Total Complaints
11 filings
FORD LTD · model year
1986 FORD LTD
11 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1986FORDLTD carries 11 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 2 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 1986 LTD is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline with 2 filings, followed by seats (2) and electrical system:ignition (2). 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 177 investigation files overlapping the 1986 LTD, and 8 remain open. 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.
11
Complaints
2
Crashes
2
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 |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| SEATS | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20010822STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
RIGHT REAR PASSENGER POWER DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK FROM INSIDE OF VEHICLE. LATCH COULD NOT BE MANUALLY LIFTED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
20000911FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTED IN VEHICLE FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *MJS
19990223ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION MODULE FAILED AND REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES, CAUSING ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
19980511ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CAR ENGINE DIED COMPLETELY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, REPLACE IGNITION MODULE SEVERAL TIMES.
19960624FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL FIRE. (RICE LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT) *SD
19960424ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
SHORT IN IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING IT TO COME APART (OTHER VEHICLE FROM 983187). *AK
19960327CrashSEATS
PURCHASED CAR USED, ON IMPACT, HIT FROM THE RIGHT REAR BACK, BOTH FRONT SEATS RECLINED BACKWARD PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
19960327CrashSEATS
PURCHASED CAR USED, ON IMPACT, HIT FROM THE RIGHT REAR BACK, BOTH FRONT SEATS RECLINED BACKWARD PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
19950622FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL PUMP REPLACED MANY TIMES OVER LAST TWO YEARS DUE TO FAILURES. *SKD
19950525SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT FAILURE, DIFFICULTY LATCHING THE SEAT BELT LATCH. TT
19950424ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER PURCHASE THE GRAND PRIX USED CAR WILL NOT AFTER 24 HOUR DEALER SOLD THE FORD KNOW IT NOT WORKING . TT
Compare 1986FORDLTD to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 8 Open
EA26001Engineering AnalysisOpen
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
PE25020Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Timing Belt Failure
DP25001Defect PetitionOpen
Underbody shields detachment
PE25007Preliminary EvaluationOpen
B-Pillar Trim Detachment
PE25002Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1986 FORD LTD have?▼
The 1986 FORD LTD has 11 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 2 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1986 FORD LTD?▼
The most-complained component for the 1986 FORD LTD is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEATS and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION.
Is the 1986 FORD LTD 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.