IllustrationIGNITION SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL, PREVENTING VEHICLE FROM STARTING.. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT)
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 →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: 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 reportsVEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO SPARKS FROM IGNITION SWITCH. *AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE, THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT IT WAS THE WIRING HARNESS . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THIS VEHICLE HAD AN RECALL FOR IGNITION SWITCH. THINKS THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS STARTED THE FIRE. 96V071000. *AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE IGNITION AND CAUSED A FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL (96V-071). *AK
VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH.
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DSH
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT, CAUSING FIRE. *DSH
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO CATCH ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, FLAMES STARTED COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN; MELTED ALL PLASTIC AND WIRING AROUND IGNITION SWITCH; FIRE PUT OUT WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHER. *AK
Official recalls
296V071000 · 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
3PE92069 · 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