Problems · NHTSA complaints

1999 Ford Crown Victoria problems

Owners filed 159 complaints about the 1999 Ford Crown Victoria with NHTSA between Feb 1999 and Jan 2023. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (29).

Complaints
159
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
8
Reported by owners
Fires
7
Reported by owners
Injuries
11
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling29
  2. Suspension23
  3. Electrical system14
  4. Fuel system, gasoline13
  5. Service brakes, hydraulic13
  6. Steering12
  7. Power train12
  8. Wheels12
  9. Exterior lighting10
  10. Vehicle speed control7
  11. Visibility6
  12. Structure5
  13. Tires5
  14. Engine4

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
199913
200041
200111
200213
200311
200411
200518
20069
20078
20082
20091
20104
20110
20124
20130
20142
20153
20161
20172
20183
20191
20200
20210
20220
20231

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

29 reports2 fires
“INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACK CAUSING A MAJOR COOLANT LEAK AND ENGINE MALFUNCTION CAUSE COOLANT RUNNING TO LAST SPARK PLUG HOLE IN PASSENGER SIDE. ENGINE SIZE 4.6 8CYL. SAME AS MY EXPLORER 2002. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 15, 2012Engine and engine coolingODI 10451830

Suspension

23 reports1 crash1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE CONTACT SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO ENGAGE THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BALL JOINT FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 13, 2015SuspensionODI 10705416

Electrical system

14 reports1 crash3 fires
“My 99 ford crown victoria lx has front end issues. I have had to replace the ball joints about 4 times every 2 to 3 months because the front end keeps dropping. I'm not sure if you guys know about this but I've spoken with our local Ford mechanic and a few friends who have crown Victoria's as well and said that it has been a big issue with them along with the electrical components for the turn signals”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 8, 2023Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 11500729

Fuel system, gasoline

13 reports1 fire2 related recalls
“LTR FWD FROM CONSUMER RE DEFECTIVE AUTOMATIC FUEL CUT OFF SWITCH FOR A 1999 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. *TS THE FUEL CUT OFF SWITCH WOULD CUT OFF EVERY 10,000 TO 12,000 MILES FOR NO REASON. THE CONSUEMR WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS OCCURED AND LUCKILY NO ACCIDENT OCCURED. *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 29, 2005Fuel system, gasolineODI 10146493

Service brakes, hydraulic

13 reports
“REFERENCE ODI ID 752976 - I HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE AND FAILURE OF THE SAME EQUIPMENT AND PARTS DESCRIBED IN THE REFERENECED COMPLAINT. THESE ARE LATENT DESIGN/MATERIAL/MANUFACTURING DEFECTS. I WAS ORIGINALLY TOLD, UNDER WARRANTY, THAT THE SHUDDER WAS DUE TO THE TRACTION CONTROL SENSORS. THIS APPARENTLY WAS INCORRECT. NOW THAT THE VEHICLE IS JUST OVER 100,000 MI, FORD WILL DO NOTHING TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT. THE DEALER TO THEIR CREDIT IS TRYING TO CORRECT THE SHUDDER PROBLEM BY SERVICING THE TRANSMISSION WITH ADDITIVES. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKING IS A DESIGN/MATERIAL DEFECT WHICH WAS FINALLY DISCOVERED AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD ALTHOUGH I HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT COOLANT ODOR SEVERAL TIMES WHILE IN WARRANTY. FORD SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE WITH ME ON THE COST OF REPAIR, THEY SHOULD HAVE SHOLDERED THE ENTIRE COST. NOW WE HAVE ANOTHER PROBLEM WHICH FORD, ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE SUPERVISOR IS UNWILLING TO CORRECT. THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE BOOSTER, IT HAS A TENDENCY TO CRACK INTERNALLY AND CAUSE A HARD PEDAL. THIS DEFECT WAS DISCOVERED ON MY WIFE'S MERCURY SABLE AT ABOUT 38,000-MI AND NOW IS BE EXHIBITED ON MY CROWN VICTORIA. CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THIS…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 8, 2004Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10080584

Steering

12 reports1 related recall
“ANYTIME I PUT A HALF A TANK IN GAS IN CAR IT SMELLS BAD IN TRUCK SO WHEN THIS DOES HAPPEN I LOOK IN THE TRUCK,THERE'S THIS FOAM IN THE BACK THAT'S CO BED WITH GAS,N THE SMALL IS BAD.I DON'T LET ME KIDS IN THE GAS,NTIL ITS GONE..WILL IT CATCH IN 🔥.IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR.HELP PLZ”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 20, 2018Steering, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11102907
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.