Independent · Not affiliated with NHTSA or any automaker MethodologyData sourcesData refreshed Oct 6, 2026

1986 Ford Crown Victoria: Problems, Recalls and MPG

What this means

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1986 Ford Crown Victoria, most recently filed September 1987. Owners have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system.

Data summary generated from official records. Methodology Data: NHTSA, DOT, EPA · Refreshed Oct 6, 2026
Caution Fewer than 50 complaints filed. With this few reports, patterns may not be meaningful.
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Recalls (1)

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1986 Ford Crown Victoria. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗

Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.

Check on NHTSA ↗
Listed for 1986 Ford Crown Victoria. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 87V139000 Filed Sep 4, 1987

FUEL:FUEL LINES:METALLIC

Fuel system, gasoline · delivery · hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Official NHTSA text
Summary
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
Consequence
COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.
Remedy
INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
Repair progress not yet reported3,600,000 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 87V139000

PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.

Owner complaints (27)

27 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.

1involved a crash
12involved a fire
0injuries reported
0deaths reported

As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.

Most-reported components

Complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1986 Ford Crown Victoria, by component (top 7). One complaint can list several components, so these add up to more than 27.Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints · Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 · Report a data error

How 1986 compares with other Crown Victoria years

Best and worst Crown Victoria years →
1982198319841985198619871988198919901991
This year (1986)Other yearsStill collecting reports

Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Used blue SUV on a sunny dealer lot with its hood open and a clipboard on the fender

Looking at a 1986 Crown Victoria for sale?

Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.

All Crown Victoria years

Where to next

1986 Ford Crown Victoria FAQ

How many recalls does the 1986 Ford Crown Victoria have?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 87V139000 (fuel system). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.

What are the most common 1986 Ford Crown Victoria problems?

Owners filed 27 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (14), Seat belts (4), Engine and engine cooling (3) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.

How does the 1986 Crown Victoria compare with other years?

Among the 1982–1991 Ford Crown Victoria model years at least five years old, the 1982 drew the fewest complaints (3) and the 1989 the most (72). The 1986 drew 27. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.

How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes

Processing

  • Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
  • Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.

Limitations

  • Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
  • Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
  • Recent model years are still collecting reports.

Review

Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.

Changelog

  • 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
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