When was the last Ford Aerostar made?
The final Ford Aerostar was produced in 1997, marking the end of Ford’s Aerostar minivan lineage in North America. No 1998 model year was issued for this nameplate.
Launched in 1986, the Aerostar was Ford’s early entry into the minivan segment and persisted alongside evolving rivals until the mid-to-late 1990s. By the mid-1990s, Ford had shifted its focus to the Windstar, which debuted in 1994 for the 1995 model year, and eventually phased out the Aerostar as part of a broader lineup consolidation. The last Aerostar rolled off the assembly line in 1997 at the Kansas City Assembly Plant in Missouri, closing a 1986–1997 production span for the model.
Production timeline
Key dates that frame the Aerostar’s lifecycle and its eventual end help explain why 1997 marks the final year.
- 1986: Ford introduces the Aerostar minivan to its lineup as an early family vehicle option.
- 1994–1995: Ford launches the Windstar, a newer, front-wheel-drive minivan, signaling a shift away from the Aerostar’s era.
- 1997: Last model year produced; final Aerostar units are built, and Ford ends production of the nameplate.
In summary, the Aerostar’s production ended in 1997, with the Windstar serving as its successor in Ford’s minivan lineup.
Summary: The last Ford Aerostar was built in 1997 at Ford’s Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Missouri, as Ford transitioned to newer minivan designs like the Windstar. The Aerostar remains a notable part of 1980s–1990s automotive history.
