Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Electrical reportsComplaints 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.
23
Latest Mar 24, 2003
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
32%
of 72 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
17
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2
What this page shows
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1989 Ford Crown Victoria submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 23 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming electrical
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Electrical
Filed Mar 24, 2003
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
NHTSA ID
10012330
Incident
Mar 18, 2003
Electrical
Filed Mar 18, 2003
THE KEY WAS DIFFICULT TO INSERT INTO THE IGNITION BUT ONCE INSERTED THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY. *NLM
NHTSA ID
10011966
Incident
Feb 10, 2003
Mileage
36,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 28, 2002
INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITH OUT WARNING, VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART, DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE UNDER A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN. *AK ORIGINAL TFI MODULE FAILED. *TT
NHTSA ID
8004766
Incident
Oct 4, 2001
Electrical
Filed Jan 30, 2002
Fire reported
CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN 4 MONTHS AND WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, RESULTING IN GARAGE BURNING DOWN AND VEHICLE BEING TOTALLED. PROPERTY DAMAGE WAS $54000.00.*AK *JG
NHTSA ID
8003152
Incident
Jul 31, 2000
Electrical
Filed Apr 23, 2001
Fire reported
WHILE DRIVING UNDERHOOD CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. *AK
NHTSA ID
886542
Incident
Apr 23, 2001
Electrical
Filed May 28, 1999
POSSIBLE IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE MAY HAVE CAUSED VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. CAMPAIGN #96V071000 NLM
NHTSA ID
608922
Incident
Oct 17, 1998
Heating & air conditioningDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed May 12, 1999
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH CRUISE CONTROL INTERMITTENTLY ENGAGING AND CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION FOR UNKNOWN REASON. ANOTHER PROBLEM WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO TURN OFF WHEN NEEDED. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER WOULD GIVE OFF AN ODOR WHEN TURNED ON. DEALER /MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THESE MATTERS. *AK
NHTSA ID
837819
Incident
Jul 15, 1998
Electrical
Filed Mar 16, 1999
Fire reported
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE FIRE.
NHTSA ID
544410
Incident
Sep 8, 1998
Electrical
Filed Feb 3, 1999
Fire reported1 injury reported1 death reported
VEHICLE WAS RUNNING AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER WASN'T ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE IN TIME. *AK
NHTSA ID
831827
Incident
Mar 22, 1998
Electrical
Filed Oct 26, 1998
Fire reported
VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT ON FIRE. THERE WAS HEAVY SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO CALL THE FIRER DEPARTMENT TO COME AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. *AK
NHTSA ID
829520
Incident
Oct 25, 1998
Electrical
Filed Apr 14, 1997
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL, PREVENTING VEHICLE FROM STARTING.. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT)
NHTSA ID
516399
Incident
Jan 1, 1997
Electrical
Filed Apr 7, 1997
Fire reported
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO SPARKS FROM IGNITION SWITCH. *AK
NHTSA ID
810737
Incident
Mar 25, 1997
Electrical
Filed Dec 10, 1996
Fire reported
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE, THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT IT WAS THE WIRING HARNESS . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
NHTSA ID
806071
Incident
Dec 7, 1996
Electrical
Filed Oct 16, 1996
Fire reported
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THIS VEHICLE HAD AN RECALL FOR IGNITION SWITCH. THINKS THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS STARTED THE FIRE. 96V071000. *AK
NHTSA ID
803583
Incident
Jan 6, 1996
Electrical
Filed Sep 3, 1996
Fire reported
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE IGNITION AND CAUSED A FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL (96V-071). *AK
NHTSA ID
800768
Incident
Jul 23, 1996
Electrical
Filed Aug 12, 1996
Fire reported
VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH.
NHTSA ID
506047
Incident
Aug 7, 1994
Electrical
Filed May 14, 1996
Fire reported
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DSH
NHTSA ID
504562
Incident
Aug 7, 1994
Electrical
Filed Apr 30, 1996
Fire reported
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT, CAUSING FIRE. *DSH
NHTSA ID
503919
Incident
Apr 17, 1996
Electrical
Filed Apr 29, 1996
Fire reported
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO CATCH ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
NHTSA ID
983714
Electrical
Filed Apr 26, 1996
Fire reported
WHILE DRIVING, FLAMES STARTED COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN; MELTED ALL PLASTIC AND WIRING AROUND IGNITION SWITCH; FIRE PUT OUT WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHER. *AK
NHTSA ID
983662
Incident
Apr 1, 1996
Electrical
Filed Apr 23, 1996
Fire reported
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK IN THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO CATCH ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
NHTSA ID
983350
Electrical
Filed Apr 18, 1996
Fire reported
HEARD THE HORN BLOWING, THEN NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE GARAGE, DUE TO A SHORT IN THE IGNITION, RESULTING IN A TOTAL FIRE. *AK
NHTSA ID
982904
Electrical
Filed Mar 13, 1996
Fire reported
STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT FIRE CAUSED BY WIRES SHORTING OUT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ID
980679
Incident
Feb 12, 1996
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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own