1988 FORD AEROSTAR Complaints

WHEN I RECEIVED MY "RECALL" NOTICE, ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF CRACKS IN THE TANK, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BEV SMITH FORD. THEY INFORMED ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY FUEL TANK, AND DISMISSED MY INQUIRY. SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FILL MY TANK WITH MORE THAN $6.00 WORTH OF GAS, OR IT LEAKS. I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN BEV SMITH FORD, AND I'M MOVING TO JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT RE-INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER GAVE EVERYONE UNTIL MARCH 31, 2002 TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM ADDRESSED, HOWEVER, DUE TO THE FACT THAT BEV SMITH FORD DID A LOUSY INSPECTION, AND I HAVE BEEN LEAKING FUEL EVER SINCE, I WOULD LIKE SOME HELP RESOLVING THIS MATTER ONCE AND FOR ALL. THE VAN IS NOW LEAKING WORSE THAN IT WAS BEFORE, AND I HAVE ALREADY COMPLAINED, THEREFORE, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT RIGHTS I HAVE TO HAVE THE FUEL TANK REPLACED, AT THE MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE, SINCE MY INITIAL COMPLAINT WAS IGNORED@! THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE! BARBARA L. GOULD. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, AND HAD BEEN BACKED INTO THE GARAGE, HEADING OUT. AFTER STARTING VEHICLE, PUTTING IT INTO GEAR, AND LIGHTLY TOUCHING THE THROTTLE, THE VEHICLE'S THROTTLE WAS SUDDENLY PULLED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE SCREAMED OUT OF THE GARAGE UNCONTROLLABLY AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY.*AK

UPPER PORTION OF FUEL TANK DEVELOPED SMALL CRACKS. THERE IS RECALL 98V190000 ON VEHICLE'S MAKE/MODEL; BUT, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE 6 HOURS AFTER BEING PARKED. STATE FIRE MARSHALL DETERMINED THAT IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED FIRE. HOME AND VEHICLE WERE TOTALY LOST. 3 CHILDREN HAD TO JUMP THROUGH WINDOW TO ESCAPE THE FIRE, ONE SLICED TENDONS ON WRIST. IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL 96V071000 ON 30 SEP 1997. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY SHERRIE HANSEN, ATTORNEY.*AK

SEAT BELT CONECTOR ON DRIVERS SIDE . PUTTON RELEASE IS FROZEN . WILL NOT LOCK BELT ON .*AK

REPLACEMENT TIRES ON A 1988, FORD, ASTRO VAN. FIRESTONE, TRIUMPH RADIAL SR, P21570R14, DOT VDHYTHA035. RIGHT REAR TIRE DETACHED ALL IN ONE PIECE, ALL THE WAY AROUND, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL AND FLIP SEVERAL TIMES.*AK THE TIRE FAILURE CAUSED 1 DEATH AND 7 INJURIES. *SLC

VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING, DEALER RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE MOTOR, AFTER MOTOR WAS REPLACED, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO SAID THE REPLACEMENT MOTOR WAS NO GOOD, THEY WOULD NOT PUT A BETTER MOTOR IN AND CONSUMER WANTS REIMBURSED. *SLC

HAD THREE FAILURES OVER 6 MONTHS. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE TREAD SEPERATED FROM THE TIRE. THE TIRE REMAINED INFLATED. ALL THREE OCCURRED ON THE REAR WHEELS SO CONTROL WAS NOT AFFECTED ADVERSELY. IN LITE OF THE SIMULAR FAILURES OF OTHER FIRESTONE MODELS I BECAME CONCERNED IF THE PROBLEM MIGHT NOT BE MORE WIDE SPREAD WITHIN FIRESTONE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TRIPS SO THE TIRES WERE CHANGED AND DISGUARDED. I WAS TOLD BY A TIRE COMPETITOR THAT THAT WAS A COMMON OCCURANCE WITH THOSE TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 215R14 )

RECALL 98V190000/FUEL TANK CRACK: FUEL AND FUME LEAKAGES COMING FROM THE FILLER NECK WHEN REFUELING. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVER UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CONTACTED FORD AT 800-392-3673 INITIALLY WAS TOLD NO RECALL, QUOTED RECALL NUMBER THEN TOLD VIN NOT A GOOD NUMBER, PUT ON HOLD THEN DISCONNECTED. CALLED BACK, DIFFERENT PERSON SAID THE VIN WASN'T COMPLETE, NO RECORD OF VEHICLE IN SYSTEM. TOLD TO CALL LOCAL DEALER. CALLED AND SET APPOINTMENT FOR NEXT MONDAY. HEY. I JUST BOUGHT THIS(PRIVATE PARTY) FILLED THE TANK FIRST TIME AND IT LEAKS LIKE CRAZY. WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THESE FORD PEOPLE?? AM I GOING TO HAVE THIS SAME BULL AT THE DEALER? IS THIS A MANDATED RECALL FOR AN EXTREME SAFTY ISSUE AND IF SO WHY THE RUNAROUND???*AK