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1989 Ford Crown Victoria

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1989 Ford Crown Victoria do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 53.

About this comparison →
72Owner complaints

Model-year median: 53

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

3Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
27
198641
198742
198872
198943
199055
1991310
1992
Compare all Crown Victoria years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
24Vehicle Speed Control
11Engine And Engine Cooling
9Seat Belts
6Power Train
5
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4Structure
4Visibility
4Equipment
3Seats
3Steering
2Tires
2Unknown Or Other
2Fuel System, Gasoline
1Interior Lighting
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Suspension
1

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: 4 of 72 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 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports20 fire reports2 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

24 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 2003
Electrical System

THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT WAS PUT ON HIS VEHICLE ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO, AS A RESULT OF THE RECALL, WAS DEFECTIVE AND DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE SWITCH WILL NOT TURN TO ACCESSORY AND THE KEY IS HARD TO GO IN THE IGNITION, THEN WHEN IT DOES GO IN IT SPARKS. THE CONSUMER IS AFRAID THIS PROBLEM WILL SOME DAY C…

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THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT WAS PUT ON HIS VEHICLE ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO, AS A RESULT OF THE RECALL, WAS DEFECTIVE AND DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE SWITCH WILL NOT TURN TO ACCESSORY AND THE KEY IS HARD TO GO IN THE IGNITION, THEN WHEN IT DOES GO IN IT SPARKS. THE CONSUMER IS AFRAID THIS PROBLEM WILL SOME DAY CAUSE A FIRE. THE MANUFACTURE STATED THAT THEY WILL NOT REPAIR IT AGAIN BECAUSE THEY REPLACED IT ONCE. SO, THIS TIME HE WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10012330

36,000 miles · Mar 18, 2003
Electrical System

THE KEY WAS DIFFICULT TO INSERT INTO THE IGNITION BUT ONCE INSERTED THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10011966

Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2002
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITH OUT WARNING, VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART, DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE UNDER A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN. *AK ORIGINAL TFI MODULE FAILED. *TT

NHTSA ODI #8004766

Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2002
Electrical SystemFire

CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN 4 MONTHS AND WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, RESULTING IN GARAGE BURNING DOWN AND VEHICLE BEING TOTALLED. PROPERTY DAMAGE WAS $54000.00.*AK *JG

NHTSA ODI #8003152

Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2001
Electrical SystemFire

WHILE DRIVING UNDERHOOD CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #886542

Mileage unknown · May 28, 1999
Electrical System

POSSIBLE IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE MAY HAVE CAUSED VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. CAMPAIGN #96V071000 NLM

NHTSA ODI #608922

Mileage unknown · May 12, 1999
Electrical SystemEquipmentVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH CRUISE CONTROL INTERMITTENTLY ENGAGING AND CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION FOR UNKNOWN REASON. ANOTHER PROBLEM WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO TURN OFF WHEN NEEDED. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER WOULD GIVE OFF AN ODOR WHEN TURNED ON. DEALER /MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THI…

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VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH CRUISE CONTROL INTERMITTENTLY ENGAGING AND CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION FOR UNKNOWN REASON. ANOTHER PROBLEM WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO TURN OFF WHEN NEEDED. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER WOULD GIVE OFF AN ODOR WHEN TURNED ON. DEALER /MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THESE MATTERS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #837819

Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 1999
Electrical SystemFire

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE FIRE.

NHTSA ODI #544410

Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 1999
Electrical SystemFireInjury

VEHICLE WAS RUNNING AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER WASN'T ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE IN TIME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #831827

Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 1998
Electrical SystemFire

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT ON FIRE. THERE WAS HEAVY SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO CALL THE FIRER DEPARTMENT TO COME AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #829520

Official recalls

2

96V071000 · Electrical System:ignition

Apr 25, 1996

THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

90V151000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage

Aug 21, 1990

GLASS ELEMENT THAT SEPARATES ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY FROM PRESSURIZED FUEL MAY LOOSEN AND CREATE AN OPENING THAT COULD ALLOW PRESSURIZED FUEL TO ENTER BODY OF SENSOR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: UNDER THESE CONDITIONS OF SEAL DETERIORATION, THE HOUSINGCOVER WOULD NOT CONTAIN FUEL, CAUSING A FUEL LEAK WHICH, IN THE PRESENCE OF ASOURCE OF IGNITION, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: INSTALL NEW OPTICAL SENSORS.

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

3

PE92069 · Steering Column Fires

Opened Aug 3, 1992 · Closed Nov 30, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

There is no summary currently available

PE91125 · 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

PE91081 · Heat Hose Restrictor/fires

Opened Jun 3, 1991 · Closed Oct 29, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System

There is no summary currently available