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 Cvpi owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
This was a police vehicle involved in a pursuit. At approximately 110 MPH, the left front wheel cracked, the tire flattened, the operator lost control and crossed the median, the opposing lanes of traffic and impacted the guide rail. Trooper was treated and released, vehicle demolished.
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 rims. My tires only have a few thousand miles on them and I'm having to put air in the passenger rear tire about once a week due to loss of air pressure. (I'm losing about 20 psi a week on average). …
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 to pay to get new wheels at a cost of over 500 dollars I just want them to honor the recall as the wheels are certainly unsafe.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Ford Cvpi. The contact purchased a police vehicle three weeks ago and found a few outsanding recalls while attempting to install different parts on the vehicle. He called the Ford manufacturer and was informed that the recall repairs had not been previously performed. They further stated that since the vehicle was not being used as a police vehicle anymore, they did not have to honor the recalls and repair it for free. The NHTSA campaign id numbers in reference were 02i003000 (fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly), 03V279000 (wheels), 05V206000 (electrical system:wiring:interior/under dash), and 04V328000 (suspension:rear). The failure mileage was 128,000. 4/01/09 updated 04/06/09.
Due to manufacturing defect and the manufacturer allowing installation of the defective wheels on the new vehicles: failure of steel road wheel in the nature of a crack in the weld between the wheel disk and wheel hub. A separation of approximately 1/16 of an inch in width and approximately 18 1/4 inches around the hub. Proper air pressure could not be maintained in the tire. Cracked wheel resulted in a vibration in the steering of vehicle, as though when tire was mounted it had not been balanced properly. Dealership was notified, failure reported and part ordered. New wheel was picked up from dealer and failed wheel turned in for warranty replacement under safety recall 03s05.
Due to manufacturing defect and the manufacturer allowing installation of the defective wheels on the new vehicles: failure of steel road wheel in the nature of a crack in the weld etween the wheel disk and wheel hub. A separation of approximately 1/16th of an inch in width and approximately 18 1/4 nches around the hub. Proper air pressure could not be maintained in the tire. Cracked wheel resulted in a vibration in the steering of vehicle, as though when tire was mounted it had not been balanced properly. Dearlership was notified, failure reported and part ordered. New wheel was picked up from dealer and failed wheel turned in for warranty replacement under safety recall 03s05.
I own a 2003 Ford crown victoria police interceptor which falls into the extended warranty coverage for manufacturer date time frame listed in recall 03V279000. Despite the fact that three of the four rims on my car have developed the cracks and air loss listed in the recall, Ford claims my vehicle is not covered. Ford agrees my vehicle was manufactured in the time frame that should be covered by the extended warranty, but claims my VIN number is not included in the coverage. I have had to replace the three defectively manufactured rims at my cost just to be able to drive the car. I have the three rims stored for inspection/return to Ford.
Dt: took vehicle to dealer for recall repairs, they inspected the steel wheels and found nothing wrong. Changed drive axle. But still had a slow leak of the right front tire. Manufacture will fix as need basic, but will not change the other wheels. Did his own inspection on this tire, and found a crack in the steel wheel about one to two inches. Where the wheel meets the rim.
Ford recall regarding crown victoria police cars because of cracks that can develop in police cruiser wheels. I'm a pa state constable (law enforcement officer) and upon purchasing a retired pa state police vehicle the wheels on my vehicle are cracking and Ford motor co. Employee kevin employee #61151 advised there is nothing they can do at this time.
On 3/24/05 @ 75684 miles, one tire was found to have low air pressure. An inspection revealed the wheel to be cracked. On 4/12/05 @ 77616 miles, another tire had low air pressure. It along with the other wheels was inspected. A total of three more wheels were replaced on this car at this time. To date, all wheels have cracked and been replaced.
Related recalls
Wheels
On certain police 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 based on the wheel part number. The recall began on March 15, 2007. Owners should contact Ford at 1-800-343-5338.
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
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…
Wheel & Tire complaints in other Cvpi years
Frequently asked questions
How common are wheel & tire problems on the 2003 Ford Cvpi?
NHTSA has 67 complaints about the wheels & tires of the 2003 Ford Cvpi, 86% of the model year's 78 complaints. The component named most often is rim (44 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Ford Cvpi wheel & tire problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 07V-079 (wheels, Mar 6, 2007); NHTSA recall 03V-279 (wheels, Aug 5, 2003). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2003 Ford Cvpi wheel & tire problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 83,000 miles, and 2% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 1 injury 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.