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1987 Ford Crown Victoria

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1987 Ford Crown Victoria do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 53.

About this comparison →
41Owner complaints

Model-year median: 53

4Recall campaigns

View recall details →

3Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
6
198421
198527
198641
198742
198872
198943
1990
Compare all Crown Victoria years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
14Vehicle Speed Control
7Fuel System, Gasoline
5Seat Belts
5Engine And Engine Cooling
4
All reported categories
Power Train
4Steering
3Structure
2Exterior Lighting
1Tires
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 3 of 41 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports12 fire reports2 injury reports

Power Train complaints

4 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 1998
Power Train

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 THI…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #700715

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 1995
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

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 PUR…

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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

NHTSA ODI #973875

Mileage unknown · Aug 24, 1995
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #483296

Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 1995
Power Train

THE CAR ENGINE RACES REAL HIGH AND THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT DRIVE THE CAR. URATHANE GROMMET CRACKED AND FELL OFF. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT

NHTSA ODI #967344

Official recalls

4

88V028000 · Seat Belts:front:retractor

Mar 8, 1988

AUTOMATIC RETRACTOR FOR SEAT BELTS FOR DUAL FACING REAR SEATS MAY BE INSTALLED IN AN IMPROPER LOCATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SEAT BELT COULD BIND BETWEEN SEAT CUSHION AND SEAT BACKCAUSING THE RETRACTOR TO BE SLUGGISH OR UNABLE TO TAKE UP EXCESS BELT SLACK.

Remedy: REMOVE AND PROPERLY INSTALL THE RIGHT AUXILIARY SEAT BELTS.

87V139000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Sep 4, 1987

SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.

Remedy: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.

87V131000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System

Aug 17, 1987

FUEL RAILS MAY BE BENT SO THAT NO. 5 INJECTOR CUPS ARE OUT OF DESIGN POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: BENT FUEL RAIL COULD CAUSE A FUEL LEAK, WHICH INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE FIRE.

Remedy: REPLACE FUEL RAIL ASSEMBLIES AS NECESSARY.

87V012000 · Steering:linkages:rod:relay:connecting

Feb 9, 1987

STEERING CENTERLINKS MAY BREAK AT A BEND LOCATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: STEERING CONTROL WOULD BE DIMINISHED, WITH REDUCEDCONTROL OF LEFT WHEEL ONLY AND CONSIDERABLE STEERING WHEEL FREE PLAY.

Remedy: REPLACE STEERING CENTERLINK.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

3

PE91125 · Brake Line Punctures

Opened Sep 11, 1991 · Closed Jan 15, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

There is no summary currently available

PE88101 · Engine Comp Fires

Opened Sep 14, 1988 · Closed Jan 3, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

PE87055 · Fires

Opened Sep 9, 1987 · Closed Mar 10, 1988

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER: MANUFACTURER HAS BEENCONTACTED. SERVICE BULLETIN, TSB ARTICLE NO.87-18-13, PROVIDES PROCEDURESFOR REWORKING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLER LINE COUPLING TO THE RADIATOR,WHERE FLUID LEAKS CAN ORIGINATE. THE TSB STATES ... THE QUICK DISCONNECTFITTING SHOULD NOT BE REUSED BECAUSE IT MAY NOT RESEAL PROPERLY AND CANRESULT IN REPEAT REPAIR.VEHICLE POPULATION1985 19861987 FORD 187,300115,600 120,300 MERCURY151,000101,700 122,800 TOT=804,700THE ONE REPORTED INJURY ALLEDGES EYE AND THROAT IRRITATION DUE TO SMOKEAND SOOT. THE FIRES ARE GENERALLY CONFINED TO UNDER THE HOOD AND PRECEDEDBY LOSS OF POWER DUE TO LEAKING OF TRANSMISSION FLUID FROM THE VEHICLE.FORD REPORTED NO LAWSUITS, NO WARRANTY CLAIMS, AND ODI HAS RECEIVED ONLYONE REPORT SINCE OPENING THIS P.E.THE RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF COMPLAINTSINDICATES THAT A DEFECT TREND DOES NOT EXIST AT THIS TIME.PROPOSED ACTION: CLOSE THIS P.E.===