Problems · NHTSA complaints
2002 Ford Crown Victoria problems
Owners filed 101 complaints about the 2002 Ford Crown Victoria with NHTSA between Jul 2001 and Aug 2025. The most-cited component is suspension (13).
Complaints
101
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
11
Reported by owners
Fires
7
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Suspension13
- Electrical system11
- Power train11
- Engine and engine cooling9
- Vehicle speed control9
- Fuel system, gasoline9
- Service brakes, hydraulic8
- Air bags7
- Steering6
- Structure5
- Visibility5
- Wheels4
- Exterior lighting3
- Service brakes2
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
2
12
15
6
15
3
21
7
5
1
2
2
1
4
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 12 |
| 2003 | 15 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 15 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 21 |
| 2008 | 7 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 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
Suspension
13 reports1 crash
“2002 FORD WINDSTAR REAR AXLE PROBLEM WE WERE DRIVING ON 78E AND WERE APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES BEFORE ALLENTOWN. ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HEARD A CRACK, SMELLED SMOKE, AND HEARD METAL SCRAPING. THE CAR STARTED FISHTAILING AND MY HUSBAND VIRTUALLY HAD NO CONTROL OF THE CAR AS THE WINDSTAR REPEATEDLY CROSSED 2 LANES AND ALMOST HIT THE MIDDLE BARRIER AND THEN FISHTAILED TOWARD THE OTHER SIDE. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO CARS OR TRUCKS IN FRONT OR IN BACK OF US AND WE WERE AT A SLIGHT UPHILL. FINALLY, MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VAN AND PULL OVER TO THE SMALL SHOULDER WHICH WAS BARELY BIG ENOUGH TO FIT THE VAN. WE CALLED 911 AND AAA. WHILE WE WAITED ON THE SIDE, WE FEARED THAT WE COULD GET HIT IN THE EVENT THAT A TRUCK OR CAR SWERVED TO THE SIDE. WE WERE SHOCKED TO FIND OUT THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS CRACKED AND THE REAR TIRES WERE CAVED IN. MY AUTO DEALER GILBOY IN WHITEHALL OFFERED TO TOW AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM, BUT ONLY AT MY EXPENSE. FORD EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THERE WAS NO COVERAGE FOR THIS SITUATION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY AND THERE CURRENTLY IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. BOTH GILBOY AND FORD TOLD ME THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH…”
Electrical system
11 reports1 crash2 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE TURN SIGNALS AND HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO WORK, EXCEPT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS DID NOT WORK AND THE DASHBOARD WAS BLACKED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO SCHEDULE THE VEHICLE FOR A DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. UPDATED 10/06/16*LJ ** UPDATED 10/19/16*LJ *TR”
Power train
11 reports
“VEHICLE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 75,000- WE HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP CONCERNING THE TRANSMISSION BUT WAS ADVISED NOTHING WRONG. *TR”
Engine and engine cooling
9 reports1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND PROCEEDING TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MANIFOLD WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 81,218.”
Vehicle speed control
9 reports3 crashes1 fire
“1) I NOTICED THAT MY RPMS WERE NOT RETURNING TO NORMAL AND MY VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO STOP COMPLETELY. 2) I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS 4X4 WITH THE SOHC 4.0 LITER ENGINE. THE THROTTLE CABLE STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SURGE UNCONTROLLABLY AT APPROXIMATELY 5000 RPMS. I HAD TO TURN OFF MY IGNITION TO AVOID CRASHING THE VEHICLE INTO NEARBY TRAFFIC. OTA HAS RECEIVED REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM, NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE05037, BUT CLOSED THE CASE ON NOVEMBER 2, 2005. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS CRASH. I BELIEVE THAT OTA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AS IT DID FOR CAMPAIGN #03V280000. 3) I WILL BE CONTACTING FORD TOMORROW TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR”
Fuel system, gasoline
9 reports1 crash2 fires2 related recalls
“IN MID APRIL 2005, AS I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER HOME (HAD@32,000 MILES), THE CAR JUST DIED WITHIN 2 SECONDS. NO WARNING AT ALL. I LOST ALL POWER, THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENED AND THAT WAS IT. FORD TOWED THE CAR (AS IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY) AND SAID THAT THE FUEL PUMP WENT AND THAT CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE EVEN STARTED FOR ME. THANK GOD MY 3 YOUNG CHILDREN WERE NOT IN THE CAR WITH ME AND THAT I WASN"T HIT FROM BEHIND. AFTER THEY "FIXED " THE CAR AND AFTER WE PAID $600 FOR A 30,000 MILE MAINTENANCE, 6 WEEKS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPPENS TO MY HUSBAND. HE'D JUST DRIVING ALONG, THE CAR LOSES POWER WITHIN SECONDS AND COMPLETELY DIES WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR EVEN ANY TIME TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD!!! (THE CAR NOW HAS 33,500 MILES). IT IS CURRENTL STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP BEING "FIXED". EE FEEL LIKE WE'VE ESCAPED SERIOUS ACCIDENTS TWICE NOW, AS WE COULD HAVE SO EASILY BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND BOTH TIMES. NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD AGAIN.”
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.