1986 Ford Crown Victoria Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1986 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
- Electrical1450.0%
- Seat belts414.3%
- Engine310.7%
- Steering27.1%
- Driver assistance27.1%
- Transmission13.6%
- Interior & seats13.6%
- Body & structure13.6%
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. IT TAKES THIRTY MINUTES BEFORE STARTING BACK UP. DEALERSHIP AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
ENGINE STALLED WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY. MY HUSBAND BARELY GOT THE CAR PULLED OVER WITH OUT AN ACCIDENT. THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. THE CAR IS PARKED. MY HUSBAND WAS AN ASE CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN FOR 20 YEARS. HE SAID THE TFI MODULE IS THE FAILED PART.*AK
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVER'S SHOULDER/LAP BELT BUCKLES INOPERATIVE, MALE WON'T LATCH INTO FEMALE PORTION. *AK *JB
THE DRIVERS SEATBELT WILL NOT LATCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE WOULD STALL. AFTER VEHICLE SAT FOR 1/2 HOUR IT WOULD RESTART. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
VALVE COVER GASKETS FAILED.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA. THE MANUFACTURER HAD AN INVESTIGATOR OUT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. *AK
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK CAUSED THE STEERING COLUMN TO CATCH ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
HESITATION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
THERE HAS BEEN AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR. WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES, LET MY WINDOWS UP OR DOWN OR ADJUST MY SEAT (ELECTRIC), THERE IS INTERFERENCE WITH THE RADIO AND THAT TELLS ME SOMETHING IS WRONG IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. ALSO, THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW HAS REFUSED TO LET UP 3 TIMES. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 2-3 MONTHS, I AM ABLE TO RAISE THE WINDOW. I HAVE ALSO HAD A RECENT PROBLEM WITH MY CAR STALLING WHENEVER I AM AT A STOP SIGN (OR LIGHT), AND SOMETIMES WHEN I SLOW DOWN TO MAKE A TURN ONTO ANOTHER STREET. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE MANY ACCIDENTS. I HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF PARTS REPLACED IE. IGNITION COIL, PLUG WIRES, DISTRIBUTOR CAP AND THE CAR STILL STALLS ON OCCASSION. I HEARD THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM A WHILE BACK AND RECENTLY ON A PART TO THE IGNITION PLACED INCORRECTLY. I APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN GIVE ME ON THIS PROBLEM. T
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED SMELLING SMOKE AND GOT OUT AND THE STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. *AK
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .