Problems · NHTSA complaints
2008 Ford Crown Victoria problems
Owners filed 50 complaints about the 2008 Ford Crown Victoria with NHTSA between Jan 2008 and Aug 2023. The most-cited component is steering (25).
Complaints
50
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
11
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Steering25
- Vehicle speed control11
- Suspension6
- Electrical system5
- Power train3
- Structure2
- Service brakes2
- Exterior lighting1
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Engine1
- Fuel/propulsion system1
- Air bags1
- Engine and engine cooling1
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
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
3
3
3
0
9
2
6
2
5
3
3
1
4
1
3
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
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
Steering
25 reports4 crashes1 fire2 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2008 Ford Crown Victoria. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The contact inspected the steering column underneath the hood and noticed that the steering shaft was corroded. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V385000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 141,000.”
Vehicle speed control
11 reports4 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO SERVICE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.”
Suspension
6 reports1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BEARINGS SEPARATED FROM THE VEHCLE, CAUSING THE POWER STEERING TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V385000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.”
Electrical system
5 reports2 fires
“Complete instrument cluster failure, no lights illuminate except turn signals. Speed, rpm’s, fuel level, temperature, are completely off instrument cluster is completely dark when driving at night, told that the solders on the cluster are bad. (Defective?)”
Power train
3 reports1 crash1 fire
“The contact owns 2008 Ford Crown Victoria. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to reverse while the transmission was shifted into reverse(R). The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who replaced the linkage. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.”
Structure
2 reports1 crash1 fire
“I DROVE MY CAR TO WORK. I PARKED IT ON THE SIDE OF THE STREET. WHEN I GOT OUT HOURS LATER IT HAD CAUGHT ON 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.