Total Complaints
48 filings
FORD CROWN VICTORIA · model year
1987 FORD CROWN VICTORIA
48 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1987FORDCROWN VICTORIA carries 48 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 15 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1987 CROWN VICTORIA is electrical system:ignition:switch with 11 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (4) and vehicle speed control (4). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 1987 CROWN VICTORIA. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
48
Complaints
2
Crashes
15
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 11 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 4 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 4 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 3 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20080509FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1987 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND THE VEHICLE EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 87V131000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM) WAS REFERENCED. POLICE AND FIRE REPORTS WERE FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 94,000. UPDATED 06/04/08. *LJ
Mileage: 94,000
20080509FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1987 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND THE VEHICLE EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 87V131000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM) WAS REFERENCED. POLICE AND FIRE REPORTS WERE FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 94,000. UPDATED 06/04/08. *LJ
Mileage: 94,000
20080509FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1987 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND THE VEHICLE EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 87V131000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM) WAS REFERENCED. POLICE AND FIRE REPORTS WERE FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 94,000. UPDATED 06/04/08. *LJ
Mileage: 94,000
20030726ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
TFI MODULE SUDDEN FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. COULD NOT RESTART ENGINE. FORTUNATELY SPEED WAS ONLY 15 MPH. IF I HAD BEEN AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS.*AK
Mileage: 99,477
20030603SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE SPRING INSIDE THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED AND AS A RESULT THE BUCKLE DID NOT LOCK (BUCKLE SERIAL NUMBER 2CM328401 ALLIED CHEMICAL). *AK *CB *NLM
Mileage: 114,700
20030522ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB
20020508STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
LOUD POPPING SOUND HEARD. STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. VISIBLE FAILURE ON RIGHT FRONT AS TIRE WAS TURNED TOWARD THE ENGINE AT THE TOP AND TURNED OUTWARD AT THE PAVEMENT. REAR UPPER BODY FRAME COMPLETE SEPARATION BY 2 INCHES, AND FRONT UPPER BODY FRAME VISIBLE FRACTURE AND READY FOR SEPARATION. ENGINE WAS RESTING ON THE MANIFOLD. IF THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN MOVING ANY FASTER THAN 5MPH, THERE WOULD OR COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS INJURY HAD THE ENGINE COLLAPSED COMPLETELY TO THE PAVEMENT WHILE TRAVELLING. I THOUGHT IT WAS A UNIVERSAL JOINT OR A FAILED SHOCK.
20011127ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH AND STEERING WHEEL COLUMN BEGIN TO HEAT UP. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER REFUSE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNLESS THEY PAY. *YD
20011127STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
IGNITION SWITCH AND STEERING WHEEL COLUMN BEGIN TO HEAT UP. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER REFUSE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNLESS THEY PAY. *YD
20010410TIRES:TREAD/BELT
LEFT REAR FIRESTONE TIRE, SIZE: P205/75R15, DOT: ICULP2A078 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 TO 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE 75. INSIDE OF FENDER WALL AND TRUNK EXPERIENCED DAMAGE DUE TO THIS DEFECTIVE TIRE. APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AGO, RIGHT FRONT TIRE - SAME SIZE - HAD BALLOONED OUT ON SIDEWALL. WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS SEPARATING ON INSIDE. THERE WERE ONLY ABOUT 20 TO 30,000 MILES ON TIRES. *AK TIRES ARE BRIDGESTONE ROADHANDLERS. *SLC
20001010FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
I OWN A 1987 FORD CROWN VICTORIA S/W WHOSE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED IN 1998 BY A FORD DEALER IN DUNDALK, MD. IT WAS REPLACED WITH A "FORD REMANUFACTURED" UNIT ALONG WITH THE CONNECTOR. LAST WEEK I STARTED THE CAR AND DROVE ABOUT 200 YARDS WHEN I NOTICED THE "AMP" LIGHT SHOWING RED ON THE DASH PANEL AND MY WIFE CONCURRENTLY YELLING "THERE'S SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD". I DID A "U" TURN AND PROCEEDED TO MY GARAGE WHERE I OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW SMOKE POURING OUT FROM THE BACK OF THE ALTERNATOR AND THEN IT BURST INTO FLAMES. I DOUSED THE FIRE WITH A CO2 EXTINGUISHER BUT THE FLAMES RE-APPEARED. I CUT THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL CABLE AND THE FLAMES BECAME EXTINGUISHED. THE WIRES ON THE HARNESS ARE "COOKED".*AK
20000905ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MOTOR WON'T START SOMETIMES. AKSO, WHEN DRIVING ON FREEWAY MOTOR WILL COMPLETELY DIE. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS UNSAFE. *AK
20000905ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
MOTOR WON'T START SOMETIMES. AKSO, WHEN DRIVING ON FREEWAY MOTOR WILL COMPLETELY DIE. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS UNSAFE. *AK
20000207VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
CONSUMER WAS SITTING AT A STOP SIGN WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY ACCELERATED INTO THE TRAFFIC. CONSUMER STATED IT HAD HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. *AK
19991014VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS, SPEED CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE, VEHICLE PICKED UP SPEED, AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK
19990923FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
ENGINE SURGES WHILE IDLING OR AT TRAFFIC STOPS FOUND RECALL NOTICE FOR FUEL RAIL ASSEMBLY AND HAVE READ ABOUT NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS IN SAME MODEL OF VEHICLE CALLED SERVICE DEPT. AND DEALERSHIP AND WAS GIVEN THE BRUSHOFF PERSON I TALKED TO WAS STAND OFFISH AND UNCOOPERATIVE WOULDN'T GIVE INFO ON RECALL BULLETINS
19990225VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT/INJURY.(ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).
19981118POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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.
19981102FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IGNITION SWITCH CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE THE CAR WAS OFF . THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. AK
19980826ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE IDLES FAST, REPAIRS MADE HOWEVER PROBLEM CONTINUES.
Compare 1987FORDCROWN VICTORIA to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1987 FORD CROWN VICTORIA have?▼
The 1987 FORD CROWN VICTORIA has 48 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 15 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1987 FORD CROWN VICTORIA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1987 FORD CROWN VICTORIA is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH with 11 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 1987 FORD CROWN VICTORIA safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.