Problems · by component

1996 Ford Crown Victoria engine and engine cooling problems

84 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1996 Ford Crown Victoria cite engine and engine cooling, 29% of all 294 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
84
29% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“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. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD COST OVER $1,000 AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. HE WAS DENIED REPAIRS UNDER THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. WHEN THE HEATER WAS ACTIVATED, THE ODOR FROM THE ANTI-FREEZE WAS OVERBEARING IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 82,000. UPDATED 4/16/09 *CN UPDATED 04/20/09. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 11, 2009Engine and engine coolingODI 10261515
“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
“FIRST MY ENGINE SEEMED TO OVERHEAT A BIT THEN EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE IT WOULD SOUND LIKE THE ENGINE WAS GRINDING ON SOMETHING AND WOULDN'T STOP.. SOUNDED LIKE A BUNCH OF CHAINS IN MY HOOD. BUT THEN ON OCCASIONS THE STUPID THING WOULDN'T SHUT OFF WHEN IT WAS MAKING THE CHAIN SOUND, EVEN WITH MY KEY OUT. IT JUST HAPPENED AGAIN AND NOW THE THING SMELLS LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING AND I HAVE NO POWER WHAT SO EVER IN MY VEHICLE. BEFORE WHEN IT FINALLY SHUT OFF IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS ABOUT TO SPARK. THEN IT WAS MAKING A CLICKING NOISE THAT WASN'T COOL. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 10, 2008Engine and engine coolingODI 10245079
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. WHILE DRIVING 10-15 MPH, THE THERMOSTAT STUCK AND BECAME HOT. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER BECAUSE IT CANNOT BE DRIVEN. THE PURCHASE DATE AND RECALL NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 111,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 14, 2008Engine and engine cooling, Vehicle speed controlODI 10224451
“DEAR SIR OR MADAM: I AM AWARE OF THE FORD CAMPAIGN 05N04 REGARDING THE COMPOSITE INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACEMENT PROGRAM. MY 1996 CROWN VIC FELL TO THIS DEFECT TO ON 11/20/06 WHICH RESULTED IN A NEEDED REPLACEMENT USING THE PRESCRIBED FORD REPAIR KIT. MY LOCAL FORD DEALER SAID THE REPAIR PROGRAM HAD EXPIRED WITH NO REIMBURSEMENT POSSIBLE. AFTER SOLICITING FORDS COMMENTS DIRECTLY (REPLY CAN BE FORWARDED) I INTERPRET THEIR RESPONSE THAT PART FAILURE, WHILE THE SAME AS OTHERS, DID NOT HAPPEN SOON ENOUGH AND THEREFORE INELIGIBLE. IN YOUR OPINION IS THERE ANY RECOURSE TO APPEAL THEIR DENIAL FOR CLAIM? ARE YOU STILL RECEIVING LETTERS/EMAILS THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM? MIGHT THERE BE ANOTHER JUDGMENT AGAINST THEM TO COVER OTHERS WITH THIS SAME FAILURE? YOUR HELP IS APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. *NM UPDATED 02/15/07. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 6, 2006Engine and engine coolingODI 10175427

Showing 6 of 84 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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