VehicleVerdict

1992 Ford Aerostar transmission problems

The 1992 Ford Aerostar has 87 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 20% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

87

Transmission complaints

20%

Share of year

1

Crash-involved

2

Related recalls

Transmission complaints by year

Aerostar transmission complaints by model year87 complaints1986: 7 complaints1987: 15 complaints1988: 19 complaints1989: 33 complaints1990: 37 complaints1991: 56 complaints1992: 87 complaints1993: 75 complaints1994: 48 complaints1995: 26 complaints1996: 14 complaints1997: 11 complaints1999: 3 complaints2000: 2 complaints
Aerostar transmission complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

99V094000TransmissionApril 28, 1999 · 10,951 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ALL WHEEL DRIVE PASSENGER MINIVANS. (THIS INCLUDES ALL 1992 AWD AEROSTARS NOT PREVIOUSLY INCLUDED IN SAFETY RECALL 97V-204/97S83). THESE VEHICLES CAN DEVELOP POWERTRAIN BENDING RESONANCE OR TRANSFER CASE OUTPUT SHAFT BUSHING DISPLACEMENT. THE POWERTRAIN BENDING RESONANCE OR THE OUTPUT SHAFT BUSHING DISPLACEMENT CAN RESULT IN STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION AND/OR TRANSFER CASE. FLUID EXPLUSION, DRIVESHAFT SEPARATION OR LOSS OF VEHICLE DRIVE CAN RESULT.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, AND, IF THE EXPELLED FLUID CONTACTS THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW TRANSFER CASE REAR OUTPUT SHAFT BUSHING AND AN ALUMINUM DRIVESHAFT WILL BE INSTALLED.

97V204000TransmissionNovember 13, 1997 · 75,000 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ALL WHEEL DRIVE PASSENGER MINIVANS. THESE VEHICLES CAN DEVELOP POWERTRAIN BENDING RESONANCE OR TRANSFER CASE OUTPUT SHAFT BUSHING DISPLACEMENT. THE POWERTRAIN BENDING RESONANCE OR THE OUTPUT SHAFT BUSHING DISPLACEMENT CAN RESULT IN STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION AND/OR TRANSFER CASE. FLUID EXPLUSION, DRIVESHAFT SEPARATION OR LOSS OF VEHICLE DRIVE CAN RESULT.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, AND, IF THE EXPELLED FLUID CONTACTS THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW TRANSFER CASE REAR OUTPUT SHAFT BUSHING AND AN ALUMINUM DRIVESHAFT WILL BE INSTALLED.

What owners report

“CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH TRANSFER CASE FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DURING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, WITH THREE CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT, TRANSFER CASE BROKE IN THREE PIECES, CAUSING THE TRANMISSION/DRIVESHAFT & MUFFLER TO DROP AND PUNCTURE A HOLE IN GAS TANK . DEALER NOTIFIED AND…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · June 4, 1998 · fire

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 1992 Ford Aerostar have?

NHTSA has 87 complaints about the 1992 Ford Aerostar transmission — 20% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1992 Ford Aerostar transmission?

Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year are tied to the transmission: 97V204000, 99V094000.

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.