IllustrationWHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED SMELLING SMOKE AND GOT OUT AND THE STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. *AK
1986 Ford Crown Victoria
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1986 Ford Crown Victoria do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 53.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Crown Victoria years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 27 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports12 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
27 reportsELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSED FIRE.
VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ABOUT FIVE MILES/ PARKED, ABOUT FIFTEEN MINUTES UPON RETURNING VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES.*AK *SLC
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT, CAUSING FIRE. *DH
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTS, CAUSING GUAGES, CRUISE CONTROL, ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO FAIL. *DH
ACCELERATOR CABLE CAUSED ACCELERATOR TO STICK WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 55 MPH. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED, GRANDSON GOT INTO VEHICLE TO SIT ON PASSENGER SIDE, TOUCHED GEAR SHIFT, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ACROSS ST INTO NEIGHBOR'S YARD. *AK
DRIVER'S SHOULDER/LAP BELT BUCKLES INOPERATIVE, MALE WON'T LATCH INTO FEMALE PORTION. *AK *JB
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK
DROVE VEHICLE TO RESTAURANT PARKING LOT, WENT INSIDE RESTAURANT, LOOKED OUT, VEHICLE FILLED WITH SMOKE AND IN FLAMES, SOUNDE LIKE IT WAS STARTING BY ITSELF. *AK
Official recalls
187V139000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Sep 4, 1987
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.
Remedy: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3PE91125 · Brake Line Punctures
Opened Sep 11, 1991 · Closed Jan 15, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
PE88101 · Engine Comp Fires
Opened Sep 14, 1988 · Closed Jan 3, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
PE87055 · Fires
Opened Sep 9, 1987 · Closed Mar 10, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER: MANUFACTURER HAS BEENCONTACTED. SERVICE BULLETIN, TSB ARTICLE NO.87-18-13, PROVIDES PROCEDURESFOR REWORKING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLER LINE COUPLING TO THE RADIATOR,WHERE FLUID LEAKS CAN ORIGINATE. THE TSB STATES ... THE QUICK DISCONNECTFITTING SHOULD NOT BE REUSED BECAUSE IT MAY NOT RESEAL PROPERLY AND CANRESULT IN REPEAT REPAIR.VEHICLE POPULATION1985 19861987 FORD 187,300115,600 120,300 MERCURY151,000101,700 122,800 TOT=804,700THE ONE REPORTED INJURY ALLEDGES EYE AND THROAT IRRITATION DUE TO SMOKEAND SOOT. THE FIRES ARE GENERALLY CONFINED TO UNDER THE HOOD AND PRECEDEDBY LOSS OF POWER DUE TO LEAKING OF TRANSMISSION FLUID FROM THE VEHICLE.FORD REPORTED NO LAWSUITS, NO WARRANTY CLAIMS, AND ODI HAS RECEIVED ONLYONE REPORT SINCE OPENING THIS P.E.THE RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF COMPLAINTSINDICATES THAT A DEFECT TREND DOES NOT EXIST AT THIS TIME.PROPOSED ACTION: CLOSE THIS P.E.===