Defect
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
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.
1989 Ford Crown Victoria Recalls
Recalls on record Updated July 2026
The 1989 Ford Crown Victoria has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 7,900,225 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 86 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
Defect
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
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.
Complaints by component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
14fires1injuries1deaths
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
3crashes1fires2injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
3fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
2fires
Total complaints86
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“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…”
“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”
“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”
“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”
“Plastic grommet attaching linkage from fuel injection unit to transmission broke. I drove the car about 5 miles to a transmission shop. The owner of the shop said this is a known issue, and replaced it with a brass grommet, but told me that as soon as this breaks, transmission damage occurs. I now…”
“The ignition switch that was put on his vehicle about 2 years ago, as a result of the recall, was defective and does not work properly. The consumer stated that the switch will not turn to accessory and the key is hard to go in the ignition, then when it does go in it sparks. The consumer is…”
“The key was difficult to insert into the ignition but once inserted the driver was unable to turn the key. *nlm”
“Paint: clear coat peeled completely off of hood, trunk, roof, tops of fenders, all areas in direct sunlight. Suspension: rear springs fatiqued causing premature shock ware. Transmission: loss of third gear and over drive, major front seal leak, needed complete overhaul. Other: headlight switch…”
Defect investigations
Investigation PE91081 Opened 1991-06-03 · closed 1991-10-29
HEAT HOSE RESTRICTOR/FIRES
There is no summary currently available
Investigation PE91125 Opened 1991-09-11 · closed 1992-01-15
BRAKE LINE PUNCTURES
There is no summary currently available
Investigation PE92069 Opened 1992-08-03 · closed 1992-11-30
STEERING COLUMN FIRES
There is no summary currently available
Sources & methodology
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1989 Ford Crown Victoria as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.