2008 Ford CROWN VICTORIA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
50 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
100,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 43 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 24 of 50 complaints (48.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 18 | 36.0% |
| Braking behavior | 13 | 26.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 6.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 4.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 4.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering | 24 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 |
| Suspension | 5 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
Steering: 24; Vehicle Speed Control: 10; Suspension: 5; Electrical System: 4; Power Train: 3; Service Brakes: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Air Bags: 1
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 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 14 |
| 150,000 and above | 8 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 14; 150,000 and above: 8
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (14). 7 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 |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
2008: 3; 2009: 3; 2010: 3; 2012: 9; 2013: 2; 2014: 6; 2015: 2; 2016: 5; 2017: 3; 2018: 3; 2019: 1; 2020: 4; 2021: 1; 2022: 3; 2023: 2
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 18 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 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 10347391 · 2010-08-05 (August 5, 2010)
THE STEERING COLUMN BEGINS TO SEPARATE IN THE UPPER PORTION OF THE STEERING COLUMN TUBE. THE STEERING WHEEL BINDS AND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED IN A LIKE VEHICLE THAT THE SHAFTS IN THE UPPER COLUMN ACTUALLY SEPARATED AND THE VEHICLE HAD NO MECHANICAL CONNECTION TO THE FRONT WHEELS. THE OPERATOR WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE STOP BUT THEY HAD JUST BEGUN TO ACCELERATE FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN THE SHAFTS SEPARATED AND THE VEHICLE SPEED WAS MINIMAL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 35,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10347391 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10347404 · 2010-08-05 (August 5, 2010)
THE STEERING COLUMN IN THIS VEHICLE SEPARATED IN THE UPPER PORTION OF THE STEERING COLUMN TUBE. THE STEERING WHEEL BINDS AS REPORTED AT FIRST AND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. WHEN THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN SHAFTS SEPARATED FROM THIS VEHICLE IT HAD NO MECHANICAL CONNECTION TO THE FRONT WHEELS. THE OPERATOR WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE STOP BUT THEY HAD JUST BEGUN TO ACCELERATE FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN THE SHAFTS SEPARATED AND THE VEHICLES SPEED WAS MINIMAL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 39,955 miles reported. Look up ODI 10347404 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10240078 · 2008-08-28 (August 28, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE INSTEAD OF ATTEMPTING TO STOP. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY FAILURES AND THE ISSUE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES AFTERWARDS. WHILE DRIVING 72 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 90 MPH UNTIL THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS DISENGAGED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSTALLATION OF A MONITORING SYSTEM; HOWEVER, THE DEALER STILL COULD NO…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10240078 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10269890 · 2009-05-25 (May 25, 2009)
2008 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR: BRAKE PEDAL IS TOO CLOSE TO THE ACCELERATOR. OFTEN, BOTH PEDALS ARE PRESSED INADVERTENTLY WHEN TRYING TO STOP. I PERSONALLY KNOW SEVERAL POLICE OFFICERS WHO REPORT HAVING THIS PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING '08 CROWN VICTORIAS. THESE SAME POLICE OFFICERS, MYSELF INCLUDED, REPORT THIS PROBLEM IS UNIQUE TO THE '08 CROWN VICTORIA AND DOES NOT EXIST WITH OLDER MODELS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10269890 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10292772 · 2009-11-13 (November 13, 2009)
2008 FORD CROWN VICTORIA HAS A PROBLEM WITH UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED 3 TIMES WITH NO WARNING. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM HAPPENED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND PLACED INTO DRIVE AND DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET. THE RPM'S INCREASED WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR BEING APPLIED. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE AND THE RPM'S RETURNED TO NORMAL AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED. IN JUNE 2009, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10292772 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10479893 · 2012-10-12 (October 12, 2012)
ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10 AT APPROXIMATELY 3:45 PM TROOPER WAS TRAVELING ON RESERVOIR AVENUE IN THE CITY OF CRANSTON. AS THE TROOPER APPROACHED THE ON-RAMP FOR ROUTE 10 SOUTH HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN ONTO THE RAMP. AS HE DID SO HE HEARD A LOUD SNAP AND THE STEERING WHEEL KEPT TURNING WITHOUT TURNING THE FRONT WHEELS. HE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND WENT UP ONTO THE CURBING NEXT TO THE RAMP. WHEN HE CAME TO A STOP THE HORN WAS SOUNDING AND THE LIGHTS AND SIREN WERE ALSO GOING ON AND OFF. THE CRUISER IN QUESTION IS A 2008 AND HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY …
Owner-reported narrative. 98,430 miles reported. Look up ODI 10479893 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10475954 · 2012-09-19 (September 19, 2012)
DRIVER FELT RESISTANCE IN STEERING AND HEARD NOISE UNDER DASH. DROVE CAR FOR SOME UNTIL IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO PARK THEN BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE. TECHNICIAN EXAMINING VEHICLE NOTICED SMALL PLASTIC PARTS ON FLOOR UNDER STEERING COLUMN AND FOUND THE LOWER BUSHING OUT OF TUBE. STEERING SHAFT WAS STILL CONNECTED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 95,254 miles reported. Look up ODI 10475954 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11522491 · 2023-05-17 (May 17, 2023)
The contact owns 2008 Ford Crown Victoria. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to reverse while the transmission was shifted into reverse(R). The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who replaced the linkage. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 115,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11522491 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11164014 · 2018-12-29 (December 29, 2018)
TAKATA RECALL FOR SOME ODD REASON ANY LITTLE BUMP OR IN LEVEL GROUND I GO OVER , THE STEERING WHEEL RESPONSE IS HORRIBLE. ALSO MY CHECK GAS CAP LIGHT COMES ON AND I CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP TWICE & HORRIBLE FUMES FLOATS AROUND INSIDE MY CAR CABIN.
Owner-reported narrative. 179,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11164014 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11339379 · 2020-07-14 (July 14, 2020)
2008 FORD INTERSEPTER GAS TANK STRAPS AND TANK FELL. VEHICAL WAS TOWED TO A FORD.
Owner-reported narrative. 107,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11339379 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11480958 · 2022-08-24 (August 24, 2022)
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Crown Victoria. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The contact inspected the steering column underneath the hood and noticed that the steering shaft was corroded. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V385000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure …
Owner-reported narrative. 141,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11480958 at NHTSA ↗