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1997 Ford Crown VictoriaProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 288 owner complaints about the 1997 Ford Crown Victoria, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It is covered by 8 safety recalls.

25
CarFlaw IndexYear to avoid3.0× the Crown Victoria median · #3 of 27 years by complaints
Safety recalls8Free fix at dealersOwner complaints28832 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage83kEngine and engine cooling, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 7, 2023. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1997 Ford Crown Victoria has problems

288 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 cooling845
Service brakes, hydraulic523
Suspension452
Fuel system, gasoline292
Vehicle speed control238
Electrical system144
Steering112
Visibility101
Exterior lighting91
14 other systems394

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

8 recalls

1997 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

Foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 05V-086 · Mar 14, 2005 · 43,626 vehicles

Risk. THE BRAKE PEDAL MAY DEVELOP A "SPONGY" FEEL AND DROPS OF BRAKE FLUID MAY BE OBSERVED BENEATH THE VEHICLE.

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 →

Show 4 more recalls
–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 →

–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 →

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?

83kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 53 engine and engine cooling complaints. 81% were reported before 100,000 miles.

Only 37% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
2under 30k miles43under 100k miles10100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Engine and engine cooling

17 owners mentioned a cost

$1,000median

Middle half: $900 – $1,100

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

1997 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

1997 Ford Crown Victoria safety ratings

1997 Ford Crown Victoria 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

1997 Ford Crown Victoria side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrierNot rated
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
10 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1997 Ford Crown Victoria, and the recalls they led to.

  1. FUEL-FED FIRESDP02007 · closed Dec 4, 2002
    No recall
  2. SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEADDP05005 · closed Jan 4, 2006
    No recall
  3. SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH FIRESEA02025 · closed Jun 30, 2004
    No recall
  4. CNG TANK EXPLOSIONEA03001 · closed Nov 19, 2003
    Led to recall 03V-472
  5. REAR BRAKE LINE FAILUREEA03012 · closed Apr 11, 2005
    Led to recall 05V-086
  6. CNG TANK EXPLODING IN A FIREPE02071 · closed Jan 27, 2003
    No recall
  7. FRONT SEAT ANCHOR BOLT FAILUREPE98041 · closed Sep 29, 1998
    No recall
  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.

WHILE DRIVING IN NJ, THE MANIFOLD BLEW AND MADE THE VEHICLE INOPERATIVE. LUCKILY, MY MECHANIC CAME AND TOWED THE CAR TO HIS GARAGE. THE MECHANIC PERFORMED A PRESSURE TEST AND DETERMINED THAT THE 'PLASTIC MANIFOLD' HAD BLOWN. THE ORIGIN OF THE FLUID LEAK WAS BEHIND THE ALTERNATOR. THEN WE DID SOME…
Complaint 10368849 · Nov 29, 2010 · 97,500 miles
I OWN A 1997 CROWN VIC LESS THAN 100 THOUSAND MILES. BOUGHT THE CAR 2 YEARS AGO AT DEALERSHIP IN LOUISVILLE KY. FOUND OUT THERE WAS RECALLS ON VEHICLE AFTER PURCHASE WAS TOLD CARMAX WAS GOOD. NOW HERE I SIT WITH A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH WAS RECALLED, BUT NOONE EVERY FIXED IT. SOMEONE SHOULD…
Complaint 10336134 · Jun 14, 2010 · 90,000 miles
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND THOUGHT A COOLANT HOSE HAD RUPTURED BUT AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY MECHANIC'S PLACE OF BUSINESS WAS TOLD THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. AFTER RESEARCHING I FOUND THAT FORD HAD ISSUED A RECALL FOR ONLY A FEW MODELS EVEN…
Complaint 10294878 · Dec 8, 2009 · 60,140 miles

Own a 1997 Crown Victoria?

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