1987 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 1987 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
- Electrical1430.4%
- Driver assistance715.2%
- Fuel system510.9%
- Seat belts510.9%
- Engine48.7%
- Transmission48.7%
- Steering36.5%
- Body & structure24.3%
- Tires & wheels12.2%
- Exterior lighting12.2%
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
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
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
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER WAS SITTING AT A STOP SIGN WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY ACCELERATED INTO THE TRAFFIC. CONSUMER STATED IT HAD HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS, SPEED CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE, VEHICLE PICKED UP SPEED, AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
ENGINE SURGES WHILE IDLING OR AT TRAFFIC STOPS FOUND RECALL NOTICE FOR FUEL RAIL ASSEMBLY AND HAVE READ ABOUT NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS IN SAME MODEL OF VEHICLE CALLED SERVICE DEPT. AND DEALERSHIP AND WAS GIVEN THE BRUSHOFF PERSON I TALKED TO WAS STAND OFFISH AND UNCOOPERATIVE WOULDN'T GIVE INFO ON RECALL BULLETINS
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT WORK FAILURE ON THE RETRACTOR. TT
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
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
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB
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
TRANSMISSION BURNED UP TWICE BECAUSE OF URETHANE GROMMET CRACKED AND FELL OFF. FIRST TIME HAD TRANSMISSION REBUILT AT A COST OF 1200.00 DOLLARS AND WITHIN 14 MONTHS THE SAME THING HAPPEN. PUT A USED TRANS. IN. RUNNING FOR 4 MONTHS AND WATCHING THE CABLE. TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP STATED HE HAS MADE A LOT MONEY BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT. I THINK FORD SHOULD COMPENSATE SOME FOR THIS FAULTY DESIGN. P.S. PUT NEW GROMMETS IN BOTH TIMES.
HAD PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION WAS RECALLED. TT CONSUMER STATES THIS MODEL THROUGH 1989 HAS A DEFECTIVE ACCELERATOR GROMMET, WHEN THE GROMMET FAILS THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE LOSES ACCELERATOR CONTROL, CONSUMER STATES THAT FORD HAS NOTIFIED ALL CURRENT OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLE IF THEY ARE THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER, HOWEVER SECOND OR THIRD OWNERS HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. *SLC
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
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
GEAR BOX CRACK, LEAKING OUT ALL THE POWER STEERING FLUID WITHIN SECONDS (SEVERAL TIMES), RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF STEERING WHEEL.
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
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.
DOOR HINGE SPRING DEFECTIVE, CAUSING DOOR TO CLOSE. *SD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
HIGH BEAM SWITCH GOES OUT AFTER A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME DUE TO WEAK RESISTORS, DRIVER MUST QUICKLY SWITCH TO LOW BEAM.
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 .