Problems · NHTSA complaints
2005 Ford Crown Victoria problems
Owners filed 193 complaints about the 2005 Ford Crown Victoria with NHTSA between Mar 2005 and Feb 2026. The most-cited component is exterior lighting (99).
Complaints
193
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
13
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
10
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Exterior lighting99
- Steering36
- Electrical system21
- Power train14
- Vehicle speed control11
- Engine8
- Seat belts7
- Air bags6
- Suspension5
- Fuel system, gasoline5
- Visibility5
- Structure4
- Engine and engine cooling3
- Service brakes, hydraulic3
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
6
9
7
6
16
15
21
22
24
15
12
9
10
3
6
3
1
3
4
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 16 |
| 2010 | 15 |
| 2011 | 21 |
| 2012 | 22 |
| 2013 | 24 |
| 2014 | 15 |
| 2015 | 12 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 | 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
Exterior lighting
99 reports2 crashes1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2005 Ford Crown Victoria. The contact stated that the headlights had become intermittently inoperable while driving at night. The contact personally replaced the fuses and undisclosed parts, per the information found online; however, the failure persisted. The odometer was inoperable. The dealer was contacted and informed that the vehicle had been previously repaired for the failure. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed, but assistance was denied. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.”
Steering
36 reports2 crashes2 related recalls
“DESPITE HAVING SUBJECT VEHICLE SERVICED BY A DEALERSHIP UNDER RECALL 13V385, THE LOWER INTERMEDIATE SHAFT DEVELOPED A CORROSION DEFECT AFTER FOUR YEARS WHEREIN IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE AT LOWER SPEEDS AND A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WAS AUDIBLE FROM WITHIN THE CABIN EVERY TIME THE TOP OF THE STEERING WHEEL PASSED THE 6 O'CLOCK POSITION. OWNER INVESTIGATED: UPPER UNIVERSAL JOINT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LOWER INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS BEGINNING TO SEPARATE, SHIFTING OUT OF PLACE APPROXIMATELY 3/16THS OF AN INCH WHEN STEERING WHEEL WAS IN THE 6 O'CLOCK POSITION BEFORE SLAMMING BACK INTO PLACE CAUSING A LOUD 'CLICK' WHICH REVERBERATED INTO THE CABIN THROUGH THE STEERING COLUMN AND SOUNDING MUCH WORSE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RECALL SERVICING DEALERSHIP; RECALL 13V385 WAS ONLY WARRANTIED FOR 3 MONTHS OR 5000 KILOMETRES (3125 MILES). OWNER WAS CHARGED $888.31 CAD ($675.95 USD) FOR REPAIRS ON A RECALL PART EXPERIENCING THE SAME CONDITIONS FOR WHICH THE RECALL WAS ISSUED. OWNER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT TO INQUIRE ABOUT RECALLED PARTS EXPERIENCING RECALL CONDITIONS, WAS ADVISED OF THE RECALL WARRANTY AND THAT PAID SERVICE RESULTS IN 2-YEAR,…”
Electrical system
21 reports1 crash2 related recalls
“Safety Recall 19S35b Processor Lighting cont was done on 3/22/2021on my working part. The original module was working fine. Now the new light module is faulty. Dealership took out part and tested it. Determined that is was faulty causing my lights to fail. Dealership and Ford has denied covering a replacement of the failed part. It would seem that the part should be still covered since it is a part that was part of a recall.”
Power train
14 reports1 crash
“LOSS OF ACCELERATION AT WIDE OPEN THROTTLE, TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO "SLIP" WHEN TRYING TO PASS OR ACCELERATE HARD AT HIGHWAY SPEED HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS”
Vehicle speed control
11 reports4 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE. IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION KEY HAD TO BE TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT INSPECTED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.”
Engine
8 reports1 crash1 fire
“THE SPARK PLUGS HAVE BEEN EJECTING THEMSELVES FROM THE ENGINE, TAKING PART OF THE CYLINDER HEAD WITH THEM MAKING REPAIRS DANGEROUS AND COSTLY. SOMETIMES THE SPARK PLUG STAYS ATTACHED TO THE COIL, CAUSING FUEL VAPORS TO IGNOTE, BUT MOST OF THE TIME THEY RIP THE COIL PACK AND BOOT OUT WITH THEM. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES WITH MY LAST CROWN VICTORIA AND TWICE WITH MY CURRENT ONE. IT ALWAYS HAPPENS AS THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, CAUSING A DRAMATIC LOSS OF POWER AND SOMETIMES A FIRE.”
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.