2003 Ford CROWN VICTORIA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
249 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
100,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 177 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 85 of 249 complaints (34.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 23 | 9.2% |
| Steering behavior | 17 | 6.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 12 | 4.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 2.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 1.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 85 |
| Wheels | 24 |
| Wheels:Rim | 18 |
| Electrical System | 17 |
| Suspension:Rear | 14 |
| Suspension | 12 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 11 |
| Steering | 10 |
Exterior Lighting: 85; Wheels: 24; Wheels:Rim: 18; Electrical System: 17; Suspension:Rear: 14; Suspension: 12; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 11; Steering: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 21 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 23 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 22 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 21 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 50 |
| 150,000 and above | 40 |
Under 25,000: 21; 25,000 to 49,999: 23; 50,000 to 74,999: 22; 75,000 to 99,999: 21; 100,000 to 149,999: 50; 150,000 and above: 40
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (50). 72 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 30 |
| 2004 | 25 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 12 |
| 2008 | 13 |
| 2009 | 12 |
| 2010 | 19 |
| 2011 | 11 |
| 2012 | 14 |
| 2013 | 17 |
| 2014 | 15 |
| 2015 | 12 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 12 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2002: 4; 2003: 30; 2004: 25; 2005: 5; 2006: 10; 2007: 12; 2008: 13; 2009: 12; 2010: 19; 2011: 11; 2012: 14; 2013: 17; 2014: 15; 2015: 12; 2016: 13; 2017: 12; 2018: 7; 2019: 7; 2020: 4; 2021: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 3; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 12 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 10005686 · 2003-02-11 (February 11, 2003)
PREMATURE AND SUDDEN FRONT BRAKE PAD FAILURE ON 2003 FORD CVPI VEHICLES. BRAKES WEAR AND FAIL @4000 MILES AND LESS. FORD ACKNOWLEDGES A BRAKE MATERIAL COMPOUND PROBLEM BUT HAS NO REPAIR. 2002 AND EARLIER CVPI VEHICLES IN FLEET AVERAGE 10,000 MILES PER FRONT BRAKE SERVICE
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005686 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016859 · 2003-05-01 (May 1, 2003)
2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA PURCHASED IN 1/03 HAS REPEATED ENGINE VIBRATIONS THAT ARE NOTICED WHILE IDLING IN DRIVE AND APPLYING THE BRAKE. THE INDICATIONS FEEL LIKE THE ENGINE IS MISSING AND GETS WORSE AFTER DIRVING MORE THAN THIRTY MINUTES. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS WITH NOT RESOLVE. THE ONE HONEST DEALSHIP WAS FRIENDLY FORD IN CROSBY TEXAS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT FORD ENGINEERING WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND I WOULD HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THE VIBRATION UNTIL THEY FOUND A SOLUTION. THE ENGINEER TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT…
Owner-reported narrative. 98 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016859 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025798 · 2003-07-10 (July 10, 2003)
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED AT ALMOST FULL THROTTLE WHILE GOING UPHILL FROM LEE VINNING CA TO MAMMOTH LAKES CA, ON US 395, FROM ABOUT 4,000 FT TO 8,000 FT ELEVATION. VEHICLE WAS A BUDGET RENTAL CAR, CONTRACT 133247, FROM LONG BEACH, CA, (LGB) AIRPORT LOCATION, 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA, DIN [XXX], CA LICENSE [XXX], LESS THAN 9,000 MILES. BRAKE & CRUISE CONTROL OFF SWITCH DID NOT REMEDY THROTTLE POSITION. STOPPED CAR BY APPLYING BRAKE & SWITCHING OFF ENGINE ON SIDE OF ROAD. DID NOT ATTEMPT TO SWITCH ENGINE OFF AT HIGH SPEED AS IT MAY, OR MAY NOT, HA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10025798 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060495 · 2004-03-05 (March 5, 2004)
MY CONCERN IS FOR THE 2003 FORD POLICE CROWN VICTORIA (POLICE INTERCEPTOR) PROGRAM 03M03 WHICH IS CONCURRENT WITH SAFETY RECALL 03S05. THEY BOTH INVOLVE INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT OF CRACKED RIMS. HOWEVER, THE 03M03 DOES NOT ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. IT ONLY EXTENDS THE WARRANTY. BOTH CONCURRENT CAMPAIGNS DESCRIBE THE SAME SYMPTOMS (REPEATED SLOW AIR LEAK, NIBBLE IN STEERING, DIFFICULTY IN BALANCING TIRES AND RAPID AIR LOST). HOWEVER, AFTER CONTACTING MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY, I WAS TOLD THE RIMS WOULD NOT BE INSPECTED AT MY REQUE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10060495 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10159567 · 2006-06-12 (June 12, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND THE WASH WAS OPERATING ON ITS OWN. THE RADIO MADE A CRACKLING NOISE AND THE RECEPTION CAME IN AND OUT. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE CONTACT SMELLED PLASTIC OR RUBBING BURNING HOWEVER, NO SMOKE WAS PRESENT. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, #05V206000, REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: WIRING: INTERIOR/UNDER DASH. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. UPDATED 06/27/06. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10159567 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10206505 · 2007-10-22 (October 22, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AFTER DRIVING 14 MILES, THE KEY WOULD BECOME VERY HOT WHICH WAS NOTICED WHEN IT WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE ELECTRICAL WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO UP OR DOWN PROPERLY AS THEY SHOULD AND ACTIVATE EITHER VERY SLOWLY OR VERY QUICKLY. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT WOULD NOT GO BACK AND FORTH AS IT SHOULD AND EITHER MOVES VERY SLOWLY OR NOT AT ALL. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL FAILURE WITH THE WINDOWS AND THE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10206505 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004331 · 2003-01-22 (January 22, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS NO SHIELD BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND THE REAR AXLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004331 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007260 · 2003-03-03 (March 3, 2003)
FUEL TANK PLACEMENT, AND LIKELY DANGER OF AN EXPLOSION IN A REAR END COLLISION.*AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007260 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10094337 · 2004-09-27 (September 27, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION SLIPPED GEARS UNTIL CONSUMER REACHED HIS DESTINATION. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 99,299 miles reported. Look up ODI 10094337 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10195166 · 2007-07-02 (July 2, 2007)
I HAVE A 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA WITH A 4.6L V8 AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IN THE LAST 44,000 MILES I HAVE HAD TWO REAR AXLE FAILURES THAT NECESSITATED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AXLE SHAFTS, SEALS ETC. THE FIRST FAILURE WAS AT 57,902 MI AND WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE SECOND AT 102,753MI - 44,851 MILES. I HAVE FOUND THAT FORD DOES HAVE A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES BUT WILL NOT COVER MY VEHICLE AS IT IS NOT A TAXI/POLICE/FLEET VEHICLE. I AM NEARLY 60, DRIVE MOSTLY FREEWAY AND COUNTRY ROADS, DO NOT RACE ANYONE, DO NOT TOW ANYTHING AND WORK …
Owner-reported narrative. 102,753 miles reported. Look up ODI 10195166 at NHTSA ↗