Total Complaints
49 filings
FORD CROWN VICTORIA · model year
1988 FORD CROWN VICTORIA
49 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988FORDCROWN VICTORIA carries 49 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 13 fires, 4 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 1988 CROWN VICTORIA is electrical system:ignition:switch with 8 filings, followed by electrical system:wiring:interior/under dash (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 1988 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.
49
Complaints
2
Crashes
13
Fires
4
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 | 8 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 4 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 4 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20100609WHEELS
I RAN OVER A PIECE OF STRUCTURAL STEEL ON THE FREEWAY AND WRECKED THE RIGHT REAR TIRE AND WHEEL. I FOUND THAT I COULD NOT REMOVE THE WHEEL LUG NUTS USING THE LUG WRENCH FURNISHED WITH THE CAR. I SUCCEEDED IN CHANGING THE TIRE BY USING THE BREAKER BAR INCLUDED WITH MY HALF INCH DRIVE SOCKET SET THAT I HAPPENED TO HAVE IN THE TRUNK. TWENTY YEARS LATER FORD WAS STILL FURNISHING WITH THEIR CARS SHORT ARM (EFFECTIVE LENGTH ABOUT 9 INCHES) LUG WRENCHES THAT COULD NOT POSSIBLY BE USED TO CHANGE A TIRE. *TR
Mileage: 1,900
20100317FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1988 FORD CROWN VICTORIA 5.0 LITER 302 CUBIC INCH ENGINE (FUEL INJECTED). SECOND GENERATION (2G) ALTERNATOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TR
Mileage: 125,000
20030505ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
NHTSA# 96-V-071-000: THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT. CONSUMER STATES HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON SIMILAR MAKES AND MODELS, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDE DUE TO VIN# DEALER NOTIFIED. *TR
20020909VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR ALMOST GOT ME KILLED. THE THROTTLE WENT TO THE FLOOR AND WOULDN'T LET UP. TO KEEP FROM CRASHING INTO OTHERS WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND RUIN THE TRANSMISSION BEFORE THE CAR WOULD STOP.*AK
20020820ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE OIL PAN CORRODED AND BEGAN TO LEAK OIL, CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THIS VEHICLE. *SLC
20010129ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
DEFECTIVE IGNITION MODULE CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL IN AN INTERSECTION. NLM
20010123ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
DEFECTIVE IGNITION MODULE CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL IN AN INTERSECTION. NLM
20010123ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
IGNITION MODULE ASSEMBLY FAILED CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL, ONCE STALLED THE ENGINE WOULD CRANK BUT NOT START. NLM
20010118ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE STALLS WHEN IT COMES TO A STOP. HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE YEARS. *AK
20001024ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
I HAVE REPLACED THE EGR VALVE ($77.29), TPS ($29.89), HAD A DIAGNOSTIC ($30.00), CAP/ROTOR/PLUGS/WIRES REPLACED ($72.29), NEW STARTER ($32.89), FUEL FILTER ($17.89), VACCUM TEST ($42.69), BATTERY CHARGE CHECK (FREE), ALTINATOR TEST (FREE) AND MY CAR STILL STALLS AND IS HARD TO START. PLEASE CONTATCT ME CONCERNING THIS MATTER. SOMETHING IS DEFENETLY GOING ON WITH MY VEHICLE. I HOPE A SAFETY MATTER CAN BE REVEALED BEFORE ANY GETS HURT OR KILLED. THANK YOU FOR KEEPING OUR VEHICLES SAFE ON THE ROAD AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
19991214POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONS, SLIPS. YH
19991214SUSPENSION
NOISE COMING FROM FRONT AND REAR END ON HARD TURNING. YH
19990217STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
CONSUMER COMPLAINING OF STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP AT TIMES. ALSO THE WHEEL MUST BE ALIGNED TO REMOVE THE KEY. CONSUMER HAS TO MOVE WHEEL BACK AND FORTH IN ORDER TO GET THE WHEEL TO MOVE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
19981102CrashPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SPEED CONTROL - ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS HAVE EITHER STEPPED ON BRAKE OR PRESSED OFF SWITCH TO DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL BUT THE VEHICLE INCREASED SPEED BACK TO THE SETTING OF 65MPH. ONCE THIS HAPPENED IN A CONSTRUCTION AREA WITH A LARGE VOLUME OF TRAFFIC. TRANSMISSION PROBLEM - ON 10-27-1998, AFTER MY WIFE PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK (IN OUR DRIVEWAY), THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF PARK ON ROLLED INTO THE WOODS BEHIND THE HOUSE. MY WIFE WAS INJURED WHEN TRYING TO GET BACK INTO THE CAR TO STOP IT. SHE WAS KNOCKED DOWN TO THE GROUND BY THE CAR. THE VEHICLE HAS BODY DAMAGE AND THE CATYLITIC CONVERTED WAS DAMAGED.
19981102CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SPEED CONTROL - ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS HAVE EITHER STEPPED ON BRAKE OR PRESSED OFF SWITCH TO DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL BUT THE VEHICLE INCREASED SPEED BACK TO THE SETTING OF 65MPH. ONCE THIS HAPPENED IN A CONSTRUCTION AREA WITH A LARGE VOLUME OF TRAFFIC. TRANSMISSION PROBLEM - ON 10-27-1998, AFTER MY WIFE PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK (IN OUR DRIVEWAY), THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF PARK ON ROLLED INTO THE WOODS BEHIND THE HOUSE. MY WIFE WAS INJURED WHEN TRYING TO GET BACK INTO THE CAR TO STOP IT. SHE WAS KNOCKED DOWN TO THE GROUND BY THE CAR. THE VEHICLE HAS BODY DAMAGE AND THE CATYLITIC CONVERTED WAS DAMAGED.
19981020VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION AND INJURIES.
19980713STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
19971218POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
PLASTIC LINKAGE GROMMET FAILED DUE TO DETERIORATION, CAUSING DAMAGE TO TRANSMISSION.
19970924FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WHEN FUEL TANK IS FILLED TO ITS CAPACITY OCCASIONALLY IT OVERFLOWS INTO THE HOSE INSIDE TRUNK AREA AND EXITS THROUGH THIS COMPARTMENT. NON- DRAINAGE OF FUEL. THIS ALLOW FUMES TO OVERCOME OCCUPANTS (CAUSING SICKNESS.) FINALE: RUPTURED HOSE. *AK
19970911ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN OR WHEN MAKING A TURN, THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS BEEN WORKED ON SEVERAL TIMES, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, REPAIR MAN STATES NO MORE CAN BE DONE. *SLC
Compare 1988FORDCROWN VICTORIA to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1988 FORD CROWN VICTORIA have?▼
The 1988 FORD CROWN VICTORIA has 49 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 13 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 FORD CROWN VICTORIA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 FORD CROWN VICTORIA is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH with 8 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 1988 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.