Model year record
The 2003 Ford Cvpi has 3 safety recalls and 78 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is wheels (63 complaints).
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.
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| WheelsRim | 63 | 84,100 mi |
| Exterior lightingHeadlights | 9 | 142,514 mi |
| TiresTemporary/emergency spare tire | 5 | 61,717 mi |
| Fuel system, gasolineDelivery › Fuel pump; Storage › Tank assembly | 3 | 100,000 mi |
| Electrical systemWiring › Interior/under dash | 3 | 134,414 mi |
| SuspensionRear | 1 | — |
| Steering | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
AIR LEAKS OUT THE BACK WHEEL EVERY DAY AFTER FILL UP GAS IT SMELLS LIKE GAS INSIDE CAR. *TR
I JUST READ ABOUT THE STEERING COLUMN RECALL ON THE CROWN VIC, CVPI, AND GRAND MARQUIS 2005-2011 AND I AM NOT SURE WHY THE 2003-2004 MODELS ARE NOT INCLUDED. THEY HAVE THE SAME ISSUES DESCRIBED IN THIS RECALL. I HAD MY 2003 CVPI IN THE SHOP LESS THAN A MONTH AGO DUE TO SOME STEERING ISSUES I'M HAVING (A LOT OF NOISE DURING DRIVING AND WHILE TURNING) AND THE OUTCOME WAS THAT MY CAR NEEDS A STEERING COLUMN FLEX COUPLER (SHAFT, LOWER) AND THE LOWER BALL JOINT (CONTROL ARM) ALSO NEEDS REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. SO AGAIN, I'M ASKING WHY IT'S NOT PART OF THE RECALL? ALSO, I'M HAVING THE SAME ISSUES WITH MY TIRES THAT A LOT OF OTHER CVPI OWNERS ARE HAVING CONCERNING THE CRACKS IN THE…
I HAVE STEEL WHEELS ON MY 2003 CROWN VIC I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY STATING THAT MY WHEELS WERE PART OF A SAFETY RECALL, THE WHEELS ARE PRONE TO WELDS BREAKING AND RUSTING MAKING THEM LOOSE AIR AND IMPOSSIBLE TO BALANCE WHY STEERING WHEEL SHAKES I HAVE HAD DIFFERENT TIRES AND MULTIPLE SHOPS BALANCE THE WHEELS THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO, ALSO THEY LOOSE AIR ALL THE TIME. I CONTACTED FORD ABOUT THIS ISSUES WHERE I WAS TOLD BECAUSE I AM NOT A POLICE DEPARTMENT THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HONOR THE RECALL, THEY SAY ITS ONLY FOR CARS IN POLICE USE. IM CONCERNED AS THESES WHEELS HAVE BEEN USED BY THE PRIOR OWNER AKA A POLICE FORCE MAKING THE CARS WHEELS UNSAFE FOR ME FOR WANTS ME…
HEADLIGHTS GO OFF WHILE DRIVING. LCM IS BAD, $500.00 FOR PART. VERY VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WAS EXPECTING TO SEE A RECALL NOTICE. THIS IS THE SECOND LCM FOR ME! *KB
I JUST PURCHASES AND TOOK POSSESSION OF A 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR. I DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR A COUPLE DAYS DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS WITH NO ISSUES. HOWEVER, ON THE FIRST NIGHT I DROVE THE VEHICLE (WELL AFTER SUNSET) I EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS OCCURRENCES OF THE HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT COMPLETELY FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME (RANGING FROM SEVERAL SECONDS TO SEVERAL MINUTES). THE ONLY WAY I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WAS TO HOLD THE HIGH/LOW BEAM SWITCH IN THE HIGH BEAM POSITION. IF I WERE ON AN UNLIT ROAD THIS SITUATION COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN A VEHICLE CRASH, POTENTIALLY DAMAGING OR DESTROYING THE VEHICLE AND INJURING OR KILLING MYSELF AND/OR ANY NEARBY…
2003 CROWN VICTORIA, HEADLIGHTS STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING. IT APPEARS I NEED TO REPLACE THE LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE (LCM). I SEE FROM INTERNET SEARCHES THAT MANY MANY HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM.THIS PART IS ALMOST $600 FROM FORD. IT APPEARS THAT FORD HAS A SAFETY ISSUE HERE THAT THEY ARE AVOIDING. I'M SURPRISED THAT NO RECALL IS IN EFFECT. AT LEAST FORD SHOULD OFFER SOME GOODWILL SUPPORT TO THEIR CUSTOMERS BY LOWERING THE PRICE OF THIS PART.... *TR
THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS SHUT THEMSELVES OFF RANDOMLY WHILE THE HEADLIGHTS ARE IN USE. INTERMITTENTLY, THE LIGHTS WILL FAIL TO TURN ON WHEN THE SWITCH IS TURNED ON. THESE EVENTS HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY FREQUENT TO THE POINT THAT NOW THE LIGHTS WILL FAIL SEVERAL TIMES ON EVERY NIGHT TRIP. HITTING A BOX CALLED THE "LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE" MAY ENCOURAGE THE LIGHTS TO TURN BACK ON TEMPORARILY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA CVPI. WHILE DRIVING 10 TO 60 MPH THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY AT NIGHT. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATING BEFORE THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. AS THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SOMETIME THE LIGHTS WOULD COME BACK ON WITHIN 5 TO 10 MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY. THE DEALER STATED THAT HE HAD TO PAY $418 IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR RELATED WARRANTIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 282,000.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
FRACTURE (CRACKING) OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE (SV) WHEEL, WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY INVESTIGATED UNDER PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE03-009 (SAFETY RECALL 03V-279), OCCURS IN THE MODEL YEAR (MY) 2003 TO 2005 POLICE INTERCEPTOR VEHICLES ONLY; CIVILIAN SPECIFICATION AND OTHER MY VEHICLES ARE UNAFFECTED BY THIS CONDITION.FOR THE AFFECTED SUBJECT WHEELS, A FATIGUE CRACK OCCURS IN THE HEAT AFFECTED ZONE OF THE RIM MATERIAL ADJACENT TO THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL WELD THAT ATTACHES THE RIM TO THE OUTBOARD WHEEL DISC.THE CRACK INITIATES UNDER THE OUTBOARD TIRE BEAD NEAR THE HEEL (WHERE AIR LEAKAGE CANNOT BE ASSURED) AND SUBSEQUENTLY GROWS CIRCUMFERENTIALLY THROUGH CYCLIC BENDING AS THE WHEELS ROLLS.ALTHOUGH THE VAST MAJORITY OF RIM CRACKS EITHER PRESENTED NO SYMPTOMS OR WERE DETECTED SAFELY VIA RECURRING SLOW AIR LEAKAGE, ODI IDENTIFIED 6 INCIDENTS WHERE RAPID AIR LEAKAGE LEADING TO A FULL OR PARTIAL DEFLATION OF…
DURING A SEPTEMBER 23, 2004 MEETING AND IN SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSIONS IN NOVEMBER, FORD ADVISED THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OF THEIR PLANS TO INTRODUCE AN IMPROVED STEEL WHEEL FOR MANUFACTURING AND SERVICE COMPONENT USE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, INDICATING THIS WOULD OCCUR IN DECEMBER 2004.THE NEW WHEEL DESIGN INCORPORATES AN ADDITIONAL MANUFACTURING PROCESS (SHOT PEENING) WHICH LOWERS TENSILE STRESS IN THE SURFACE LAYER OF THE RIM MATERIAL ADJACENT TO THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL WELD. THEORETICALLY THIS SHOULD IMPROVE RIM DURABILITY BY REDUCING FATIGUE CRACK INITIATION SITES.INDICATIONS FROM FORD?S ACCELERATED TESTING METHODS SHOW AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE NEW WHEEL.IN ADDITION TO PRIOR SAFETY RECALL 03V279 AND SERVICE ACTION (SA) 03M03, FORD WILL ANNOUNCE A NEW EXTENDED WARRANTY SA FOR VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO DECEMBER 2004 THAT SUFFER RIM FRACTURES IN SERVICE.THE NEW…