1998 Ford CROWN VICTORIA: complaints, problems and recalls

I HAVE A 1998 CROWN VICTORIA WITH 40,000 MILES. MY FRONT END WAS MAKING A NOISE, SO I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT BOTH OF MY FRONT CONTROL ARMS NEED TO BE REPLACED. CAMPAIGN # 98V322000 DEC-15-1998 RECALL ADDRESSES THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER STATES MY CAR IS NOT COVERED.

Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003498 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBLE FUEL TANK PROBLEM REGARDING HIS VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER ONLY RECALLED THE POLICE INTERCEPTOR VEHICLE'S. *PH *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004085 at NHTSA ↗

THERE IS A CRACK IN THE "INTAKE MANIFOLD" THERE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A PLUG INSERTED THAT HAS COME OUT. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED TO OTHER POLICE "INTERCEPT" MODELS AND FORD REPLACED THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD WITH ALUMIN.

Owner-reported narrative. 643,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007981 at NHTSA ↗

SMALL CRACK IN INTAKE MANIFOLD AND DETACHED HOSE FITTING ON THE TOP OF INTAKE MANIFOLD. CAR OVERHEATED. CONTACTED FORD ON MARCH 21, 2003. JUST ENTERED MY COMPLAINT IN SYSTEM. I DISCOVERED THERE WAS A RECALL (01M02) CONCERNING INTAKE MANIFOLDS FORD CROWN VICTORIA', BUT FORD STATES THAT MY YEAR MODEL DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL, DESPITE BEING MANUFACTURED IN THE SAME PLANT ST. THOMAS. I HAD VEHICLE VIN# [XXX] REPAIRED AT GREENE FORD CO. ON MARCH 27 , 2003 AFTER THE SUGGESTION OF GREENE FORD CO. ON MARCH 20, 2003 TO USE EXPOXY SEALANT ON THE HO…

Owner-reported narrative. 88,544 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014223 at NHTSA ↗

THE OUT TIE ROD EXPERIENCED PRE MATURE FAILURE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014656 at NHTSA ↗

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED. *JB THE ENGINE WAS WARMED UP, AND HOT ANTIFREEZE DISPENSED FROM THE INTAKE AND BURNED THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AGAIN WHEN THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE ADVISE OF THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO THE HOSE FITTING. SCC

Owner-reported narrative. 88,544 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014795 at NHTSA ↗

MOISTURE WAS INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT LENSES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE LENSES WERE REPLACED, BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE HOW THE MOISTURE WAS GETTING INTO THE LENSES. *JB RECENTLY, THE SAME PROBLEM DEVELOPED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY REFUSED SERVICE BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. SCC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017319 at NHTSA ↗

MY CROWN VIC HAS 43759 MILES ON IT. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF (APPROXIMATELY 1.5 SECONDS)-FLASHED ON-FLASHED OFF. I TOOK THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OFF & IT QUIT TURNING OFF. I KEPT THE BRIGHTS OFF THE REST OF THAT TRIP BUT COULD STILL SMELL AN PLASTIC BURNING SMELL IN THE CAR WHEN THE LIGHTS WERE ON. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE FORD DEALER ABOUT 12-4-2003 AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A LIGHT CONTROL MODULE--THEN THEY TOLD ME IT WAS BACK-ORDERED NATIONALLY AND WOULD BE 2 WEEKS BEFORE IT CAME IN. I CALLED 12-26-2003 & IT IS STILL …

Owner-reported narrative. 43,759 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051117 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2000-06-12 (June 12, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES USING AFTERMARKET DRIVER'S SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES THAT WERE SOLD BY FORD PARTS DEPARTMENTS FROM JANUARY 1, THROUGH JUNE 13, 2000. THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." THE EQUIPMENT INVOLVED IS SERVICE STOCK SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES, MODEL NOS. H 9977, H 9979, T 9063, AND T 9217, BUILT BY TRW VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC. (TRW) MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 1, 1998 THROUGH MAY 21, 2000. SOME OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED AS SERVICE REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT ON THE VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THE RECALL.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THESE SEAT BELTS MAY NOT RESTRAIN AN OCCUPANT INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES AND REPLACE THE SERVICE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES THAT WERE INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES FROM JANUARY 1 THROUGH JUNE 13, 2000.

Reported: 2000-06-12 (June 12, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES USING AFTERMARKET FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES THAT WERE SOLD BY FORD PARTS DEPARTMENTS FROM JANUARY 1, THROUGH JUNE 13, 2000. THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." THE EQUIPMENT INVOLVED IS SERVICE STOCK SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES, MODEL NOS. H 9977, H 9979, T 9063, AND T 9217, BUILT BY TRW VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC. (TRW) MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 1, 1998 THROUGH MAY 21, 2000. SOME OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED AS SERVICE REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT ON THE VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THE RECALL.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THESE SEAT BELTS MAY NOT RESTRAIN AN OCCUPANT INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES AND REPLACE THE SERVICE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES THAT WERE INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES FROM JANUARY 1 THROUGH JUNE 13, 2000.

Reported: 2000-07-18 (July 18, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES HAVE JACKING INSTRUCTIONS WHICH, IF FOLLOWED, COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE OPERATOR TO PLACE THE JACK ON A FRAME WELD WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RAISE A REAR WHEEL. IF THE VEHICLE IS JACKED UP WITH THE JACK PLACED ON THE FRAME WELD AND IF THE VEHICLE IS FREE TO ROLL (WHEELS NOT BLOCKED OR CHOCKED), THE JACK COULD YIELD AND THE VEHICLE MAY DROP SUDDENLY.

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS AND ANY PORTION OF THE OPERATOR'S BODY IS UNDER THE VEHICLE, THE POTENTIAL FOR PERSONAL INJURY EXISTS.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A REVISED JACK INSTRUCTION AND STOWAGE CARD AND JACK WARNING LABEL, AS WELL AS A SUPPLEMENT TO THE OWNER GUIDE.

Reported: 2003-11-06 (November 6, 2003)

ON CERTAIN NATURAL GAS VEHICLES, IF A FLAME FROM A VEHICLE INTERIOR FIRE BECOMES LOCALLY DIRECTED AT THE NATURAL GAS FUEL TANK LOCATED IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE REAR SEAT, THE FLAME COULD DAMAGE THE FIBERGLASS WRAP ON THE TANK WEAKENING THE TANK.

Consequence: IF THE STRENGTH OF THE TANK IS SIGNIFICANTLY COMPROMISED, IT COULD RUPTURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN INSULATOR BEHIND THE CURRENT SEAT BACK. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JANUARY 7, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

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: 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).