1989 Ford Aerostar Complaints

CONSUMER STATES ENGINE WAS ON AND IN THE PARK POSITION, CONSUMER PRESSED BRAKE TO PUT VEHICLE INTO REVERSE AND VEHICLE TOOK OFF IN REVERSE. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HIT TWO PARKED CARS AND WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

TODAY MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 1989 AEROSTAR AND SHE HAD THE ACCELERATOR GO DOWN UNDER HER FOOT BY IT'S SELF FOR NO PERCIEVED REASON. SO I STARTED TO LOOK ON INTERNET TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM. DEALER CLAIMS NEVER HEARD OF IT! IT SEEMS LIKE I REMEMBERED WATCHING 20/20 OR THAT CANADIAN PROGRAM AND THEY REPORTING ABOUT FORD CRUISE CONTROLS HAVING POWER ON AT ALL TIME AND THAT MOISTER PRESENT AT WIRE HARNESS PLUG THAT CONNECTS THOUGH FIRE WALL COULD CAUSE CRUISE CONTROL TO SUDDEN ACCELLERATE. *AK

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES. IT HAD BEEN RUNNING PERFECTLY WELL. I NOTICED A MINOR TRIPLE CLICK NOISE WHEN I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION BUT DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF ANYTHING OF IT. AFTER SITTING OFF FOR 30-45 MINUTES, THE VEHICLE WAS IN FLAMES HAVING STARTED FROM SOMEWHERE IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS APPEARS TO BE CONSISTENT WITH REPORTS OF THE IGNITION SWITCH ISSUE. WE WERE NOT AWARE OF THE RECALL PRIOR TO LOOKING FOR IT AFTER OUR VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. FIREMEN INDICATE THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE FRONT PART OF THE VEHICLE, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE WHY DUE TO THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. BEST WAY TO CONTACT ME IS VIA CELLPHONE AT 706-399-7825.*AK

RECAL 96 V 071 000/ ELECTRICAL IGNITION SYSTEM: AFTER STARTING VEHICLE, ENGINE RACES AND VEHICLE OVERHEATS AND SMOKES. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. *AK THE MOTOR CONTINUE TO RUN AFTER THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND THE KEY WAS REMOVED. *YH

THE ALTERNATOR FAILED SHORT CIRCUIT. MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF CURRENT PASSED FROM THE BATTERY THROUGH THE ALTERNATOR, WHICH BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FAULT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL DUE TO LACK OF IGNITION AND IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND STOP THE VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. SMOKE WAS POURING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I MANAGED TO STOP AND OPEN THE HOOD, THE ALTERNATOR, WHICH WAS GLOWING RED INSIDE, BURST INTO FLAMES AND SET FIRE TO CABLES AND RUBBER HOSES AROUND IT. I RECEIVED BURNS TO MY HANDS TRYING TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. LUCKY FOR ME ANOTHER MOTORIST STOPPED AND HE HAD AN EXTINGUISHER. I HAVE NOW HAD TWO FIRES OF THIS TYPE, ONE ON EACH OF MY VEHICLES. YESTERDAY I WENT TO AN ALTERNATOR REMANUFACTURING COMPANY HERE IN MONTERREY, AND THE MANGER TOLD ME THAT HE HAS HAD FIVE ENGINE BAY FIRES IN AEROSTAR MINIVANS IN RECENT MONTHS. IN THE 'GOOD OLD DAYS' UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A FUSIBLE LINK BETWEEN THE ALTERNATOR CHARGING LINE AND THE BATTER...