1987 FORD AEROSTAR Complaints

WHILE DRIVING VAN CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED TO THE GROUND. DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VAN BEFORE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED. FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE WHOLE VAN WAS BURNT, NOTHING WAS LEFT BUT THE FRAMEOF THE VEHICLE AND THE TWO REAR TIRES. *AK

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK, EXITING THE HWY AND IT SEEMED AS IF THE POWERSTEERING WENT OUT OR THAT THE VEHICLE HAD STALLED, COASTED TO THE INTERSECTON IN NEUTRAL AND TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT IT SEEMED TO BE STILL RUNNING. THE ENGINE HAD SMOKE COMING FROM IT SO I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF TE ROAD WHEN I WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. I GOT OUT AND WITH IN 15 MINUTES TO 20 MINUTES THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETLY INGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE TRUCKS CAME AND PUT THE FIRE OUT BUT THERE IS NOTHING BUTTHE FRAME LEFT.

THE VAN' STARTS AND DOES NOT STALL, BUT THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ENGAGE AT ALL.

HAD SERVICE DONE ON VEHICLE & REPLACED THE OLD BATTERY. WAS DRIVING WHEN SMOKE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. PULLED OVER & PARKED. LIFTED HOOD & NOTICED FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLED & PUT FLAMES OUT. HAD INDICATED IT WAS ELECTRICAL WIRING FOR THE ALTERNATOR. THE INSURANCE INSPECTOR CHECKED VEHICLE OUT & INDICATED WIRES TO ALTERNATOR BURNED & TOTALED OUT VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS SUDDEN ACCELERATION. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED IN REVERSE. DROVE WITH OR WITHOUT CRIUSE CONTROL ON.

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 20 MPH AND 40 MPH TRANSMISSION WENT OUT TWICE, AND CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE TRANMISSION REPLACED. CURRENTLY, WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH TRANMISSION SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL,AND THE CONSUMER CAN'T MOVE VEHICLE OR START THE VEHICLE UP FOR A WHILE. ALSO, VEHICLE IS STALLING AND THE CONSUMER IS LOSING POWER. *AK

THE BRACKET AT THE END OF THE CABLE HOLDING THE SPARE TIRE IN PLACE RUSTED AWAY AND THE SPARE TIRE FELL OUT FROM UNDER THE VAN, STRIKING A CAR AND ALMOST CAUSING AMAJOR SITUATION. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO WAS SYMPATHETIC BUT REMARKED THAT THE VAN HAD WAY TOO MANY MILES TO REPORT THE SITUATION TO FORD MOTOR. THE REPAIR TO THE VAN WAS THE ENTIRE RESTRAINT ASSEMBLY WHICH COST ME ABOUT $100, THANKS.

WHENEVER FILLING UP THE FUEL TANK WOULD NOTICE FUEL LEAKING OUT OF THE GAS TANK, AND STRONG GAS FUMES. TOOK VEHICLE TO AUTOMATIVE SHOP & HAD 2 SEALS REPLACED. THE FUEL TANK WAS NOT INSPECTED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK *ML

ORIGINAL FILLER NECK GROMMET AND SEAL REPLACED AT OUR EXPENSE IN 4/89- REIMBURSED BY DEALER IN 1990. SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED 6/97, AND PARTS REPLACED AT OUR EXPENSE WITH NO REIMBURSEMENT. THIRD FAILURE OCCURRED 11/26/98-HAVE NOT YET NOTIFIED DEALER. NOTICEABLE WHEN FUEL TANK IS FILLED AT 15GALLONS OR MORE, GAS RUNS DOWN OVER BOTTOM OF TANK ONTO GROUND. SAME SITUATION AS HAPPENED IN 1989 AND 1997. FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND WE SHOULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO CONTINUALLY PAY FOR FORD'S NEGLIGENCE IN PRODUCING DEFECTIVE PARTS. ALSO REPLACED BOTH INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS.

THE CONSUMER HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH FUEL LINE. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD LEAK FUEL DRASTICALLY. THE DEFECTS DESCRIBED CORROLATE WITH RECALL NUMBER 87V139000. THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK