1989 Ford CROWN VICTORIA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
46 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
90,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1989 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 46 complaints (17.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 7 | 15.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 10.9% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 10.9% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 6.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 6.5% |
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 | 8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 4 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 2 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 8; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 4; Electrical System:Wiring: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 2
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 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 42 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 | 11 |
| 1996 | 15 |
| 2000 | 4 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
1995: 11; 1996: 15; 2000: 4; 2001: 3; 2002: 4; 2003: 6; 2004: 2; 2006: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10011966 · 2003-03-18 (March 18, 2003)
THE KEY WAS DIFFICULT TO INSERT INTO THE IGNITION BUT ONCE INSERTED THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011966 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012330 · 2003-03-24 (March 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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012330 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038976 · 2003-09-16 (September 16, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 91,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10038976 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040949 · 2003-09-30 (September 30, 2003)
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 !
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040949 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049971 · 2003-12-03 (December 3, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10049971 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053303 · 2003-12-31 (December 31, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10053303 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10069982 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
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 W…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10069982 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089531 · 2004-08-24 (August 24, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 143,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10089531 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
90V151000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage
Reported: 1990-08-21 (August 21, 1990)
GLASS ELEMENT THAT SEPARATES ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY FROM PRESSURIZED FUEL MAY LOOSEN AND CREATE AN OPENING THAT COULD ALLOW PRESSURIZED FUEL TO ENTER BODY OF SENSOR.
Consequence: UNDER THESE CONDITIONS OF SEAL DETERIORATION, THE HOUSINGCOVER WOULD NOT CONTAIN FUEL, CAUSING A FUEL LEAK WHICH, IN THE PRESENCE OF ASOURCE OF IGNITION, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: INSTALL NEW OPTICAL SENSORS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V071000 · Electrical System:Ignition
Reported: 1996-04-25 (April 25, 1996)
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
NHTSA campaign record ↗