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U.S. public vehicle records

2002 Ford CROWN VICTORIA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

58 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

50,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 31 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 58 complaints (13.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1220.7%
Steering behavior813.8%
Fuel system concerns58.6%
Engine operation23.4%
Electrical and battery issues11.7%

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.

Electrical System
8
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
6
Steering
4
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
3
Exterior Lighting
3
Vehicle Speed Control
3
Air Bags:Frontal
2
Engine And Engine Cooling
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System8
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly6
Steering4
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine3
Exterior Lighting3
Vehicle Speed Control3
Air Bags:Frontal2
Engine And Engine Cooling2

Electrical System: 8; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 6; Steering: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Exterior Lighting: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
8
25,000 to 49,999
7
50,000 to 74,999
3
75,000 to 99,999
4
100,000 to 149,999
7
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0008
25,000 to 49,9997
50,000 to 74,9993
75,000 to 99,9994
100,000 to 149,9997
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 2

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 27 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.

2001
1
2002
10
2003
14
2004
6
2005
3
2006
1
2007
2
2008
3
2009
4
2011
2
2012
2
2013
1
2014
4
2016
3
2022
1
2025
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20011
200210
200314
20046
20053
20061
20072
20083
20094
20112
20122
20131
20144
20163
20221
20251

2001: 1; 2002: 10; 2003: 14; 2004: 6; 2005: 3; 2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2008: 3; 2009: 4; 2011: 2; 2012: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 4; 2016: 3; 2022: 1; 2025: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns 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 10019494 · 2003-05-08 (May 8, 2003)

THE BRAKE PEDAL AND GAS PEDAL WERE DESIGNED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019494 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10042330 · 2003-10-06 (October 6, 2003)

WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE A NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK AREA. DEALER FOUND A LEAK IN THE NECK OF THE FUEL TANK WHICH LEAKED GASOLINE ONTO THE TIRES, AND THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKES. ALSO, FUEL PUMP WAS FAULTY. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10042330 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10010764 · 2003-03-19 (March 19, 2003)

STEERING VIBRATES. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 1,304 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010764 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10150088 · 2006-02-13 (February 13, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. THE CONTACT TRIED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL AT THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN THAT DID NOT WORK, THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND THE BRAKE WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO SOMEONE'S YARD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED AND THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED. THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DONE TO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. UPDATED 03/03/06. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 33,180 miles reported. Look up ODI 10150088 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10011598 · 2003-03-31 (March 31, 2003)

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT FORD REFUSED TO INSTALL A PLASTIC SHIELD AROUND THE GAS TANK TO PREVENT THE FIRE HAZARD THAT EXISTS IN THESE VEHICLES. MR SCC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011598 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10021575 · 2003-06-02 (June 2, 2003)

THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED WITH THE GAS TANK PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 CROWN VICTORIA. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE CIVILIAN VEHICLES, AS OPPOSED TO THE POLICE AND TAXI MODELS, WERE NOT OF THE SAME DESIGN THUS NOT SUBJECT TO THE GAS TANK PROBLEM. *MR *SCC *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021575 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10438291 · 2011-11-26 (November 26, 2011)

THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING, FOR NO APPARENT REASON. DRIVER (MY RETIRED MOTHER, AGE 72) HAD TO GET CAR OFF ROAD AND RESTART CAR TO CONTINUE. THE POWER STEERING DISABLED WHEN THE CAR ENGINE STALLED. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES (2-3) OVER THE PAST MONTH, AND THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND IS UNABLE TO CORRECT IT. ON ANOTHER OCCASION THERE WAS A THUMPING NOISE AND THE CAR SLOWED CONSIDERABLY, BUT THEN PICKED BACK UP AGAIN. THE "ENGINE HEAT/THERMOMETER" LIGHT HAS FLASHED ALSO, BUT THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE HE…

Owner-reported narrative. 40,134 miles reported. Look up ODI 10438291 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10818444 · 2016-01-06 (January 6, 2016)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND PROCEEDING TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MANIFOLD WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 81,218.

Owner-reported narrative. 81,218 miles reported. Look up ODI 10818444 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10669204 · 2014-12-30 (December 30, 2014)

I HAD DRIVEN UP A STEEP MOUNTAIN DIRT ROAD TO SERVE SOME LEGAL PAPERS, AFTER REACHING THE TOP, I CONTINUED DOWN THE OTHER SIDE TO THE ADDRESS I WAS LOOKING FOR. I THOUGHT I STARTED SMELLING SOMETHING BURNING, IT SMELLED ELECTRICAL. WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE ADDRESS, I STOPPED THE CAR AND SHUT IT OFF WHILE I WAS SPEAKING WITH THE RESIDENT. MY WIFE YELLED AT ME THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE, IT STARTED FILLING UP WITH SMOKE FAST, MY WIFE AND DOGS WERE STILL IN THE CAR. I OPENED THE DRIVERS DOOR TO POP THE HOOD WHILE MY WIFE STARTED GETTING THE DOGS O…

Owner-reported narrative. 132,421 miles reported. Look up ODI 10669204 at NHTSA ↗