RoadVitals

1985 Ford Crown Victoria Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
21
Latest Jun 20, 2007
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
7
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
9

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1985 Ford Crown Victoria, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Electrical942.9%
  • Driver assistance419.0%
  • Transmission29.5%
  • Engine29.5%
  • Seat belts29.5%
  • Interior & seats14.8%
  • Steering14.8%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

9
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

CAR STALLS AT ANY GIVEN TIME OR SPEED. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY TWO PIECES OF METAL THAT CONNECT IGNITION SWITCH, AND DO NOT STAY CONNECTED, THAT'S WHY VEHICLE STALLS.*AK IGNITION SWITCH HAVE BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES. IT APPEARS THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *YH

NHTSA ID 874998 · filed Nov 15, 2000

IGNITION MODULE FAILED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL. *SLC

NHTSA ID 557078 · filed Nov 3, 2000
All 9 reports naming electrical →

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

ON THE FAILURE DATE SPECIFIED, I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 65 MILES PER HOUR WHILE USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. FOR SOME REASON I DO NOT PRESENTLY RECALL, I NEEDED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE TWO OR THREE TIMES AND THE CAR CONTINUED AT HIGH SPEED. THEN I PUT THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND JIGGLED THE GAS PEDAL A FEW TIMES, THEN THE ENGINE SPEED RETURNED TO NORMAL. A SIMILAR MALFUNCTION OF THE THROTTLE OCCURED DURING THE PRECEDING WEEK A COUPLE OF TIMES, BUT NO MAJOR PROBLEM; SINCE AT THOSE TIMES I WAS DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED AND THE TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT. BUT THEY TOO COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. MY CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED EVERY 3,000 MILES SINCE I PURCHASED IT.*AK

NHTSA ID 736556 · filed Nov 19, 2000

IGNITION MODULE FAILED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL. *SLC

NHTSA ID 557078 · filed Nov 3, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TRANSMISSION OVER DRIVE FAILED.

NHTSA ID 537392 · filed Jul 7, 1998

CONSUMER SON WAS IN THIS CAR AND PULL THE GEAR SHIFT CAR WAS OFF NO KEYS IN THE CAR ROLL DOWN HILL THREE YEAR OLD CHILD TRY TO GET OUT HE WAS KILL. TT

NHTSA ID 968939 · filed Jul 18, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

CONTACTED FORD HEADQUARTERS THEY TOLD ME IT IS BEING APPEALED AND NHSTA HAS TO BE CONTACTED IF THERE IS A RECALL I ALSO SAW IT ON THE NEWS IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER. NO AFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ID 734301 · filed Oct 14, 2000

VEHICLE FIRE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)

NHTSA ID 520751 · filed Aug 11, 1997

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WEBBING ON FRONT SEAT BELTS IS SHREDDING. COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID 10193877 · filed Jun 20, 2007

THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE IS HARD TO OPEN. *AK

NHTSA ID 803314 · filed Dec 4, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND IT IS UNKNOWN WHERE IT STARTED BUT IT IS BELIEVED TO HAVE STARTED FROM THE INTERIOR. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ID 977518 · filed Jan 11, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN TURNING INTO FLAMES. *AK

NHTSA ID 986785 · filed Jul 12, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .