Time Frame

• Ford released the first Aerostar in 1985 and produced a new version of the model each year through 1997.
  
  

Appearance

• The Aerostar has a boxy shape in the back with a futuristic-curved front end meant to evoke thoughts of space shuttles, explains CarGurus. Ford released an Eddie Bauer line of Aerostars that were intended as a high-end or luxury minivan.
  
  

Features

• The Ford Aerostar was built on a truck body, which made it more durable on rough roads. Models of the Aerostar constructed during the 1990s featured all-wheel drive and V6 engines.
  
  

Recalls

• Major recalls were issued on a number of Ford Aerostars over the years due to due to brake master cylinder failure, electrical shorts, fuel leaks, seat belt defects, defects in the welding of the rear suspension, faulty driver door latches and fuel tank cracks, according to the Center for Auto Safety.
  
  

Safety

• The 1992 to 1997 models of the Ford Aerostar received a rating of "Poor" on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Highway Loss Data Institute frontal offset crash tests. This indicates a risk for severe injury to the driver or front-seat passenger in a head-on collision.