2004 Ford CROWN VICTORIA: complaints, problems and recalls

PREMATURE BEARING & AXLE WEAR ON REAR AXLES. (AXLE MAY BREAK IF NOT REPAIRED). *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 37,787 miles reported. Look up ODI 10072556 at NHTSA ↗

TROOPER WAS ON PATROL, WHILE DRIVING, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, FELT A SHIMMY IN THE STEERING, PULLED OVER AND OBSERVED THE RT FRT TIRE WAS SUDDENLY LOW ON AIR. HE RETURNED TO STATION, PARKED THE CAR AND CONTINUED HIS PATROL IN ANOTHER CAR. WHEN HE RETURNED TO STATION, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE ON THE PARKED CAR WAS TOTALY FLAT. THE TIRE WAS EXAMINED BY A FORD DEALER, WHO FOUND THE WHEEL HAD AN APPROX 1/8" CRACK APPROX 16" LONG IN THE WHEEL. THE WHEEL WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 32,819 miles reported. Look up ODI 10102520 at NHTSA ↗

DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE 70 AT 75 MPH. SUDDEN BLOW-OUT OF THE SIDEWALL OF A MICHELIN TIRE WITH 1825 MILES ON IT. THE DEALER SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT ON A MICHELIN BEFORE. I HAVE SINCE HEARD OTHERWISE. THEY COULD NOT GET A REPLACEMENT FOR SIX DAYS AND HAD TO RENT ME A CAR TO USE. THERE WERE NO OTHER MICHELIN TIRES OF THAT SIZE ANYWHERE IN THE STATE. THIS IS A NEW FORD CROWN VICTORIA LESS THAN 60 DAYS OLD. RIGHT FRONT TIRE. VERY EXCITING RIDE FOR A FEW MOMENTS! LOTS OF SMOKE.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 1,825 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116642 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF. FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK CONSUMER STATED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS GOING TO SEND AN ENGINEER TO INVESTIGATE THE FIRE. WITNESSES SAID THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BURNING THEY COULD HEAR THE ENGINE TRYING TO START. *JB *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 29,944 miles reported. Look up ODI 10117062 at NHTSA ↗

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR AXLE NON POWERED ASSEMBLY EXPERIENCED EXTENSIVE WEAR. AS A RESULT, THERE WAS A SEVERE VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE REPAIR SHOP, AND THE MECHANIC CONTACTED A LOCAL DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE ISSUE. A FACTORY AUTHORIZED AXLE REPLACEMENT KIT WAS PURCHASED; PART #3W1Z4A109AA. USING THE NEW AXLE KIT THE OLD AXLE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. THIS VEHICLE WAS FOR POLICE USE.*AK UPDATED 01/11/06. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 64,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10145478 at NHTSA ↗

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT IN NORMAL CONDITIONS AT NO PARTICULAR SPEED, THE HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FLASHED ON AND OFF. AS A RESULT OF THIS HAPPENING, THE DIMMER SWITCH WAS ADJUSTED FROM DIM TO BRIGHT, ALLOWING THE LIGHTS TO OPERATE MOMENTARILY. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC TESTING ON THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED, ALTHOUGH DEALERSHIP PERSONNEL TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE.

Owner-reported narrative. 28,711 miles reported. Look up ODI 10148971 at NHTSA ↗

ROUTINELY WHEN DRIVING MY 2004 FORD CROWN VICTORY (USED AS A HACKNEY CARRIAGE) AUTOMOBILE EXHIBITS VIOLENT, POTENTIALLY DEADLY BEHAVIOR. THE LOSES ITS OPERATIONAL ABILITY AND DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE LATEST NEAR-ACCIDENT SITUATION UNFOLDED AS FOLLOWS: WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF 50 MPH THE AUTOMOBILE JUMPED (SWERVED) FROM THE LEFT LANE TO THE RIGHT LANE WITHOUT ME HAVING MOVED THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN I RETAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN, THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND, BUT PROCEEDED TO JERK FORWARD AT A DECREA…

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149398 at NHTSA ↗

2004 FORD CROWN VICTORIA LX. 4 DOOR SEDAN. STEERING COLUMN IS NOT ALIGNED WITH FRONT SEAT. THE COLUMN IS 3" OFF CENTER TOWARDS THE DRIVERS DOOR .FORD REPS. TELL ME THAT'S THE WAY THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED. THAT'S FINE, BUT IF YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE A HEALTH CONDITION SUCH AS A CHRONIC BACK PROBLEM ITS VERY BOTHERSOME TO THE POINT OF HAVING TO SELL THE CAR. TOO BAD, I USED TO BE A FORD GUY BUT I AM FORCED TO SHOP AT A DIFFERENT DEALER. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10163923 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2005-05-09 (May 9, 2005)

ON CERTAIN POLICE INTERCEPTORS (CVPI) AND COMMERCIAL HEAVY DUTY (TAXI) VEHICLES, AT EXTREMELY HIGH OPERATING TEMPERATURES, THE SOUND INSULATING PANEL, LOCATED UNDER THE VEHICLE POSITIONED BETWEEN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND THE UNDERBODY, COULD SAG AND POSSIBLY CONTACT THE SURFACE OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE INSULATOR MIGHT EXPERIENCE CHARRING OF THE OUTER LAYER, BURNING ODOR, OR SMOKE WHICH MAY ULTIMATELY RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE EXISTING DASH INSULATOR AND INSTALL A REVISED DESIGN INSULATOR PAD FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 3, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Reported: 2015-12-22 (December 22, 2015)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2003-2005 Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles manufactured October 3, 2001, to August 2, 2005. The affected vehicles have a lighting control module (LCM) that may fail, resulting in a loss of headlights.

Consequence: A loss of headlights can reduce driver visibility and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the LCM, free of charge. The recall began April 14, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S39.