12 of the 252 complaints about the 1994 Ford Crown Victoria are about the electrical system — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 82,390 miles.
12
Complaints
0
Crashes
6
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1994 CROWN VICTORIA ERUPTED INTO FLAMES WHEN STARTED. FIRST SMOKE CAME FROM THE DASHBOARD THEN FLAMES. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND SO THE SIDING ON THE HOUSE MELTED. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. THIS HAPPENED YESTERDAY JULY, 16, 2010.
NHTSA complaint #10343727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE REPAIR FOR RECALL 08V051000, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, CRUISE CONTROL WAS PERFORMED, THE ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE CONTACT PAID TO HAVE THE SPEEDOMETER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,730 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10335717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED IN AUGUST OF 2007 FOR A DEFECTIVE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. SHE RECEIVED A SECOND RECALL NOTICE FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL IN FEBRUARY OF 2008. ON FEBRUARY 22, 2008, THE CONTACT HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATED. THE FOLLOWING DAY, WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND TURN SIGNALS ACTIVATED, SHE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE BASE OF THE STEERING WHEEL. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER ON THE 25TH OF FEBRUARY AND THEY INSTALLED A LOCK-SET AND SWITCH ASSEMBLY DIRECTION. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT SHE SHOULD RECEIVE COMPENSATION FOR TRAVEL EXPENSES TO AND FROM THE DEALER AS WELL AS FOR WORRY OF A POTENTIAL FIRE. THE PURCHASE DATE AND RECALL NUMBERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,400 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,390. UPDATED 03-31-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STARTED WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. UPDATED 03/31/08
NHTSA complaint #10219396 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD CROWN VICTORIA LX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SQUEAKED AND SQUEALED. THE CONTACT REFUSED TO PROVIDE DETAILED FAILURE INFORMATION. SHE STATED THAT SHE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE SUSPENSION: FRONT CONTROL UPPER ARM UPPER BALL JOINTS AND LOWER BALL JOINTS (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #95V194000, 98V322000). THE MILEAGE INFORMATION WAS UNAVAILABLE BECAUSE THE ODOMETER FAILED AT 162,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10205244 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
CAR PARKED IN FRONT OF HOME. HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR 1.5 HOURS PRIOR TO FIRE. ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE, FIRE QUICKLY SPREAD TO REST OF CAR. ENGINE, HOOD, GRILL TOTALLY MELTED. VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. *AK REFERENCED IN EA02-025
NHTSA complaint #742095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
TRANS. SHUTTERS BETWEEN AROUND 35 MPH & AGAIN @ 50 MPH. SERVICED TWICE. ELECT. - VOLTAGE DROPS AT IDLE WHILE IN GEAR - ALL LIGHTS & ELECTRICAL DIM BUT COME BACK UPON ACCELERATION. NEW BATTERY; NEW ALTERNATOR. SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #734686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
CAR PARKED IN GARAGE AT 4:15PM 2-10. AT APROX. 12:15AM 2-11 BEEPING WAS HEARD COMING FROM GARAGE AND SMOKE WAS COMING OUT. FIRE DEPT CAME AND CROWN VICTORIA WAS IN FLAMES. CAR WAS TOTALLED. SECOND CAR HAS $6000 IN DAMAGE. GARAGE MAY HAVE TO BE REPLACED WITH ESTIMATES AT $12,000.-- TO $13,000.00. IF GARAGE WERE NOT DETACHED THE DAMAGES AND POSSIBLITY OF INJURY WOULD HAVE BEEN SUBSTANCIALLY HIGHER. *AK REFERENCED IN EA02-025
NHTSA complaint #718709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
I HAVE REPEATEDLY REQUESTED MY VEHICLE TO BE CHECKED FOR THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: 1) THE ENGINE NOCKS EXCESSIVELY WHENEVER GOING UP HILL. 2) THE VEHICLE INSTERMITTENTLY EMITS A HIGH PITCHED ELECTRONIC BEEPING SOUND SIMILAR TO A TUNING FORK. IT SOUNDS SIMILAR TO SOUNDS COMING FROM PERSONAL COMPUTERS. THIS SOUND OCCURS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NOCKING OF THE ENGINE. I HAVE REQUESTED THE VEHICLE BE INSPECTED BY THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, BUT THEY CLAIM THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE IT. I POINTED OUT TO THEM THAT THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE CAR'S POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) BUT THEY CLAIM THEY UNVERIFIED PROBLEM IS UNRELATED TO THAT COMPONENT. INCIDENTALLY, THE SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER IS 96-25-11. THE BULLETIN INSTRUCTS THE TECHNICIAN TO REPROGRAM THE PCM. THANKS.
NHTSA complaint #706495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #531128 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
LOCATION OF HORN BUTTONS CAUSE DIFFICULTY ACCESSING IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.
NHTSA complaint #533202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. TT REFERENCED IN EA02-025
NHTSA complaint #978243 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. TT
NHTSA complaint #978243 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.