Ford Aerostar Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy

Q: What year Aerostar should I avoid?

Based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, the 1993 Ford Aerostar has the most documented problems with a problem score of 378 — driven by 4 recalls, 320 complaints.

Q: What is the best year Aerostar to buy?

The 1986 Ford Aerostar is the best-scoring year in our analysis with a problem score of only 55, meaning 8 recalls and 31 complaints on record.

Q: Which Aerostar has the fewest problems?

The 1986, 1997, 1996 model years have the fewest reported problems in the NHTSA database. Always verify a specific vehicle's history with a VIN report before purchasing.

Every Ford Aerostar model year (1986–1997) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, deaths, and injuries. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.

Years Tracked

Total Recalls

1696

Total Complaints

132

Reported Injuries

Reported Deaths

Ford Aerostar Years to Avoid

#1 WORST

1993

4 recalls · 320 complaints

23 reported injuries

Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

Problem score: 378

#2 WORST

1992

4 recalls · 234 complaints

26 reported injuries

4 reported deaths

Top issue: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Problem score: 318

#3 WORST

1994

5 recalls · 186 complaints

19 reported injuries

8 reported deaths

Top issue: AIR BAGS

Problem score: 279

Best Ford Aerostar Years to Buy

#1 BEST

1986

8 recalls · 31 complaints

Main area: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

Problem score: 55

#2 BEST

1997

5 recalls · 51 complaints

Main area: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

Problem score: 70

#3 BEST

1996

3 recalls · 66 complaints

Main area: WHEELS

Problem score: 87

Found the right year? Verify that specific Aerostar with a free VIN report.

Ford Aerostar — Year-by-Year Problem Report

Year	Recalls	Complaints	Injuries	Deaths	Problem Score	Verdict
1997	5	51	2	—	70	Good
1996	3	66	6	—	87	Good
1995	6	106	10	—	144	Caution
1994	5	186	19	8	279	Avoid
1993	4	320	23	—	378	Avoid
1992	4	234	26	4	318	Avoid
1991	2	175	8	—	197	Caution
1990	4	153	13	—	191	Caution
1989	4	177	13	4	235	Caution
1988	4	118	8	1	151	Caution
1987	5	79	4	—	102	Good
1986	8	31	—	—	55	Good

All 12 model years shown. Deaths and injuries from NHTSA complaint filings. Higher problem scores indicate more reported safety issues.

Ford Aerostar Shopping Guide by Era

Pre-2013

Proceed with Caution

Older Aerostar models have more accumulated wear and a larger recall history. These are higher-risk purchases without documented maintenance records and a clean VIN history report.

Frequently Asked Questions

What year Aerostar should I avoid?+

Avoid the 1993 Ford Aerostar if possible. It has 4 recalls, 320 owner complaints. The overall problem score is 378 — the highest in our dataset.

What is the best year Aerostar to buy?+

The 1986 Ford Aerostar is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 55. It has only 8 recalls and 31 complaints on record with NHTSA.

Which Aerostar has the fewest problems?+

The 1986, 1997, 1996 model years have the fewest documented problems. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.

More Ford Aerostar Research

Reliability Score

Overall reliability rating and score breakdown for the Ford Aerostar.

Common Problems

Full breakdown of every reported defect for the Ford Aerostar.

Check a Specific Ford Aerostar VIN

Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.

Run a Free VIN Report →