Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Ford Crown Victoria owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Recall # 15s39, pertaining to headlight module and soldering problems causing the headlights to go out. My headlights have gone out. It has been checked for fuse problems and bulbs burnt out. Not the problem. Contacted the manufacturer and 2 dealerships. All said the part is not available and they do not know when it will be available. Their remedy was that I walk. It has been since December 21, 2015 since the recall letter was sent out. It too had no remedy, or when the part would be available. Ford has no plans to fix the problem. My headlights went out when I was driving at night on the freeway. With no headlights I can not drive at night, during foggy weather, or during rain.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Ford Crown Victoria. While driving 45 MPH, the running lights in the front and rear of the vehicle became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer (thomasville Ford Lincoln 1515 east jackson street, thomasville, ga 31792) where it was diagnosed that the lcm harness failed and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 15V861000 (exterior lighting), but the failure recurred. The contact also stated that he witnessed visible smoke coming from under the dashboard. The manufacturer was contacted and provided case number: cas12683333. The failure mileage was approximately 127,152.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Ford Crown Victoria. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V861000 (exterior lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the headlights failed to illuminate properly without warning. The contact manually adjusted the light switch and the headlights operated as intended. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Ford Crown Victoria. The contact stated that the electrical system indicator illuminated. The vehicle was serviced per NHTSA campaign number: 15V861000 (exterior lighting) at country Ford [phone] (95 goodman rd e, southaven, ms 38671), but the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. The contact mentioned that the electrical system indicator illuminated after the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 227,201.
I took the car into future Ford to replace the recalled headlight module. (I waited 7 months before the module was delivered.) when they replaced the module they said the lights still wouldn't work. It took them 4 days to solve the problem and they then charged me $1,051.56 including a car rental. I know the headlights would come on if you pulled the turn indicator switch since I tried that before delivering the car and my neighbor saw them turn on also.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Ford Crown Victoria. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the headlights failed without warning. The contact stated that the high beams had to be turned on in order for the vehicle to be driven at night. The failure recurred three times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Ford Crown Victoria. While the vehicle was parked with the headlights activated, the low beam headlights failed to function intermittently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 65,000. Ma 08/06/15 the consumer stated the vehicle was repaired under recall. Updated 8/14/15
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Ford Crown Victoria. While driving 30 MPH, the lighting control module completely failed without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V861000 (exterior lighting), but the remedy was not available. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 200,000.
Due to faulty manufacturing by Ford, I have faulty headlights. On more than 20 occasions I have been without headlights. I have to wait until the lights come on before I can proceed to drive the vehicle, endangering my life depending on my location at the time! Please ask Ford to consider fixing the problem before someone is seriously injured!
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Ford Crown Victoria. The contact stated that the headlight control module malfunctioned. The dealer repaired the same failure one year ago. The vehicle was not repaired, but the failure occurred on numerous occasions. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,500.
Related recalls
Exterior lighting › Headlights
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.
NHTSA investigations
Loss of headlights
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation concerning the loss of headlights in model year (MY) 2003-2005 Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles. The subject vehicles share the same architecture and major components.ODI has received 636 unique reports (for all submission dates) related to the alleged defect, with owners describing a loss of both low and/or high beam headlights…
Loss of headlight function
The agency has closed this investigation based on its review of complaint reports, field and technical data provided by Ford and complainant interviews. Ford found that some lighting control modules (lcm) in the subject vehicles contained defective solder joints on the printed circuit board.this condition can lead to poor headlight performance ranging from intermittent outage and dimming to eventual headlights…
Loss of headlamp/exterior lighting
In a letter dated October 2, 2014 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) was initially petitioned by the North Carolina Consumers Council, Inc. requesting a defect investigation of an alleged defect condition resulting in headlight and/or exterior lighting failure on 2003-2005 Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles.ODI analyzed Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) complaints received from consumers…
Headlight complaints in other Crown Victoria years
Frequently asked questions
How common are headlight problems on the 2004 Ford Crown Victoria?
NHTSA has 81 complaints about the lights of the 2004 Ford Crown Victoria, 59% of the model year's 138 complaints. The component named most often is headlights (6 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Ford Crown Victoria headlight problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 15V-861 (headlights, Dec 22, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2004 Ford Crown Victoria headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 92,000 miles, and 3% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries to lights 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.