VehicleVerdict

1988 Ford Aerostar fuel system problems

The 1988 Ford Aerostar has 55 fuel system complaints filed with NHTSA — 24% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

55

Fuel System complaints

24%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Fuel System complaints by year

Aerostar fuel system complaints by model year56 complaints1986: 5 complaints1987: 7 complaints1988: 55 complaints1989: 56 complaints1990: 28 complaints1991: 4 complaints1992: 10 complaints1993: 13 complaints1994: 20 complaints1995: 9 complaints1996: 2 complaints1997: 4 complaints1998: 1 complaints
Aerostar fuel system complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

98V190000Fuel SystemAugust 11, 1998 · 140,000 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALABAMA, ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA (10 SOUTHERN COUNTIES OF LOS ANGELES, ORANGE, SAN BERNADINO, SAN DIEGO, RIVERSIDE, VENTURA, SANTA BARBARA, SAN LUIS OBISPO, IMPERIAL, AND KERN), FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA (CLARK COUNTY), OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND TEXAS, AND IN THE U.S. TERRITORIES COVERED BY THE FEDERAL STATUTES. THE UPPER PORTION OF THE FUEL TANK CAN DEVELOP SMALL CRACKS DUE TO EXTENDED EXPOSURE TO VERY HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. FUEL VAPOR OR LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR AT THESE CRACKS.

Consequence

IF AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD RESULT.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE, THROUGH MARCH 31, 2002. THIS COVERAGE WILL ONLY BE FOR STRUCTURAL CRACKS AT THE TOP OF THE TANK AND WILL NOT INCLUDE OTHER DAMAGE CAUSED BY AN ACCIDENT OR ROAD DEBRIS.

What owners report

ON AUGUST 15, 1998, MY HUSBAND AND I WERE EXITING OFF OF 575 SOUTHBOUND AT HWY. 92 AND SOMEONE CAME UP BESIDE ME AND SCREAMED AT US TO GET OUT, THE VAN IS ON FIRE. WE GOT OUT AND SOMEONE HAS CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEY CAME OUT AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. IT HAD BURNED THE INSIDE OF THE FLOOR…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · August 15, 1998 · fire

Common questions

How many fuel system complaints does the 1988 Ford Aerostar have?

NHTSA has 55 complaints about the 1988 Ford Aerostar fuel system — 24% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1988 Ford Aerostar fuel system?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the fuel system: 98V190000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.