Ford Crown Victoria Problems by Year

We compared every Ford Crown Victoria model year from 1995–2011 using 2,075 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, 31 recalls and federal defect investigations. The years to avoid are 1996, 1997, 2003, 2005 and 1999, which drew far more complaints than other Crown Victoria years at the same age. The best years are 2010, 2011 and 2006.

17model years
2,075complaints
31recalls
1996, 1997worst years
2010, 2011best years

Complaints by model year

’95’96’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11250276288119134855358249138193535050441223
Owner complaints per model year, Ford Crown Victoria. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).
YearComplaintsvs. typical*RecallsTop problemVerdict
201123−74%2SteeringGood
201012−90%2SteeringGood
200944−49%2SteeringGood
200850−50%3SteeringGood
200750−49%4SteeringGood
200653−50%2SteeringGood
20051932.4×5HeadlightAvoid
20041381.4×2HeadlightAverage
20032492.7×5HeadlightAvoid
200258−37%2ElectricalAverage
200153−37%4EngineAverage
200085typical7EngineAverage
19991342.0×5EngineAvoid
19981191.7×7EngineCaution
19972884.2×8EngineAvoid
19962764.2×9EngineAvoid
19952503.8×8SteeringAvoid

* Complaints compared with the median Crown Victoria year at the same age, so new and old years are judged fairly. How this works.

Most common Ford Crown Victoria problems

Latest Ford Crown Victoria recalls

Exterior lighting › Headlights

NHTSA recall 15V-861 · Dec 22, 2015 · 296,004 vehicles

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.

Steering › Rack and pinion › Pinion shaft

NHTSA recall 14V-704 · Nov 5, 2014 · 36,888 vehicles

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…

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.

Steering

NHTSA recall 13V-385 · Aug 29, 2013 · 355,000 vehicles

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,…

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…

Vehicle speed control › Cruise control

NHTSA recall 08V-051 · Feb 4, 2008 · 225,000 vehicles

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.

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.

Vehicle speed control

NHTSA recall 07V-336 · Aug 3, 2007 · 3,600,000 vehicles

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 disconnected…

All 31 Ford Crown Victoria recalls by year →

Frequently asked questions

What years of the Ford Crown Victoria should you avoid?

1996, 1997, 2003, 2005, 1999 and 1998 — these years have the most complaints relative to other Crown Victoria years at the same age, led by engine & cooling problems in the 1996.

What is the best year for the Ford Crown Victoria?

2010 has the fewest complaints compared with other Crown Victoria years at the same age, followed by 2011 and 2006. Newer years can look better simply because fewer complaints have come in yet, so we compare like with like.

What are the most common Ford Crown Victoria problems?

Across all years, owners report the most problems with the steering (363), lights (345) and engine & cooling (330). Steering complaints peak in the 1995 model year.

How many recalls has the Ford Crown Victoria had?

31 recalls across 1995–2011. The model year with the most is 1996. See all Ford Crown Victoria recalls by year.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.