IllustrationDRIVER SEAT LATCH BECAME LOOSE AND WOBBLY. YH
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
What owners actually said
72 reportsTHE SEAT LATCH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BECAME LOOSE. WAS ADJUSTED BY THE DEALER BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT STAY UP. OVER A PERIOD OF TIME THE LATCH LOOSENED UP AND NEEDED ADJUSTING AGAIN. IN NOVEMBER OF 1997, OWNER WAS TOLD THAT THE LATCH COULD NO LONGER BE ADJUSTED, AND NEEDED REPLACING, BUT PART WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE FROM THE MANUF…
Read full complaint
THE SEAT LATCH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BECAME LOOSE. WAS ADJUSTED BY THE DEALER BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT STAY UP. OVER A PERIOD OF TIME THE LATCH LOOSENED UP AND NEEDED ADJUSTING AGAIN. IN NOVEMBER OF 1997, OWNER WAS TOLD THAT THE LATCH COULD NO LONGER BE ADJUSTED, AND NEEDED REPLACING, BUT PART WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *AK
ENGINE/TRANSMISSION FAILED. ALSO, CLIMATE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED, AND DOOR LOCKS FREEZE IN WINTER, UNABLE TO OPEN DOOR.
FRONT SEAT NUT AND WASHER BROKE LOOSE WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING SEAT TO FALL BACKWARDS.
WHEN USING THE AIR CONDITIONING/HEAT OR THE VENT THE VEHICLE STALLS. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLS WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS NOT IN IS USE, BUT NOT TO THE SAME EXTENT. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK
THE STEEL LINE GOING TO THE BACK WHEEL BRAKES RESTED ON FRAME OF CAR AND THE VIBRATION FROM THE VEHICLE RUBBED A HOLE IN THE LINE, CAUSING BRAKE FUEL TO LEAK. THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED ON SEPT 2, 1997. *AK *SLC
SIDE VIEW MIRROR TOO SMALL AND TOO FAR BACK TO SEE ADEQUATELY.
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL, PREVENTING VEHICLE FROM STARTING.. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT)
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO SPARKS FROM IGNITION SWITCH. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE RIGHT TIE ROD SEPARATED FROM THE BALL JOINTS, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE STEERING. DEALER INSTALLED AN NEW TIE ROD. *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