Ford Crown Victoria Recalls & Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA lists 47 safety recalls and 3,078 owner complaints across 32 model years of the Ford Crown Victoria (1980–2011). The most-complained-about year is 1992.
Pick your Ford Crown Victoria model year
- 1980
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- 1982
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- 2008
- 2009
- 2010
- 2011
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 Ford Crown Victoria | 2 | 23 |
| 2010 Ford Crown Victoria | 2 | 12 |
| 2009 Ford Crown Victoria | 2 | 44 |
| 2008 Ford Crown Victoria | 3 | 50 |
| 2007 Ford Crown Victoria | 4 | 50 |
| 2006 Ford Crown Victoria | 2 | 53 |
| 2005 Ford Crown Victoria | 5 | 193 |
| 2004 Ford Crown Victoria | 2 | 138 |
| 2003 Ford Crown Victoria | 5 | 249 |
| 2002 Ford Crown Victoria | 2 | 58 |
| 2001 Ford Crown Victoria | 4 | 53 |
| 2000 Ford Crown Victoria | 7 | 85 |
| 1999 Ford Crown Victoria | 5 | 134 |
| 1998 Ford Crown Victoria | 7 | 119 |
| 1997 Ford Crown Victoria | 8 | 288 |
| 1996 Ford Crown Victoria | 9 | 276 |
| 1995 Ford Crown Victoria | 8 | 250 |
| 1994 Ford Crown Victoria | 6 | 192 |
| 1993 Ford Crown Victoria | 7 | 182 |
| 1992 Ford Crown Victoria | 7 | 310 |
| 1991 Ford Crown Victoria | 3 | 55 |
| 1990 Ford Crown Victoria | 2 | 43 |
| 1989 Ford Crown Victoria | 2 | 72 |
| 1988 Ford Crown Victoria | 2 | 42 |
| 1987 Ford Crown Victoria | 4 | 41 |
| 1986 Ford Crown Victoria | 1 | 27 |
| 1985 Ford Crown Victoria | 0 | 21 |
| 1984 Ford Crown Victoria | 1 | 6 |
| 1983 Ford Crown Victoria | 2 | 5 |
| 1982 Ford Crown Victoria | 0 | 3 |
| 1981 Ford Crown Victoria | 0 | 2 |
| 1980 Ford Crown Victoria | 0 | 2 |
What Ford Crown Victoria owners complain about
Across all model years, owners have filed 3,078 complaints with NHTSA. The 1992 model year has the most, with 310.
All Ford Crown Victoria recalls (47)
Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Ford Crown Victoria, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.
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Headlights (exterior lighting)
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.
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.
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Pinion shaft (steering)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria, 2005-2011 Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles manufactured March 23, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and 2005-2011 Lincoln Town Car vehicles manufactured March 8, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and on which the upper intermediate shaft was serviced during the…
Remedy: Ford will notify the owners of vehicles whose repair records reflect that the upper intermediate steering shaft was repaired during the course of the prior recall 13V-385. Dealers will inspect and replace the upper…
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Steering
Ford is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria (including Crown Victoria Police Interceptors), Mercury Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Car vehicles. The affected vehicles are currently registered or were originally sold in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine,…
Remedy: Ford will notify owners and dealers will replace the lower intermediate shaft, free of charge. The upper intermediate shaft and steering column lower bearing will be inspected to identify any damage that may have…
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Cruise control (vehicle speed control)
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…
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.
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Vehicle speed control
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.
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…
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Hub (suspension)
On certain passenger vehicles, a front wheel bearing and hub assembly may fracture due to improper heat treatment.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect both front wheel bearing and hub assemblies and replace them free of charge. The recall began on june 22, 2007. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Model years: 2008
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Service brakes, hydraulic: control unit/module
Certain passenger vehicles equipped with antilock brake systems (ABS) fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 135, "passenger car brake systems." the front and rear right side brake lines may be reversed at the ABS hydraulic control unit.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the brake line connections and the hydraulic control unit and reposition them free of charge. The recallbegan on april 27, 2007. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Model years: 2007
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Windshield (visibility)
Certain passenger vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 212, 'windshield mounting.' the windshield may not be properly secured to the vehicle body.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the windshield free of charge. The recall began on november 22, 2006. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Model years: 2007
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Cables (electrical system)
On certain passenger vehicles, the battery cable includes a fusible link that may contact and subsequently chafe on a #2 cross member attaching bolt.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the fusible link and position it away from the cross member bolt. If the fusible link has already chafed and copper wires have been exposed, the fusible link will be replaced. The recall began on…
Model years: 2005
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Interior/under dash (electrical system)
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.
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.
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)
On certain passenger vehicles built with electronic traction control, the rear brake line may chafe due to contact between it and a floor pan stiffening rib, and a brake fluid leak may occur.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the subject vehicles for contact between the brake tube and floor pan stiffening rib. If contact is evident, but no abrasion or leaks exist, the brake tube will be repositioned to preclude further…
Model years: 1997
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Suspension: rear
Certain police, commercial, and passenger vehicles sold to fleets typically input higher loads into the vehicle chassis overloading the wheel bearings and axles.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear wheel bearings, seals,and axle shafts. The recall began on july 15, 2004. Owners should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Model years: 2003
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Tank assembly (fuel system)
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.
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.
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Wheels
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.
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…
Model years: 2003
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Tank assembly (fuel system)
On certain natural gas model vehicles, a t-fitting that connects fuel tanks #3 and #4 can develop a leak when the solenoid valves are energized, such as when the ignition switch is in the on position or during refueling.
Remedy: Dealers will install a redesigned "t" fitting on #4 fuel tank and tested for leakage. Owner notification began september 13, 2002. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford…
Model years: 2002
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Buckle assembly (seat belts)
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…
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…
Model years: 2001
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Air bags: sensor/control module-inactive
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rcm and crash sensors and, if necessary, replace them.
Model years: 2001
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Air bags
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.
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…
Model years: 2001
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Integrated jack/leveler/stabilizer (equipment)
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…
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.
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Anchorage (seat belts)
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,…
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.
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Anchorage (seat belts)
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…
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.
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Windshield wiper/washer (visibility)
Vehicle description: a windshield wiper control module may not be capable of carrying the current required during high load conditions on the wipers (i.e., ice, snow, or other debris).
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the wiper control modules and replace if necessary.
Model years: 2000
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Retractor (seat belts)
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles may have been built with the left rear seat belt retractor attaching bolts incorrectly tightened.
Remedy: Dealers will tighten the retractor mounting bolts to the specified torque.
Model years: 2000
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Air bags: frontal
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles may have been built with lower than the intended level of torque on the bolts that attach the air bag electronic crash sensor module to the vehicle.
Remedy: Dealers will tighten the air bag electronic crash sensor attaching bolts.
Model years: 2000
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Electrical system
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…
Remedy: Dealers will install a new speed control deactivation switch and connector shell. Owner notification began may 20, 1999.
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Suspension: lower ball joint
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…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the lower control arm ball joints (2).
Model years: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
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Latch (latches/locks/linkages)
Vehicle description: police and taxi vehicles. The hood latch striker can wear or become detached from the hood.
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).
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Linkages (steering)
The pitman arms were not fully lubricated at the assembly plant. The "ball joint" at the outer end of the pitman arm can become contaminated and corrode.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicles and if the joint is found to have significant wear, the arm will be replaced. Those pitman arms not replaced will have the "ball joint" fully greased.
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Ignition (electrical system)
The ignition switch could experience an internal short circuit.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the ignition switch.
Model years: 1988, 1989
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Latch (latches/locks/linkages)
When in the secondary latched position, the driver door latches may open when subjected to transverse loads less than that specified in FMVSS no. 206, "door locks and door retention components."
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the driver door latch.
Model years: 1996
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Anchorage (seat belts)
The rivets holding the rear outboard belt d-rings were not heat treated properly causing the heads of the rivets to fracture under load and fail to hold the d-rings to the straps. This does not conform to the requirements of FMVSS no. 210, "seat belt assembly anchorages."
Remedy: Dealers will install a reinforcement plate on the rear outboard seat belt assembly anchorages involved in this campaign.
Model years: 1995
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Suspension: upper arm
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.
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.
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Fuses and circuit breakers (electrical system)
These vehicles were built with the non-cycling power window circuit breaker and the cycling headlamp circuit breaker interchanged.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect these vehicles, remove the circuit breaker and reinstall the breaker in the correct locations.
Model years: 1995
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Filler pipe and cap (fuel system)
The seal material between the fuel filler pipe and fuel tank may not have been fully cured during the molding process which could allow for fuel leakage.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel filler pipe-to-fuel tank seal with a new seal of different material.
Model years: 1995
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Foundation components (service brakes)
The nuts and bolts that attach the rear brake adaptor to the axle housing flange can loosen and eventually separate. If one or more of the nuts come off the bolts, damage to the parking brake assembly or to the antilock brake system (ABS) sensor and sensor ring (if so equipped) will occur. If all four nuts on one end of the axle come…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if needed, install new bolts. If any of the fasteners are disconnected, the parking brake and ABS components will be inspected and serviced.
Model years: 1994
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Power adjust (seats)
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…
Remedy: Dealers will remove the unused connector and install a sealed heat shrink cap over the affected wires.
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)
The rear brake lines have inadequate clearance between the brake tube and the vehicle underbody in the area of the left rear wheel opening.
Remedy: Repair any brake lines that have an indication of contact or have the potential for contact with the body of the vehicle. Relocate lines, if necessary.
Model years: 1990, 1991
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Unknown or other
Incorrect instrument panel wiring assemblies in some vehicles will not actuate the "anti-lock" brake warning lights.
Remedy: Modify the wire assembly to allow actuation of the anti-lock brake warning lights.
Model years: 1992
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Automatic transmission (power train)
The park rod assembly contains a park cam with inadequate surface hardness, which could lead to park disengagement or no park engagement when the lever is placed in park.
Remedy: Replace park rod assembly on automatic transmissions.
Model years: 1991
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Storage (fuel system)
Glass element that separates electronic circuitry from pressurized fuel may loosen and create an opening that could allow pressurized fuel to enter body of sensor.
Remedy: Install new optical sensors.
Model years: 1989
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Retractor (seat belts)
Automatic retractor for seat belts for dual facing rear seats may be installed in an improper location.
Remedy: Remove and properly install the right auxiliary seat belts.
Model years: 1987, 1988
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)
Spring lock fuel line coupling may not be properly engaged.
Remedy: Install retainer clips over the couplings to prevent coupling separation and fuel leakage.
Model years: 1986, 1987
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Fuel injection system (fuel system)
Fuel rails may be bent so that no. 5 injector cups are out of design position.
Remedy: Replace fuel rail assemblies as necessary.
Model years: 1987
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Connecting (steering)
Steering centerlinks may break at a bend location.
Remedy: Replace steering centerlink.
Model years: 1987
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Anchorage (seat belts)
The bolts that attach the d-shaped ring for the shoulder belt are inadequately supported by the material in which they are mounted. The attachment does not comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 210, "seat belt assembly anchorages".
Remedy: Dealers will install new attaching hardware to improve the strength of the mounting.
Model years: 1984
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Automatic transmission (power train)
The parking gear may not engage, even though the gear shift lever is placed in the "park" position. This occurs if the linkage inside the transmission that actuates the park gear was improperly manufactured. A pin that retains components on a linkage (actuating) rod could break and the linkage may not engage the parking gear.
Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace the parking pawl actuating rod assembly.
Model years: 1983
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Column shift (power train)
The shift indicator may not accurately reflect the shift selector position. Some vehicles were produced with transmission control selector tube retaining clips that may not be hard enough. The clip may loosen or fall off, and the selector tube may become displaced.
Remedy: The dealer will replace the transmission control selector tube retaining clip at no charge to owner.
Model years: 1983
Other Ford models
- F-15037,961 complaints
- Explorer34,566 complaints
- Escape27,430 complaints
- Fusion22,405 complaints
- Focus22,096 complaints
- Taurus18,159 complaints
- Windstar14,158 complaints
- Edge14,065 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.