1997 Ford CROWN VICTORIA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
222 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
86,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 107 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe is the most frequently named component, appearing in 36 of 222 complaints (16.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 40 | 18.0% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 5.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 2.3% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 2.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 1.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 36 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 21 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 18 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System | 17 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 16 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 16 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 9 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 36; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 21; Engine And Engine Cooling: 18; Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System: 17; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 16; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint: 16; Vehicle Speed Control: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 22 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 40 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 19 |
| 150,000 and above | 12 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 22; 75,000 to 99,999: 40; 100,000 to 149,999: 19; 150,000 and above: 12
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (40). 115 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 23 |
| 2001 | 30 |
| 2002 | 27 |
| 2003 | 34 |
| 2004 | 30 |
| 2005 | 15 |
| 2006 | 18 |
| 2007 | 10 |
| 2008 | 16 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2000: 23; 2001: 30; 2002: 27; 2003: 34; 2004: 30; 2005: 15; 2006: 18; 2007: 10; 2008: 16; 2009: 2; 2010: 6; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 3; 2016: 2; 2017: 2; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 40 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10014579 · 2003-03-27 (March 27, 2003)
THE BRAKE LINE RUSTED, WHICH CAUSED THE REAR BRAKES TO FAIL. *JB REFERENCED IN RQ03-004
Owner-reported narrative. 103,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014579 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017167 · 2003-05-01 (May 1, 2003)
A PIN HOLE SIZE LEAK DEVELOPED IN THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE, AND WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC LINE. MR SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017167 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10081970 · 2004-07-14 (July 14, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH LOWER BALL JOINTS SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING FAILED, AND THE FRONT END COLLAPSED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10081970 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10243636 · 2008-09-27 (September 27, 2008)
INTAKE PLASTIC MANIFOLD CRACKED CAUSING LOSS OF COOLANT. VEHICLE HAD 67660 MILES ON IT. THIS IS THE SECOND CROWN VIC WE HAVE OWNED AND IT WILL BE THE LAST. THE FIRST ONE'S TRANSMISSION WENT OUT JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY RAN OUT. WE HAD TO BUY A SECOND CROWN VIC DUE TO THE STEERING MODIFICATIONS NECESSARY FOR MY WIFE TO DRIVE AND THE CROWN VIC IS THE ONLY CAR AT THE TIME THAT COULD BE MODIFIED TO THE NECESSARY STANDARDS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 67,660 miles reported. Look up ODI 10243636 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037390 · 2003-09-07 (September 7, 2003)
BRAKE FAILURE- 97 CROWN VICTORIA. BRAKE LINE RUBBED THROUGH BY TRANSMISSION CROSSMEMBER- CAUSING BRAKES TO FAIL DURING DRIVING. FORD MOTOR COMPANY WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND FAULTY LINE OR REIMBURSE FOR THE REPAIRS. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 36,000 MILES ON AND SHOULD NOT HAVE WORN THROUGH ALREADY.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 36,820 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037390 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053633 · 2004-01-07 (January 7, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING INTAKE MANIFOLD ASSEMBLY EXPLODED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. MANIFOLD ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053633 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10112112 · 2005-02-24 (February 24, 2005)
INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED CAUSING PLUG SOCKETS TO FILL WITH WATER CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 91,021 miles reported. Look up ODI 10112112 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10092594 · 2004-10-15 (October 15, 2004)
WHILE PARKED A FIRE ERUPTED UNDER THE HOOD. DEALER STATED THE FIRE STARTED AROUND THE CRUISE CONTROL WIRING. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK THE ITEMS UNDER THE HOOD WERE REPLACED AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10092594 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10100236 · 2004-11-19 (November 19, 2004)
I WAS HEADING HOME FROM THE GROCERY STORE WHEN I GOT THREE TO FOUR MILES OF MY HOME WHEN I NOTICED FROM MY REARVIEW MIRROR, THAT THERE WAS A HEAVY MIST BILLOWING FROM BEHIND MY CAR. THEN I BEGAN TO SMELL THE COOLANT FLUID SOON AFTER. I MANAGED TO PULL INTO THE NEXT CLOSEST GROCERY TO INVESTIGATE. HEAVY STEM FROM THE COOLANT BILLOWED UP FROM THE MIDDLE OF MY ENGINE WHICH SOAKED WIRES AND OTHER ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENTS. I LET IT COOL DOWN FOR SOME TIME BEFORE I COULD ADD MORE WATER AND SET FOR HOME WHICH WAS ONLY LESS THAN A MILE AWAY. THE NEXT DAY…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10100236 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10042300 · 2003-10-06 (October 6, 2003)
EMAIL FM ELLEN ROW (NC) INQUIRING ABOUT THE SAFETY OF HER 1997 FORD CROWN VICTORIA, WANTS TO KNOW WHY RECALL WAS ONLY FOR THE POLICE CARS.*MR THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS IDENTICAL TO THE POLICE VEHICLES BEING RECALLED FOR FUEL TANK PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER PAID TO HAVE THE REPAIRS MADE BUT CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY HER VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. *NLM *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10042300 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10162169 · 2006-07-11 (July 11, 2006)
I EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE OF BOTH FRONT HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM AND REAR HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM DUE TO CORRODED(RUSTED) BRAKE LINE (PIPING) WITHIN ONE YEAR. I ALSO EXPERIENCED FUEL TANK FAILURE DUE TO RUST AT TANK SEAM AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME TIME. TANK FAILED 11/30/03, FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE 03/16/04, REAR BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE 12/04, BOTH DUE TO PIPING RUST OUT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 111,175 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162169 at NHTSA ↗