1996 Ford Crown Victoria Recalls, Complaints & Specs

9 safety recalls list the 1996 Ford Crown Victoria, and owners have filed 276 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

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9 safety recalls for the 1996 Ford Crown Victoria

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

1. Cruise control (vehicle speed control)

   NHTSA 08V051000 Reported February 4, 2008 225,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   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.

2. Vehicle speed control

   NHTSA 07V336000 Reported August 3, 2007 3,600,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   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…

3. Tank assembly (fuel system)

   NHTSA 03V472000 Reported November 6, 2003 4,218 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   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.

4. Anchorage (seat belts)

   NHTSA 00V157001 Reported June 12, 2000 1,167 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   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.

5. Anchorage (seat belts)

   NHTSA 00V157002 Reported June 12, 2000 1,129 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   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.

6. Suspension: lower ball joint

   NHTSA 98V322000 Reported December 16, 1998 175,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   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).

7. Latch (latches/locks/linkages)

   NHTSA 97V024000 Reported March 4, 1997 125,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   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).

8. Linkages (steering)

   NHTSA 96V135000 Reported July 18, 1996 72,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   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.

9. Latch (latches/locks/linkages)

   NHTSA 96V070000 Reported April 22, 1996 73,500 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   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.

276 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1996 Ford Crown Victoria have filed 276 complaints with NHTSA; 13 describe a crash and 16 describe a fire. Reports cite 14 injuries and 4 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 107,162 miles. Complaints peaked in 1998 with 42 filed that year.

Most-reported components

• Fuel system, gasoline: carburetor system29
• Engine and engine cooling: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe27
• Suspension: lower ball joint19
• Engine and engine cooling: gasoline16
• Service brakes, hydraulic: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings16
• Suspension: control arm16
• Engine and engine cooling: engine15
• Vehicle speed control14

What owners are reporting

“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 ford crown victoria. The contact stated that while making a left turn off a driveway onto a lot, there was a loud metal braking noise coming from the front driver side of t”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 2, 2017 · Suspension

“#1 - i constantly have my engine light on and during 2 inspections i received a safety/emissions recall printout, defect # dr-1209 for mass air flow sensors. Both times i have taken it to the local de”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 27, 2015 · Engine

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1996 Ford Crown Victoria (Crown Victoria CNG, Crown Victoria Police). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Compare Ford Crown Victoria model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Crown Victoria model year in NHTSA's database.

Checking a specific 1996 Ford Crown Victoria

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.