1996 Ford Crown Victoria recalls & problems

Safety recalls

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

• Suspension

  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 THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE COLLAPSED TO THE GROUND. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE LOWER BALL JOINT DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE INDEPENDENT PARKING LOT WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000. *BF CONSUMER STATED FAULTY RUBBER SEAL WAS DUE TO CORROSION AND MAY HAVE ANOTHER ONE…

  Aug 1, 2017 · 136,000 miles
• Engine

  #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 DEALER AND THEY CLAIMED THERE'S NO RECALL FOR IT. I JUST NOTICED ON THE NHTSA SITE, THAT RECALLS ONLY GO BACK AS FAR AS 1999. THEY ALSO SAID THAT SINCE IT'S NO LONGER A "POLICE OWNED" VEHICLE, THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT. # 2 - I HAVE BEEN GETTING A CONSTANT SEVERE FUEL SMELL THAT PERMEATES THROUGH THE CAR WHICH IS EXACERBATED WITH WARM WEATHER AND OR WHEN THE CAR WARMS UP. #3 - THERE'S A CONSTANT ISSUE OF THE CAR VIBRATING WHEN BEING DRIVEN AT 55 - 60 MPH.

  Jun 2, 2015
• Engine

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANIFOLD HAD FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME IN TEN YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A SMALL FRACTURE IN THE MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURED WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

  Oct 18, 2003 · 150,000 miles
• Engine

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A SMALL FRACTURED IN THE MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANIFOLD FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 3/21/14*CN

  Oct 18, 2003 · 150,000 miles
• Engine and engine cooling

  I PURCHASE MY VEHICLE ON OCTOBER 24TH, 2011 FROM A PRIVATE PARTY WHO SAID, "THE COOLANT LEAK", BUT THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED WHEN I DROVE IT HOME LESS THAN 3 MILES AWAY THE HOOD OF MY CAR WAS SMOKING. AFTER TAKING IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WITH MY FRIEND WHO DROVE HIS CAR TO ENSURE MY SAFETY, MY CAR BEGAN TO OVER HEAT AFTER DRIVING IT FOR 10 MINUTES! I WAS SO FRANTIC THAT I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BURNED UP IN THE CAR. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE NEXT DAY IT WAS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND INFORM ME THAT THIS MAY BE A RECALL AND TO CHECK WITH THE FORD CORPORATION AND I DID CALLED FORD CORPORATION AND FOUND OUT THIS VEHICLE HAD CONTROL CRUISE HARNESS AND A INTAKE MANIFOLD RECALL ID IS 01M02, THE…

  Oct 24, 2011 · 35 miles
• Suspension › Front

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE. THE CONTACT DID NOT TALK TO THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

  Jun 16, 2011 · 125,000 miles
• Structure

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS POSITIONED INCORRECTLY, WHICH INCREASES THE RISK THAT A FIRE WOULD OCCUR. (HE STATED THAT HE COULD NOT REMEMBER SPECIFICALLY WHAT THE MECHANIC SAID). HE HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP OR SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 18,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 17,000.

  Sep 17, 2009 · 17,000 miles
• Engine and engine cooling

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD ON THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED OUT OF PLASTIC, WHICH CAUSED ANTI-FREEZE TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. THE ANTI-FREEZE LEAK WAS NOTICED DUE TO THE BURNING CHEMICAL ODOR AND SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD COST OVER $1,000 AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. HE WAS DENIED REPAIRS UNDER THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. WHEN THE HEATER WAS ACTIVATED, THE ODOR FROM THE ANTI-FREEZE WAS OVERBEARING IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 82,000. UPDATED 4/16/09 *CN UPDATED 04/20/09. *JB

  Jan 15, 2009 · 82,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

• REAR BRAKE LINE FAILUREClosedLed to recall 05V086000

  IN A LETTER DATED FEBRUARY 25, 2005, FORD MOTOR COMPANY (FORD) NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT WOULD BE CONDUCTING A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM (FORD NO. 04B26) TO CORRECT A REAR BRAKE LINE CHAFING CONCERN IN APPROXIMATELY 44,000 MODEL YEAR (MY) 1997 FORD CROWN VICTORIA AND GRAND MARQUIS NON-FLEET VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONIC TRACTION CONTROL THAT WEREBUILT AFTER MARCH 19, 1997.THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN ADDITIONAL REAR BRAKE LINE AND A MASTIC PATCH CAUSING REDUCED CLEARANCE FROM A STIFFENING RIB IN THE FLOOR PAN.ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED HIGHER COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY RATES RELATED TO REAR BRAKE LINE FAILURES IN THIS POPULATION THAN IN OTHER SUBJECT VEHICLES AND PEER MID-SIZED PASSENGER CARS THAT WERE EVALUATED DURING THE INVESTIGATION.VEHICLES INVOLVED IN FORD?S PROGRAM WILL HAVE THE REAR BRAKE LINES INSPECTED FOR CONTACT WITH THE FLOOR PAN STIFFING RIB.IF THERE IS CONTACT, BUT NO ABRASION OR…

  EA03012 · opened Jul 25, 2003 · closed Apr 11, 2005
• REAR BRAKE LINE FAILUREClosed

  ODI HAS RECEIVED 40 COMPLAINTS ALLEGING REAR BRAKE LINE FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, INCLUDING 8 THAT HAVE BEEN RECEIVED THIS YEAR.AN ADDITIONAL 192 REPORTS AND 478 WARRANTY CLAIMS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED FROM FORD.A LEAK IN THE REAR BRAKE LINE CAN CAUSE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.A SEARCH OF ODI'S COMPLAINT DATABASE FOR PEER VEHICLE COMPLAINTS, USING THE SAME BRAKE LINE FAILURE CRITERIA AS FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND THE SAME MODEL YEARS (1995-97), IDENTIFIED ONLY 1 COMPLAINT INVOLVING GENERAL MOTORS CAPRICE/IMPLALA/88/98/REGAL VEHICLES AND ONLY 2 COMPLAINTS INVOLVING CHRYSLER LH-CARS.THE INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO FURTHER EVALUATE THE FREQUENCY, SCOPE, AND CAUSAL FACTORS RELATED TO REAR BRAKE LINE FAILURES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION.

  RQ03004 · opened Mar 11, 2003 · closed Jul 25, 2003
• CNG TANK EXPLOSIONClosedLed to recall 03V472000

  IN SEPTEMBER 2002, A FUEL CYLINDER IN A NATURAL GAS POWERED VEHICLE (NGV) EXPLODED DURING A FIRE.FORD AND VRTC TEST ENGINEERS JOINTLY EXAMINED THE INCIDENT VEHICLE AND REVIEWED TESTING TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE (PRD) WAS PROPER.THE PURPOSE OF A PRD IS TO PROTECT A COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS TANK FROM OVERPRESSURE BY ALLOWING THE CNG TO VENT WHEN THE TEMPERATURE REACHES A SPECIFIC POINT.THE PRD WAS REMOVED FROM THE FAILED TANK AND SUBJECTED TO A YIELD TEMPERATURE DETERMINATION TEST. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT A DIRECT FLAME (FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE) ONTO THE CYLINDER (LOCATED BEHIND THE REAR SEAT IN THE TRUNK)COMPROMISED THE HOOP STRENGTH OF THE NATURAL GAS CYLINDER, THUS ALLOWING THE CYLINDER TO FAIL PRIOR TO THE PRD RELEASING AT ITSDESIGNED TEMPERATURE.AS A RESULT OF THIS TESTING AND REVIEW OF THE INVOLVED VEHICLE, FORD HAS DEVELOPED AN INSULATOR…

  EA03001 · opened Jan 27, 2003 · closed Nov 19, 2003
• BALL JOINT SEPARATIONClosed

  SEE ATTACHED REPORT.

  RQ03002 · opened Jan 3, 2003 · closed Jun 3, 2003
• CNG TANK EXPLODING IN A FIREClosed

  AN EXPLOSION OF A COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG) TANK SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO OCCUR, AS THE TANK IS FITTED WITH A PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICE (PRD). THIS PRD SHOULD RELEASE THE CNG IN THE TANK, PRIOR TO THE PRESSURE REACHING THE TANK BURST PRESSURE.THE PRD DID NOT RELEASE IN THE SUBJECT WISCONSIN POLICE CRUISER EXPLOSION.NHTSA HAS RECOVERED THE PRD VALVE FROM THE TANK THAT EXPLODED AND TESTING WILL BE NECESSARY TO ESTABLISH WHY THIS TANK SAFETY VALVE DID NOT RELEASE IN THE VERY HIGH TEMPERATURE FIRE THAT OCCURRED IN THE POLICE CRUISER.THERE IS ONLY THE SINGLE KNOWN EVENT, BUT DUE TO THE CATASTROPIC FORCE OF SUCH AN EXPLOSION AND THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY AND LOSS OF LIFE, THIS INVESTIGATION IS BEING UPGRADED.

  PE02071 · opened Oct 1, 2002 · closed Jan 27, 2003
• SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH FIRESClosed

  BASED ON THE LOW RATE OF FIRE INCIDENTS (2.5 INCIDENTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES SOLD) WHERE FAILURE OF THE SCDS IS INVOLVED AND THE AGE OF THE VEHICLES ? 7 TO 11 YEARS ? A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

  EA02025 · opened Sep 6, 2002 · closed Jun 30, 2004
• FUEL-FED FIRESClosed

  THE FARS DATA SHOWS THAT THE RISK OF FIRE FROM IMPACT IN ALL DIRECTIONS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IS THE SAME AS ALL OTHER SEDANS.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE NOT OVER REPRESENTED WITH RESPECT TO THE RISK OF FIRE IN REAL-WORLD HIGH-ENERGY CRASHES.A FURTHER DISCUSSION OF ISSUES RELATED TO POST CRASH FIRES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IS SET OUT IN THE CLOSING REPORT FOR SQ 01-014 AND THAT REPORT IS IN THE DOCKET FOR THIS PETITION.AFTER REVIEWING THE PETITION AND ITS SUPPORTING MATERIALS, AS WELL AS INFORMATION FURNISHED BY FORD AND GM, AND INFORMATION WITHIN THE AGENCY'S POSSESSION FROM PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS AND OTHER RELATED ACTIONS,NHTSA HAS CONCLUDED THAT FUTHER INVESTIGATION CONCERNING POST-CRASH FIRES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IS NOT LIKELY TO LEAD TO A DECISION THAT THE VEHICLES CONTAIN A SAFETY DEFECT.

  DP02007 · opened Aug 22, 2002 · closed Dec 4, 2002
• POST REAR END COLLISION FIRESClosedLed to recall 02I003000

  There is no summary currently available

  SQ01014 · opened Nov 27, 2001 · closed Oct 3, 2002
• BALL JOINT FAILUREClosedLed to recall 98V322000

  There is no summary currently available

  PE98045 · opened Aug 13, 1998 · closed Dec 18, 1998
• FRONT SEAT ANCHOR BOLT FAILUREClosed

  THE DRIVER'S SEAT, OF THE SUBJECT SPLIT-SEAT CONFIGURATION, IS SECURED TO THE VEHICLE FLOOR PAN WITH FOUR BOLTS.A SINGLE BOLT IS LOCATED AT BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR OF EACH OF THE TWO SEAT TRACKS.THESE TRACKS ARE LOCATED ON EACH SIDE OF THE SEAT.IF THE OUTBOARD-FORWARD BOLT FAILS, THE SEAT IS RETAINED BY 3 REMAINING BOLTS.WHEN RETAINED BY 3 BOLTS, THE REARWARD MOVEMENT OF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT BACK IS LIMITED TO APPROXIMATELY 4 INCHES.THIS WAS DETERMINED BY FORD TESTING AND CONFIRMED BY ODI.THIS MINIMAL MOVEMENT SHOULD NOT CAUSE A DRIVER TO EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTIES CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE.FORD HAS DEVELOPED A KIT TO REPAIR THE SEAT BOLT BOSS, CONSISTING OF A LARGE, 3/16 INCH THICK WASHER, CONTOURED TO FIT INSIDE THE FLOOR PAN SEAT BOLT BOSS REINFORCEMENT.THIS FIX WAS ADDED TO PRODUCTION VEHICLES IN SEPTEMBER, 1997.FORD IS CURRENTLY PREPARTING A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, TO BE SENT…

  PE98041 · opened Jul 23, 1998 · closed Sep 29, 1998