1985 Ford CROWN VICTORIA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
16 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
77,825 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1985 model year. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 16 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 18.8% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 18.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 12.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 6.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 6.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 4 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Webbing | 1 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 4; Electrical System:Ignition: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Webbing: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 15 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 2 |
| 1996 | 6 |
| 2000 | 7 |
| 2007 | 1 |
1995: 2; 1996: 6; 2000: 7; 2007: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 736556 · 2000-11-19 (November 19, 2000)
ON THE FAILURE DATE SPECIFIED, I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 65 MILES PER HOUR WHILE USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. FOR SOME REASON I DO NOT PRESENTLY RECALL, I NEEDED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE TWO OR THREE TIMES AND THE CAR CONTINUED AT HIGH SPEED. THEN I PUT THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND JIGGLED THE GAS PEDAL A FEW TIMES, THEN THE ENGINE SPEED RETURNED TO NORMAL. A SIMILAR MALFUNCTION OF THE THROTTLE OCCURED DURING THE PRECEDING WEEK A COUPLE OF TIMES, BUT NO MAJOR PROBLEM; SINCE AT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 736556 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 873347 · 2000-10-18 (October 18, 2000)
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON HIGHWAY COMING INTO TOWN. AND VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. NO BRAKES/NO POWER STEERING, VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO DELL'S SERVICE CENTER. SERVICE CENTER REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE AND DISTRIBUTOR PICK UP, AND THEY ARE FORD PARTS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 873347 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 983025 · 1996-04-18 (April 18, 1996)
NOTICED THE HORN BLOWING, THEN NOTICE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE ON FIRE IN THE STEERING AND DASH AREA, FIRE DEPT SAID ELECTRICAL FIRE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983025 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 504020 · 1996-05-06 (May 6, 1996)
ELECTRICAL FIRE. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504020 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 874998 · 2000-11-15 (November 15, 2000)
CAR STALLS AT ANY GIVEN TIME OR SPEED. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY TWO PIECES OF METAL THAT CONNECT IGNITION SWITCH, AND DO NOT STAY CONNECTED, THAT'S WHY VEHICLE STALLS.*AK IGNITION SWITCH HAVE BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES. IT APPEARS THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 874998 at NHTSA ↗