1997 Ford AEROMAX: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
3 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
53,717 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Most common problems
Power Train:Driveline:Universal Joint is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 3 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 2 | 66.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Driveline:Universal Joint | 1 |
| Seat Belts: Rear/Other:Buckle Assembly | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
Power Train:Driveline:Universal Joint: 1; Seat Belts: Rear/Other:Buckle Assembly: 1; Steering: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
1998: 1; 2000: 1; 2006: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Driveline:Universal Joint leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10168525 · 2006-09-18 (September 18, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER SEAT TURNED SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT. AFTER DRIVING LONG DISTANCES, SLIGHTLY ALTERED VISIBILITY THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD WAS OBSERVED RESULTING IN MINOR BACK PAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN .
Owner-reported narrative. 53,717 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168525 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 534581 · 1998-04-19 (April 19, 1998)
VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO HAVE FRONT STEERING AXLEWEIGH THAN 11000 LBS, EVEN WHEN EMPTY. THIS PLACES UNDUE STRESS ON STEERING AXLE AND TIRES. WHEN LOADED/1 HOUSEHOLD GOODS, STEERING AXLE WEIGHS BETWEEN 11500 TO OVER 12000 LBS. LEGAL WEIGHT LIMIT IS 12000 LBS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 534581 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 553058 · 2000-07-18 (July 18, 2000)
DRIVER LOST STEERING CONTROL RESULTING IN ACCIDENT, BECAUSE LOWER SHAFT FELL OUT OF U -JOINT FROM BOLT FAILURE. *ET
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 553058 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
96V200000 · Service Brakes, Air:Supply:Low Pressure Warning:Switch
Reported: 1996-10-15 (October 15, 1996)
THE AIR BRAKE SYSTEM WAS MANUFACTURED HAVING AIR BRAKE PRESSURE RELEASE TIMES OF APPROXIMATELY 1.5 SECONDS. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS."
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN SLIGHT TRAILER BRAKE DRAG AND TIRE SCUFFING INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A QUICK RELEASE VALVE IN THE AIR PRESSURE RELEASE SYSTEMS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗99V050000 · Service Brakes, Air
Reported: 1999-03-15 (March 15, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL WABCO AIR DRYER. THE AIR BRAKE SYSTEM WAS PLUMBED SO THAT THE SYSTEMS DID NOT PROVIDE AIR RESERVOIR ISOLATION. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS."
Consequence: THE AIR BRAKE RESERVOIR PRESSURE COULD BE DEPLETED, ACTIVATING THE EMERGENCY SPRING BRAKE. WITH THE EMERGENCY SPRING BRAKE DEPLOYED, THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP AND COULD NOT BE MOVED UNTIL THE BRAKE AIR SYSTEM WAS REPAIRED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE AIR LINE PLUMBING TO INSTALL A CHECK VALVE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
3 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1991 | 1993 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 266.7%ODI 10111239WHILE PLACING THE KEY INSIDE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH THE VEHICLE WOULD START, BUT THE RADIO WOULD NOT COME ON ITS OWN ,AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BY PASS RELAY SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10152828THE ABS LIGHT WAS A RECALL SO I TOOK MY VAN INTO HARTZHEIM DODGE-HAYWARD 25601 MISSION BLVD HAYWARD CA 94544 THEY DIDN'T CHARGE ME ANYTHING THIS TIME , SO THEY SUPPOSEDLY FIXED IT BUT I ENDED UP HAVING TO TAKE IT BACK ON JANUARY 30,2005 DUE TO THE ABS LIGHT COMING BACK ON AND THEY TOLD ME I HAVE TO FIX MY BRAKES FOR THE ABS LIGHT TO WORK LIKE IT'S SUPPOSE TO, SO OF COURSE I TOLD THEM TO FIX IT AND THIS TIME I HAD TO PAY 753.97. THEN I ENDED UP TAKING MY CAR BACK 5 MONTHS LATER DUE TO THE ABS LIGHT COMING ON AGAIN, MY VAN WAS RUNNING FINE BEFOR… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 150.0%ODI 848413THERE WAS A FIRE WITHIN THE DASHBOARD DUE TO A SHORT WITHIN ELECTRICAL WIRING. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Exterior Lighting | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0% |
| Power Train:Driveline:Universal Joint | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 553058DRIVER LOST STEERING CONTROL RESULTING IN ACCIDENT, BECAUSE LOWER SHAFT FELL OUT OF U -JOINT FROM BOLT FAILURE. *ET | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Seat Belts: Rear/Other:Buckle Assembly | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10168525 · 53,717 miDT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER SEAT TURNED SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT. AFTER DRIVING LONG DISTANCES, SLIGHTLY ALTERED VISIBILITY THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD WAS OBSERVED RESULTING IN MINOR BACK PAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN . | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Belts: Rear/Other:Buckle Assembly | Too few reports for a range | 53,717 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10168525 · 53,717 miDT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER SEAT TURNED SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT. AFTER DRIVING LONG DISTANCES, SLIGHTLY ALTERED VISIBILITY THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD WAS OBSERVED RESULTING IN MINOR BACK PAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN . |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
1997: 2 complaints · 1998: 1 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 1998 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Power Train:Driveline:Universal Joint | Seat Belts: Rear/Other:Buckle Assembly | Steering |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train:Driveline:Universal Joint | — | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Belts: Rear/Other:Buckle Assembly | 0 | — | 0 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.