1996 Ford Crown Victoria complaints

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A GROANING SOUND. VEHICLE WAS PARKED PARKED WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT END COLLAPSED. A REPAIR SHOP EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT THE LOWER RIGHT BALL JOINTS BROKE.*AK UPDATED 11/18/09. *LJ UPDATED 11/19/09.*JB

REAR STEEL BRAKE LINES RUSTED. *AK *NM

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING COOLANT LEAKED FROM INTAKE MANIFOLD. *AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED. CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE. ADVISED NO RECALL AT THIS TIME. ADVISED TO RETAIN RECEIPT IF RECALL ISSUED, FORD WOULD REFUND EXPENSE. WAS ADVISED THAT IF I DID NOT HAVE REPAIR MADE AT FORD DEALERSHIP THERE WAS NO OTHER WAY FOR THEIR ENGINEERS TO DOCUMENT AND INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM. ALSO AWARE THE ESCAMBIA COUNTY, FL SHERIFF'S DEPT. HAS TO REPLACE THIS SAME PART ON A REGULAR BASIS. AFTER REVIEWING THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS I FIND THAT A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR POLICE AND TAXI VEHICLES BUT NOT PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE COST OF THIS PART WITH A DISCOUNT WAS $501. THE REPLACEMENT MANIFOLD HAS A METAL WATER PASSAGE TO PREVENT FURTHER CRACKS. FORD MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS AND FORCED TO REPAIR, REPLACE OR REFUND THIS DEFECTIVE MAJOR ENGINE PART.*AK

FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WHAT I HEAR ABOUT THE GRAND MARQUIS HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL TANK IS RATHER DISTURBING TO ME I AM AWARE NOW THAT THESE CARS ARE CAPABLE OF CATCHING ON FIRE IF HIT FROM BEHIND. I CARRY THREE SMALL CHILDREN TO SCHOOL EVERY MORNING IN "THIS CAR" I HAVE CONTACTED THE FORD CORP. ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SEEM TO NOT BE BOTHERED ABOUT THIS FACT. NOW TO MY OTHER PROBLEMS. I HAVE JUST REPLACED MY INTAKE MANIFOLD BECAUSE THE ONE THAT CAME WITH THE CAR CRACKED WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. MY MECHANIC STATED THAT HE FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 1996 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE FORD CORP. HAS REDESIGNED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FOR THIS MODEL AND RAISED THE PRICE FROM ABOUT 250.00 TO ALMOST 500.00. IN JULY OF 2002 THERE WAS A PART THAT WENT OUT ON MY A/C UNIT THAT I HAD TO REPLACE (I HAVE TO CONTACT MY MECHANIC TO SEE WHAT PART IT WAS THAT WAS REPLACED) IN JULY 2002 I HAD TO HAVE MY ROTERS TURNED, IN JANUARY 2003, I HAD TO HAVE THEM TURNED AGIAN AND HAVE MY RIGHT BACK ROTER REPACED BECAUSE IT WAS NO LONGER GOOD. (ALL THIS WAS DONE ON JANUARY 10 2003 NOW IT IS JAN. 20, 2003 AND MY RIGHT FRONT ROTER IS GRINDING AGAIN (I ALSO HAD NEW BRAKES PUT ON ALL AROUND JAN.10,2003. MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR IS DROOPING BECAUSE IT NEEDS A NEW PIN PUT IN... MY CAR ALSO SEEMS TO BALK WHEN I PUSH ON THE GAS PEDDAL,MY CAR ALSO HAS A POPPING NOISE WHEN I HIT A HOLE OR TURN. WHEN I CALLED THE FORD CORP. ON THESE ISSUES THEY SEEMED LIKED THEY REALLY DIDN'T C

I OWN A 1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA P71 INTERCEPTOR. I HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH MY INTAKE MANIFOLD ON THE ENGINE. THE RECALLED PART WAS NOT REPLACED BY THE DEPARTMENT THAT PREVIOUSLY OWNED THE VEHICLE, AND NOW IT HAS FAILED 6 MONTHS AFTER THE EXPIRATION LEAVING ME AN UNSAFE VEHICLE, AND RISK OF PERMANENT ENGINE DAMAGE OR FAILURE. FORD IS NOT WILLING TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY WITH THIS REPAIR OTHER THAN A STANDARD NEAR $800.00 REPAIR.

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED. *NLM

ON 10/31/03, THE ACCELERATOR ON A 1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA STUCK CAUSING A PROPERTY DAMAGE ACCIDENT WHICH WAS REPORTED TO THE POLICE. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN BY MY DAUGHTER. THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME PROBLEM WHEN MY SON WAS DRIVING IT ON 11/25/03. MY SON HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AS THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED OR STOP ACCELERATING. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION. *LA

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD.*MR (NAR) DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *CB

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM INSIDE OF THE VENTS. DRIVER PULLED OVER AND LIFTED THE HOOD UP. THE DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED INSIDE, CAUSING A LEAK. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, CAUSING THE FLUID TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL. THE DRIVER MANAGED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE PITMAN ARM BROKE AT THE STEERING LINKAGE. CONSUMER . *AK *NLM

WHILE OPERATING 1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA LX 4DR SEDAN (140K MILEAGE) ON LOCAL HIGHWAY, UPON STOPPING NOTICED COOLANT SMELL. TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL DEALER. DIAGNOSED A CRACKED "RESIN" ENGINE INTAKE ON 4.6 LTR V8 AT SEAM UNDER TEMPERTAURE SENSOR BEHIND ALTERNATOR. REPAIRED WITH REPLACEMENT ALUMINUM INTAKE AT OWNERS EXPENSE. OLD INTAKE SENT TO WILLIAM C. FORD, CEO FORD MOTOR COMPANY, ONE AMERICAN ROAD, DEARBORN, MI, 48121, WITH LETTER OF EXPLANATION/COMPLAINT. FACTORY MANUFACTURING DEFECT. REQUEST ACTION.

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH HOOD LATCH SNAPPED. HOOD FLEW UP AND SHATTERED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER. *AK

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED. *JB

CONSUMER STATES INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IS CRACKED, CAUSING COOLANT TO GO INSIDE THE ENGINE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

THE FOLLOWING IS A COPY OF THE "INQUIRY/CONCERN" SENT TO THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY RELATIONSHIP CENTER: THE RIGHT FRONT ELECTRIC WINDOW MALFUNCTIONED ON 2/18/00 AT 42,134 MILES. IT COST ME A $50 DEDUCTIBLE TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE REGULATOR BECAUSE I HAD PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE LEFT REAR WINDOW MALFUNCTIONED ON 11/28/00 AT 51,983 MILES. IT COST A $50 WARRANTY DEDUCTIBLE TO REPLACE A FAULTY REGULATOR. THE DRIVER'S LEFT FRONT WINDOW MALFUNCTIONED ON 12/26/00 AT 52,465 MILES. IT COST A $50 DEDUCTIBLE TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE REGULATOR. THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW MALFUNCTIONED ON 7/3/03 AT 90,201 MILES. IT COST $209 TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE REGULATOR. CYCLE COMPLETE. ANY PATTERN HERE? FORD'S RESPONSE WAS SURPRISE AT THE CONSISTENT DEFECTS IN THEIR REGULATORS. THEY COULDN'T ASSIST FINANCIALLY BECAUSE I HAD USED AN INDEPENDENT TO FIX THE LAST WINDOW WHILE TRYING TO KEEP COSTS LOW. WAS THIS EXPERIENCE UNIQUE? *JB

COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. DETERIATED FLUID LINE UNDER DRIVER'S DOOR. ALL FLUID WAS DISCHARGED AND WAS LEFT WITHOUT ANY BRAKES AT ALL. SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *AK REFERENCED IN RQ03-004

THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED ON THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE MANIFOLD INTAKE. *AK SMOKE COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WAS NO WATER(WAS ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND THE INSULATION), AND NO OIL. PLASTIC WAS USED FOR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH FORD CHANGED TO METAL. THE CONSUMER'S NEW ENGINE HAD COME WITH THE NEW CHANGE. FORD INSTRUCTED THE CONSUMER TO KEEP RECEIPTS BECAUSE THE WERE GOING TO ISSUE A RECALL. *SCC *JB

A ARM BRACKET WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE FRONT SUSPENSION IS BROKEN. CONSUMER DISCOVERED IT WHEN SHE HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, AND HAD A MECHANIC CHECK THE NOISE OUT. AFTER CHECKING THE VEHICLE MECHANIC ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR BECAUSE IT LOOKED AS A MANUFACTURE R'S PROBLEM.*AK

BRAKES FAILED. DRIVER NOTICED BRAKE FLUID LEAK AND ADDED BRAKE FLUID TO GET THE CAR BACK TO OUR RESIDENCE. A REVIEW OF THE BRAKE LINES SHOWED CORROSION AND LEAKAGE IN THE BRAKE LINE ONLY. ALL OF THE OTHER LINES AND THE UNDER CARRIAGE SHOW NO CORROSION AT ALL. THIS IS INDICATIVE OF A DEFECT IN THE MATERIAL USED FOR THE BRAKE LINE. THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN MORE SERIOUS, POSSIBLY CAUSING INJURIES OR DEATHS IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE ACTIONS OF THE DRIVER. *NLM

THE ENGINE MANIFOLD CRACKED. *JB

I PURCHASED A USED 1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA FROM CAL WORTHINGTON FORD IN ALASKA A LITTLE LESS THAN THREE YEARS AGO. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR, I ALSO PURCHASED A PREMIUM WARRANTY POLICY AND THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE HAS HEATED REAR-VIEW MIRRORS. A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS AGO AFTER A SNOW STORM, THE PASSENGER-SIDE REAR-VIEW MIRROR CRACKED STRAIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE. SNOW HAD COVERED THE MIRROR AND I ASSUME WHEN THE MIRROR HEATED, IT CRACKED. FOUR MONTHS AGO AFTER ANOTHER SNOW STORM, THE DRIVER??S SIDE MIRROR CRACKED STRAIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE. ONCE AGAIN, IT WAS COLD AND WHEN THE MIRROR STARTED HEATING UP IT CRACKED. PLEASE NOTE - I ALWAYS BRUSH THE SNOW OFF MY CAR BEFORE I WARM IT UP. REQUEST ?? FORD MOTOR CO. REPLACES THE MIRRORS AT NO COST TO ME I CONTACTED CAL WORTHINGTON FORD AND ASKED THEM TO REPLACE THE MIRRORS UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY REFUSED. I HAVE TWO REASONS FOR THIS REQUEST: 1) THE MIRRORS ARE DEFECTIVE AND POSE A SAFETY HAZARD. THE MIRRORS CRACKED BECAUSE OF A POOR ENGINEERING DESIGN. THE MIRRORS DIDN'T CRACK BECAUSE OF NEGLIGENCE CAUSED ON MY PART. 2) THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *NLM

THE FUEL TANK HAD NO SHIELD BEHIND IT, IF THE VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND IT COULD CATCH FIRE. THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE ISSUE, HOWEVER THE RECALL ONLY RELATED TO POLICE INTERCEPTOR VEHICLE'S. *JB

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK WHICH COULD GET ONTO WIRING AND CAUSE A FIRE, OR ENGINE OVER HEATING WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE. FORD HAS A RECALL ON POLICE CARS AND TAXI'S BUT NOT REGULAR CROWN VICTORIA'S.*JB

THE VEHICLE IS A POLICE INTERCEPTOR MODEL. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER REGARDING RECALL 02I003000 AND THE DEALER ADVISED HIM THAT THEY COULD NOT PERFORM THE RECALL BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF THE FLEET OF LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES. TS SCC

THERE HAS BEEN 3 DEATHS AND 1 CRITICAL INJURY WITHIN THE ARIZONA LAW ENFORCEMENT, REGARDING THE FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE CRUISER'S, THE DESIGN AND PLACEMENT OF THE FUEL TANK HAS BEEN KNOWN TO CATCH ON FIRE IF THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A REAR SIDE IMPACT COLLISION.*JB *TT

CONSUMER STATED HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS RECALL #021003000 FUEL TANK/POLICE VEHICLE. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR BECAUSE VIN# WAS NOT INCLUDED. TS

INTAKE MANIFOLD CROSSOVER, AS I ACCELERATED THE CROSSOVER ON THE MANIFOLD RUPTURED, BURSTING, MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF COOLANT TO BE EXPELLED , CAUSING SEVERE FOGGING IN THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF CAR, COOLANT ON HIGHWAY INTERSTATE, CREATING A SLICK SURFACE TO OTHER MOTORIST. AFTER CONTACTING AND SURVEYING DEALERS AND REPAIR SHOPS IN THE AREA, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM IN FORD VEHICLES WITH THE 4.6L V8. FORD DOES HAVE A TSB, HAS DONE A RECALL ON POLICE AND FLEET VEHICLES, REFUSES TO DO CONSUMER AUTOMOBILES. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM. DT

CONSUMER STATED HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL#98V322000 LOWER CONTROL ARM. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

CONSUMER STATES THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL, FLASHER LIGHTS ARE WORKING PROPERLY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 55MPH THAT HOOD FLEW UP IMPAIRING VISABILITY. TS

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 50MPH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED.*JB CONSUMER STATED THAT SUDDEN FAILURE OF INTAKE MANIFOLD CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS ON RECALL, BUT THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL. *YH

THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD ON THESE 4.6L ENGINES CRACK CAUSING LOST COOLANT. FORD MOTOR COMPANY REPLACES THEM UP TO 6 OR 7 YEARS ON T-BIRDS, MUSTANGS, AND POLICE CARS AND TAXI'S. NOT REGULAR CROWN VICS, GRAND MARQUE'S AND TOWN CARS. WHY. THE REPLACEMENT YOU BUY IS INPROVED WITH ALUMINUM COOLING SYSTEM PASSAGES. THE REPLACEMENT EVEN GIVES A PICTURE OF WHERE TO LOOK FOR THE KNOWN DEFECT, YET FORD REFUSES TO HONOR THERE MISTAKE.

I WROTE TO THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEY CALLED ME AND SAID THAT SINCE THEY DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL NOTICE FOR MY CAR, THEY WOULD NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPAIRS. I CHECKED WITH MY DEALER AND THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOUND THAT FORD HAD MADE SELECTIVE RECALLS OF CROWN VICTORIAS, COUGARS, & MUSTANGS THAT ALL HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. MY CAR HAD A DEFECTIVE PART (NON-MOVING) AND BLEW OUT FROM NORMAL HEAT AND PRESSURE. FORD SHOULD PAY FOR THIS REPAIR. NLM

I WAS FORCED TO STAY AT A HOTEL OVERNIGHT UNTIL MONDAY AFTERNOON WHEN THE CAR WAS REPAIRED WITH A REPLACEMENT MANIFOLD MADE OF METAL BY FORD. THE HOTEL BILL CAME TO $220.

CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THERE WAS LOSS OF COOLANT WHILE DRIVING, DUE TO A CRACK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

IN A FRONTAL COLLISION NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON IMPACT, RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURIES TO DRIVER.*AK *JG

FRAME RUSTED OUT AFTER 5 YEARS NEXT TO TORQUE BOX---SOUTH BEND INDIANA POLICE PULLED 68 OF THEIR SQUAD CARS OUT OF SERVICE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM

IN 4-1999 A RECALL OWNER LETTER WAS SENT TO ALL FORD DEALERS IN REGARD TO FATIGUE CRACKS IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLDS USED ON THE 4.6 L SCHC ENGINES. THE RECALL IS FOR 1996-1998 CROWN VICTORIA TAXIS AND I FEEL SINCE I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY INTAKE MANIFOLD I SHOULD BE REIMBURSE FOR THE REPAIR. FORD HAS HAD RECALLS FOR THE INTAKE MANIFOLDS EVERY YEAR UP TO 2002.FORD DEALER IN TOWN IS NO HELP NOR THE 1-800 CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE NUMBER. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE FOR REPAIR SINCE THEY WERE CHEAPER THE FORD DEALER. BRYAN WALKER AT THE GARAGE SAID HIS 96 FORD CROWN HAD THE SAME PROBLEM LAST YEAR AND THE FORD DEALER DID HELP HIM GET A REFUND SO I KNOW THEY ARE HELPING SOME PEOPLE.I KNOW THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY CAR BUT SINCE THERE IS ONE FOR THE TAXIX AND I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM I FEEL IT SHOULD BE UNDER THE SAME RECALL.*AK

AS THE CONSUMER TURNED ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS, THE SIGNAL LIGHTS WENT OUT. THE DEALER DETERMINED THEY SHORTED OUT.*AK *TS *JB

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND DEALER CAN'T FIND PROBLEM. I FOUND PREVIOUS OWNER AND HE STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONSTANTLY CAME ON AND HIS MECHANIC NEVER FOUND THE PROBLEM EITHER. IT HAS COME ON FOR THE 5TH TIME AND I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE CAR LESS THAN 4 MONTHS!!!!! PREVIOUS OWNER STATED THAT HE DID NOT HAVE ANY ENGINE FAILURES OR NOTICEABLE PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING; BUT THE LIGHT IS INFURIATING. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT DEALER WHO SOLD ME THE CAR WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND FAILED TO CORRECT IT BEFORE SELLING IT TO ME AND MADE NO DISCLOSURE OF THE DEFECT TO ME. IT IS ALSO OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MANY CROWN VICS AFTER READING PREVIOUS NOTICES ON THIS SITE BUT FORD HAS FAILED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I'D LIKE TO GET CLASS ACTION PROCEEDINGS STARTED AGAINST FORD...ANYONE UP FOR IT? CONTACT ME AT THIS EMAIL ADDRESS [email protected].*AK

HOW MANY COMPLAINTS ARE REQUIRED BEFORE A RECALL IS ISSUED, FORCING A MANUFACTURER TO MAKE REPAIRS FOR A MANUFACTURER TO MAKE REPAIRS FOR A MANUFACTURING DEFECT ? ON YOUR SITE, THERE ARE 24 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME COOLANT LEAKING PROBLEM WITH THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD ON FORD'S 4.6L ENGINES. WHY WAS THE ACTION ALREADY TAKEN ONLY APPLIED TO POLICE VEHICLES ? I'M SURE THE LEAK IS THE SAME PROBLEM WE ALL HAVE HAD. MINE IS NUMBER 25 AND THESE ARE ONLY THE OWNERS WHO HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO PURSUE THE ISSUE WITH NHTSA. MY COST FOR THE PART ALONE IS $650.00. SINCE THIS IS AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND FORD HAS CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE REPLACEMENT PART, I FEEL THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPAIR IT FOR FREE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND WAS LEAKING ANTI FREEZE, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. CONTACTED DEALER ,AND DEALER WASNOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

THIS COMPONENT IS HISTORICALLY MADE FROM CAST IRON OR ALUMINUM. THE WATER CHAMBER BLEW OUT BECAUSE IT WAS MADE FROM PLASTIC. IT CAUSED EXCESS VAPOR TO COME FROM HOOD. FAILURE WAS CATASTROPHIC AND WITH NO WARNING. ENGINE OVERHEATED IMMEDIATELY. THE PARTS PERSON AT THE DEALER NOW PERFORMING THE SERVICE (I WAS OUT OF TOWN WHEN THIS HAPPENED TO ME) TOLD ME THAT THEY STOCK THIS PART BECAUSE OF THE CONSTANT FAILURE. THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS ISSUED ON OTHER MODELS WITH THE SAME PART BUT NOT ON MY SPECIFIC MODEL APPARENTLY. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED PROACTIVELY BY THE MFG. BASED ON THE PRESENT FAILURE RATES.*AK

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A NOISE/PULLED OVER, AND ANTI FREEZE HAD LEAKED OUT DUE TO A BROKEN INTAKE MANIFOLD. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO HOT, AND CONSUMER COULD SMELL ANTIFREEZE BURNING SMELL. MECHANIC STATED IT WAS A CRACKED MANIFOLD BEHIND ALTERNATER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THERE IS A STRONG ANTIFREEZE SMELL WHILE DRIVING, THEN, POWER STEERING STARTED SLIPPING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK CONSUMER STATES WHEN PULLING OVER, THE ENGINE WAS STEAMING FROM A CRACK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD JUST BEHIND THE ALTERNATOR, ENGINE COOLANT WAS SPRAYING ONTO THE ALTERNATOR AND BELT, THE COOLANT LEAK DISABLED THE POWER STEERING UNIT, THE SPARK PLUG WIRES HAD ALSO BEEN CONTAMINATED DUE TO THE COOLANT LEAK AND THE THERMOSTAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. *SLC

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED NEAR THE THERMOSTAT AND ALL THE COOLANT LEAKED OUT CAUSING THE CAR TO OVERHEAT. TOOK IT TO RANDALL NOE FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT FIXED. THEY TOLD ME WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. AT THAT TIME I TOLD THEM IT SOUNDED LIKE A DESIGN DEFECT. THEY SAID THEY HAD SEEN A LOT OF FAILURES LIKE THIS. I ASKED THEM TO CHECK FOR RECALLS WHICH THEY DID BUT NONE WERE FOUND. ABOUT 30 DAYS AGO (AROUND MARCH 15, 2002) A RELATIVE SENT ME AN EMAIL SHOWING THAT MANY 1996 CROWN VICTORIAS WERE BEING RECALLED FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAID OURS WAS NOT INCLUDED. I WOULD LIKE THE NTSA TO MAKE THEM INCLUDE IT. I KNOW, ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC, THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT WAS CLEARLY A DESIGN DEFECT AND FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE $800+ THAT I PAID TO HAVE IT FIXED. THANKS MIKE PARKS

HAVING PROBLEMS WITH INTAKE MANIFOLD. *AK