12 of the
86 complaints about the 1989 Ford Crown Victoria are about the
throttle and cruise control — 14% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
143,000 miles.
F
12
Complaints
3
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Vehicle Speed Control
650.0%
Accelerator Pedal
325.0%
Cruise Control
18.3%
Cables
18.3%
Linkages
18.3%
Acceleration & Cruise Control across every Ford Crown Victoria year
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 UNDER IT AND PULLING UP. THAT DIDN'T WORK SO I HIT THE GAS PEDAL A FEW TIMES, BELIEVING IT WAS STUCK SOMEHOW. WHEN THAT DIDN'T WORK I HIT THE BRAKES TO PULL THE CAR OVER. THE CAR WAS QUICKLY GAINING SPEED AS I DID ALL OF THESE THINGS AND HITTING THE BRAKES DIDN'T DO ANYTHING AT ALL. THEN I STOOD ON THE BRAKES WITH BOTH FEET WHILE THE CAR WAS UP TO 80 MPH. STANDING ON THE BRAKES WITH BOTH FEET ONLY BROUGHT IT DOWN TO 60 MPH. I THEN MANAGED TO GET THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL GEAR AND PULL IT OVER ON THE SHOULDER BY ALSO USING THE BRAKES, BUT IT WAS REVVING HIGH AND BLACK SMOKE WAS NOW COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND RAN DOWN THE ROAD AWAY FROM THE CAR, WHEN THE CAR STARTED SPARKING UNDERNEATH, THEN IT BROKE INTO FLAMES. THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND 2 TIRES EXPLODED BEFORE THE FIRE COMPANY ARRIVED.
NHTSA complaint #10168567 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 143,000 milesColumbia, PA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
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.
NHTSA complaint #10089531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 143,000 milesColumbia, PA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
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.
NHTSA complaint #10089531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Saginaw, MI
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY CONSUMER TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND GAS PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE UP TO 50 MPH AT A STOP POSITION. CONSUMER HAD TO STEP ON BRAKES ALOT TO STOP VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING.
NHTSA complaint #8006882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gardengrove, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH CRUISE CONTROL INTERMITTENTLY ENGAGING AND CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION FOR UNKNOWN REASON. ANOTHER PROBLEM WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO TURN OFF WHEN NEEDED. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER WOULD GIVE OFF AN ODOR WHEN TURNED ON. DEALER /MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THESE MATTERS.
NHTSA complaint #837819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kings Park, NY
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE DRIVING ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOT STUCK, CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION, BRAKING SYSTEM WOULDN'T SLOW DOWN VEHICLE. HAD TO LIFT UP THE PEDAL, AND VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. CAUSE UNKNOWN. COMMON PROBLEM, DEALER NOTIFIED AND OWNER HAD CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGED IN HOPES OF PREVENTING FURTHER INCIDENTS. *AK
NHTSA complaint #834831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNK, 00
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN ACCELERATION.
NHTSA complaint #503069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dunbar, PACrash2 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
STARTED ENGINE, SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE, VEHICLE SHOUT OUT OF DRIVEWAY, RAN ACROSS ROAD INTO NEIGHBORS YARD, WENT THRU FENCE, DRIVER LOSS TOTAL CONTROL, VEHICLE STOPPED AFTER GOING THRU TWO YARDS PLUS MORE, NO PRIOR WARNING.
NHTSA complaint #800870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brockport, NY
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH, FOOT ON GAS PEDAL; MAINTAINING STEADY SPEED; ENGINE KEPT ACCELERATING; NO PRIOR WARNING, TOLD BY DEALER, CABLE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #982782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Massillon, OH
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK DOWN.PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #984679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bradenton, FLCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, RESULTING IN CRASHING INTO THE HOUSE. TT
NHTSA complaint #977560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bradenton, FLCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DRIVER NOTICED WIDE OPEN THROTTLE AND VEHICLE SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE. TT
NHTSA complaint #977430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.