1991 Ford Crown Victoria Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 1991 Crown Victoria most often describe stalling or sudden loss of power while driving, unexpected acceleration or engine racing, and smoke or fire from electrical wiring. Transmission park or gear selection problems and air bag warning lights are also reported, and several complaints describe dealers replacing parts without resolving the symptom. Most complaints list no mileage, and the stalls and acceleration events are described as sudden, while some electrical smoke and fire reports are linked to parked or unused vehicles.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Stalling or sudden loss of power while driving

   • 6 complaints (11%)
   • typically at 9.9 yrs old
   • filed 1995–2002

   Owners describe the engine stalling when turning or slowing down, and at idle or near idle, with one owner describing a complete shutdown at 30 to 40 mph without warning. Dealers have replaced an idle sensor without remedying the problem, and in one case the dealer attributed the stalling to a malfunctioning ignition. Another owner describes a complete loss of vehicle power, repeatedly and at various speeds, after an inertia switch activated on its own. No mileage is listed for these complaints, and the stalls are described when turning, slowing, at idle, or at 30 to 40 mph.

   What to check: Ask whether the idle sensor, ignition and inertia switch were checked, and whether any stored codes were read. A buyer can test the car at idle and during slow turns and slowing down, and ask the seller about any previous stalling.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Car has started to stall repeatedly at idle or near idle speeds but not consistantly, otherwise runs fine. Airbag light also blinks on and off 9 times stops and re starts blinks consistantly, works?”

   NHTSA complaint #753024, filed 2001-10

   “While driving around corners or slowing down vehicle would stall, dealer contacted and informed consumer that owners problem was caused by a malfunctioned ignition.”

   NHTSA complaint #8003299, filed 2002-01
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Sudden acceleration or engine racing

   • 8 complaints (15%)
   • median 94,500 mi at 14.5 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2006

   Owners describe the car accelerating on its own after being put into drive from a stop or after starting, and in one case the dealer determined the throttle pedal had seized. In one complaint the car kept accelerating after being put into reverse and then park, and the brakes did not stop it before it struck parked vehicles. Other owners describe engine revving at a high rate while driving at about 65 mph, and an engine that intermittently races in park or neutral. Mileage is listed for only a few of these complaints, from about 89,000 to about 100,000 miles, and the events are described at a stop, just after starting, or while driving at speed.

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle linkage and pedal were inspected for sticking or seizing, and whether the idle control was checked for racing. On a test drive, confirm that the engine returns smoothly to idle when the pedal is released.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I started my car, put it in drive, and the car accelerated at a high rate of speed. The car would not respond to the application of the brake, it wouldn't stop! I hit a parked car. I put the car in re- verse, put the car in park, went to get out of the car and it again accelerated into another parked vehicle. My car couldn't be stopped by applying the brake. Can a car go forward while in park? I have never had a problem with my car until this incident. I'm only guessing at the cost of the damage. It could be a lot less. …”

   NHTSA complaint #700705, filed 1998-11

   “When the vehicle was idling the consumer smelled a heavy scent of oil burning. While driving at 65 MPH, the engine began revving at a high rate. Also, the transmission gears would not go into third or fourth gear. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the consumer that the bushing was made of plastic. However, the bushing should be made from metal. The manufacturer had been informed. When the cable linkage was disconnected, the destruction of the clutch would occur. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10046325, filed 2003-12, 89,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Smoke, burning or fire from electrical wiring

   • 10 complaints (18%)
   • median 89,000 mi at 13.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2003

   Owners describe smoke inside a parked vehicle, an alternator fire that spread to nearby wiring and melted harnesses, and a vehicle that burned to the ground after it had not been driven for days. Another reports smoke from the ignition after a jump start, and one describes burnt wires after an open circuit to the ignition switch. In the fire that burned the vehicle, the cause was not yet determined, and the owner says an engineer told them faulty components could start a fire. No mileage is listed for these complaints, and several describe the smoke or fire happening while the vehicle was parked or had not been used.

   What to check: Look for melted wire insulation, burn marks or a burnt smell around the alternator, ignition switch and wiring harnesses, and ask whether any fire investigation or wiring repair was done. Ask the seller whether the vehicle had a jump start or repeated no-start problems before the sale.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Alternator plug shorted out and caused a high potentional overload that caught the alternator on fire. The short did not trip any fuse in vehicle. Fire was very intense. The fire quickly spread to adjacent component and melted plug wires, wire harnesses. Fire also damaged hood and right front fender. The fire was quickly spreading when help arrived to extinguish the fire. And yet no fuse ever tripped to engine electrical to stop short!”

   NHTSA complaint #761507, filed 2002-05

   “Vehicle had not been driven in days, it caught on fire and burned to the ground, cause of fire not determined yet. Consumer stated that Ford engineer told him that faulty components would cause a fire.”

   NHTSA complaint #8001026, filed 2001-12
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission park or gear selection problems

   • 5 complaints (9%)
   • median 94,500 mi at 14.5 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2006

   Owners describe a vehicle rolling or coming out of park after the driver had stepped out, and passengers were injured in these complaints. Another says the gear shift drops to first gear when placed in drive, and the dealer replaced a cable linkage but the problem returned. One complaint reports the transmission would not shift into third or fourth gear, and the dealer pointed to a plastic bushing that the owner says should be metal. Mileage is listed for only a few of these complaints, about 89,000 miles where given, and the complaints were filed between mid 1998 and late 2003.

   Recall 91V048000

   What to check: Ask whether the park rod assembly recall for this model year was completed, and whether the dealer has a record of it. A buyer can test each gear on a test drive and check that the shifter engages park and each gear cleanly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Taxi driver placed transmission in park gear and exited vehicle. Upon opening rear door for passenger, vehicle rolled, dragging passenger down the street, causing injury.”

   NHTSA complaint #537364, filed 1998-07

   “When gear indicator is put into drive the gear shift will go all the way down to 1st gear. Dealer replaced cable linkage and problem is occurring again.”

   NHTSA complaint #851429, filed 1999-10
5. 5
   Air bags

   Air bag warning lights and seat belt buckle failures

   • 10 complaints (18%)
   • typically at 5.7 yrs old
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2001

   Owners describe an air bag warning light that flashes constantly or comes on, with dealers unable to identify the problem in one case. In one complaint the light flashes in cycles, and in another it blinks on and off while the car stalls at or near idle. One owner describes the driver's seat belt buckle coming out during a head-on collision. No mileage is listed for these complaints, which were filed between 1996 and late 2001.

   What to check: Ask whether the air bag system was scanned for stored codes, and whether the warning light goes out after the check. A buyer can start the car to confirm the air bag warning light comes on briefly and then turns off, and ask whether the seat belt buckles were replaced after any collision.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The air bag warning indicator in the instrument panel is flashing constantly. The owners manual makes reference to an indicator that is not on when it should be, or an indicator that is constantly on. In this case, the indicator is flashing in cycles; 9 times in succession , a pause, then 9 times, a pause, etc., etc, etc. This occurs when driving the car.”

   NHTSA complaint #709735, filed 1999-08

   “Air bag warning light illuminates, indicating a malfunction within the air bag system. Cause unknown. Dealer cannot identify the problem. Please give any further details.”

   NHTSA complaint #834694, filed 1999-02

Buying note. Before buying a 1991 Crown Victoria, ask for records showing whether the park rod recall and any electrical or ignition repairs were completed. A pre-purchase inspection that tests the shifter in each position, checks the wiring around the alternator and ignition, and observes idle stability can show whether these symptoms are present.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 30 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.