2601989
  5. 1951990
  6. 2231991

A dash means NHTSA holds no complaint record for that exact year, make and model. See all Aerostar years with specs and fuel economy →

03 · Agency review

17 NHTSA ODI investigations

An investigation means ODI reviewed a possible safety issue for this exact model-year identity. Opening one is not a defect finding; closing one does not by itself clear a vehicle.

PE91127
Closed 1991-11-08 · opened 1991-09-16

PARK PAWL BENDING

NHTSA source ↗

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · Associated recall campaign 91V189000.

EA91015
Closed 1991-09-20 · opened 1991-02-01

LIFTGATE FAILURE

NHTSA source ↗

STRUCTURE · Associated recall campaign 91V136000.

PE91005
Closed 1991-02-01 · opened 1990-10-18

LIFTGATE FAILURE

NHTSA source ↗

STRUCTURE · No associated recall campaign number was published in this investigation row.

EA90042
Closed 1991-12-31 · opened 1990-08-31

THROTTLE STICKING

NHTSA source ↗

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES · No associated recall campaign number was published in this investigation row.

EA89032
Closed 1990-04-05 · opened 1989-08-03

SAFETY BELT FRAYING

NHTSA source ↗

SEAT BELTS · Associated recall campaign 89V226000.

EA89021
Closed 1990-05-04 · opened 1989-03-23

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR

NHTSA source ↗

VISIBILITY · No associated recall campaign number was published in this investigation row.

PE89092
Closed 1989-07-20 · opened 1989-02-23

POWER STEERING LOCKING

NHTSA source ↗

STEERING · No associated recall campaign number was published in this investigation row.

PE89021
Closed 1989-08-03 · opened 1988-12-09

SEAT BELT CUTTING

NHTSA source ↗

SEAT BELTS · No associated recall campaign number was published in this investigation row.

PE89010
Closed 1989-03-23 · opened 1988-11-01

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR

NHTSA source ↗

VISIBILITY · No associated recall campaign number was published in this investigation row.

EA88041
Closed 1990-05-11 · opened 1988-09-15

FILLER PIPE SEAL

NHTSA source ↗

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES · Associated recall campaign 90V021000.

EA88033
Closed 1989-01-23 · opened 1988-05-11

UNDER SEAT FIRES

NHTSA source ↗

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · Associated recall campaign 88V145000.

PE88048
Closed 1988-09-15 · opened 1988-04-19

FUEL LEAKAGE

NHTSA source ↗

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES · No associated recall campaign number was published in this investigation row.

EA88028
Closed 1989-07-31 · opened 1988-03-23

DOOR FALLS OFF

NHTSA source ↗

STRUCTURE · No associated recall campaign number was published in this investigation row.

EA88027
Closed 1988-09-15 · opened 1988-03-04

REAR BRAKE LOCKUP

NHTSA source ↗

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC · No associated recall campaign number was published in this investigation row.

PE88026
Closed 1988-04-27 · opened 1988-02-09

CRNKSHFT PULLEY BOLT FAILR

NHTSA source ↗

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES · No associated recall campaign number was published in this investigation row.

PE87052
Closed 1988-03-04 · opened 1987-09-09

REAR BRAKE LOCKUP

NHTSA source ↗

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC · No associated recall campaign number was published in this investigation row.

EA87020
Closed 1987-09-24 · opened 1987-05-07

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

NHTSA source ↗

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES · Associated recall campaign 87V139000.

04 · EPA configurations

Fuel economy & specifications

FuelEconomy.gov records are summarized as ranges where this model name has multiple engines, drivetrains or trims.

EPA configurations
11
Combined economy
16–24 mpg/MPGe
City / highway
15–23 / 20–26 mpg/MPGe
Engine displacement
2.3–3 L
Cylinders
4–6
Fuel type
Regular
Drive
Rear-Wheel Drive
Vehicle class
Vans
Annual fuel-cost estimate
$2700–4050

05 · Evidence strength

Exact identity. Explicit limits.

No opaque score. Evidence strength is expressed through source availability, exact match method, jurisdiction and honest empty states.

exact match

Recall campaigns

9 exact US model-year records in this bounded view.

exact match

Complaints

72 exact US model-year allegations; narratives and VIN fragments are omitted.

exact match

ODI investigations

17 exact US model-year action numbers in the approved import snapshot.

canonical only

Model aliases

Only the exact NHTSA vPIC model name is published; unverified aliases are not merged.

not published

Manufacturer ownership

No rights-reviewed official ownership record is joined to this exact model-year.

PUBLIC EVIDENCE PASSPORT

Identity, freshness and provenance.

The canonical URL is this file’s permanent public identifier. Source IDs and timestamps show exactly what was matched and when; they do not turn the evidence into a verdict.

Permanent public ID
https://modelyearfacts.com/vehicle/1986/ford/aerostar
NHTSA make ID
460
NHTSA model ID
6857
Match key
1986 · FORD · Aerostar · US
Live evidence requested
EPA publication catalogue
Complaint matrix snapshot
Imported safety snapshot
nhtsa-investigations · exact match

NHTSA ODI investigations

Action number, component, subject and open/close dates from the approved bulk import; long summaries omitted.

Open official source ↗
US-market boundary

Only NHTSA vPIC, NHTSA ODI complaints and investigations, NHTSA recalls and FuelEconomy.gov contribute to this vehicle claim. CPSC equipment notices are searched separately and never joined to vehicle fitment. UK MOT, Canadian, New Zealand and European records are not merged into this US claim.

06 · Research paths

Diagnose first. Confirm fitment.

These are transparent searches, not diagnoses or endorsed parts. Recall remedies come before purchases; exact part fitment requires VIN, trim, powertrain, production date and OE number.

Offers status: held

Awin US and R2 affiliate inventory are not published until a US programme, merchant and exact-fitment projection are approved. No offer currently has both merchant approval and exact vehicle fitment, so commercial links never count as evidence.