Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 41 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1987 Ford Crown Victoria, most frequently naming the electrical, driver assistance and fuel system categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 3 NHTSA investigations name it; and 25 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1995 | 1 | 1 |
| Jun 1995 | 3 | 4 |
| Aug 1995 | 2 | 6 |
| Oct 1995 | 2 | 8 |
| Dec 1995 | 2 | 10 |
| Apr 1996 | 2 | 12 |
| May 1996 | 1 | 13 |
| Jun 1996 | 2 | 15 |
| Jul 1996 | 5 | 20 |
| Aug 1996 | 1 | 21 |
| Nov 1996 | 1 | 22 |
| Dec 1996 | 1 | 23 |
| Oct 1997 | 1 | 24 |
| Mar 1998 | 1 | 25 |
| Jul 1998 | 1 | 26 |
| Nov 1998 | 2 | 28 |
| Feb 1999 | 1 | 29 |
| Sep 1999 | 1 | 30 |
| Oct 1999 | 1 | 31 |
| Feb 2000 | 1 | 32 |
| Sep 2000 | 2 | 34 |
| Apr 2001 | 1 | 35 |
| Nov 2001 | 1 | 36 |
| Apr 2002 | 1 | 37 |
| May 2003 | 1 | 38 |
| Jul 2003 | 2 | 40 |
| May 2008 | 1 | 41 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
4 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govSEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
BRAKE LINE PUNCTURES
There is no summary currently available
ENGINE COMP FIRES
There is no summary currently available
FIRES
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER: MANUFACTURER HAS BEENCONTACTED. SERVICE BULLETIN, TSB ARTICLE NO.87-18-13, PROVIDES PROCEDURESFOR REWORKING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLER LINE COUPLING TO THE RADIATOR,WHERE FLUID LEAKS CAN ORIGINATE. THE TSB STATES ... THE QUICK DISCONNECTFITTING SHOULD NOT BE REUSED BECAUSE IT MAY NOT RESEAL PROPERLY AND CANRESULT IN REPEAT REPAIR.VEHICLE POPULATION1985 19861987 FORD 187,300115,600 120,300 MERCURY151,000101,700 122,800 TOT=804,700THE ONE REPORTED INJURY ALLEDGES EYE AND THROAT IRRITATION DUE TO SMOKEAND SOOT. THE FIRES ARE GENERALLY CONFINED TO UNDER THE HOOD AND PRECEDEDBY LOSS OF POWER DUE TO LEAKING OF TRANSMISSION FLUID FROM THE VEHICLE.FORD REPORTED NO LAWSUITS, NO WARRANTY CLAIMS, AND ODI HAS RECEIVED ONLYONE REPORT SINCE OPENING THIS P.E.THE RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF COMPLAINTSINDICATES THAT A DEFECT TREND DOES NOT EXIST AT THIS TIME.PROPOSED ACTION: CLOSE THIS P.E.===
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1987 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND THE VEHICLE EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 87V131000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM) WAS REFERENCED. POLICE AND FIRE REPORTS WERE FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 94,000. UPDATED 06/04/08. *LJ
TFI MODULE SUDDEN FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. COULD NOT RESTART ENGINE. FORTUNATELY SPEED WAS ONLY 15 MPH. IF I HAD BEEN AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS.*AK
THE SPRING INSIDE THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED AND AS A RESULT THE BUCKLE DID NOT LOCK (BUCKLE SERIAL NUMBER 2CM328401 ALLIED CHEMICAL). *AK *CB *NLM
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB
LOUD POPPING SOUND HEARD. STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. VISIBLE FAILURE ON RIGHT FRONT AS TIRE WAS TURNED TOWARD THE ENGINE AT THE TOP AND TURNED OUTWARD AT THE PAVEMENT. REAR UPPER BODY FRAME COMPLETE SEPARATION BY 2 INCHES, AND FRONT UPPER BODY FRAME VISIBLE FRACTURE AND READY FOR SEPARATION. ENGINE WAS RESTING ON THE MANIFOLD. IF THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN MOVING ANY FASTER THAN 5MPH, THERE WOULD OR COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS INJURY HAD THE ENGINE COLLAPSED COMPLETELY TO THE PAVEMENT WHILE TRAVELLING. I THOUGHT IT WAS A UNIVERSAL JOINT OR A FAILED SHOCK.
IGNITION SWITCH AND STEERING WHEEL COLUMN BEGIN TO HEAT UP. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER REFUSE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNLESS THEY PAY. *YD
LEFT REAR FIRESTONE TIRE, SIZE: P205/75R15, DOT: ICULP2A078 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 TO 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE 75. INSIDE OF FENDER WALL AND TRUNK EXPERIENCED DAMAGE DUE TO THIS DEFECTIVE TIRE. APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AGO, RIGHT FRONT TIRE - SAME SIZE - HAD BALLOONED OUT ON SIDEWALL. WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS SEPARATING ON INSIDE. THERE WERE ONLY ABOUT 20 TO 30,000 MILES ON TIRES. *AK TIRES ARE BRIDGESTONE ROADHANDLERS. *SLC
I OWN A 1987 FORD CROWN VICTORIA S/W WHOSE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED IN 1998 BY A FORD DEALER IN DUNDALK, MD. IT WAS REPLACED WITH A "FORD REMANUFACTURED" UNIT ALONG WITH THE CONNECTOR. LAST WEEK I STARTED THE CAR AND DROVE ABOUT 200 YARDS WHEN I NOTICED THE "AMP" LIGHT SHOWING RED ON THE DASH PANEL AND MY WIFE CONCURRENTLY YELLING "THERE'S SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD". I DID A "U" TURN AND PROCEEDED TO MY GARAGE WHERE I OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW SMOKE POURING OUT FROM THE BACK OF THE ALTERNATOR AND THEN IT BURST INTO FLAMES. I DOUSED THE FIRE WITH A CO2 EXTINGUISHER BUT THE FLAMES RE-APPEARED. I CUT THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL CABLE AND THE FLAMES BECAME EXTINGUISHED. THE WIRES ON THE HARNESS ARE "COOKED".*AK
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
TRANSFER SERVICE TIPS FOR THE FRONT WIPER MOTOR MOUNT BRACKET AND DEPRESSED PARK OUTPUT ARM. *TT
INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
SUBJECT REGARDING CONTAMINATION FROM PRIOR TRANSMISSION CONCERNS OR EXCESS WEAR MAY BE TRAPPED IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLING SYSTEM. *TT
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2011 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 41.9 |
| 2010 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 53.4 |
| 2009 | 44 | 2 | 0 | 50.1 |
| 2008 | 50 | 3 | 3 | 63.9 |
| 2007 | 50 | 4 | 4 | 68.7 |
| 2006 | 53 | 3 | 3 | 64.4 |
| 2005 | 193 | 6 | 7 | 61.5 |
| 2004 | 138 | 3 | 6 | 56.9 |
| 2003 | 249 | 7 | 9 | 62.7 |
| 2002 | 58 | 5 | 3 | 67.1 |
| 2001 | 53 | 7 | 7 | 66.5 |
| 2000 | 85 | 10 | 5 | 58.5 |
| 1999 | 134 | 8 | 7 | 60.7 |
| 1998 | 119 | 10 | 9 | 62.4 |
| 1997 | 288 | 11 | 10 | 62.7 |
| 1996 | 276 | 12 | 10 | 63.9 |
| 1995 | 250 | 12 | 7 | 64.4 |
| 1994 | 192 | 7 | 4 | 65.9 |
| 1993 | 182 | 9 | 10 | 65.4 |
| 1992 | 310 | 9 | 10 | 65.8 |
| 1991 | 55 | 4 | 2 | 64.8 |
| 1990 | 43 | 3 | 3 | 67.7 |
| 1989 | 72 | 2 | 3 | 67.0 |
| 1988 | 42 | 2 | 2 | 65.0 |
| 1987Viewing | 41 | 4 | 3 | 70.4 |
| 1986 | 27 | 1 | 3 | 65.6 |
| 1985 | 21 | 0 | 2 | 57.4 |
| 1984 | 6 | 1 | 2 | — |
| 1983 | 5 | 2 | 2 | — |
| 1982 | 3 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1981 | 2 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1980 | 2 | 0 | 1 | — |
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.