1992 Ford Crown Victoria Problems, Recalls & Reliability
482 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1992 Ford Crown Victoria, alongside 9 recall campaigns and 10 defect investigations. It scores 100/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Brakes & stability leads the reports.
Avoid this year if you can. The 1992 Ford Crown Victoria sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 1990–1991, 2000–2002, 2006–2007, 2009, 2011.
Avoid
Where 1992 sits among all Crown Victoria years
What owners report
“Brake lining puncture, loss of brake fluid while driving, causing a loss of brakes, ea94-043 active. Tt”— owner report to NHTSA, 1992 Crown Victoria
“While driving vehicle caught on fire under the hood. Please describe details. Tt”— owner report to NHTSA, 1992 Crown Victoria
“Engine intermittently starts missing; causes loss of motor power; vehicle shakes/rattles as if have flat tire; different speeds; no warning. Tt”— owner report to NHTSA, 1992 Crown Victoria
“Auto-tran: while parked, gear level in park; got inside car; closed door; car suddenly lurched backwards; stopped after pumping brakes. Tt”— owner report to NHTSA, 1992 Crown Victoria
“Automatic transmission torque converter fails to lock up properly causing vibration.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1992 Crown Victoria
“Vehicle has fuel line interference problem causing bucking at times when driving and power failuire. Tt”— owner report to NHTSA, 1992 Crown Victoria
Recalls (9)
FORD IS RECALLING 225,000 MY 1992-2003 ECONOLINE, MY 1993-1995 TAURUS SHO, MY 1992-1998 CROWN VICTORIA, MY 1993 BRONCO, F-SERIES, MY 1995-1997 F-SERIES SUPER DUTY STRIPPED CHASSIS, MY 1992-1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS, AND MY 1992-1995 LINCOLN TOWN CAR…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW WIRING HARNESS, OR REPLACE THE MATING ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL…
IN ORDER TO ENHANCE POLICE OFFICE SAFETY, MODEL YEAR 1992-2003 CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR (CVPI) VEHICLES WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH SHIELDS DESIGNED TO HELP PROTECT THE FUEL TANK IN HIGH-SPEED REAR-IMPACT CRASHES. FORD ALSO WILL BE OFFERING AN OPTIONAL…
Fix: FORD HAS ADVISED US THAT SHIELD KITS HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE SINCE LATE OCTOBER AND WILL BE INSTALLED ON POLICE INTERCEPTOR VEHICLES AT NO COST. THE OPTIONAL TRANK PACKAGE WILL BE AVAILABLE BY THE END…
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH CAN DEVELOP A RESISTIVE SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE. A FIRE IS POSSIBLE BOTH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING AND WHEN THE…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH AND CONNECTOR SHELL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 20, 1999.
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…
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS (2).
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: POLICE AND TAXI VEHICLES. THE HOOD LATCH STRIKER CAN WEAR OR BECOME DETACHED FROM THE HOOD.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED HOOD LATCH STRIKER (VEHICLES WITH 1992 MODEL HOODS) OR REVISED STRIKER PLATE ATTACHING FASTENERS (VEHICLES WITH 1993-1997 MODEL HOODS).
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR BRAKE LINES, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE A SECTION OF THE REAR BRAKE LINES IF IT IS LEAKING. ALSO THE RUBBER SHIELD ON THE LINE WILL BE INSPECTED TO VERIFY THAT IT IS…
AN UNUSED POWER SEAT HARNESS CONNECTOR IS POSITIONED ON THE RUBBER FLOOR MAT UNDER THE SEAT. IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN COLD WEATHER IN AREAS THAT HAVE LARGE AMOUNTS OF SALT USED FOR SNOW AND ICE CONTROL, A PUDDLE OF SALTWATER CAN ACCUMULATE ON THE RUBBER…
Fix: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE UNUSED CONNECTOR AND INSTALL A SEALED HEAT SHRINK CAP OVER THE AFFECTED WIRES.
INCORRECT INSTRUMENT PANEL WIRING ASSEMBLIES IN SOME VEHICLES WILL NOT ACTUATE THE "ANTI-LOCK" BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS.
Fix: MODIFY THE WIRE ASSEMBLY TO ALLOW ACTUATION OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS.
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 02I003000.
Led to recall campaign 99V124000.
Technical service bulletins
69 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on transmission & drivetrain and engine — are on file for the 1992 Ford Crown Victoria. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 1992 Crown Victoria TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 1992 Ford Crown Victoria reliable?
The 1992 Ford Crown Victoria drew 482 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 100/100, scored against the model's worst year (1992).
What are the most common 1992 Ford Crown Victoria problems?
The top reported problems for the 1992 Ford Crown Victoria are brakes & stability (92 complaints), electrical (84), and engine (52).
Does the 1992 Ford Crown Victoria have recalls?
9 recall campaigns apply to the 1992 Ford Crown Victoria. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.