2001 Ford CROWN VICTORIA: complaints, problems and recalls

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE WIPER FAILURE RESULTED IN REDUCED VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES BUT THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF THE VEHICLE. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 793 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001274 at NHTSA ↗

THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, WHICH CAUSED ANTI-FREEZE TO LEAK. *JB CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD'S PLASTIC WATER JACKET FAILED HE WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE RECALL FOR THIS CONDITION ONLY COVERED POLICE VEHICLES. *TT

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10015960 at NHTSA ↗

CAR WAS PURCHASED 9/10/01. FIRST PROBLEM OCCURRED IN APRIL 2002. CAR HAS AN INTERMITTENT MISS. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. IN AUGUST 2002 CAR BEGAN SHUTTING DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THIS PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED AND HAS HAPPENED AT ALL DIFFERENT SPEEDS. CAR HAS BEEN INTO DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER A TOTAL OF 7 TIMES AND EACH TIME THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM SINCE WHEN THE CAR SHUTS DOWN THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES ARE JUST ABOUT USELESS. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 13,799 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019111 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY HEADLIGHTS WILL COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022057 at NHTSA ↗

THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE GAS TANK SHIELD BEING INSTALLED IN POLICE VEHICLES AND NOT REGULAR CONSUMER VEHICLES. *MR THE FUEL TANK SHIELD WAS INSTALLED AT THE CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *TT *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 15,455 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024655 at NHTSA ↗

THE STEERING WHEEL WANDERS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP,BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AT THIS TIME. DRIVER HAD AN ACCIDENT LAST MONTH DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. BUT HE WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE TO SAFETY, THERE WERE NO PHYSICAL INJURIES NOR FATALITIES TO REPORT. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10044131 at NHTSA ↗

DT: CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE IT REVVED. WHEN PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE IT DID THIS ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE SERVICE DEALER DID SOME REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE, BUT IT DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. AT FIRST IT WOULD DO THIS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS COLD, BUT THE SERVICE DEALER REPLACED AN IAC VALVE. CURRRENTLY IT DOES IT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS HOT OR COLD. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10129074 at NHTSA ↗

2001 CROWN VICTORIA DEFECTIVE LOWER BALL JOINTS, POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF NO GREASE FITTING ON BALL JOINTS TO DO NORMAL MAINTENANCE LUBE. *TS *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10156262 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2000-09-13 (September 13, 2000)

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIMOUSINES, AND MINI VANS WERE BUILT WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE (RCM). IN SOME CASES, THE RCM DOES NOT RECOGNIZE CERTAIN SYSTEM FAULTS THAT COULD RESULT IN AN AIR BAG OR SEAT BELT PRE-TENSIONER UNEXPECTEDLY ACTIVATING DURING THE SELF-TEST SEQUENCE AT VEHICLE START-UP.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RCM IN THESE VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 14, 2000. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Reported: 2000-12-06 (December 6, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS AND PASSENGER VEHICLES. A RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE (RCM) OR A SIDE OR FRONT CRASH SENSOR MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH ONE OR MORE OF THE SCREWS THAT MOUNT THE CIRCUIT BOARD IN THE HOUSING MISSING. IF SOME OR ALL OF THE SCREWS ARE MISSING, THE PERFORMANCE OF THE OCCUPANT RESTRAINS COULD BE AFFECTED.

Consequence: IN SOME CASES, LESS THAN THE INTENDED LEVEL OF PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE RCM AND CRASH SENSORS AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THEM.

Reported: 2001-07-16 (July 16, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND MINIVANS. EQUIPPED WITH SEAT BELTS SUPPLIED BY TRW. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE DRIVER'S AND/OR FRONT PASSENGER'S OUTBOARD SEAT BELT BUCKLE MAY NOT FULLY LATCH. FORD CROWN VICTORIA BUILT AT ST. THOMAS ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM 4/17/00 - 5/29/01 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS BUILT AT ST. THOMAS ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM 4/17/00 - 5/29/01. LINCOLN TOWN CARS BUILT AT WIXOM ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM 3/27/00 - 5/30/01. LINCOLN NAVIGATORS BUILT AT MICHIGAN TRUCK PLANT FROM 4/11/00 - 5/31/01. FORD WINDSTARS BUILT AT OAKVILLE ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM 3/23/00 - 5/30/01. FORD RANGERS BUILT AT TWIN CITIES PLANT FROM 3/28/00 - 5/30/01, AND ALSO AT THE EDISON PLANT FROM 3/13/00 - 5/25/01. FORD F-150 TRUCK BUILT AT NORFOLK PLANT FROM 4/18/00 - 5/25/00; AT ONTARIO PLANT FROM 5/10/00 - 5/28/01; AT KANSAS CITY PLANT FROM 9/11/99 - 5/25/01; AND AT CUAUTITLAN PLANT FROM 5/16/00 - 6/9/01. FORD SUPER DUTY F-250, F-350, F-450, AND F-550 TRUCKS BUILT AT KENTUCKY PLANT FROM 4/17/00 - 5/27/01; AND AT CUAUTITLAN PLANT FROM 5/16/00 - 6/19/01. FORD EXCURSIONS BUILT AT KENTUCKY PLANT FROM 4/17/00 - 10/2/00. FORD EXPEDITIONS BUILT AT MICHIGAN TRUCK PLANT FROM 4/11/00 - 5/31/01.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM MAY NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE OCCUPANT PROTECTION, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT OUTBOARD SEAT BELT BUCKLES AND IF THE BUCKLE FAILS THE INSPECTION PROCESS, IT WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 25, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.

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.