2004 Ford CROWN VICTORIA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
138 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
92,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 125 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 76 of 138 complaints (55.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 26 | 18.8% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 5.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 3.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 0.7% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 76 |
| Electrical System | 23 |
| Steering | 18 |
| Wheels | 8 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
| Structure:Body | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
Exterior Lighting: 76; Electrical System: 23; Steering: 18; Wheels: 8; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Structure:Body: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 14 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 24 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 23 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 37 |
| 150,000 and above | 20 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 24; 75,000 to 99,999: 23; 100,000 to 149,999: 37; 150,000 and above: 20
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (37). 13 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 14 |
| 2010 | 13 |
| 2011 | 19 |
| 2012 | 12 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2014 | 16 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
2004: 2; 2005: 3; 2006: 4; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 14; 2010: 13; 2011: 19; 2012: 12; 2013: 10; 2014: 16; 2015: 8; 2016: 9; 2017: 6; 2018: 8; 2019: 3; 2020: 4; 2021: 1; 2022: 2
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 26 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10102520 · 2004-12-10 (December 10, 2004)
TROOPER WAS ON PATROL, WHILE DRIVING, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, FELT A SHIMMY IN THE STEERING, PULLED OVER AND OBSERVED THE RT FRT TIRE WAS SUDDENLY LOW ON AIR. HE RETURNED TO STATION, PARKED THE CAR AND CONTINUED HIS PATROL IN ANOTHER CAR. WHEN HE RETURNED TO STATION, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE ON THE PARKED CAR WAS TOTALY FLAT. THE TIRE WAS EXAMINED BY A FORD DEALER, WHO FOUND THE WHEEL HAD AN APPROX 1/8" CRACK APPROX 16" LONG IN THE WHEEL. THE WHEEL WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 32,819 miles reported. Look up ODI 10102520 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10149398 · 2006-02-03 (February 3, 2006)
ROUTINELY WHEN DRIVING MY 2004 FORD CROWN VICTORY (USED AS A HACKNEY CARRIAGE) AUTOMOBILE EXHIBITS VIOLENT, POTENTIALLY DEADLY BEHAVIOR. THE LOSES ITS OPERATIONAL ABILITY AND DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE LATEST NEAR-ACCIDENT SITUATION UNFOLDED AS FOLLOWS: WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF 50 MPH THE AUTOMOBILE JUMPED (SWERVED) FROM THE LEFT LANE TO THE RIGHT LANE WITHOUT ME HAVING MOVED THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN I RETAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN, THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND, BUT PROCEEDED TO JERK FORWARD AT A DECREA…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149398 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10297889 · 2010-01-03 (January 3, 2010)
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2004 FORD CROWN VICTORIA, WHILE DRIVING DURING DARK HOURS DOWN THE FREEWAY MY HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT WITH A CLICK. THE PARKING LIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS REMAINED, BUT I WAS UNABLE TO SEE AND HAD TO MAKE A BLIND PANIC STOP TO THE SHOULDER. SINCE, THIS HAS BEEN A REGULAR OCCURRENCE IN WHICH I CAN ONLY QUICKLY PULL THE FLASH TO PASS SWITCH AND TRY TO HOLD IT AS WELL AS THE STEERING WHEEL UNTIL I CAN SAFELY GET PULLED OVER. EVEN AFTER THEN, IT IS AN UNKNOWN WAIT TIME ON WHEN THEY WILL COME BACK ON OR HOW LONG THEY WILL STAY O…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10297889 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10438872 · 2011-12-07 (December 7, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED AND WOULD FLICKER ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE MAIN ELECTRICAL MODULAR CONTROL BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 179,734.
Owner-reported narrative. 179,734 miles reported. Look up ODI 10438872 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10472517 · 2012-08-26 (August 26, 2012)
I WAS AT DRIVE THROUGH TELLER WHEN THE AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS, AC, INSTRUMENT GAUGES, ODOMETER, AND SPEEDOMETER FAILED AT ONCE. INITIALLY THE DETERMINATION WAS IT WAS THE OVERDRIVE SWITCH IN THE GEARSHIFT, APPARENTLY A WIRE WAS SHORTING OUT BECAUSE IT TRAVELS IN AN AREA WHERE THE INSULATION WEARS AND SHORTS TO METAL. HOWEVER, AFTER HAVING DISCONNECTED THE OVERDRIVE AND WAITING FOR A REPLACEMENT WIRING HARNESS, THE AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT ALONG WITH THE PERMANENT HIGH BEAMS. IT WILL TURN ON THE LIGHTS IF YOU USE MANUAL LIGHTS INSTEA…
Owner-reported narrative. 134,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10472517 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10316894 · 2010-03-04 (March 4, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FILLER TUBE FOR THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 66000.
Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10316894 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10380981 · 2011-02-07 (February 7, 2011)
I REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, IT WORKED FOR TWO WEEKS, FAILED REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP WORKED FOR TWO MORE WEEKS THEN IT FAILED, TOOK IT TO FOR THEY REPLACED THE FUEL MODULE AND FUEL PUMP, TWO WEEKS LATER SAME PROBLEM FAILED FUEL PUMP. FOR FORD HAS NO IDEA. *LN
Owner-reported narrative. 104,568 miles reported. Look up ODI 10380981 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10180913 · 2007-01-28 (January 28, 2007)
TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE. FAILURE OCCURRED AT 50,000 MILES .POLICE PACKAGE-TN. 8JB
Owner-reported narrative. 49,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10180913 at NHTSA ↗