2003 Ford CVPI: complaints, problems and recalls

POLICE GARAGE MECHANICS DISCOVERED FAILED WELD ON STEEL WHEEL OF CROWN VICTORIA POLICE VEHICLE MY2003. NO COLLISION OR ROAD HAZARD DAMAGE TO VEHICLE - WELD SIMPLY FAILED. INSPECTED ALL THE WHEELS ON 15 MY 2003 POLICE CRUISERS; FOUND A TOTAL OF THREE CRACKED WHEELS.

Owner-reported narrative. 14,625 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003263 at NHTSA ↗

WHEEL FAILURE ON NEW STYLE STEEL WHEELS (OEM) ON 2003 FORD CVPI VEHICLES. TWO PIECE WHEELS ARE EXPERIENCING FAILURE OF WELDING SEAMS. FAILURE EXPERIENCED ON THREE SEPARATE VEHICLES. ALSO SEE ODI ID NUMBER 10003263. FORD MOTOR CO. DEALERSHIP IS NOT AWARE OF POTENTIAL FOR WIDESPREAD FAILURE. PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION INDICATES PROBLEM MAY BE NATIONWIDE. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019122 at NHTSA ↗

WE HAVE A FLEET, 18, OF FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTORS ASSIGNED TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. FORD HAS NOTIFIED USERS OF THE POSSIBILITY OF RIMS DEVELOPING CRACKS AND TIRES LOSING AIR. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH FORD AND WITH FORD DEALERSHIPS IN OUR AREA REGARDING THE REPLACEMENT OF RIMS. FORD HAS NOTIFIED US THAT IF THE RIM DOES NOT SHOW A CRACK THEY WILL NOT REPLACE IT. WE HAVE TAKEN STEPS TO TEST THE RIM WITH A PENETRANT AND DEVELOPER, MAGNAFLUX AND ACTUAL X-RAYS. WE FEEL THAT FORD IS IGNORING A POTENTIAL SERIOUS SAFETY INCIDENT AND BR…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021364 at NHTSA ↗

2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA WHEELS FAIL AT THE WELD, AND THE TIRE DEFLATES. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. WE ARE AFRAID THAT WE WILL HAVE A GRAVE ACCIDENT IF THIS IS NOT CORRECTED. THIS IS AFTER THE ORIGINAL WHHELS HAD BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE OF RECALL--NEW WHEELS HAVE A PROBLEM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10078687 at NHTSA ↗

LT REAR TIRE APPEARED LOW ON AIR. THE TIRE WAS INSPECTED, NO PUNCTURES. THE WHEEL WAS BROKEN DOWN AND A CRACK WAS DETECTED ON THE WHEEL.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 33,996 miles reported. Look up ODI 10080521 at NHTSA ↗

THE LEFT FRONT TIRE APPEARED LOW ON AIR. WHEN TAKEN TO THE GARAGE, THE TIRE WAS EXAMINED TO DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK. NOTHING WAS FOUND. THE TIRE WAS DISMOUNTED AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THE WHEEL WAS CRACKED. THE CRACK WAS 3 TO 4 INCHES LONG AND FOLLOWED THE WELD AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE WHEEL.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 33,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10080701 at NHTSA ↗

THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN AT 10 - 15 MPH, WHEN A LOUD POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE TIRES WERE EXAMINED. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS VISIBLY LOW ON AIR, BUT NOT ENTIRELY FLAT. THE TIRE AND WHEEL WERE BROKEN DOWN. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A CRACK EXTENDED ABOUT HALF WAY AROUND THE WHEEL. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 39,075 miles reported. Look up ODI 10080703 at NHTSA ↗

THIS WAS A POLICE VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A PURSUIT. AT APPROXIMATELY 110 MPH, THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL CRACKED, THE TIRE FLATTENED, THE OPERATOR LOST CONTROL AND CROSSED THE MEDIAN, THE OPPOSING LANES OF TRAFFIC AND IMPACTED THE GUIDE RAIL. TROOPER WAS TREATED AND RELEASED, VEHICLE DEMOLISHED. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 85,333 miles reported. Look up ODI 10082262 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2003-08-05 (August 5, 2003)

ON CERTAIN POLICE AND TAXI VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH STEEL WHEELS, SOME OF THE WHEELS MAY DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE RIM NEAR THE WELD LINE THAT CONNECTS THE RIM TO THE DISK.

Consequence: THE CRACKS CAN ULTIMATELY RESULT IN RAPID AIR LOSS FROM THE TIRE AND COULD AFFECT VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE FOUR ROAD WHEELS AND SPARE WHEEL WITH THE MANUFACTURING DATE CODES OF AUGUST 18, 2001 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 22, 2002. IN ADDITION, FORD IS PROVIDING EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR WHEELS ON 2003 CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR AND TAXIS BUILT FROM OCTOBER 1, 2002 THROUGH APRIL 29, 2003. THESE WHEELS ARE EXHIBITING CRACKS AT A SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER RATE THAN THOSE WHEELS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON AUGUST 8, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

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: 2007-03-06 (March 6, 2007)

ON CERTAIN POLICE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH STEEL WHEELS, SOME OF THE WHEELS MAY DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE RIM NEAR THE WELD LINE THAT CONNECTS THE RIM TO THE DISK.

Consequence: THE CRACKS CAN ULTIMATELY RESULT IN RAPID AIR LOSS FROM THE TIRE AND COULD AFFECT VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE FOUR ROAD WHEELS AND SPARE WHEEL BASED ON THE WHEEL PART NUMBER. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2007. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-343-5338.