1990 Ford Crown victoria problems
The Ford Crown Victoria ("Crown Vic") is a full-size sedan that was marketed and manufactured by Ford. The successor to the Ford LTD Crown Victoria, two generations of the model line were produced from the 1992 until the 2012 model years. The Ford counterpart of the Mercury Grand Marquis, the Crown Victoria was the largest sedan marketed by Ford in North America, slotted above the Ford Taurus. The Crown Victoria Police Interceptor (1992–2011) was marketed specifically for law-enforcement use; a long-wheelbase Crown Victoria sedan (2002–2011) was marketed primarily for taxi cab fleets.
The Crown Victoria was produced on the rear-wheel drive, body-on-frame Ford Panther platform, sharing its chassis with the Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car. From 1997 until their 2011 discontinuation, the three model lines were the sole four-door sedans produced in North America with a full-length frame, rear-wheel drive, and a standard V8 engine. While the front and rear crumple zones were engineered into the vehicle, it was one of Ford's products that were not of unibody construction for the entire generation. The Crown Victoria was the last car made using the Ford Panther platform.
For its entire production, the Crown Victoria was produced by Ford Canada alongside the Grand Marquis at St. Thomas Assembly in Southwold, Ontario. From 1991 until 2011, over 1.5 million cars (including Police Interceptors) were produced by St. Thomas Assembly prior to its closure. A 2012 Crown Victoria (intended for Middle East export) was the final vehicle produced by the facility. Following the discontinuation of the model line, the Crown Victoria was not directly replaced, with the full-size Ford Taurus serving as the next basis for Ford police cars.
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Common 1990 Ford Crown victoria problems
The Ford Crown Victoria, produced in 1990, is known for several common issues that owners have reported. These problems primarily concern the suspension, transmission, and engine, as well as some electrical issues.
- Suspension: The suspension system in the 1990 Ford Crown Victoria has been known to cause issues. The suspension components may wear out or fail, leading to a rough ride or even compromising the vehicle's handling. Regular maintenance and inspection of the suspension components are crucial to prevent these issues.
- Transmission: Transmission problems are also common in the 1990 Ford Crown Victoria. These issues can range from minor malfunctions, such as delayed gear shifts or slipping, to more severe problems like complete transmission failure. Regular maintenance and servicing of the transmission can help mitigate these issues, but replacement may be necessary in severe cases.
- Engine: The 1990 Ford Crown Victoria's engine has been known to experience issues, including overheating. The most common reasons for overheating are coolant leaks, a faulty radiator fan, or a failed thermostat. Regular inspection and maintenance of the engine's cooling system can help prevent overheating and potential engine damage.
- Electrical Issues: The 1990 Ford Crown Victoria's electrical system, while not as robust as that of the Police Interceptor model, can still experience issues. These problems may include malfunctioning lights, radios, or other electrical components. Regular inspection and maintenance of the electrical system can help prevent these issues, but replacement or repair of faulty components may be necessary in severe cases.
- Intake Manifold: Although not specifically mentioned in the search results for the 1990 model, it is worth noting that the intake manifold was a common failure point on the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, particularly the plastic intake manifold used from 1996 onwards. This issue resulted in class action lawsuits against Ford due to cracks along the thermostat housing area, causing anti-freeze leaks and overheating issues.
In summary, the 1990 Ford Crown Victoria is known for several common issues, primarily concerning the suspension, transmission, and engine, as well as some electrical problems. Regular maintenance and inspection of these components can help prevent or mitigate these issues, ensuring the vehicle's longevity and reliability.
What was the worst year for the Crown Victoria?
Reliability has been a staple in the Ford Crown Victoria's reputation over the years. This comes from Ford's sturdy design, emphasizing durability and easy maintenance. However, reliability wasn't always consistent for the car. The worst year for Crown Victoria in terms of reliability was arguably 2008.
How long do Crown Vic engines last?
Anything can happen at any age or mileage, but generally speaking, the 4.6 OHC modular engine as installed in most Crown Vics, Grand Marquis, and Town Cars are good for a minimum of 300K miles with an oil change every 6K miles.
What is the value of a 1990 Crown Victoria?
The value of a used 1990 Ford LTD Crown Victoria ranges from $1,250 to $5,878, based on vehicle condition, mileage, and options.
Are Crown Vics expensive to maintain?
The average total annual cost for repairs and maintenance on a Ford Crown Victoria is $1,081, compared to an average of $590 for fullsize cars and $652 for all vehicle models. The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of a vehicle.
What was the worst year for the Crown Victoria?
Reliability has been a staple in the Ford Crown Victoria's reputation over the years. This comes from Ford's sturdy design, emphasizing durability and easy maintenance. However, reliability wasn't always consistent for the car. The worst year for Crown Victoria in terms of reliability was arguably 2008.
What are common Crown Vic transmission problems?
Slipping, Erratic Shifting, Harsh Forward or Reverse Gear Engagement: Some of the most common 4R75E / 4R75W transmission problems are slipping between gears, erratic up or down shifts, or a hard slam when the 4R75E / 4R75W transmission engages Drive or Reverse.
How long do Crown Vic engines last?
Anything can happen at any age or mileage, but generally speaking, the 4.6 OHC modular engine as installed in most Crown Vics, Grand Marquis, and Town Cars are good for a minimum of 300K miles with an oil change every 6K miles.
Are Crown Vics easy to maintain?
For one, it is one of the least expensive cars to maintain due to how easy they are to repair. Not only that, finding parts for a Crown Vic is like shooting fish in a barrel.
1990 Ford Crown victoria car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Ford Crown victoria problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Electrical system problems
- Air bags problems
- Vehicle speed control problems
- Service brakes problems
- Hydraulic problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1990 Ford Crown victoria vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Latest 25 complaints 1990 Ford Crown victoria
The NHTSA has received 53 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1990 Ford Crown victoria. Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for 1990 Ford Crown victoria vehicles.
SUSPENSION PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2003-01-12
- VIN: PLEASE PROV
- Components: SUSPENSION
- Summary: CONSUMER STATED HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS RECALL#98V32000 LOWER CONTROL ARM. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR BECAUSE VIN IS NOT INCLEDED. TS
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Fire: 1
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: WHILE DRIVING A FIRE STARTED NEAR FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STOP BECAUSE POWER WENT OUT. DEALER HAD TO REPLACED WIRING HARNESS AND FUEL PUMP SENDER ASSEMBLY. *AK
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: CONSUMER STATED THE GASKET ON THE OIL PAN FAILED CAUSING A SERIOUS LEAK, THE DEALER REPLACED THE PART AT NO CHARGE, HOWEVER CONSUMERS VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED ANOTHER OIL PAN GASKET LEAK, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING THAT THE DEALER REPLACE THE PART AGAIN.*JB
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2001-08-04
- VIN: 2FACP73FXLX
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: AIRBAG LIGHT BLINKS CONSTANTLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY TOLD CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 90 E 043 001 DUE TO VIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2000-10-20
- VIN: 2FACP74F9LX
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: VEHICLE HAS STALLED 3 DAYS IN A ROW. DEALER WILL AGREE TO FIX VEHICLE AT THE CONSUMER'S COST. BUT THEY CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.*AK THE IGNITION MODULE IS PLACED TOO CLOSE TO THE ENGINE RESULTING IN THE OVERHEATING OF THE MODULE AND CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL. *YH
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2000-09-20
- VIN: 2FACP74F8LX
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: VEHICLE STALLS IN HOT WEATHER WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM ALTHOUGH INFREQUENT PRESENTS ANY LONG TRIPS. *AK
TIRES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2000-08-25
- VIN: 2FACP74F9LX
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE SUFFERED A TREAD SEPARATION. BUT, TIRE DID NOT FLATTEN OUT RIGHT AWAY. FIRESTONE FR505 P215/70 R15. *AK
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2000-01-01
- VIN: 2FACP79F3LX
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: REAR BRAKES WENT OUT DUE TO CORROSION. THIS CAUSED A BRAKE FLUID LEAK AND LOSS OF REAR BRAKES. ALSO, FUEL RETURN LINE IS CORRODING. DEALER REPAIRED THE BRAKE LINE, AND PROBLEM IS REOCCURRING. *AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1999-08-04
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 2FACP74F6LX
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: 1ST TIME-PUT ON BRAKES, CAR KEPT GOING. SLAMMED ON BRAKES WHICH LOCKED AND SCREECHED, BUT CAR KEPT ON GOING. REAR-ENDED A VEHICLE. @ND TIME- CAR KEPT GOING FASTER. TOOK FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR BUT CONTINUED TO INCREASE SPEED. PUT FOOT ON BRAKES. SLOWED DOWN ONLY A LITTLE. AS SOON AS FOOT OFF BRAKES, CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY. PUT BOTH FEET ON BRAKES WITH ONLY SOME SLOWING. SEMI-TRUCK STOPPED, BUT I COULDN'T. SWERVED JUST IN TIME. CROSS TRAFFIC SO SWERVED INTO MOBILE GAS STATION. SLOWER BUT HAD TO SHIFT INTO PARK TO AVOID RUNNING INTO BUILDING. GARAGE COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. LEFT AT L.J. FORD IN COLTON FOR 12 DAYS. ALSO COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. FORD MOTOR CO. SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND CAR PAST WARRANTY SO COULD DO NOTHING. CAR VERY UNSAFE. SCARED TO DRIVE! NEED A CAR. DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO? PLEASE ADVISE!!! CALLED AAA WHO REFERRED ME TO OTHER AGENCIES WHO REFERRED ME TO MORE AGENCIES WHO COULD NOT HELP ME.SLOWING.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1998-02-18
- Fire: 1
- VIN: 2FACP79F6LX
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: CAR WAS OFF AND STARTED ON FIRE. STARTER WAS ATTEMPTING TO START ENGINE BY ITSELF. NOBODY WAS IN THE CAR. CAR BURNED TO GROUND. *AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1999-04-14
- VIN: 2FACP79F1LX
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,POWER TRAIN
- Summary: COSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE BRAKES REPAIRED DUE TO HANGING UP AND NOT BRAKING. AT THE SAME TIME, THE OVERDRIVE HUNG UP AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. DEALERSHIP'S #800-683-5112---WORLD FORD DEALERSHIP, HOMESTEAD, PA. CONSUMER. ALSO, HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL GAUGE NOT FUNCTIONING, GAUGE HAS BEEN REPAIRED THREE TIMES, FULL TANK IS REGISTERING (E) EMPTY. *AK
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1998-12-29
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 2FACP74F1LX
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: WHILE GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE AND STARTING THE VEHICLE UP, PUT THE GEAR INTO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF BY ITSELF, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HIT A POLE, AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED.*AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Fire: 1
- VIN: 2FACP74F3LX
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: WHILE PARKED ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER SAID IT LOOKED LIKE THE FIRE STARTED AROUND THE ALTENATOR WIRING HARNESS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1998-12-29
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 2FACP74F1LX
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: CONSUMER STARTED AUTOMOBILE UP AND IT TOOK OFF BY ITSELF AT A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED. VEHICLE HIT A POLE, INJURING THE DRIVER'S WIFE. *AK
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Crash: 1
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: WHEN VEHICLE WAS STARTED UP AND PLACED INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UP TO 40 MPH. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL AND HIT A METAL POLE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1998-11-01
- VIN: UNAVAILABLE
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHEN PUTTING FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T CHANGE GEARS UNLESS IT WAS IN OVERDRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK
VISIBILITY PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1997-04-01
- VIN: 2FACP72F5LX
- Components: VISIBILITY
- Summary: WINDOW WIPER MOTOR FAILED.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 2FACP72F5LX
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: CRUISE CONTROL OFF SWITCH FAILS TO DISENGAGE CRUISE.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1997-04-01
- VIN: 2FACP72F5LX
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: THERMOSTAT FAILED.
SUSPENSION PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-06-01
- VIN: 2FACP72F5LX
- Components: SUSPENSION
- Summary: SHOCKS FAILED CAUSING LEAKING.
STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-07-01
- VIN: 2FACP72F5LX
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: POWER LOCKS WORK INTERMITTENTLY.
VISIBILITY PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-06-01
- VIN: 2FACP72F5LX
- Components: VISIBILITY
- Summary: INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE WIPER SWITCH.
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1997-03-05
- VIN: 2FACP74F7LX
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: WHENEVER TRYING TO BUCKLE THE REAR SAFETY BELT, IT WILL NOT CLICK INTO THE BUCKLE, SOMETIMES WHEN IT WILL BUCKLE, IT JUST COMES UNBUCKLED WITHOUT ANY PRESSURE ON THE RELEASE BUTTON. *AK *JB
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: IGNITION SWITCH FAILED, CAUSING FAILURE OF RADIO, CLOCK, AIR CONDITIONER, TURN SIGNALS, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1997-06-01
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 2SACP-74F1L
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: SUDDEN ACCELERATION, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT/INJURIES. *AK
1990 Ford Crown victoria recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 3 recalls for different components of the 1990 Ford Crown victoria.
- Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Components: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
- Summary: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 1996-1999 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE, FLEET, NATURAL GAS, AND 1996-1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINE VEHICLES THAT WERE PRODUCED WITH A LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CONTAINING A ONE PIECE BEARING; AND 1990-1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE, FLEET, AND NGV VEHICLES AND 1990-1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINE VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN SERVICED WITH EITHER A BALL JOINT CONTAINING THE ONE-PIECE BEARING OR A FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM CONTAINING A BALL JOINT WITH A ONE-PIECE BEARING. THE ONE-PIECE BEARING WITHIN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CAN WEAKEN SLOWLY DURING USE AND EVENTUALLY CRACK. THIS COULD RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE BALL AND CAP OF THE JOINT, ALLOWING THE CONTROL ARM TO DROP TO THE GROUND.
- Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, REDUCED STEERING CONTROL COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS (2).
- Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
- Summary: THE REAR BRAKE LINES HAVE INADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE TUBE AND THE VEHICLE UNDERBODY IN THE AREA OF THE LEFT REAR WHEEL OPENING.
- Consequence: INADEQUATE CLEARANCE CAN CAUSE ABRASION OF THE BRAKE LINEAND A LEAK CAN DEVELOP, RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID TO THE REAR BRAKESYSTEM AND INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES.
- Remedy: REPAIR ANY BRAKE LINES THAT HAVE AN INDICATION OF CONTACT OR HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR CONTACT WITH THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. RELOCATE LINES, IF NECESSARY.
- Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
- Summary: THREADED INFLATOR COMPONENTS MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY WHICH MAY ALLOW COMPONENTS TO SEPARATE WHEN INFLATOR RECEIVES A SIGNAL TO DEPLOY THE AIR BAG.
- Consequence: INFLATOR COMPONENT SEPARATION ALLOWS HOT COMBUSTION GASES TO ESCAPE INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURIES TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
- Remedy: REPLACE AIR BAG MODULES CONTAINING POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE INFLATORS.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1990 Ford Crown victoria problems:
1990 Ford LTD Crown Victoria Problems and Complaints - 7 Issues
Problem with your 1990 Ford LTD Crown Victoria? Our list of 7 known complaints reported by owners can help you fix your 1990 Ford LTD Crown Victoria.
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Jun 11, 2023 ... I really hate Ford thinking it's normal to pull an engine to do an oil pan gasket. ... My first Vic, a 1990 had transmission problems a month ...
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May 18, 2023 ... Those seem to be the most common, but are ... I have one and never had problems. ... For anything Ford Crown Victoria and its panther siblings.
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