Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 72 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Ford Crown Victoria, most frequently naming the electrical, driver assistance and engine categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 3 NHTSA investigations name it; and 28 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 | 2 | 2 |
| Feb 1995 | 5 | 7 |
| Mar 1995 | 2 | 9 |
| Jun 1995 | 1 | 10 |
| Oct 1995 | 1 | 11 |
| Jan 1996 | 2 | 13 |
| Feb 1996 | 1 | 14 |
| Mar 1996 | 2 | 16 |
| Apr 1996 | 5 | 21 |
| May 1996 | 2 | 23 |
| Jun 1996 | 1 | 24 |
| Aug 1996 | 2 | 26 |
| Sep 1996 | 1 | 27 |
| Oct 1996 | 2 | 29 |
| Nov 1996 | 1 | 30 |
| Dec 1996 | 2 | 32 |
| Feb 1997 | 1 | 33 |
| Apr 1997 | 2 | 35 |
| Aug 1997 | 1 | 36 |
| Sep 1997 | 2 | 38 |
| Mar 1998 | 1 | 39 |
| Apr 1998 | 1 | 40 |
| May 1998 | 2 | 42 |
| Oct 1998 | 1 | 43 |
| Nov 1998 | 2 | 45 |
| Feb 1999 | 2 | 47 |
| Mar 1999 | 1 | 48 |
| Apr 1999 | 1 | 49 |
| May 1999 | 2 | 51 |
| Aug 1999 | 1 | 52 |
| Aug 2000 | 1 | 53 |
| Sep 2000 | 1 | 54 |
| Oct 2000 | 1 | 55 |
| Nov 2000 | 1 | 56 |
| Jan 2001 | 1 | 57 |
| Apr 2001 | 1 | 58 |
| Jun 2001 | 1 | 59 |
| Jan 2002 | 1 | 60 |
| Feb 2002 | 1 | 61 |
| Apr 2002 | 1 | 62 |
| May 2002 | 1 | 63 |
| Mar 2003 | 2 | 65 |
| Sep 2003 | 2 | 67 |
| Dec 2003 | 2 | 69 |
| Jan 2004 | 1 | 70 |
| Aug 2004 | 1 | 71 |
| Sep 2006 | 1 | 72 |
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.
2 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.govELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
STEERING COLUMN FIRES
There is no summary currently available
BRAKE LINE PUNCTURES
There is no summary currently available
HEAT HOSE RESTRICTOR/FIRES
There is no summary currently available
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
WHILE MY MECHANIC WORKED ON MY CAR, I BORROWED HIS 1989 CROWN VICTORIA. ON THE THIRD DAY I HAD IT, WHILE DRIVING IN A 45 MPH ZONE, THE GAS PEDAL SUDDENLY PULLED AWAY FROM MY FOOT AND WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I WAS NOT USING CRUISE CONTROL SO I TRIED PULLING THE PEDAL UP BY PLACING MY FOOT UNDER IT AND PULLING UP. THAT DIDN'T WORK SO I HIT THE GAS PEDAL A FEW TIMES, BELIEVING IT WAS STUCK SOMEHOW. WHEN THAT DIDN'T WORK I HIT THE BRAKES TO PULL THE CAR OVER. THE CAR WAS QUICKLY GAINING SPEED AS I DID ALL OF THESE THINGS AND HITTING THE BRAKES DIDN'T DO ANYTHING AT ALL. THEN I STOOD ON THE BRAKES WITH BOTH FEET WHILE THE CAR WAS UP TO 80 MPH. STANDING ON THE BRAKES WITH BOTH FEET ONLY BROUGHT IT DOWN TO 60 MPH. I THEN MANAGED TO GET THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL GEAR AND PULL IT OVER ON THE SHOULDER BY ALSO USING THE BRAKES, BUT IT WAS REVVING HIGH AND BLACK SMOKE WAS NOW COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND RAN DOWN THE ROAD AWAY FROM THE CAR, WHEN THE CAR STARTED SPARKING UNDERNEATH, THEN IT BROKE INTO FLAMES. THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND 2 TIRES EXPLODED BEFORE THE FIRE COMPANY ARRIVED. *JB
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE CRUISE CONTROL. A FEW YEARS LATER WHILE DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON THROTTLE LINKAGES STUCK. AS A RESULT, TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP. *AK
PAINT: CLEAR COAT PEELED COMPLETELY OFF OF HOOD, TRUNK, ROOF, TOPS OF FENDERS, ALL AREAS IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT. SUSPENSION: REAR SPRINGS FATIQUED CAUSING PREMATURE SHOCK WARE. TRANSMISSION: LOSS OF THIRD GEAR AND OVER DRIVE, MAJOR FRONT SEAL LEAK, NEEDED COMPLETE OVERHAUL. OTHER: HEADLIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTION CAUSING LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS AND/OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS CAUSING MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. BRAKES: SQUEALING AND FADING FRONT BRAKES, EXCESSIVE WARE ON FRONT PADS, REAR BRAKES DONT ADJUST CAUSING SEVERE NOSE-DIVING WHILE STOPPING.
PROBLEMS WITH FRONT DOOR BOTTOM HINGE, ROLLER STEM AND BRACKETS.*MR THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE FRONT DOOR BOTTOM HINGE WAS POORLY DESIGNED OR MADE OF CHEAP METAL. THE ROLLER, STEM AND BRACKET HAVE BROKE MANY TIMES. *PH *NM
THE FLOOR MAT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE MOVES UNDER THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDAL. THIS INTERFERES WITH PERFORMANCE OF DEPRESSING AND ACCELERATING. THE FLOOR MAT MOVES WITH NO WARNING. *AK CONSUMER HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE FLOOR MAT MOVING UNDERNEATH THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS. THIS INTERFERES WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS. THE FLOOR MATS MOVE WITHOUT WARNING.*MR
I OWN A 1983 AND 1989 FORD CROWN VICTORIA, BOTH OF WHICH HAVE SEAT BELT THAT WON'T LATCH - PROBLEM IS IN THE RECEIVING END. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD REQUIRE FORD TO PROVIDE FREE REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENT!! THESE VEHICLES ARE KEPT CLEAN AND MAINTAINED !
PLASTIC GROMMET ATTACHING LINKAGE FROM FUEL INJECTION UNIT TO TRANSMISSION BROKE. I DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 5 MILES TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. THE OWNER OF THE SHOP SAID THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, AND REPLACED IT WITH A BRASS GROMMET, BUT TOLD ME THAT AS SOON AS THIS BREAKS, TRANSMISSION DAMAGE OCCURS. I NOW EITHER HAVE TO SPEND 1200 DOLLARS FOR A REBUILD, OR SCRAP A CAR WHICH IS OTHERWISE IN PERFECT SHAPE. IF THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, WHY IS THERE NO RECALL? A 50 CENT PART IS COSTING 1200! *JB
THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT WAS PUT ON HIS VEHICLE ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO, AS A RESULT OF THE RECALL, WAS DEFECTIVE AND DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE SWITCH WILL NOT TURN TO ACCESSORY AND THE KEY IS HARD TO GO IN THE IGNITION, THEN WHEN IT DOES GO IN IT SPARKS. THE CONSUMER IS AFRAID THIS PROBLEM WILL SOME DAY CAUSE A FIRE. THE MANUFACTURE STATED THAT THEY WILL NOT REPAIR IT AGAIN BECAUSE THEY REPLACED IT ONCE. SO, THIS TIME HE WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. *NLM
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
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC
INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *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 |
| 1989Viewing | 72 | 2 | 3 | 67.0 |
| 1988 | 42 | 2 | 2 | 65.0 |
| 1987 | 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.