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 555 — driven primarily by 4 recalls, 471 complaints, and issues with ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Q: What is the best year Aerostar to buy?

The 1997 Ford Aerostar is the best-scoring year in our analysis with a problem score of only 95, meaning 5 recalls and 64 complaints on record.

Q: Which Aerostar has the fewest problems?

The 1997, 1986, 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, injuries, and deaths. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.

Ford Aerostar Years to Avoid

#1 WORST

1993

4 recalls · 471 complaints

36 reported injuries

Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Problem score: 555

#2 WORST

1992

5 recalls · 367 complaints

61 reported injuries

4 reported deaths

Top issue: POWER TRAIN

Problem score: 524

#3 WORST

1994

5 recalls · 303 complaints

34 reported injuries

7 reported deaths

Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Problem score: 421

Best Ford Aerostar Years to Buy

#1 BEST

1997

5 recalls · 64 complaints

Main area: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Problem score: 95

#2 BEST

1986

9 recalls · 72 complaints

Main area: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Problem score: 101

#3 BEST

1996

6 recalls · 109 complaints

Main area: WHEELS

Problem score: 141

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

Ford Aerostar — Year-by-Year Problem Report

Year	Recalls	Complaints	Problem Score	Verdict
1997	5	64	95	Good
1996	6	109	141	Good
1995	7	173	232	Caution
1994	5	303	421	Avoid
1993	4	471	555	Avoid
1992	5	367	524	Avoid
1991	4	260	339	Caution
1990	7	238	301	Caution
1989	6	289	375	Avoid
1988	5	224	266	Caution
1987	5	131	154	Good
1986	9	72	101	Good

Higher scores indicate more reported safety issues across recalls, complaints, and injury data.

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. Confirm all historical recalls have been completed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What year Aerostar should I avoid?+

Avoid the 1993 Ford Aerostar if possible. It has 4 recalls, 471 owner complaints, and the most common complaint category is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. The overall problem score is 555 — the highest in our dataset.

What is the best year Aerostar to buy?+

The 1997 Ford Aerostar is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 95. It has only 5 recalls and 64 complaints on record with NHTSA.

Which Aerostar has the fewest problems?+

The 1997, 1986, 1996 model years have the fewest documented problems across recall and complaint databases. 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 →