1996 Ford Crown Victoria complaints

WHILE DRIVING BRAKES CONSTANTLY RUBBING AND CAUSING BRAKE LINE TO FAIL. *AK REFERENCED IN RQ03-004

THEIR HAVE BEEN 3 VIN# RECALLED POLICE CARS,TOW TRUCK DRIVER NEW WHEN I TOLD HIM WHAT PART HAD FAILED INTAKE MANIFOLD. NEW MANIFOLD FRONT PART IS NOW MADE OF METAL. THIS A MANUFACTOR PROBLEM NOT A DEALER PROBLEM. A MAN CAME UP TO ME AND ASKED IF I HAD A PROBLEM WITH INTAKE MANIFOLD HIS HAD DONE THE SAME THING. *AK

MY ENGINE COOLANT LEAKS OUT VIA A CRACKED MANIFOLD INTAKE. IT CAUSES THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, AND HAS DAMAGED THE ALTERNATOR WITH LEAKING COOLANT. *AK

MY ENGINE COOLANT LEAKS OUT VIA A CRACKED MANIFOLD INTAKE. IT CAUSES THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, AND HAS DAMAGED THE ALTERNATOR WITH LEAKING COOLANT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD OR DURING A TURN, VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, VEHICLE HAS CRASHED INTO A CURB DAMAGING TIRES AND RIMS, DEALER CAN NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *SLC

RECALL 01 F 025 000/INTAKE MANIFOLD; INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK, AND ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN.FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

VEHICLE STALLS WHEN MAKING SLOW TURNS. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER 6 TIMES, CANNOT FIND CAUSE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED LIMIT VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING.*AK

A CORNER SEAL FOR INTAKE MANIFOLD IS CRACKING, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN 01F025000. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE HEARD NOISE. CONSUMER GOT OUT OF VEHICLE AND NOTICED A LARGE CRACK IN FRONT OF THE MANIFOLD, IT LEAKED COOLENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

TURNING IGNITION ON AND VEHICLE EXPLODED. ENGINE OF WAS DESTROYED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY CONSUMER. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED DUE TO BEING MADE OUT OF PLASTIC. THIS CAUSED COOLANT FLUID TO LEAK ONTO ALTERNATOR AND MOTOR. STEAM WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. TEMPERATURE GAUGE HAD SHOWN VEHICLE RUNNING HOT WHILE DRIVING. *AK *JB

MY INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, AND ACCORDING TO FORD (SERVICE CENTER REP) AND MY MECHANIC THIS PART IS UNDER RECALL. PLEASE ADVISE WHO I CONTACT FOR REIMBURSEMENT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ENGINE STALLED AND FLUID WAS COMING FROM THE BOTTOM. THEN, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A NEAR DEALER, WHERE THEY FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A CRACK ON INTAKE MANIFOLD. ALSO, THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT DID NOT INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE DUE TO VIN AND MILEAGE OVER THE WARRANTY.*AK VEHICLE WAS HAD ALSO OVERHEATED, MECHANIC FOUND THE FRONT OF THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED BADLY AT MANUFACTURING SEAM AND STATED THAT THIS WAS A FACTORY DEFECT. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE SHUDDERS, THERE ARE SEVERAL SERVICE BULLETINS RELATING TO THIS, HOWEVER CONSUMER STATES SHE PAID FOR REPAIRS AND FEELS THIS TOO SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. *SLC

THE FIRST TIME WE EXPERIENCED THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG WAS WHEN THE YELLOW ENGINE LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD SHOW UP. WE IMMEDIATELY WENT TO NEARST FORD DEALAR SERVICE DEPT. (PURVIS FORD IN FREDERICKSBURG, VA. THEY PLACE THE AUTOMOBILE UNDER A DIAGNOSIS TEST AND TOLD US THEY HAD TO REPLACE A MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR ASSY. THEY TOLD US IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE THE FORD CAR THE INCIDENT HAPPEN TO US AGAIN AND WE CALLED THE PURVIS SERVICE DEPT. THEY HAD THE CAR TOW BACK TO THEIR SERVICE SHOP. THEY AGAIN PUT THE CAR UNDER THE DIAGNOSIS COMPUTER AN AFTER 2 DAYS OF HAVING IT AT THEIR SHOP TOLD US THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY WRONG WITH OUR CAR. IT NOW HAPPEN TO US AGAIN ON A ROUTE 3 GOING 55 MILES AN HR.,ON HEAVILY TRAVELED ROAD. NOW HERE IS THE SCARY PART, ROUTE 3 IS A CURVY AND WINDING ROAD. NO ACCIDENT HAS OCCURRED, AS YET. BUT WHEN IT DOES WE COULD BE WRAPPED AROUND A TREE GOING AT 55 MILES PER. SO PLEASE HELP US. WE HAVE BEEN DEALING A FORD DEALER BY THE NAME OF "PURVIS FORD AND HAVE HAD NO SOLUTION TO OUR PROBLEM EVERY TIME WE HAVE LEFT OUR CAR WITH THEM. WE HAD TO PAY FOR A RENTAL EVERY TIME WE LEAVE THE CAR THERE. "THE PROBLEM IS WHEN ARE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND THE ENGINE QUITS". WE HAVE HAD THIS CAR SERVICED EVERY 3000 MILES SINCE THE DAY WE BOUGHT IT AND WE HAVE THE RECORDS TO PROVE IT.

WHEN I ENTERED MY VEHICLE AND STARTED IT I ATTEMPTED TO PLACE THE TRANSMISSION INTO DRIVE. THE SELECTOR LEVER JUST HUNTED BUT COULD NOT FIND THE PROPER GEAR. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO MY TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP: JIM JENNINGS TRANSMISSIONS, 601 EASTERN BLVD., ESSEX, MD, 21221, 410-686-6700. THEY INFORMED ME THAT A RETAINER BOLT HAD FALLEN FROM BENEATH THE DASH THAT SUPPORTED THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR CABLE HOUSING. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THIS HAD BECOME A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. THE FIX WAS TO REPLACE IT WITH THREAD LOCKER.*AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD HAS CRACKED, ALLOWING WATER TO LEAK AND SPRAY INTO ALTERNATOR AND DESTROY IT. MANIFOLD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK ALSO OVERHEATING CAUSED TRANSMISSION TO FAIL, WHEN THE MANIFOLD LEAKED OUT ALL THE COOLANT, THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF IT, BECAUSE THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR DOES NOT REGISTER UNLESS ITS IN LIQUID.*JB

WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS CONSUMER NOTICED A RATTLE AND SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE. PULLED OVER AND NOTICED ALL RADIATOR FLUID HAD LEAKED TO GROUND. TOOK CAR TO FORD, AND THEY SAID INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED, AND WHOLE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 45MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WAS IN PROCESS OF PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE. HE NOTICED THAT VAPOR TRAIL STEAM AND ANTI FREEZE COOLANT WAS PURING ONTO THE ENGINE. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDERS. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. FORD DEALERSHIP TOLD HIM THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC. *AK

I HAD MY 1996 CROWN VICTORIA IN FOR ITS' REGULAR PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE. MY MECHANIC (WHOM I HAVE BEEN GOING TO FOR 15 YEARS) DISCOVERED THE COOLANT WAS LOW. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION; THE MANIFOLD WAS FOUND TO HAVE A CRACK IN IT AND WAS SLOWLY LEAKING OUT COOLANT. THIS IS THE ORIGINAL FORD PART AND IS NOT UNDER A RECALL AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER, UPON CONTACTING MY FORD DEALER - I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS PART HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THE POLICE VEHICLES (SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR). I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH FORD. THEY SAID IF THERE WOULD BE A RECALL, I WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR A REFUND FOR THIS REPAIR. FORD GAVE ME THE NHTSA'S WEB SITE SO I CAN MOVE FORWARD ON A RECALL FOR THIS FORD PART. THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE PART - GIVEN THE LOW MILEAGE (LESS THAN 65,000) OF MY CAR. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT ELSE I NEED TO DO TO PURSUE A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PART. THANK YOU.

THE ARIZONA DEPT PUBLIC SAFETY & PHOENIX POLICE DEPT ARE REPORTING HIGH OCCURENCES OF FIRES ASSOCIATED WITH REAR-END COLLISION OF THE CROWN VICTORIA VEHICLES, AN OFFICER WAS KILLED WHEN HIS VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND AND BURST INTO FLAMES, THE OFFICER WAS STOPPED AT A COLLISION SCENE AND THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING INEXCESS OF 66 MILES MPH AT IMPACT, AUTHORITIES SUSPECT FUEL SYSTEM RELATED(NO VIN GIVEN)*JB

INTAKE MANIFOLD BLEWOUT. FORD HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM FOR THIS, BUT WILL NOT COVER THIS VEHICLE.*AK

4.6L ENGINE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACK LEAKING HOT COOLANT.*AK

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, LEAKING COOLANT. FORD REFUSES TO REPAIR IT BECAUSE IT IS NOT A FLEET VEHICLE (REFER TO FORD PROGRAM #01M02).*AK

WHILE DRIVING TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT UP, CAR OVER HEATED. CONSUMER LATER NOTICED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED.*AK

DEFECTIVE TIRES CAUSED THE FLOORBOARD TO VIBRATE AND THE VEHICLE TO SHIMMY WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN OVER 40 MPH, THE CONSUMER PURCHASED A DIFFERENT BRAND OF TIRES NOW THE VIBRATION AND SHIMMY HAS CEASED (MICHELIN P215-60RX15). NLM

4.6L ENGINE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACK LEAKING HOT COOLANT. *AK

THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ALL OF OUR 1995-1997 CROWN CROWN VICTORIAS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

FRONT SUSPENSION COMPONENTS HAVE FAILED (TIE RODS, CONTROL ARMS). *MJS

ON 10/26/2000, THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING UP AND DIFFICULTY IN STARTING THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, THESE PROBLEMS WERE SOLVED. HOWEVER, A NEW PROBLEM APPEARED. THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. IT HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN A 24-HOUR PERIOD. IN BOTH INCIDENTS, IT HAPPENED ON A SLOW LEFT TURN AFTER EXITING AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. AT THE SAME TIME, THE POWER STEERING WAS DISABLED. THIS CREATED A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD SINCE I HAD MINIMAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IN FACT, I ALMOST HIT A LAMPPOST. I CONTACTED THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE YET. IN FACT, THEY COULD NOT EVEN REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE A FEELING THAT THIS IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, BUT THE DEALER DOES NOT AGREE. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY ARE GOING TO INSTALL A FLIGHT RECORDER ON THE VEHICLE TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND COOLANTS WAS ALL OVER THE ENGINE. IT WAS ALMOST INPOSSIBLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF VEHICLE. LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE CRACKED. TECHNICIAN STATED THAT FORD WAS FIXING THIS PROBLEM ON THE POLICE VEHICLES. *AK

WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS IN LOW IDLE ENGINE WOULD STALL. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT & WOULD HAVE NO WARNING. BEEN TO DEALERSHIP 3 DIFFERENT TIMES & MECHANIC CAN NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. HAD AIR FLOW SENSOR REPLACED DUE TO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. *AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD HAS MALFUNCTIONED WHICH CAUSED ANTI FREEZE TO LEAK INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT, RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

MANIFOLD PIPE IS CRACKED, IT IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC AND WATER IS LEAKING OUT, AND VEHICLE OVERHEATED. CONSUMSER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP.*AK

PARKING BRAKE: THE LINING ON THE PARKING BRAKES (DRIVER SIDE) WAS SEPARATED AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE WHEN APPLIED. THE PROBLEM WITH THE DISK/DRUM COMBINATION OF THE REAR ROTORS IS THAT DURING BRAKES INSPECTIONS THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BE OVERLOOK. IF THE BRAKE LINING WERE TO SEPARATE WHILE DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE A WHEEL TO FREEZE AND MAKE THE DRIVER LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.*AK

THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL RELEASE THE IGNITION KEY BEFORE IT IS IN THE PROPER OFF POSITION. AT TIMES THERE IS A WARNING SOUND AND OTHER TIMES THERE IS NONE. WITH THE IGNITION KEY REMOVED BEFORE THE OFF POSITION IT WILL ALLOW THE CAR TO BE STARTED WITHOUT A KEY. THIS PRESENTS TWO RISKS: ONE - THE CAR CAN BE STOLEN, SECOND  A CHILD COULD ACCIDENTALLY START THE CAR AND PUT THE CAR IN GEAR. *AK

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON THE 1996 CROWN VICTORIA IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC. I BEGAN NOTICING AN "ANTIFREEZE SMELL" SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE THE PROBLEM WAS FINALLY ISOLATED. EVIDENTLY, THE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND WOULD NOT OPEN UP UNTIL THE ENGINE REACHED A CERTAIN TEMPERATURE. THEN WHEN THE TEMPERATURE REACHED THAT POINT THE ANTIFREEZE WOULD SPEW OUT ON TOP OF THE HOT ENGINE. WHEN THE HOOD WAS RAISED YOU COULD SEE THE MOISTURE ON THE NON-HOT PARTS. THE RESERVOIR WOULD BE DOWN ABOUT ONE OR TWO INCHES. I KEPT REFILLING IT WITH ANTIFREEZE. FINALLY, I CARRIED IT TO THE SHOP THINKING IT WAS A PIN HOLE IN THE HOSE OR A HUNG THERMOSTAT. IT WAS NEITHER. IT WAS A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE REPAIR COST $583.41. I HAVE THE PART AND A COPY OF THE INVOICE. *AK

VEH. # 1, "WIFE'S CAR-1996 FORD CV WITH A 4.6 LTR. 281CU ENGINE SUFFERED A CRACKED PLASTIC MANIFOLD IN APRIL OF 2000 WHILE ENROUTE TO WORK. VEHICLE HAS 85,000 MILES ON IT. COST OF REPAIR WAS $839.00 . FORD SHOP SAID THAT CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. VEH. NO. 2, "HUSBANDS CAR" SUSTAINED A CRACKED PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD ON 8-21-2000, CAR HAD 105,000 MILES ON IT. COSTS OF REPAIR WAS 739.00. FORD SHOP SAID THAT THEY WERE GIVING ME A DEAL BUT THAT MANUF. WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. I SPOKE TO APPROX. 22 FORD DEALERS AND PARTS HOUSE'S AND QUESTIONED THE NUMBER OF PLASTIC MANIFOLD INTAKE THAT HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE AND MOST PLACES SELL MORE THAN TWO DOZEN EACH MONTH. FORD CO. REFUSED TO DISCUSS THE MATTER WITH ME. TOLD ME TO WRITE A LETTER AND THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 5 MPH AND MAKING A SHARP TURN ON A CITY STREET ENGINE STALLLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.HAD NOT HAPPENED AGAIN SINCE THIS DATE.*AK VEHICLE STALLED 2 MORE TIMES SINCE SEP 2000

NO SUMMARY

BRAKES WERE VIBRATING VERY LOUD, CONSUMER WAS VERY CONCERNED THAT BRAKES WERE GOING TO QUIT.*AK THE FRONT DISC ROTORS FAILURE AND FRONT ROTORS PULSATING WAS THE CAUSE FOR LOUD VIBRATION OF BRAKES. THE PROBLEM REOCCORED DUE TO BRAKE PAD FAILURE. *YH

CITY OF PENSACOLA POLICE VEHICLE A 1996 CROWN VICTORIA, UNIT 842, CAUGHT FIRE WHILE IT WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF WHILE PARKED UNDER A CARPORT DAMAGING THE RENTED MOBILE HOME AND TOTALLING THE VEHICLE. OUR JOFFICER WAS ASLEEP AT THE TIME AND WAS AWAKEN BY A NEIGHBOR WHO ADVISED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATALITY .ITY

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, MAKING A TURN ON A SMOOTH CURVE, VEHICLE JUST STRAIGHTENED OUT UNEXPECTEDLY. PITMAN ARM AND CONTROL ARM WERE RELACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

DEFECT IN DESIGN CAUSED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD TO FAIL, MANIFOLD IS CONSTRUCTED OF PLASTIC WHICH IS TOO WEAK OF A MATERIAL. YH

OIL PAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH SEVERE RUST AND CORROSION WHICH CAUSING OILS LEAKAGES. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME.*AK

OUR POLICE OFFICER PARKED HIS POLICE UNIT # 842 A 1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA UNDER HIS CAR PORT AREA AFTER COMPLETING HIS SHIFT AND WAS ASLEEP AT THE TIME HIS NEIGHBOR ALERTED HIM THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE WITH FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. ATEMPTS TO PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH EXTINGUISHER WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL. THE FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED AND RESPONDED. THE FIRE ALSO ENGULFED THE CARPORT AND PORTIONS OF THE DOUBLE WIDE MOBILE HOME. ACCORDING TO THE STATE FIRE MARSHALL THE FIRE DEVELOPED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND WAS THE REULT OF AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION.*AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD A CRACK IN THE MOLD LINE, CAUSING A COOLANT LEAK. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CABLE THAT CONTROLS WINDOW MOVEMENT BECAME FRAYED, THEN BROKE ATTACHMENTS TO WINDOW THROUGH OVERSTRESSING

VEHICLE SHIFTED TO REVERSE AT HWY SPEED,LOCKING REAR WHEELS CAUSING ACCIDENT. *AK

PRIOR TO RECALL (97V-024) THE LATCH ON THE HOOD RELEASED AND SLAMMED INTO THE VEHIICLE'S WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT JEROME T. LINNEN,JR). YH