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1996 Ford Crown VictoriaProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 276 owner complaints about the 1996 Ford Crown Victoria, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It is covered by 9 safety recalls.

24
CarFlaw IndexYear to avoid3.1× the Crown Victoria median · #2 of 27 years by complaints
Safety recalls9Free fix at dealersOwner complaints27641 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage111kEngine and engine cooling, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 2, 2017. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1996 Ford Crown Victoria has problems

276 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling814
Suspension510
Fuel system, gasoline433
Steering373
Service brakes, hydraulic296
Vehicle speed control197
Electrical system126
Visibility120
Power train112
13 other systems384

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

9 recalls

1996 Ford Crown Victoria recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Vehicle speed control: cruise control

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

Risk. AS A RESULT, THE FUSE IS LOCATED IN THE OUTPUT CIRCUIT RATHER THAN IN THE INTENDED INPUT POWER FEED CIRCUIT, AND MAY NOT OFFER THE INTENDED PROTECTION IN THE…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Storage: tank assembly

Recall 03V-472 · Nov 6, 2003 · 4,218 vehicles

Risk. IF THE STRENGTH OF THE TANK IS SIGNIFICANTLY COMPROMISED, IT COULD RUPTURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Front: anchorage

Recall 00V-157 · Jun 12, 2000 · 1,167 vehicles

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THESE SEAT BELTS MAY NOT RESTRAIN AN OCCUPANT INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 5 more recalls
–no report yet

Front: anchorage

Recall 00V-157 · Jun 12, 2000 · 1,129 vehicles

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THESE SEAT BELTS MAY NOT RESTRAIN AN OCCUPANT INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Control arm: lower ball joint

Recall 98V-322 · Dec 16, 1998 · 175,000 vehicles

Risk. IF THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, REDUCED STEERING CONTROL COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Hood: latch

Recall 97V-024 · Mar 4, 1997 · 125,000 vehicles

Risk. EITHER OF THESE CONDITIONS CAN RESULT IN THE HOOD OPENING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED IMPAIRING THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Steering: linkages

Recall 96V-135 · Jul 18, 1996 · 72,000 vehicles

Risk. SUCH CORROSION CAN RESULT IN ABNORMAL WEAR OF THE JOINT, RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF THE JOINT.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Doors: latch

Recall 96V-070 · Apr 22, 1996 · 73,500 vehicles

Risk. THE DRIVER'S DOOR, WHEN CLOSED ONLY TO THE SECONDARY LATCHED POSITION, MAY NOT SUSTAIN A 1,000 POUND TRANSVERSE LOAD.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.

Mileage at failure

When do engine and engine cooling problems start?

111kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 25 engine and engine cooling complaints. 40% were reported before 100,000 miles.

Only 20% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
1under 30k miles10under 100k miles15100k miles or more
Best & worst years

1996 vs. every other Crown Victoria year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Crown Victoria median. How we score

'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

1996 Ford Crown Victoria safety ratings

1996 Ford Crown Victoria 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
10 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1996 Ford Crown Victoria, and the recalls they led to.

  1. FUEL-FED FIRESDP02007 · closed Dec 4, 2002
    No recall
  2. SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH FIRESEA02025 · closed Jun 30, 2004
    No recall
  3. CNG TANK EXPLOSIONEA03001 · closed Nov 19, 2003
    Led to recall 03V-472
  4. REAR BRAKE LINE FAILUREEA03012 · closed Apr 11, 2005
    Led to recall 05V-086
  5. CNG TANK EXPLODING IN A FIREPE02071 · closed Jan 27, 2003
    No recall
  6. FRONT SEAT ANCHOR BOLT FAILUREPE98041 · closed Sep 29, 1998
    No recall
  7. BALL JOINT FAILUREPE98045 · closed Dec 18, 1998
    Led to recall 98V-322
  8. BALL JOINT SEPARATIONRQ03002 · closed Jun 3, 2003
    No recall
  9. REAR BRAKE LINE FAILURERQ03004 · closed Jul 25, 2003
    No recall
  10. POST REAR END COLLISION FIRESSQ01014 · closed Oct 3, 2002
    Led to recall 02I003000
In owners' words

What Crown Victoria owners report

Recent engine and engine cooling complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

I PURCHASE MY VEHICLE ON OCTOBER 24TH, 2011 FROM A PRIVATE PARTY WHO SAID, "THE COOLANT LEAK", BUT THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED WHEN I DROVE IT HOME LESS THAN 3 MILES AWAY THE HOOD OF MY CAR WAS SMOKING. AFTER TAKING IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WITH MY FRIEND WHO DROVE HIS CAR TO ENSURE MY SAFETY, MY CAR…
Complaint 10436423 · Nov 18, 2011 · 35 miles
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD ON THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED OUT OF PLASTIC, WHICH CAUSED ANTI-FREEZE TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. THE ANTI-FREEZE LEAK WAS NOTICED DUE TO THE BURNING CHEMICAL ODOR AND SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD.…
Complaint 10261515 · Mar 11, 2009 · 82,000 miles
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN 2004. SHE NOTICED AN ORANGE FLAME UNDER THE VEHICLE AND SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND THE FIRE QUICKLY ENGULFED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE…
Complaint 10253080 · Dec 29, 2008 · 196,000 miles

Own a 1996 Crown Victoria?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.