15 of the 48 complaints about the 1987 Ford Crown Victoria are about the electrical system — 31% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 99,477 miles.
15
Complaints
1
Crashes
10
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL 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.
NHTSA complaint #10029264 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL 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.
NHTSA complaint #899501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL 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".
NHTSA complaint #732689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MOTOR WON'T START SOMETIMES. AKSO, WHEN DRIVING ON FREEWAY MOTOR WILL COMPLETELY DIE. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS UNSAFE.
NHTSA complaint #869527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL 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
NHTSA complaint #829944 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION MODULE MALFUNCTIONED FOUR TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #523943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #506938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #505907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHILE PARKED NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN, AFTER DISCONNECTING BATTERY FOUND 1/4 OF IGNITION WIRING HAD BURNT.
NHTSA complaint #801119 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DIFFICULT TO INSERT KEY IN IGNITION AS WELL AS TURNING KEY.
NHTSA complaint #984619 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #505081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #504506 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE PARKED, KEY OUT OF IGNITION SWITCH; NO INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEMS; FIRE STARTED AROUND IGNITION AREA; VEHICLE TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #983824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE PARKED, KEY OUT OF IGNITION SWITCH; NO INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEMS; FIRE STARTED AROUND IGNITION AREA; VEHICLE TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #983824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AN IT WENT UP IN FLAMES. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #983167 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.