1990 Ford Aerostar Electrical System:ignition:switch Problems

NHTSA component category: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH · data through 07/12/2026

23Electrical System:ignition:switch complaints

11.8%Of all 195 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How electrical system:ignition:switch ranks on this vehicle

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH23 · 11.8%

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION18 · 9.2%

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY18 · 9.2%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL14 · 7.2%

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP14 · 7.2%

Share of the 195 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 1990 Ford Aerostar overview page.

What owners report

“RECALL # 96V071000 FORD/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION. ON DECEMBER 13, 1998, WHILE VAN WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE DASH AND THE ENGINE AREA…”NHTSA complaint 832509 — filed 12/22/1998

“HAD PARKED VEHICLE. HEARD HORN BLASTING. LOOKED OUT & CHECHED VEHICLE. SAW VEHICLE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY ARRIVED & PUT FLAMES OUT…”NHTSA complaint 823435 — filed 05/18/1998

“WHILE DRIVING IGNITION SWITCH EXPERIENCED A SHORT CIRCUIT, CAUSING A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. OWNER WILL CONTACT A DEALER AND OR THE MANUFACTURER. *AKACCORDING TO…”NHTSA complaint 816094 — filed 09/08/1997

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Electrical System:ignition:switch complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 1990 Ford Aerostar have electrical system:ignition:switch problems?

Electrical System:ignition:switch is the most-reported problem area on the 1990 Ford Aerostar: 23 of 195 complaints on file (11.8%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 1990 Ford Aerostar have in total?

195 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 24 involved a crash, 57 involved a fire, 20 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's electrical system:ignition:switch category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.