NHTSA recall 97V204000

A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.

Campaign
Published by	NHTSA (United States)
Campaign number	97V204000
Manufacturer	FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Reported	1997-11-13
Owners notified	1998-02-16
Component	POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
Units potentially affected	75000

What is wrong

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.

What can happen

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

The remedy

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

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN FEBRUARY 16,1998.OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.

Vehicles this campaign lists
1992 FORD AEROSTAR	Built 1992-01-31 to 1997-01-20.
1993 FORD AEROSTAR	Built 1992-01-31 to 1997-01-20.
1994 FORD AEROSTAR	Built 1992-01-31 to 1997-01-20.
1995 FORD AEROSTAR	Built 1992-01-31 to 1997-01-20.
1996 FORD AEROSTAR	Built 1992-01-31 to 1997-01-20.
1997 FORD AEROSTAR	Built 1992-01-31 to 1997-01-20.

A vehicle with no link is not in this site's catalog, which covers cars, multipurpose vehicles and trucks by model year. The campaign is from data as of 2026-10-19.

Investigated as RQ98012

This recall followed 1 NHTSA investigation. An investigation is NHTSA looking into a possible defect. It is not a finding that a defect exists, and it does not say that any one vehicle is affected.

NHTSA investigations that led to this recall
RQ98012	Recall query, opened 1998-07-31, closed 1999-01-07. TRANSFER CASES AND REAR DRIVESHAFT. POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE).

From NHTSA's investigation file, as of 2026-10-19. The JSON has NHTSA's summary of each.