1993 Ford CROWN VICTORIA: complaints, problems and recalls

THE CONSUMER PURCHASED AN OLD POLICE VEHICLE WHICH HAS BEEN RECALLED TO PROVIDE A SAFETY SHIELD AROUND THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT ONLY ACTIVE POLICE OFFICERS WERE GOING TO RECEIVE THE SHIELD. THE CONSUMER FEELS THE SHIELD SHOULD BE INSTALLED ON ALL RECALL VEHICLES NOT JUST THE ACTIVE POLICE VEHICLE. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004424 at NHTSA ↗

FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY BRACKETS. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 15 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008356 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE HAD TWO FORD CROWN VICS, A 1992 AND NOW A 1993. IN BOTH VEHICLES THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT FRAME, ON THE FRONT LEFT CORNER, SHEARED. THIS LEFT THE BOLT STILL ANCHORED TO THE SLIDER FOR THE SEAT ADJUSTER. THE SEATS ROCK BACK AND FORTH. NOT ONLY IS THIS A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT IT MAKE THE SEAT EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE. I DON'T HAVE EXACT DATES AS TO WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE DATE ON THE FORM IS WRONG AND ONLY SHOWS BECAUSE IT WAS A REQUIRED FIELD. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018601 at NHTSA ↗

THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLIGHT LENSES WERE DISCOLORED. *AK *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10029826 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD SNAPPED. CONSUMER LOST STEERING CONTROL. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 123,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10048230 at NHTSA ↗

THROTTLE STUCK IN REVERSE. AS A RESULT, DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HIT A HOUSE. VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AFTER CRASHING INTO A BRICK WALL. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 94,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10059755 at NHTSA ↗

ON JUNE 6, 2004 WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT END DROPPED DOWN AND SCRAPED THE PAVEMENT, THE STEERING WHEEL JUMPED AROUND AND THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW. LOOKING UNDER THE CAR REVEALED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT HAD SEPARATED AND PULLED FREE FROM THE CONTROL ARM. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD BEEN FORCED INTO THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE AND GOUGED A HUGE HOLE IN IT. HAD THIS HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC WITH LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE EXPOSED BALL JOINT END WAS DRY (…

Owner-reported narrative. 170,421 miles reported. Look up ODI 10075024 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED HOOD OPENED. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO TIE DOWN THE HOOD AND DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. *AK *SC

Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10083533 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2007-08-03 (August 3, 2007)

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

Reported: 2008-02-04 (February 4, 2008)

FORD IS RECALLING 225,000 MY 1992-2003 ECONOLINE, MY 1993-1995 TAURUS SHO, MY 1992-1998 CROWN VICTORIA, MY 1993 BRONCO, F-SERIES, MY 1995-1997 F-SERIES SUPER DUTY STRIPPED CHASSIS, MY 1992-1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS, AND MY 1992-1995 LINCOLN TOWN CAR VEHICLES. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED USING A WIRING HARNESS THAT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE VEHICLE CIRCUIT POLARITY.

Consequence: AS A RESULT, THE FUSE IS LOCATED IN THE OUTPUT CIRCUIT RATHER THAN IN THE INTENDED INPUT POWER FEED CIRCUIT, AND MAY NOT OFFER THE INTENDED PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT TO GROUND.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW WIRING HARNESS, OR REPLACE THE MATING ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Reported: 1993-11-23 (November 23, 1993)

AN UNUSED POWER SEAT HARNESS CONNECTOR IS POSITIONED ON THE RUBBER FLOOR MAT UNDER THE SEAT. IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN COLD WEATHER IN AREAS THAT HAVE LARGE AMOUNTS OF SALT USED FOR SNOW AND ICE CONTROL, A PUDDLE OF SALTWATER CAN ACCUMULATE ON THE RUBBER FLOOR MATS, REPEATEDLY WETTING THE CONNECTOR. THIS WILL RESULT IN CORROSION OF THE CONNECTOR, CAUSING A CURRENT TO FLOW BETWEEN THE TERMINALS WITHOUT TRIPPING THE CIRCUIT BREAKER.

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, CURRENT FLOW CAN HEAT THE CONNECTOR ANDRELEASE FUMES INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, AND CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE UNUSED CONNECTOR AND INSTALL A SEALED HEAT SHRINK CAP OVER THE AFFECTED WIRES.

Reported: 1995-10-11 (October 11, 1995)

THE BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARMS TO THE FRAME MOUNTING BRACKETS CAN LOOSEN AND FRACTURE AT ONE OF THE BOLT HOLES CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL NEGATIVE CAMBER AND STEERING PULL TO THE AFFECTED SIDE.

Consequence: IF THE DRIVER'S SIDE BRACKET FRACTURED AT BOTH BOLT HOLES, THE STEERING CONTROL ARM CAN CONTACT THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT AND RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TORQUE LEVELS OF THE FOUR UPPER CONTROL ARM MOUNTING BOLTS, AND IF ANY ARE LOOSE, THE BRACKETS WILL BE INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE. IF DAMAGE IS PRESENT, IT WILL BE REPAIRED.

Reported: 1997-03-04 (March 4, 1997)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: POLICE AND TAXI VEHICLES. THE HOOD LATCH STRIKER CAN WEAR OR BECOME DETACHED FROM THE HOOD.

Consequence: EITHER OF THESE CONDITIONS CAN RESULT IN THE HOOD OPENING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED IMPAIRING THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED HOOD LATCH STRIKER (VEHICLES WITH 1992 MODEL HOODS) OR REVISED STRIKER PLATE ATTACHING FASTENERS (VEHICLES WITH 1993-1997 MODEL HOODS).

Reported: 1998-12-16 (December 16, 1998)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 1996-1999 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE, FLEET, NATURAL GAS, AND 1996-1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINE VEHICLES THAT WERE PRODUCED WITH A LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CONTAINING A ONE PIECE BEARING; AND 1990-1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE, FLEET, AND NGV VEHICLES AND 1990-1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINE VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN SERVICED WITH EITHER A BALL JOINT CONTAINING THE ONE-PIECE BEARING OR A FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM CONTAINING A BALL JOINT WITH A ONE-PIECE BEARING. THE ONE-PIECE BEARING WITHIN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CAN WEAKEN SLOWLY DURING USE AND EVENTUALLY CRACK. THIS COULD RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE BALL AND CAP OF THE JOINT, ALLOWING THE CONTROL ARM TO DROP TO THE GROUND.

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, REDUCED STEERING CONTROL COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS (2).

Reported: 1999-05-19 (May 19, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH CAN DEVELOP A RESISTIVE SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE. A FIRE IS POSSIBLE BOTH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING AND WHEN THE VEHICLE ENGINE IS OFF. ALSO, THE SHORT COULD DISABLE THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM OR CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHT FUSE TO OPEN.

Consequence: A FIRE CAN ORIGINATE IN THE LEFT FRONT UNDERHOOD AREA.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH AND CONNECTOR SHELL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 20, 1999.