1996 FORD AEROSTAR Complaints

WHEEL RIMS FAILED. AFTER FEELING SEVERE WOBBLE AT SPEED, DRIVER PULLED OVER AND FOUND THE ALUMINUM WHEEL RIM ON FR WHEEL WAS FAILING. 3 OF 4 WHEELS SHOWED SEVERE FRACTURES IN SPOKES. WHEELS ARE ALUMINUM WITH 7 SPOKES. WHEEL TYPE 49 FOR 1996 AREOSTARS. RF HAD 4 COMPLETELY FRACTURED SPOKES AND 1 PARTIAL, WHEEL WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND READY TO COME OFF IF DRIVEN FURTHER. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND COMPLETE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. RR SHOWED 1 SPOKE COMPLETELY FRACTURED AND 2 PARTIALS. LF SHOWED 1 SPOKE PARTIALLY FRACTURED. LR SHOWED NO DEFECTS. THIS VEHICLE IS A FAMILY USE, WITH SOME LIGHT TOWING AND NO ABUSE. NO WHEEL DEFECTS WERE NOTED AT PRIOR FORD DEALER SERVICE 42000 MILES OR BY OWNER AT 48500 MILES. WHEEL FAILURES SEEM TO BE SUDDEN. NO ROAD HAZZARDS WHERE INVOLVED. FORD DEALER IS HOLDING FAILED RIMS.

WHILE DRVING VAN AT ANY SPEED A GRINDING NOISE COMES FROM THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. WHEN THE VAN WAS CHECKED BY A MECHANIC THE BEARING WAS GONE FROM THE SPINDLE. PLEASE LIST VIN, MILEAGE AND DATES FOR OTHER VANS. *AK

AFTER PARKING VEHICLE AND APPYLING THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE, A PIN WITHIN THE HANDLE ASSEMBLY BROKE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL FORWARD. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA RECALL 99V029000 AND MFR RECALL 99S02, IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. DEALER STATED PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETIALS. RECALL HAS YET TO BE CORRECTED. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE/MOTOR CAUSING AIR BYPASS TO STICK. MJS

ON APRIL 19, 1999, QUALITY OF NAPA LOCATED AT 1823 SOSCOL AVE, NAPA, 94559, PERFORMED OUR 30,000 MILE SERVICE WHICH IN OUR FORD MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE BOOK INCLUDES INSPECTION OF DISC BRAKE SYSTEM AND DRUM BRAKE SYSTEM. ON APRIL 19TH, OUR MILEAGE WAS 34,712.5 AND QUALITY SIGNED OFF ON THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE FOR BOTH THE 30,000 & 35,000 MILE SERVICE. ON OR ABOUT MAY 17TH, 1999 OUR BRAKES FAILED AT 35,597 MILES, AND CAUSED US TO TAKE OUR VAN TO FORD FOR TROUBLESHOOTING. FORD CHARGED US OVER $500 TO REPLACE THE BRAKES. OUR COMPLAINT IS WITH QUALITY, THEY SIGNED OUR BOOK RECOGNIZING PART OF SERVICING ON 4/19 WAS BRAKE INSPECTION AND DIDN'T INFORM US OF OUR BRAKES BEING IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT AT THAT TIME. THUS RESULTING IN BRAKE FAILURE AND FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM CAUSING US TO PAY IN EXCESS OF $500 IN REPAIRS. PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH REGARD TO THIS COMPLAINT. I WISH TO FURTHER PURSUE THIS COMPLAINT AS WELL. THANK-YOU, KATHLEEN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY MPH WHEN CONSUMER TURNS ON SIGNAL SWITCH UPON MAKING A TURN OR JUST CHANGING LINES, SIGNAL SWITCH WON'T HOLD, AND CONSUMER HAS TO HOLD IT MANUALLY. *AK

AS THE SLIDING DOOR WAS BEING OPENED THE BOTTOM TRACKS HAD SEPARATED FORM THE DOOR. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING TRANSFER CASE BROKE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP MOVING WHILE ENGINE REMAINED ON. OWNER COULD NOT SWITCH GEARS. DEALER SAID VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSFER CASE. *AK

VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED WHEN BROUGHT IN FOR RECALL REPAIR, DEALERSHIP TOLD CONSUMER WORK WAS COMPLETED. (IGNITION SWITCH)- (99V-029) MJS.