Faults:

Replaced front and rear oil seals at 115,000 miles.

Replaced blower at 175,000.

Replaced alternator at 235,000 miles.

Replaced headlamps 4 times each.

General Comments:

There are some handling difficulties in high crosswinds.

There is some body rust, but then it has never been kept in a garage.

The single air conditioning is a bit inadequate.

The transmission still shifts like it's new, even though I only ever changed the fluid once!

Faults:

This Van is about to pass the 200,000 mile mark... so I really would have to say that there have been no unusual maintenance issues!

For the vast majority of American automobile’s, most of the “bolt-on” accessories fail in the 100,000-150,000 mile range. This van has followed suit. I’ve replaced the Starter, Alternator, Power Steering Pump, A/C (entire system) and water pump, all between 135,000 and 170,000 miles. I’ve also had to replace all the belts and hoses during that same period. Again, par for the course for any well built American vehicle.

The windows leak a little. This seems to be common.

Like all (and I do mean ALL!) American vehicles (since asbestos was made illegal) … plan to replace front brake pads every 20,000-40,000 miles.

My only real “break-down” was due to the electronic ignition module going out at apx. 160,000 miles (that one will shut you down quick).

Replaced front brake calipers apx. 150,000 miles.

Replaced rear seal in transmission at apx 140,000 miles. due to leak.

Replaced rear engine freeze-plugs at apx 184,000 miles. Because they were looking like they could go (start leaking) at any time.

The original engine is still running well and getting good gas mileage for a vehicle of this size. Apx. 19 city/23 hwy. And, I’d like to note that unlike most newer ford vehicles, it runs great on low-grade gas (no ping).

Original transmission still doing well!

All the fancy “Eddie Bower” digital stuff is still working perfectly, too! I love the digital dash and the over-head digital computer that gives you gas-mileage, distance-to-empty, gas used, gas remaining, etc.

General Comments:

I really love this van. It’s so very comfortable. The roominess and flexibility is outstanding! This Eddie Bower model is truly wonderful! The interior is gorgeous (still), and the exterior is the best looking of any of the Aerostars (blue w/gold at the bottom).

I want another one! The high mileage on mine is starting to concern me a little … so I’ve been looking for another Eddie Bower Aerostar (w/less than say … 80,000 miles or so). But I can’t find one. So, I’m just trying to keep up with the maintenance real well until then.

I’d like to add that I purchased this van from the original owner, an older gentleman who had obviously been very kind to it. I too have taken good care of the van and have driven and maintained it in a very adult-like manner.

This is my first Aerostar. However, my parents have owned two, both AWD models. They live on top of a hill in rural Minnesota, so their vehicles see some rough service (not to mention that my teenage sisters drive as well). I think my mom kept her first Aerostar to about 180,000 miles and traded it in on a new one … which currently has about 150,000 on it.

Both my folks and I would buy a brand new Aerostar today, if they were still made! Too bad! The only similar van is the Chevy Astro/ GMC Safari. I don’t like them nearly as well, and you don’t see many making it to the kind of mileage mom and I have driven ours to.