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
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling29
- Suspension23
- Electrical system14
- Fuel system, gasoline13
- Service brakes, hydraulic13
- Steering12
- Power train12
- Wheels12
- Exterior lighting10
- Vehicle speed control7
- Visibility6
- Structure5
- Tires5
- 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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
13
41
11
13
11
11
18
9
8
2
1
4
0
4
0
2
3
1
2
3
1
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 13 |
| 2000 | 41 |
| 2001 | 11 |
| 2002 | 13 |
| 2003 | 11 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 18 |
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 |
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.
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”
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.”
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”
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”
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…”
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”
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.