Most common 2004 Ford Cvpi problems
Share of the 17 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Cvpi complaints by model year
Best Cvpi years: 2004, 2005. Years to avoid: 2003. Compare all years →
2004 Ford Cvpi recalls (2)
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.
Electrical system › Wiring › Interior/under dash
On certain police interceptors (cvpi) and commercial heavy duty (taxi) vehicles, at extremely high operating temperatures, the sound insulating panel, located under the vehicle positioned between the exhaust system and the underbody, could sag and possibly contact the surface of the catalytic converter.
Remedy: Dealers will remove the existing dash insulator and install a revised design insulator pad free of charge. The recall began on June 3, 2005. Owners May contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2004 Ford Cvpi:
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…
What 2004 Ford Cvpi owners say
Wheels & tires
Tl contact owns a 2004 Ford crown victoria. The mechanic at the service station informed the contact of safety recall number 07s48 regarding his wheels. The dealer stated that the vehicle was no longer used for police pursuits, therefore, the recall did not apply to his vehicle. He also stated that the steering column shakes intermittently. The current mileage was 102,000 and failure mileage was 101,000. Updated 01-11-08. The consumer stated air leaked from the tires. Updated 12/12/07.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Ford Cvpi. The contact stated that the wheels cracked in the rim near the weld line, which connects the rim to the disk. He had to place air in his tires weekly because the failure caused the tires to deflate. The manufacturer stated that they would not honor the recall because the vehicle was no longer registered to the police department. NHTSA campaign id number 07V079000 (wheels) and Ford recall number 07s48 were referenced. The failure mileage was 67,000.
Electrical system
Tl contact owns a 2004 Ford crown victoria police interceptor. The contact stated that the headlights in the vehicle have been working intermittently. The headlights turn off while driving at any speed and May illuminate either 15 minutes or days later. Sometimes, when the light switch is activated a few times, the headlights will illuminate. Through numerous research, the contact found investigations, but no recalls. He took the vehicle to the dealer and they replaced the multi-function switch, the directional signals, and the bright lights on the detangables, but nothing has permanently repaired the issue. The failure mileage was 108,000 and current mileage was 116,000. Updated 8/3/09 updated 08/05/09.
Purchased 2004 Cvpi directly from local police department. Took car out that night, approximately 5 minutes into the drive, the headlights go out. All other lights remain on including all interior and exterior lights excluding headlamps. I manually turned the lights off then on and this did not solve the problem. It was still light enough I was able to return home, and upon using my turning signal, the headlights came back on unexplainable. All indicators lead to the lighting control module that is causing the defect. Conditions are too hazardous with this defect and creates a high public safety with the potential for fatalities.
Lights
Tl contact owns a 2004 Ford crown victoria police interceptor. The contact stated that the headlights in the vehicle have been working intermittently. The headlights turn off while driving at any speed and May illuminate either 15 minutes or days later. Sometimes, when the light switch is activated a few times, the headlights will illuminate. Through numerous research, the contact found investigations, but no recalls. He took the vehicle to the dealer and they replaced the multi-function switch, the directional signals, and the bright lights on the detangables, but nothing has permanently repaired the issue. The failure mileage was 108,000 and current mileage was 116,000. Updated 8/3/09 updated 08/05/09.
The headlamps on this vehicle shut off after lights have been turned on for about 25 seconds and will not come back on, occasionally they will stay on and then will shut off while driving. I've had this problem looked at by several shops and have been told that the lcm module is faulty and that it needs to be replaced. This part is very expensive, and the fact that Ford does not want to address this shows their lack of concern for public safety. This issue is a major safety issue and I can't believe that Ford does not take responsibility for this problem as it appears to be widespread.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Ford Cvpi a good car?
Based on 17 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 Cvpi rates better than average: 62% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Cvpi at the same age. It is one of the best Cvpi years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Ford Cvpi?
The wheels & tires — 9 complaints, 53% of all complaints for this model year, most often about rim. Next are the electrical system (5) and lights (4).
How many recalls does the 2004 Ford Cvpi have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2004 Ford Cvpi, the most recent from March 6, 2007 (wheels). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Cvpi?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2004 and 2005. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2003. See the full Ford Cvpi years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Ford Cvpi problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 80,000 miles; 19% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.