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U.S. public vehicle records

Ford CROWN VICTORIA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

2,439 owner complaints analyzed

47 distinct recall campaigns

92,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1980 to 2011 model years. Data snapshot: . 1,079 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 267 of 2,439 complaints (10.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior35814.7%
Steering behavior35214.4%
Electrical and battery issues1004.1%
Fuel system concerns893.6%
Transmission and shifting813.3%
Engine operation753.1%

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.

Exterior Lighting
267
Steering
200
Vehicle Speed Control
164
Electrical System
120
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
82
Steering:Linkages
78
Suspension
75
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
72
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Exterior Lighting267
Steering200
Vehicle Speed Control164
Electrical System120
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe82
Steering:Linkages78
Suspension75
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine72

Exterior Lighting: 267; Steering: 200; Vehicle Speed Control: 164; Electrical System: 120; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 82; Steering:Linkages: 78; Suspension: 75; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 72

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
104
25,000 to 49,999
138
50,000 to 74,999
150
75,000 to 99,999
211
100,000 to 149,999
296
150,000 and above
180
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,000104
25,000 to 49,999138
50,000 to 74,999150
75,000 to 99,999211
100,000 to 149,999296
150,000 and above180

Under 25,000: 104; 25,000 to 49,999: 138; 50,000 to 74,999: 150; 75,000 to 99,999: 211; 100,000 to 149,999: 296; 150,000 and above: 180

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (296). 1,360 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.

1995
199
1996
257
2000
232
2001
157
2002
170
2003
173
2004
114
2005
86
2006
78
2007
74
2008
89
2009
68
2010
91
2011
69
2012
104
2013
82
2014
83
2015
53
2016
56
2017
51
2018
38
2019
40
2020
24
2021
10
2022
10
2023
16
2024
2
2025
8
2026
5
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
1995199
1996257
2000232
2001157
2002170
2003173
2004114
200586
200678
200774
200889
200968
201091
201169
2012104
201382
201483
201553
201656
201751
201838
201940
202024
202110
202210
202316
20242
20258
20265

1995: 199; 1996: 257; 2000: 232; 2001: 157; 2002: 170; 2003: 173; 2004: 114; 2005: 86; 2006: 78; 2007: 74; 2008: 89; 2009: 68; 2010: 91; 2011: 69; 2012: 104; 2013: 82; 2014: 83; 2015: 53; 2016: 56; 2017: 51; 2018: 38; 2019: 40; 2020: 24; 2021: 10; 2022: 10; 2023: 16; 2024: 2; 2025: 8; 2026: 5

Pattern summary

Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 358 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 352 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 100 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 736556 · 2000-11-19 (November 19, 2000)

ON THE FAILURE DATE SPECIFIED, I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 65 MILES PER HOUR WHILE USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. FOR SOME REASON I DO NOT PRESENTLY RECALL, I NEEDED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE TWO OR THREE TIMES AND THE CAR CONTINUED AT HIGH SPEED. THEN I PUT THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND JIGGLED THE GAS PEDAL A FEW TIMES, THEN THE ENGINE SPEED RETURNED TO NORMAL. A SIMILAR MALFUNCTION OF THE THROTTLE OCCURED DURING THE PRECEDING WEEK A COUPLE OF TIMES, BUT NO MAJOR PROBLEM; SINCE AT…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 736556 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 873347 · 2000-10-18 (October 18, 2000)

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON HIGHWAY COMING INTO TOWN. AND VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. NO BRAKES/NO POWER STEERING, VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO DELL'S SERVICE CENTER. SERVICE CENTER REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE AND DISTRIBUTOR PICK UP, AND THEY ARE FORD PARTS.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 873347 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 984253 · 1996-05-08 (May 8, 1996)

DRIVING THE VEHICLE, STEERING COLUMN FIRE, UNDER THE DASH, SAW SMOKE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 984253 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 756656 · 2002-01-10 (January 10, 2002)

ENGINE STALLS! CAR HAS A NEW ALTERNATER AND BATTERY BECAUSE I KEPT RUNNING DOWN THE BATTERY TRYING TO START IT. IT HAS ALSO BEEN COMPLETELY TUNED UP AND RUNS FINE UNTIL THIS HAPPENS. THE STALL CAUSES YOU TO STOP PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND SHUT THE IGNITION OFF THEN BACK ON BEFORE IT WILL START. THAT BACKS UP TRAFFIC AND CAUSES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION... PLEASE SEND ME SOMTHING THAT WILL MAKE FORD FIX THIS PROBLEM... THANKS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 756656 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 504020 · 1996-05-06 (May 6, 1996)

ELECTRICAL FIRE. *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504020 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 506095 · 1996-07-01 (July 1, 1996)

GAS TANK RUSTED, CAUSING IT TO LEAK. *DH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 506095 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 986304 · 1996-07-19 (July 19, 1996)

LEAKING GAS TANK DUE TO RUST ON THE INSIDE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 986304 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 967344 · 1995-06-20 (June 20, 1995)

THE CAR ENGINE RACES REAL HIGH AND THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT DRIVE THE CAR. URATHANE GROMMET CRACKED AND FELL OFF. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 967344 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 8009606 · 2002-05-10 (May 10, 2002)

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY AFTER A LONG DRIVE AND WHEN SLOWING DOWN.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8009606 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1995
8
1996
9
1997
8
1998
7
1999
5
2000
7
2001
4
2002
2
2003
5
2004
2
2005
5
2006
2
2007
4
2008
3
2009
2
2010
2
2011
2
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
19958
19969
19978
19987
19995
20007
20014
20022
20035
20042
20055
20062
20074
20083
20092
20102
20112

1995: 8; 1996: 9; 1997: 8; 1998: 7; 1999: 5; 2000: 7; 2001: 4; 2002: 2; 2003: 5; 2004: 2; 2005: 5; 2006: 2; 2007: 4; 2008: 3; 2009: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 2

Year-by-year records

Ford CROWN VICTORIA model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
198020Not available
1981100
198332Not available
198441-1
1985160-1
1986221+1
1987304+3
1988282-2
19894620
19902920
1991383+1
19922017+4
199310370
19941326-1
19951828+2
19961769+1
19972228-1
1998767-1
19991225-2
2000857+2
2001534-3
2002582-2
20032495+3
20041382-3
20051935+3
2006532-3
2007504+2
2008503-1
2009442-1
20101220
20112320