Problems · by component

2003 Ford Crown Victoria power train problems

34 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Ford Crown Victoria cite power train, 12% of all 289 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
34
12% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“WHILE IN MOTION, CAR BEGAN MAKING A GRINDING NOISE FROM REAR. WHAT I THOUGH MIGHT BE A BAD TIRE OR FAILED BRAKE TURNED OUT TO BE A LEAKING REAR AXLE SEAL , DAMAGED AXLE SHAFTS AND BEARINGS. THIS IS THE EXACT RECALL UNDER 04S16 WHICH APPLIES TOWARD 2003 FLEET CV'S. FORD CONTINUALLY DISAPPOINTS AS I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR VIN IS NOT INCLUDED. I HAD A SIMILAR INCIDENT WITH MY LCM (LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE)-- HAD TO PAY REPAIR AND SAVE RECEIPTS FOR 2 YEARS UNTIL FORD FESSED UP AND EXPANDED RECALL AND FINALLY GOT A REFUND. AS OF THIS INCIDENT, THE CAR IS A PASSENGER FAMILY VEHICLE IN GREAT SHAPE/CARE WITH APPROXIMATELY 110,000 MILES ON IT. 4.6 V8 ENGINE. I EXPECT A FULL REFUND FOR THIS REPAIR WHICH IS EFFECTING OTHERS AND COULD HAVE KILLED ME AND MY FAMILY. I CALLED 1(800)392-3673 FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND WAS TOLD TO TUCK MY RECEIPT IN WALLET AND WAIT TO SEE IF A RECALL IS EVER ISSUED. THEY DO IN FACT ACKNOWLEDGE EXACT ISSUE WITH P70, P71, P72--- JUST NOT MY P74. FORD, DO RIGHT BY YOUR PEOPLE! NO WONDER WHY MANY GO TO FOREIGN CARS. LET'S HOPE NHTSA AND FORD CAN RESTORE AMERICAN HOPE. ---NOT TO MENTION OUR LIVES ON THE ROAD.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 22, 2016Power trainODI 10887809
“I BOUGHT MY FORD CROWN VIC 3 YEARS AGO PAID 6000 DOLLARS, WITHIN TWO WEEKS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING, THEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT COST ME 2500, THEN HORN WOULD GO OFF AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF TILL I PULLED THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE OFF. TWO WEEKS LATER THE BLINKERS STOPPED WORKING, THEN THE LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE STARTED MAKING A LOUD BEEPING SOUND, THEN MY HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. I REVIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM FORD AND IT SAYS TAKE MY CAR TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY WOULD FIX IT FREE OF CHARGE. I WENT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID I HAD TO PAY 85 DOLLARS TO CHECK AND SEE IF THE LIGHTING MODULE WAS BAD OR NOT IF IT WAS THEY SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE IT FOR FREE, BUT THERE COULD BE ADDITIONAL COST TO PAY AND I WOULD NOT GET MY 85 DOLLARS BACK NO MATTER WHAT. I HAVE A SMALL BUSINESS OF MY OWN, AND IF I SOLD SOMETHING THAT DID NOT WORK I WOULD FEEL BAD AND WOULD HAVE TO FIX OR REPLACED IT OR BE SUED.WHAT CAN I DO MY NAME IS [XXX] MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS [XXX] AND MY PHONE NUMBER IS [XXX] THANK YOU *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 6, 2016Power train, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiperODI 10824617
“2003 CROWN VICTORIA 57000 MILES. MY CROWN VICTORIA WAS MANUFACTURED AT THE ST THOMAS ASSEMBLY PLANT DURING TIME FRAME IN QUESTION IN REGARDS TO RECALL NUMBER 04S16. AT 57000 MILES IT DEVELOPED A NOTICEABLE NOISE AND VIBRATION EMANATING FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. UPON INSPECTION THE AXLES WERE SHOWN TO BE WORN SEVERELY. FORD HAS RECALLED "ONLY POLICE AND FLEET" CROWN VICTORIA DUE TO THERE "SEVERE" USE AND HAS DEEMED ALL OTHER MODELS BUILT ON THE SAME ASSEMBLY LINE, WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE PARTS UNWORTHY OF ATTENTION. THIS IS A BLATANT DISREGARD FOR CONSUMER SAFETY, THE THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE PARTS ARE KNOWN, AND HAVE SHOWN TO BE DEFECTIVE IF PLACE UNDER HEAVY LOAD. THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO ALL CROWN VICTORIA MODELS, NOT JUST P70,P71,P72 AS THEY ALL USE THE SAME EXACT AXLE SHAFT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 17, 2015Power trainODI 10764734
“DEALER, WHO I HAD BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND WHO HAD BEEN SERVICING IT, SAID BEARING NOISE IN R/R (MILEAGE 44850). REPAIRED IT FOR $694.57 DOLLARS. POLICE AND FLEET CROWNVICS WERE MANUFACTURED AT THE SAME TIME IN THE SAME PLANT IN CANADA AND WERE RECALLED FOR WHEEL BEARING AND AXLE PROBLEMS VIA FORD RECALL NUMBER 04S16. DEALER SAID RECALL ONLY APPLIED TO FLEET VEHICLES SO I HAD TO PAY FOR THE WORK. FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS SIMPLY SENT ME BACK TO THE DEALER. IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY THE L/R BEARING/AXLE MAY FAIL? SHOULDN'T THE DEALER/FORD CONSIDER THIS VEHICLE AS PART OF THE ORIGINAL RECALL? YOU HAVE A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE ON YOUR WEBSITE UNDER DIFFERENT HEADINGS SUCH AS AXLE ASSEMBLY, SUSPENSION REAR, POWER TRAIN, AXLE SHAFT FOR THE SAME MODEL, YEAR OF MANUFACTURE, PLACE OF MANUFACTURE AND LOW MILEAGE. JUST WHAT ROLE DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION HAVE IN THESE SITUATIONS? I HAD TRIED TO GET SATISFACTION IN THIS MATTER MUCH EARLIER BUT WITH THE RECENT INTEREST IN SAFETY RECALLS I THOUGHT I'D TRY AGAIN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF MY CONCERNS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 21, 2015Suspension, Power train, WheelsODI 10717582
“INVESTIGATED REAR END NOISE. BOTH AXLES HAVE EXTREME WARE . BEARING FAILURE. AND MUST BE REPLACED. FORD RECALLED ONLY POLICE AND COMMERCIAL P70 P71 AND P72 BY ORDER OF NHTSA. FORD NEW ALL MODELS EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE AS IDENTIFIED IN TSB 030505A ISSUED 3-5-03. MY FORD CV A P74 MODEL WAS MADE 11-05-02. ONLY A SILENT RECALL. AND NOT NOW HONORED AFTER NORMAL WRTY EXPIRES. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 15, 2012Suspension, Power train, Unknown or otherODI 10488871
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE FROM THE PARK POSITION. IN ORDER SHIFT INTO REVERSE HE HAD TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND ALLOW IT TO SLOWLY ROLL BACKWARDS. UPON DRIVING THE VEHICLE HE ALSO NOTICED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 6TH GEAR. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 3, 2010Power trainODI 10363865

Showing 6 of 34 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.