VehicleVerdict

1993 Ford Aerostar transmission problems

The 1993 Ford Aerostar has 75 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 14% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

75

Transmission complaints

14%

Share of year

5

Crash-involved

1

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

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

THEY SAY "WHERE THERE'S SMOKE THERE'S FIRE" SO THAT'S WHY I CHECKED THE FIRE BUTTON ON THE FORM. JUST TO THE RIGHT OF THE ACCELERATOR THE CARPET STARTED SMOKING. WE STILL DON'T KNOW THE CAUSE. BUT, EVERYTIME WE RUN THE CAR AN AWFUL SMELL RESULTS. WE NO LONGER DRIVE LONG DISTANCES. IT'S OUR ONLY CAR…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · December 21, 2002 · fire

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 1993 Ford Aerostar have?

NHTSA has 75 complaints about the 1993 Ford Aerostar transmission — 14% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1993 Ford Aerostar transmission?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the transmission: 97V204000.

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.