1996 Ford Aerostar Consumer Reviews

The Beast

Written by: Dawn Nance. on 03/04/2008

Vehicle

1996 Ford Aerostar 2 Dr XLT 4WD Passenger Van Extended

Review

Owned the 96 XLT AWD EXT for over 5 yrs, miles 136,000. Kids call it the beast in the snow. Seats pop in and out with ease for hauling and sleeping. Great for camping and traveling. 26 mpg on hwy., 21-23 loaded to the MAX, never sags.One major problem with a head replacement at 90,000. Side door does not work properly anymore, had to remove panel for usage. Hauls more firewood, even with the seats in than two loads in a Chevy S-10. Guess who had the last laugh that day. I need a new one now!

Favorite Features

Removable seats, rear a/c, heat, space in rear, the weight it hauls with no complaints, side window sliders a must have, leg room.

Suggested Improvements

Improve slider door function a must. The tail whips in the wind quite a bit. Mileage is good, but today we need all we can get. I would like to release seat belts at set removal without a tool. Make some new models, mine is not going to last forever.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Not so fortunate as others

Written by: Al on 01/15/2008

Vehicle

1996 Ford Aerostar 2 Dr XLT 4WD Passenger Van Extended

Review

Look out for used ones with leaking head gaskets. Typical problem for these. I liked the size and how it ran and even got about 20 mpg on the highway. But the upkeep is too high. Spent $3000 in 30000 miles. And now it is not running at all because of a head gasket which will cost $1000 to fix. And it only has 110000 miles on it. Why can't they make a minivan that is reliable?

Favorite Features

Quad captain seats. Tow 4500 Lbs. Lots and Lots of room. Going to miss that for sure.

Suggested Improvements

Make a minivan that has the reliability of a Toyota Sienna!

0 out 1 people found this review helpful

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200,000 and still going

Written by: Aero lover on 12/14/2007

Vehicle

1996 Ford Aerostar 2 Dr XLT 4WD Passenger Van Extended

Review

This is my second Aerostar, and I've had it for 10 years and 182,000 miles. Counting my first one, I've been driving Aerostars for 18 years. Even though this one now has 200,000 miles, last month I packed the family in it and took a 1,500 mile round trip, much of which was in national forests in northern Wisconsin and the Michigan U.P. where cell phone signals do not exist, so I still trust it. At 165,000 miles, my 4.0 V6 dropped a valve so I had a Jasper re-man installed and have been very happy with it, too. Now that this Aero has 200,000 miles, I sometimes kick myself for selling the first one when it had "only" 110,000 miles. Dang.

Favorite Features

Easy to pack with lots of luggage and people. More like a truck than other mini-vans so a man can drive one and still feel like a man.

Suggested Improvements

Like others have said, Ford should come out with a new model of Aerostar.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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I'd Buy 10 if I could

Written by: greg on 12/29/2006

Vehicle

1996 Ford Aerostar 2 Dr XLT Passenger Van

Review

We have 2 96 Aeros. One shortie, one cargo. Both are very reliable and run and handle great. No major problems in either one. We use them for our commute and business. Also have an 89 Eddie Bauer, very comfy. The Bauer is so well made and sturdy. A friend has several that are almost at 300K miles, and loves them. We rotate ours, and they all perform well. Will buy another one or two soon. They are inexpensive to buy, and are very reliable. They aren't hot looking (the Bauer is nice, though), but they are a lot of vehicle for the money - and - they are paid for!

Favorite Features

Comfortable seats, great performance, nice ride, handles well, more comfortable than the Astros by far. Windshield is well away from driver and passenger, more legroom.

Suggested Improvements

Easier access to engine, but with this reliability, you don't need it that much. Wish Ford would bring another version of the Aero back out - they need the biz! Door panels, as someone mentioned, tend to get loose, and one is falling off. The Bauer is better made and reinforced.

3 out 4 people found this review helpful

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Aerostar still going strong

Written by: Aeroman1 on 10/21/2006

Vehicle

1996 Ford Aerostar 2 Dr XLT Passenger Van

Review

This van I consider to be one of the lowest maintenance & highest reliability vehicles that I have owned. I drove it 235000 kms on 1 set of plugs. It starts in temps from +30 to - 30 *c, I have had 9 passengers + full camping equipment & loaded 15 foot fiberglass boat & trailer on a 1000km round trip, the van never missed a beat! The v6 Vulcan engine is incredible, I think it will outlast my next vehicle too ( Ford Escape). It has achieved almost 40 kms/imperial gallon on a highway run. Look after this van & I reckon it will look after you. Smashing vehicle, if I could get a new one I would def buy one.

Favorite Features

Elevated & comfortable ride position. Excellent body styling. Bomb proof motor (V6,3.0L). Strong chassis design for towing & stability.

Suggested Improvements

Front discs/pads wear too quickly. Accessibility of the engine.

3 out 3 people found this review helpful

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1996 Aerostar XLT

Written by: Clovis Family on 04/18/2005

Vehicle

1996 Ford Aerostar 2 Dr XLT Passenger Van Extended

Review

We bought the 1996 Aerostar XLT new and have 93,000 miles on it. I love the elevated rear passenger seats, great air conditioning, and space. However, there is no place on the outside of the van to set your coffee cup while you look for your keys. I have also had too many drinks spill in the poorly designed front seat beverage holders. I wish I had waited until 1997 to buy. The last remaining 1997 models sold for $12,500 in Fresno, CA as opposed to the $21,000 I paid for the 1996. For any of you who wonder, you can easily have the inside door panels repaired so they don't begin to partially drop off.

Favorite Features

Love: Space, rear A/C, rear radio controls, ability to put kids so far away you can't hear them. Hate: Screws that fall out and can't be reinserted into plastic panels, causing horrid rattling noises.

Suggested Improvements

Phone jack (cigarette lighter) never did work. Can't set down a coffee cup on the outside of the van.

4 out 5 people found this review helpful

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Good people/cargo hauler

Written by: vegman on 09/07/2004

Vehicle

1996 Ford Aerostar 2 Dr XLT Passenger Van Extended

Review

Bought used with 153,000 miles. Have had good luck. Only major repair was a blown intake manifold gasket ($650). have had the typical nickel and dime expenses of American made vehicles. Fuel economy stinks but the 4wheel drive is great and it can haul a ton of stuff and tow over 2 tons without whining. Overall not a bad vehicle. The new minivans on the market have almost as much room and towing capacity with better fuel economy.

Favorite Features

Cargo space, people space, comfort, power, real towing capacity, 4wheel drive.

Suggested Improvements

Improve interior quality on ALL American made autos. Fuel economy (typical complaint though). Reliability

4 out 4 people found this review helpful

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At 162,000 miles it is going strong!

Written by: JM Preston on 06/21/2004

Vehicle

1996 Ford Aerostar 2 Dr XLT Passenger Van

Review

This van has traveled the Western US and Canada from Anchorage to the Baja and in weather from -60 F on the Alaska Highway to 111 F in the Utah desert. It has lived in Anchorage, Seattle, and San Jose. Other than a problem with the oil pan gasket leaking twice and Ford standing by their faulty repair ($500) there has only been routine maintenance. Interior storage is excellent and it hauls large and heavy loads. We packed it to the max for the move from Seattle to San Jose and it didn't sag down in the back. Great gas mileage for a truck at 24 - 25 mpg. Paint has held up very well with minimal waxing (every couple of years when I remember).

Favorite Features

Ability to haul heavy loads, room for camping gear and mountain bikes, room for two to sleep comfortably in the back with the seats removed. Minimal maintenance.

Suggested Improvements

Front wheel or real 4 wheel drive, bigger tires for more clearance on dirt roads. The new Freestar seems to be taking care of this.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Better than MINIvans

Written by: vegman on 01/27/2004

Vehicle

1996 Ford Aerostar 2 Dr XLT 4WD Passenger Van Extended

Review

Bought used with 153k miles. Lost intake manifold second day($650). Since then has been a good vehicle, normal wear and tear repairs. Comfortable, very very roomy, terrific in snow. Will miss it when it dies. GM products ASTRO/SAFARI are not as good.

Favorite Features

Ride, 4wd, power, comfort, SPACE!!!!, towing capacitiy.

Suggested Improvements

Better fuel economy, better build quality, make something comparable.

3 out 3 people found this review helpful

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True Blue Red Van

Written by: GGARR on 12/02/2003

Vehicle

1996 Ford Aerostar 2 Dr XLT Passenger Van

Review

The Aerostar van has been extremly reliable. Other than oil changes and tires I did nothing to it for the first 100k miles. It has never left me stranded. Normal wear of brakes, and wipers, and a battery after 100k.

Favorite Features

Storage draw under passenger seat. removable passenger seats. high back drivrs seat with arm rest, and lumbar adjust. delay power lock on sliding door.

Suggested Improvements

More clearence for the cup holder below the dash board. A little more horsepower. Room for full size spare tire storage.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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