Total Complaints
11 filings
FORD LTD · model year
1986 FORD LTD
11 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
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.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 1986 LTD is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline with 2 filings, followed by seats (2) and electrical system:ignition (2). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.
NHTSA currently has 179 investigation files overlapping the 1986 LTD, and 6 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
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 6 Open
EA26004Engineering AnalysisOpen
Timing Belt Failure
DP26004Defect PetitionOpen
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illuminated
EA26001Engineering AnalysisOpen
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
PE25020Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Timing Belt Failure
DP25001Defect PetitionClosed
Underbody shields detachment
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 vintage: August 2026. 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.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 1986 FORD LTD; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.