1996 Ford Aerostar Complaints

A FEW YEARS AGO WE NOTICED THAT 2 OF THE ALUMINUM WHEELS ON OUR 1996 AEROSTAR WERE CRACKED . WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD MOTOR CO.SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE WE WERE LIVING AT THE TIME THE SERVICE MANAGER CONTACTED THE REGIONAL MANAGER, WHO AGREED TO PAY HALF OF THE REPLACEMENT COSTS. SINCE THAT TIME, 2 ADDITIONAL ALUMINUM WHEELS HAVE CRACKED. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT FORD WILL NOT REPLACE THESE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE, AND THAT THE CRACKS ARE DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, WHICH FORD MOTOR CO. SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE AND CORRECT. WHEELS ARE NOT A NORMAL WEAR ITEM.*AK

IN A MULTIPLE CAR PILE-UP, WITH SPEEDS BETWEEN 35 AND 50 MPH THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG IN OUR VAN (VEHICLE NUMBER #3 OF 4 INVOLVED) DID NOT DEPLOY. OUR VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED ACROSS THE ENTIRE FRONT AND THE ENTIRE BACK BUMPERS (GRILL, HATCH...). MY DAUGHTER WAS EXAMINED BY A PHYSICIAN AND MISSED SOME WORK. IF THE AIRBAG HAD DEPLOYED SHE SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED SOME PROTECTION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER TO CHANGE TIRE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. SIZE#21570R14 DOT#HYHY4FA229. *NM

I BOUGHT A USED 1996 FORD AEROSTAR AWD VAN FROM A USED CAR DEALER ABOUT 10 MONTHS AGO. I HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN IMMEDIATELY BUT THE DEALER DECLINED RESPONSIBILITY. TODAY I HAVE LEARNED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE IN THE VAN NEEDS, MINIMALLY, REPAIR OR TOTAL REPLACEMENT. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED A BALL JOINT FOR $320, WHICH THE USED CAR DEALER SAID HE HAD CHECKED AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. WE ARE RETIREES WITHOUT A HUGE INCOME AND SO WE DECIDED TO INVESTIGATE WHETHER FORD WAS IN SOME WAY RESPONSIBLE. WE LEARNED THAT A RECALL FOR TRANSFER CASES WAS ISSUED IN 1998 SO MY WIFE CALLED FORD, WHERE SHE WAS, OF COURSE, TOLD THAT OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. I WANT TO KNOW HOW I CAN LEARN IF THIS IS TRUE OR WHETHER I CAN MAKE FORD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MAJOR MALFUNCTION. THEY SAY THEY ARE NOT IN ANY WAY RESPONSIBLE!!!! OVER THE YEARS, I HAVE OWNED MANY, MANY VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER HAD A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM BEFORE. BECAUSE OF THE TRANSFER CASE, MY FRONT TIRES ARE BALD AND...

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE ON 03/99. ON 10/21/03 CONSUMER STOPPED, PARKED VEHICLE, TOOK KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, AND IGNITION CYLINDER CAME OUT. *AK