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1989 Ford Crown Victoria

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1989 Ford Crown Victoria do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 53.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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: 4 of 72 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 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports20 fire reports2 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

11 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2006
Vehicle Speed ControlFire

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 DI…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10168567

143,000 miles · Aug 24, 2004
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

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

NHTSA ODI #10089531

Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY CONSUMER TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND GAS PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE UP TO 50 MPH AT A STOP POSITION. CONSUMER HAD TO STEP ON BRAKES ALOT TO STOP VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8006882

Mileage unknown · May 12, 1999
Electrical SystemEquipmentVehicle Speed Control

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 THI…

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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 ODI #837819

Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOT STUCK, CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION, BRAKING SYSTEM WOULDN'T SLOW DOWN VEHICLE. HAD TO LIFT UP THE PEDAL, AND VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. CAUSE UNKNOWN. COMMON PROBLEM, DEALER NOTIFIED AND OWNER HAD CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGED IN HOPES OF PREVENTING FURTHER INCIDENTS. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #834831

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 1996
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

STARTED ENGINE, SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE, VEHICLE SHOUT OUT OF DRIVEWAY, RAN ACROSS ROAD INTO NEIGHBORS YARD, WENT THRU FENCE, DRIVER LOSS TOTAL CONTROL, VEHICLE STOPPED AFTER GOING THRU TWO YARDS PLUS MORE, NO PRIOR WARNING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #800870

Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 1996
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH, FOOT ON GAS PEDAL; MAINTAINING STEADY SPEED; ENGINE KEPT ACCELERATING; NO PRIOR WARNING, TOLD BY DEALER, CABLE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #982782

Mileage unknown · May 20, 1996
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK DOWN.PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #984679

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 1996
Vehicle Speed Control

SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *SD

NHTSA ODI #503069

Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 1996
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, RESULTING IN CRASHING INTO THE HOUSE. TT

NHTSA ODI #977560

Official recalls

2

96V071000 · Electrical System:ignition

Apr 25, 1996

THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.

Consequence & remedy

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.

90V151000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage

Aug 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 & remedy

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.

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

PE92069 · Steering Column Fires

Opened Aug 3, 1992 · Closed Nov 30, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

There is no summary currently available

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

PE91081 · Heat Hose Restrictor/fires

Opened Jun 3, 1991 · Closed Oct 29, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System

There is no summary currently available