1989 Ford Crown Victoria Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 5about this part
- Share
- 7%of 72 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 117,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1989 Ford Crown Victoria, 7% of the 72 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 117,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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 either have to spend 1200 dollars for a rebuild, or scrap a car which is otherwise in perfect shape. If this is a known issue, why is there no recall? A 50 cent part is costing 1200!”
NHTSA complaint #10038976, filed 2003-09, 91,000 miles“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, filed 2004-08, 143,000 miles“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 malfunction causing loss of headlights and/or both headlights and tail lights causing major safety hazard while driving at night. Brakes: squealing and fading front brakes, excessive ware on front pads, rear brakes dont adjust causing severe nose-diving while stopping.”
NHTSA complaint #10069982, filed 2004-01Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 2 | 9% |
| 2009 | 7 | 16% |
| 2008 | 3 | 6% |
| 2007 | 3 | 6% |
| 2006 | 3 | 6% |
| 2005 | 14 | 7% |
| 2004 | 5 | 4% |
| 2003 | 25 | 10% |
| 2002 | 1 | 2% |
| 2001 | 1 | 2% |
| 2000 | 3 | 4% |
| 1999 | 9 | 7% |
| 1998 | 8 | 7% |
| 1997 | 7 | 2% |
| 1996 | 11 | 4% |
| 1995 | 13 | 5% |
| 1994 | 22 | 11% |
| 1993 | 43 | 24% |
| 1992 | 33 | 11% |
| 1991 | 6 | 11% |
| 1990 | 3 | 7% |
| 1989 | 5 | 7% |
| 1988 | 3 | 7% |
| 1987 | 4 | 10% |
| 1986 | 1 | 4% |
| 1985 | 2 | 10% |
| 1983 | 1 | 20% |
Other parts of the 1989 Ford Crown Victoria
24 complaintsVehicle speed control
11 complaintsEngine cooling
9 complaintsSeat belts
6 complaintsBrakes
4 complaintsBody and structure
4 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
4 complaintsEquipment
3 complaintsSeats
3 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaintsSteering
2 complaintsTires
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1989 Ford Crown Victoria
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology