1983 Ford Crown Victoria

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1983 Ford Crown Victoria
RENDERED 2026-08-02T11:20:29.215Z

Only 5 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

Only 5 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. The data below is complete but unranked.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

1983: 5 complaints

View as data table

Year	Complaints
1980	2
1981	2
1982	3
1983	5
1984	6
1985	21
1986	27
1987	41
1988	42
1989	72
1990	43
1991	55
1992	310
1993	182
1994	192
1995	250
1996	276
1997	288
1998	119
1999	134
2000	85
2001	53
2002	58
2003	249
2004	138
2005	193
2006	52
2007	49
2008	50
2009	44
2010	12
2011	23

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

Only 5 complaints on file for this model year -- too few to rank by share. Raw counts only, below.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2 of 5 total reports mention: electrical system.

Show complaint excerpts

VEHICLE WON'T START OCCASIONALLY DUE TO IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. *DH

NHTSA ODI report, 19961231

UPON STARTING, LEFT VEHICLE TO WARM UP, MOMENTS LATER WHEN OPENED DOOR FOUND INTERIOR ENGULFED IN SMOKE.. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 19960429

UPON STARTING, LEFT VEHICLE TO WARM UP, MOMENTS LATER WHEN OPENED DOOR FOUND INTERIOR ENGULFED IN SMOKE.. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 19960429

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1 of 5 total reports mentions: vehicle speed control.

POWER TRAIN

1 of 5 total reports mentions: power train.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

1 of 5 total reports mentions: engine and engine cooling.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 of 5 total reports mentions: electrical system.

SAFETY TIMELINE

R 19830226 — power train

THE PARKING GEAR MAY NOT ENGAGE, EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE "PARK" POSITION. THIS OCCURS IF THE LINKAGE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION THAT ACTUATES THE PARK GEAR WAS IMPROPERLY MANUFA

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PARKING PAWL ACTUATING ROD ASSEMBLY.

Campaign 83V028000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19830309 — power train

THE SHIFT INDICATOR MAY NOT ACCURATELY REFLECT THE SHIFT SELECTOR POSITION. SOME VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH TRANSMISSION CONTROL SELECTOR TUBE RETAINING CLIPS THAT MAY NOT BE HARD ENOUGH. THE CLIP MA

Remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SELECTOR TUBE RETAINING CLIP AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.

Campaign 83V017000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19880914 — PE (closed 19890103)

ENGINE COMP FIRES

I 19910911 — PE (closed 19920115)

BRAKE LINE PUNCTURES

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

1983 Ford Crown Victoria — pre-purchase inspection

Test/inspect for electrical system issues (2 reports on file for this year).
Test/inspect for vehicle speed control issues (1 reports on file for this year).
Test/inspect for power train issues (1 reports on file for this year).
Verify recall 83V028000 (power train) has been completed.
Verify recall 83V017000 (power train) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 1987 ▲ 1988 ▲ 2009

WORST YEARS

■ 1992 ■ 1997 ■ 1996

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 1983 Ford Crown Victoria reliable?

There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on file yet to give this model year a verdict.

What are the most common problems with the 1983 Ford Crown Victoria?

The most-reported component is electrical system:ignition:switch, accounting for 40% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1983 Ford Crown Victoria have?

2 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.