Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (wheels, lug nuts, original-equipment tires, TPMS).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Ford Crown Victoria owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
It happened on 12/17/2015 in the day time around 12 noon with a 2003 Ford Crown Victoria lx with a set of 4 brand: Firestone tires, tire line: precision touring, size: 235/60r16 99t, dot: 2rku, date code djc3413 --- in light rain the car was making a right hand turn at a speed under 30mph and lost control; the car did a 360 and slid and hit a utility pole. The component is the tires, they did not hold the road in light rain. The car as totaled. I have photos, and I am storing the car, so the tires and car it can be inspected.
It happened on 12/17/2015 in the day time around 12 noon with a 2003 Ford Crown Victoria lx with a set of 4 brand: Firestone tires, tire line: precision touring, size: 235/60r16 99t, dot: 2rku, date code djc3413 --- in light rain the car was making a right hand turn at a speed under 30mph and lost control; the car did a 360 and slid and hit a utility pole. The component is the tires, they did not hold the road in light rain. The car as totaled. I have photos, and I am storing the car, so the tires and car it can be inspected.
It happened on 12/17/2015 in the day time around 12 noon with a 2003 Ford Crown Victoria lx with a set of 4 brand: Firestone tires, tire line: precision touring, size: 235/60r16 99t, dot: 2rku, date code djc3413 --- in light rain the car was making a right hand turn at a speed under 30mph and lost control; the car did a 360 and slid and hit a utility pole. The component is the tires, they did not hold the road in light rain. The car as totaled. I have photos, and I am storing the car, so the tires and car it can be inspected.
Dealer, who I had bought the car from and who had been servicing it, said bearing noise in r/r (mileage 44850). Repaired it for $694.57 dollars. Police and fleet crownvics were manufactured at the same time in the same plant in Canada and were recalled for wheel bearing and axle problems via Ford recall number 04s16. Dealer said recall only applied to fleet vehicles so I had to pay for the work. Ford customer relations simply sent me back to the dealer. Is there any possibility the l/r bearing/axle May fail? Shouldn't the dealer/Ford consider this vehicle as part of the original recall? You have a number of complaints similar to mine on your website under different headings such as axle assembly, suspension rear, power train, axle shaft for the same model, year of manufacture, place of manufacture and low mileage. Just what role does your organization have in these situations? …
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Ford Crown Victoria. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 03V279000 (wheels) however, the parts to do the repair was not available. The dealer inspected the vehicle however, the technician informed the contact that the vehicle was not defective. The contact stated after driving the vehicle approximately 10,000 miles they noticed the rear passenger rim had a crack. The vehicle was returned to the dealer where they diagnosed that the due to the vehicle no longer being in law enforcement the recall did not apply to the model. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 170,400.
These particular wheels on the Crown Victoria police interceptor were known to crack, and leak air, causing an accident. They were recalled by Ford, but the police department that purchased this vehicle, yavapai-apache police in camp verde, az, never had them replaced. I am constantly adding air to my tires. Luckily I haven't had a blowout. I would settle for a used set of stock wheels(12 hole type) to replace the current 8 hole type, since I still have the original hubcaps on the vehicle
Tire failure. On freeway traveling at apx 75 tread came off tire on back drivers side causing it to serve tip over and Land in the ditch. A small amount of tread left on a small portion of tire with the rest of the dread coming off completely.
Failure of weld point on wheel rims causing rapid air loss in tires, a very dangerous situation. Problem begin when I found tire gone flat after driving from milford oh, to middletown oh. Tire was fine before I left milford. Tire held air for only a few hours and my spare had a cut in the side wall from a tool in the trunk, so I put air in and took it back home. Took it to the milford walmart tire and lube center, they discovered the air leak at the weld point. Told them to put the rim from the spare on... Same problem at the same weld point. Looked up online an found there is a recall. Went to Ford dealership garage and they told me there is a recall but only if it is still a police or fleet vehicle. Called corporate customer line and was told same thing and it was only a danger for "extreme driving" and they could not replace for a civilian. …
I have a 2003 Ford Crown Victoria. I am having issues with the electrical system. I only have 2 speeds on my wipers. Either the second intermittent, or full speed. While on full speed, if I turn on the left turn signal, the wipers stop. A while back, my horn would just honk on its own. The worst, which made me take out the fuse, was at 3:30 am one night the horn just wouldn't stop. I was asleep in the house. The windows work, sometimes. I can roll down the passenger window with the drivers side button, but have to reach across the car to roll it up with the other door switch.my lights, that are supposed to come on automatically when it's darker outside, seem to be on no matter what time of day it is. I know it is an old car, but for so many things that are wired through the electrical system, it makes me think that part of that is one of your recalls. …
Have been driving the car back and forth to work under normal conditions. Then realized the car had a flat, then took to the local tire shop. Where they informed me the tire was fine, but the wheel had split at the connection weld(making it no good). Found out Ford had a recall, I went to my local Ford dealer where they explained it was a defect and would be replaced if it was a current police vehicle. Where it is not cause I own it, they said they can not perform the recall. Now tell me how am I not anymore important than our police officials? My family is at safety risk, along with myself, and others on the road, because the wheel could split and cause and accident! So tell me why wont Ford stand behind there recalled product?
Related recalls
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.
NHTSA investigations
Fracture of the steel wheel rim
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…
Fracture of the steel wheel rim
The subject wheel (new for my 2003) is used on crown victoria (cv) and grand marquis.complaint data indicates that wheel failure affects primarily the commercial specification cv model (police and taxi) which has unique design characteristics and is generally subjected to higher usage demands.during Ford's analysis, it was determined that cyclic bending moment fatigue could cause rim cracks to occur in the heat…
Wheel & Tire complaints in other Crown Victoria years
Frequently asked questions
How common are wheel & tire problems on the 2003 Ford Crown Victoria?
NHTSA has 50 complaints about the wheels & tires of the 2003 Ford Crown Victoria, 20% of the model year's 249 complaints. The component named most often is rim (18 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Ford Crown Victoria wheel & tire problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 03V-279 (wheels, Aug 5, 2003). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2003 Ford Crown Victoria wheel & tire problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 69,000 miles, and 19% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries to wheels & tires problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.