1999 Ford CROWN VICTORIA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
122 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
80,048 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 40 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Wheels:Hub is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 122 complaints (6.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 16 | 13.1% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 9.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 4.1% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 4.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 4.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 4.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Wheels:Hub | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 6 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 5 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 4 |
Wheels:Hub: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling: 6; Unknown Or Other: 6; Electrical System: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 5; Engine: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 6
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 82 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 | 39 |
| 2001 | 11 |
| 2002 | 12 |
| 2003 | 11 |
| 2004 | 10 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2000: 39; 2001: 11; 2002: 12; 2003: 11; 2004: 10; 2005: 6; 2006: 7; 2007: 3; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 3; 2012: 4; 2014: 2; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 3; 2019: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Wheels:Hub leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 11 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 10017049 · 2003-05-05 (May 5, 2003)
ON APRIL 15, 2003 I TOOK MY 1999 FORD CROWN VICTORIA (VIN [XXX]) TO THE BILL CURRIE FORD DEALERSHIP IN TAMPA, FLORIDA, FOR SERVICING. THE REAR BRAKE PADS WERE WORN OUT (2 MM REMAINING) WHILE THE FRONT BRAKE PAD WEAR WAS NORMAL (8 MM REMAINING). THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS CHECKED AND NO MALFUNCTION WAS DETECTED. I NOTIFIED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND RECEIVED NO VIABLE EXPLANATION FOR THE EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE REAR BRAKES. I NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP VIA EMAIL AS REQUESTED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND RECEIVED ONLY AN AUTOMATED REPLY. FORD MOTOR CO…
Owner-reported narrative. 22,003 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017049 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10080584 · 2004-07-08 (July 8, 2004)
REFERENCE ODI ID 752976 - I HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE AND FAILURE OF THE SAME EQUIPMENT AND PARTS DESCRIBED IN THE REFERENECED COMPLAINT. THESE ARE LATENT DESIGN/MATERIAL/MANUFACTURING DEFECTS. I WAS ORIGINALLY TOLD, UNDER WARRANTY, THAT THE SHUDDER WAS DUE TO THE TRACTION CONTROL SENSORS. THIS APPARENTLY WAS INCORRECT. NOW THAT THE VEHICLE IS JUST OVER 100,000 MI, FORD WILL DO NOTHING TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT. THE DEALER TO THEIR CREDIT IS TRYING TO CORRECT THE SHUDDER PROBLEM BY SERVICING THE TRANSMISSION WITH ADDITIVES. THE INTAKE MANIFOL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10080584 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10095857 · 2004-10-16 (October 16, 2004)
SUDDEN FAILURE OF BALL JOINTS AND STEERING LINKAGE PARTS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10095857 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10125131 · 2005-06-13 (June 13, 2005)
MY DAD WAS JUST IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE AN SUV HIT HIS 99 CROWN VIC NEAR THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. THE HOOD LOOKS LIKE A CRUMPLED PIECE OF PAPER. HE HAS INJURIES TO THE CHEST AND RIBS FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND CUTS ON HIS LEG FROM THE DASH. AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. CAR WAS TOTALED. HE WAS HIT AT SUCH SPEED, THE CAR SPUN AROUND AND HIT THE REAR AS WELL. ACCIDENT WAS LAST WEEK IN FLORIDA CITY, FL.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10125131 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10342009 · 2010-07-08 (July 8, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH HE SMELLED ANTI FREEZE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICL. HE HAD PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BUT THE DEALER DID NOT PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAD THREE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENTS FOR THIS FAILURE, TWO BY THE DEALER AND ONE THE CONTACT . HE STATED THAT THERE WAS ANTI FREEZE ALL OVER HIS ENGINE. HE STATED HE HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER T…
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10342009 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 553795 · 2000-08-15 (August 15, 2000)
THE FUEL CUT OFF SWITCH ACTIVATED AS CONSUMER WAS ENTERING A MAJOR HIGHWAY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 553795 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 758224 · 2002-02-14 (February 14, 2002)
I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE "BATTERY" LIGHT. IT WOULD COME ON AND STAY ON. THE CAR WAS RETRUNED TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. THE LAST TIME THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND WOULD ORDER A PART AND THAT THE CAR WAS "SAFE" TO DRIVE IN THE MEANTIME. NOT SO. THE CAR HAD LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENGINE SHUTDOWN. ENGINE SHUTDOWN, LOSS OF POWER STEERING, LOSS OF HYDRAULIC BRAKE AND LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE CAR WAS TOWN INTO THE DEALER THAT NIGHT. THEY DENY KNOWING THERE WOULD BE ANY "PROBLEM." SEE YOUR NHTSA RECALL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 758224 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10185869 · 2007-03-21 (March 21, 2007)
BURNING SMELL UNDER DASH)WHEN BRAKE PEDAL AND/OR DOOR WAS OPEN. EVENTUALLY, I COULDN'T START THE CAR AS THE 'BRAKE LIGHTS' WOULD NOT COME ON. I CALLED THE FORD DEALER IN A RAGE THAT THEY HAD IDIOT LIGHTS FOR EVERYTHING ELSE,. AND AS FAR AS I KNEW, HAND SIGNALS WERE STILL LEGAL, THEY TOLD ME TO TURN THE IGNITION 1 CLICK, PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, THEN I WOULD BE ABLE TO START THE CAR. AFTER BRINGING THE CAR TO A CERTIFIED ELECTRICAL MECHANIC, HE STATED THAT FORD PUT THE SHORTEST, TIGHTEST WIRE CONNECTING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND AFTER CONSTANT A…
Owner-reported narrative. 80,584 miles reported. Look up ODI 10185869 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11500729 · 2023-01-08 (January 8, 2023)
My 99 ford crown victoria lx has front end issues. I have had to replace the ball joints about 4 times every 2 to 3 months because the front end keeps dropping. I'm not sure if you guys know about this but I've spoken with our local Ford mechanic and a few friends who have crown Victoria's as well and said that it has been a big issue with them along with the electrical components for the turn signals
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11500729 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012143 · 2003-04-03 (April 3, 2003)
THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY AND THE RESULT OF REAR ACCIDENTS WHICH CAUSED FIRE/EXPLOSION UPON IMPACT. MR SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012143 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018820 · 2003-05-16 (May 16, 2003)
FUEL LINE CONNECTION TO FUEL FILTER UNDER CAR FAILED CAUSING A HIGH SPEED FUEL LEAK CREATING A POSSIBLE CATASTROPHIC FIRE CONDITION. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 74,694 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018820 at NHTSA ↗