Problems · NHTSA complaints

1996 Ford Crown Victoria problems

Owners filed 294 complaints about the 1996 Ford Crown Victoria with NHTSA between Feb 1996 and Aug 2017. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (84).

Complaints
294
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
14
Reported by owners
Fires
17
Reported by owners
Injuries
18
People reported injured
Deaths
3
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling84
  2. Suspension52
  3. Fuel system, gasoline43
  4. Steering39
  5. Service brakes, hydraulic31
  6. Vehicle speed control19
  7. Electrical system13
  8. Visibility12
  9. Power train12
  10. Structure9
  11. Tires6
  12. Latches/locks/linkages6
  13. Engine3
  14. Air bags3

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
199627
199727
199842
199932
200028
200122
200232
200320
20048
200520
200610
20077
200811
20092
20100
20112
20120
20130
20142
20151
20160
20171

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine and engine cooling

84 reports4 fires
“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 BEGAN TO OVER HEAT AFTER DRIVING IT FOR 10 MINUTES! I WAS SO FRANTIC THAT I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BURNED UP IN THE CAR. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE NEXT DAY IT WAS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND INFORM ME THAT THIS MAY BE A RECALL AND TO CHECK WITH THE FORD CORPORATION AND I DID CALLED FORD CORPORATION AND FOUND OUT THIS VEHICLE HAD CONTROL CRUISE HARNESS AND A INTAKE MANIFOLD RECALL ID IS 01M02, THE DEALERSHIP FOR CAMELBACK FORD IN PHOENIX, MR. CHAD MCDOWELL OFFER THIS RECALL NUMBER BUT HIS EMPLOYEE [XXX] OFFER TO HELP ME FIX THE BOTH PROBLEMS, THEN LATER ON NEGATED. I FEEL A RECALL OF ANY VEHICLE SHOULD NEVER BE EXPIRED BASE ON THESE ISSUES OF SAFETY AND REGARDLESS OF A SETTLEMENT THAT MAY HAVE BEEN REACHED, THERE ARE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO NEED TO HAVE THEIR VEHICLE REPAIR TO MAKE IT AT LEAST A WHOLE AGAIN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND AVOID A POSSIBLE INJURY OR DEATH. I FOUND THE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 18, 2011Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical system, Vehicle speed controlODI 10436423

Suspension

52 reports1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN OFF A DRIVEWAY ONTO A LOT, THERE WAS A LOUD METAL BRAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE COLLAPSED TO THE GROUND. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE LOWER BALL JOINT DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE INDEPENDENT PARKING LOT WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000. *BF CONSUMER STATED FAULTY RUBBER SEAL WAS DUE TO CORROSION AND MAY HAVE ANOTHER ONE WITH SAME PROBLEM.*JB *BF”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 2, 2017SuspensionODI 11012424

Fuel system, gasoline

43 reports1 crash3 fires1 related recall
“MY 1996 MERCURY VILLAGER DEVELOPED A FAILURE IN THE AIR FLOW SENSOR (PART $330) THAT RESULTED IN VEHICLE STALLS, INCLUDING STOPS ON THE HIGHWAY, THAT NEARLY RESULTED IN CRASHES. THE REQUIRED REPAIRS EXCEEDED $500. I KNOW FORD HAS A SIMILAR RECALL OUT NOW FOR THE 1997-2003 (/) MODELS). *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 7, 2007Fuel system, gasolineODI 10211101

Steering

39 reports3 crashes2 related recalls
“#1 - I CONSTANTLY HAVE MY ENGINE LIGHT ON AND DURING 2 INSPECTIONS I RECEIVED A SAFETY/EMISSIONS RECALL PRINTOUT, DEFECT # DR-1209 FOR MASS AIR FLOW SENSORS. BOTH TIMES I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND THEY CLAIMED THERE'S NO RECALL FOR IT. I JUST NOTICED ON THE NHTSA SITE, THAT RECALLS ONLY GO BACK AS FAR AS 1999. THEY ALSO SAID THAT SINCE IT'S NO LONGER A "POLICE OWNED" VEHICLE, THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT. # 2 - I HAVE BEEN GETTING A CONSTANT SEVERE FUEL SMELL THAT PERMEATES THROUGH THE CAR WHICH IS EXACERBATED WITH WARM WEATHER AND OR WHEN THE CAR WARMS UP. #3 - THERE'S A CONSTANT ISSUE OF THE CAR VIBRATING WHEN BEING DRIVEN AT 55 - 60 MPH.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 27, 2015Steering, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 10786431

Service brakes, hydraulic

31 reports5 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE BRAKE RESERVOIR CAUGHT FIRE AND CAUSED THE DRIVER SIDE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO FAIL. THE FAILURE ALSO CAUSED THE WHEELS TO LOCK. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL HIS INSURANCE COMPANY FOR A CLAIM. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 30, 2008Service brakes, hydraulicFire reportedODI 10226322

Vehicle speed control

19 reports2 crashes5 fires2 related recalls
“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 196,000. UPDATED 03/17/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/17/09. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 29, 2008Engine and engine cooling, Vehicle speed controlFire reportedODI 10253080
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.