1997 Ford Crown Victoria complaints

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED AN UNKNOWN AROMA INSIDE THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED, AND A TECHNICIAN DETERMINED INTAKE MANIFOLD AS THE CAUSE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED. THIS CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *AK THE FACTORY INTAKE MANIFOLD INCLUDED THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING AS ONE PIECE. THE CRACK DEVELOPED AT THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING WHICH REQUIRED THE ENTIRE MANIFOLD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED. *AK *MR

1997 CROWN VICTORIA LX - 4.6 L ENGINE WITH 99,000 MILES. MY MANIFOLD INTAKE CRACKED AND FAILED, RESULTING IN RAPID AND COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT. REQUIRED TOWING. REPAIR ESTIMATED TO COST $1,100. FORD HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS ISSUE SINCE 1996 AND HAS RECALLED 1996-2001 CROWN VICTORIA TAXIS, LIMOS, AND POLICE CRUISERS FOR THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT RECALL PRIVATE VEHICLES WITH THE SAME FAULTY PART. FORD DID NOT EVEN NOTIFY OWNERS OF THIS DEFECT. I REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION BE MADE INTO THE REASON WHY PRIVATE VEHICLES WERE EXCLUDED FROM THIS RECALL, AS THERE CAN BE NO TECHNICAL REASON. I WOULD ALSO REQUEST THAT FORD BE COMPELLED TO PAY FOR REPAIRS MADE TO CARS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED.*AK

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE FLOORBOARDS WERE ALWAYS MOIST. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE LEAF SCREEN GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE AND ALLOWED WATER TO LEAK INTO THE DUCT. THE DUCT THEN FILLED THEN EMPTIED ONTO THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE LEAF SCREEN WAS SITUATED UNDER THE AIR VENTS AT THE FRONT OF THE WINDOW. *AK *NM

WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END. CONSUMER FOUND ON NHTSA WEB SITE RECALL 98V322000 WHICH APPLIED TO THE PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED WITH THE FOLLOWING RECALLS: 981001000, 00V157001, 03V472000 00V152002, 98V322000, 97V024000 AND TSB'S 01M02, 99M01, AND 97M91. *SC *JB

DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK . *AK

WHILE DRIVING INTAKE MANIFOLD ASSEMBLY EXPLODED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. MANIFOLD ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. *AK

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THERE WAS A DELAY IN BRAKING, WHICH RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE LINE WAS WORN AND CAUSED BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK. *AK *CB *JB

THE MANIFOLD IN MY 1997 CROWN VICTORIA CRACKED. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A DEFECT PARTICULAR TO THE 4.6 LITER ENGINE WHICH MY CAR HAS. MY CAR IS LOW MILEAGE (ABOUT 47,000) IS SIX YEARS OLD AND I AM THE SECOND OWNER HAVING HAD IT FOR 4 YEARS. I HAVE HAD REGULAR SERVICE BY THE DEALER FROM WHOM THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE MANIFOLD ON THIS PARTICULAR SIZE ENGINE HAS BEEN FOUND DEFECTIVE IN OTHER MODEL CARS AND ALTHOUGH A RECALL WAS ISSUED MY VIN NO. DOES NOT MATCH A SPECIFIC LIST AND THEREFORE, I HAVE TO COVER THE $1000 EXPENSE. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER FORD WHEN I SELL THE ONE I NOW OWN AND I WILL STRONGLY ENCOURAGE OTHERS NOT TO BUY ANY MODEL CAR WITH THIS ENGINE. I PLAN TO FILE A SMALL CLAIMS LAWSUIT AGAINST FORD WHEN I HAVE ALL THE REPAIRS COMPLETED. FORTUNATELY, I HAD ONLY DRIVEN A MILE FROM HOME AND MY HUSBAND WAS WITH ME WHEN THIS OCCURRED. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR HIS ATTENTION TO DETAILS THINGS WOULD LIKELY HAVE BEEN REALLY BAD.*AK

SUBJECT:FORD CROWN VIC LOWER BALL JOINT COMMENTS: I HAVE A 1997 FORD CROWN VIC MANUFACTURED IN ONTARIO. THE LOWER RIGHT BALL JOINT CAME APART IN THE FALL OF 2002 AND WAS REPLACED. IT IS NOW 14 MONTHS LATER AND IT WAS REPLACED AGAIN. ON YOUR SITE I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THAT ISSUE. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION ABOUT IT AND HAVE HAD TO PAY THE FULL COST OF REPAIRS EACH TIME. WHAT IS MY RECOURSE? *LA

FOUR YOKOHAMA AVID TOURING TIRES ON MY 1997 FORD CROWN VICTORIA FAILED DUE TO INTERNAL SEPARATION RENDERING THE CAR DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THESE TIRES FAILED SEQUENTIALLY WITHIN 5000 MILES OF EACH OTHER. NO TIRE HAD MORE THAN 40% TREAD WEAR AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. *LA

FRONT SUSPENSION WAS TOTALLY TRASHED, IT WAS TOUGH DRIVING IT HOME FROM THE DEALER. CAR WAS ALL OVER THE ROAD. *LA

SALE OF UNSAFE CARS FROM USEDPOLICECARS.COM. *LA

EMAIL FM ELLEN ROW (NC) INQUIRING ABOUT THE SAFETY OF HER 1997 FORD CROWN VICTORIA, WANTS TO KNOW WHY RECALL WAS ONLY FOR THE POLICE CARS.*MR THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS IDENTICAL TO THE POLICE VEHICLES BEING RECALLED FOR FUEL TANK PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER PAID TO HAVE THE REPAIRS MADE BUT CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY HER VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. *NLM *SCC *JB

MY 1997 FORD CROWN VICTORIA BLEWOUT A KIT INTAKE MANIFOLD ON THE INTERSTATE AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO COASTAL FORD FOR REPAIRS IN MOBILE ALABAMA AFTER LOOKING ON THE INTERNET I FIND THAT THIS WAS NOT A UNCOMMON FAULT OF THE AUTOMOBILE. ALSO A FRIEND OF MINE HAD A 1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD THAT HAD THE SAME TYPE PROBLEM AND IT WAS COVERED UNDER A RECALL. AFTER EMAILING FORD I WAS INFORMED BY DERECK #2132 AT FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS THAT MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED BUT TO KEEP THE RECEIPT IN CASE OF A RECALL. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT INTO THE RED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. THE CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM WAS A CRACKED MANIFOLD AND BLOCK. *AK *NLM

WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH, THE FRAME CONTROL ARM BRACKET PULLED AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED A COLLISION. *AK (PULLED A "BIG CHUNK" OUT OF THE FRAME) THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT FORD COVER THE EXPENSES FOR THE REPAIR. RECALL# 98V322000. *SCC *JB

PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED 8" BELOW ALTERNATOR.*JB

BRAKE LINE FORWARD OF REAR AXLE AND ABOVE FUEL FILTER RUBS ON CAR BODY, RESULTING IN A HOLE IN BRAKE LINE. *JB

BRAKE FAILURE- 97 CROWN VICTORIA. BRAKE LINE RUBBED THROUGH BY TRANSMISSION CROSSMEMBER- CAUSING BRAKES TO FAIL DURING DRIVING. FORD MOTOR COMPANY WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND FAULTY LINE OR REIMBURSE FOR THE REPAIRS. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 36,000 MILES ON AND SHOULD NOT HAVE WORN THROUGH ALREADY.*AK

THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED COMPLETELY. *AK *PH *JB

CONSUMER HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS IN RECALL 98I001000 CONCERNING THE BRAKE LINE. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK *SCC *JB

WHEN DRIVING 45 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE WOULD START TO SHIMMY DISTRACTING THE DRIVER. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

SAFETY DEFECT WITH INTAKE MANIFOLD.*MR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS FAILED. ONCE THIS FAILURE OCCURS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD MAY CAUSE THE ENGINE TO SEIZE AND FAIL AND MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. WHEN NOTIFYING FORD THEY REFUSED TO REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER FOR REPAIRS ON DEFECTIVE PARTS. PLEASE RESPOND PROMPTLY IN RESOLVING MATTERS. *CB *JB

PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD ON 4.6L CRACKED. R&R COST $1000.00. PART WAS $500+.*AK

PROBLEMS WITH POLICE CRUSIERS AND REAR END COLLISION EXPLOSIONS. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED HER VEHICLE BEING THE SAME AS THE POLICE VEHICLE'S. THE VEHICLE WAS MADE AT THE SAME PLANT AS THE POLICE CRUISERS). THE CONSUMER HAD THE REPAIR DONE TO HER VEHICLE BUT WONDERED WHY FORD COVERED THE POLICE VEHICLE'S EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD HIGHER MILEAGE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE TREATED FAIRLY AND EQUALLY. *SCC

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD IS SPLIT.*AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD HAS CRACKED, HE HAD IT TOWED , CHECKED OUT, AND REPAIRED. IT COST HIM $600.00 PLUS. CONSUMER THINKS THATTHAT THIS SOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE IT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING MY 1997 FORD CROWN VICTORIA DOWN THE HIGHWAY THERE WAS A GUSH OF SMOKE BEHIND MY CAR AND IT STARTED TO OVER HEAT. STOPPED AND FOUND ANTI FREEZE SPRAYING OUT OF EXHAUST MANIFOLD. HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC THAT ADVISED ME THAT FORD HAD UPDATED PLASTIC MANIFOLD PART WITH AN ALUMINUM PART BUT DID NOT DO A RECALL. $1,000 DOLLARS LATER I WAS BACK ON THE ROAD. WE ARE FORD PEOPLE AND VERY DISAPPOINTED IN FORD FOR NOT RECALLING THIS ITEM. I HAD MY WHOLE FAMILY WITH ME AND 3 HOURS FROM HOME, HAD TO PAY FOR ANOTHER NIGHT OF LODGING AND FOOD ON TOP OF THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE BEING STRESSFUL I AM OUT $1,000 DOLLARS. WE ARE GOING TO WRITE TO FORD AND BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. AFTER THAT WE WILL GO TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT. *NLM

INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED AND ANTI-FREEZE HAS LEAKING OUT. *AK

COOLANT SPRAYED OUT OF ENGINE WHICH CREATED STREAM TO COME FROM HOOD. CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SIDE AND ALLOWED VEHICLE TO COOL DOWN, AND SIT OVER NIGHT. HE THEN HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC, WHO TOLD HIM THAT HIS INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS BLOWN, AND THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE IT.*AK

1997 4.6 V-8 CROWN VICTORIA PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD... CRACKED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY RESULTING IN COOLANT LOSS AND REPAIR COST OF $779.REPAIR WAS MADE BY FORD DEALER QUOTING A SERVICE BULLETIN # TSB-02-02-02.*AK INTERNET INQUIRES SHOW WIDESPREAD FAILURES OF THESE MANIFOLDS IN FORD AND MERCURY ENGINES, WITH A SUPPOSEDLY "EXTENDED WARRANTY" FOR THE REPAIR HOWEVER ONLY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CAB FLEETS ARE COVERED AT NO COST. INDIVIDUALS MUST PAY FOR REPAIRS, TOWING, RENTAL CARS, ETC.

COMPOSITE INTAKE MANIFOLD DEVELOPED FATIGUE CRACKS AT THE COOLANT CROSSOVER DUCT WHICH CREATED A LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT ,HEATING THE ENGINE AND CRACKING THE HEADS. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM(FORD TECH BULLETIN DATED 02/02/02 & SPECIAL SERVICE MESSAGE #10379) FORD ADMITS TO FAULTY COMPONENT AND HAS MADE REPAIRS TO TAXI`S & POLICE VEHICLES ,BUT WILL DO NOTHING FOR AN INDIVIDUAL WITH THE SAME ENGINE! *NLM

A PIN HOLE SIZE LEAK DEVELOPED IN THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE, AND WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC LINE. MR SCC

RIGHT REAR WHEEL AND PART OF THE AXLE CAME OFF THE VEHICLE.

THE BRAKE LINE RUSTED, WHICH CAUSED THE REAR BRAKES TO FAIL. *JB REFERENCED IN RQ03-004

THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT MY 4.6 V-8 CROWN VIC. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED RESULTING IN A LOSS OF COOLANT AND A 750.00 REPAIR BILL. THE MANIFOLD IS MADE OF A COMPOSITE NOT METAL.SO THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. SOUNDS LIKE A DESIGN FLAW. ALSO, WHY IS FORD REPLACING THE POLICE AND MUNICIPAL CARS MANIFOLDS AND NOT PRIVATE CITIZENS?? THIS INFORMATION CAME STRAIGHT FROM THE MECHANIC AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP.

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED AND COOLANT LEAKED FROM CRACK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. FORD KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS SEVERAL RECALLS FOR THE PROBLEM THAT COVERS ONLY THE FLEET CARS (TAXI AND POLICE). THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART IS USED ON CONSUMER VEHICLES. I THINK THAT ALL 4.6L SOHC V8 ENGINES WITH THIS DESIGN DEFECT SHOULD BE COVERED.

WHILE IN MOTION, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD BLEW OUT. THE MECHANIC WHO WORKED ON THE VEHICLE, SHOWED CONSUMER A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE EXACT INCIDENT. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING A REFUND MINUS THE LABOR. *JG *JB

WHILE DRIVING BALL JOINT FAILED CAUSING RIGHT FRONT WHEEL TO COLLAPSE AND FALL OFF. *TT *NLM

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MILES PER HOUR THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. STEAM WAS COMING FROM THE RADIATOR AREA AND THE FLUID HAD BOILED OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THE CAUSE WAS A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE WHOLE ENGIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPLACEMENT MANIFOLD HAS BEEN REINFORCED AT THE POINT OF FAILURE. I UNDERSTAND FORD RECALLED POLICE AND TAXIS MANUFACTURED IN THIS PERIOD BUT DID NOT NOTIFY PRIVATE OWNERS OF A POSSIBLE DEFECT.

CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IN THE VEHICLE IS MADE OF PLASTIC. CONSUJMER STATES' MANIFOLD CRACKS CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND DESTROY ENGINE. CONSUMER HAS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHERT INFORMATION.

WHILE BACKING UP THE RIGHT LOWER BALL JOINT SNAP CAUSING THE FRONT END TO COLLAPSE. THE DEALER HAS NEEN NOTIFIED. *TS *NLM

WHILE DRIVING, DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES. THEY DID NOT HOLD, WHICH RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE HAVING AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THIS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. UPON INSPECTION OF VEHICLE, THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID HAD LEAKED OUT BECAUSE OF A HOLE IN THE BRAKE LINE. MR A RECALL WAS ISSUED, BUT HAS NOT BEEN EXTENDED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. *JG REFERENCED IN RQ03-004

DRIVING ON HIGWAY AT 65 MPH BEGAN TO SMELL A BURNING ODOR, AFTER PULLING OVER TO A SAFE LOCATION SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER HOOD. WHEN HOOD WAS OPENED FOR INSPECTION IT EMITTED A NOXIOUS ODOR AND IT WAS SPRAYING HOT ENGINE COOLANT FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. AFTER ENGINE COOLED DOWN COOLANT WAS ADDED AND CAR WAS DRIVEN A SHORT DISTANCE HOME. VEHICLE WAS TOWED INTO THE DEALER EXPECTING THE REPAIR TO BE COVERED BY WARRANTY EITHER BY THE RECALL THAT IS OUT (APPARENTLY CURRENTLY ONLY APPLIES TO POLICE AND TAXIS) OR AS LISTED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL FOR CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS COMPONENTS DEFECTS. THE DEALER SAID THIS WAS NOT COVERED EITHER WAY. A CALL TO FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS (EDITH) INITIATED A CLAIM. EDITH SAID SHE WOULD CONTACT THE DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE BUT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED. THE DEALER REPRESENTATIVE WAS RECONTACTED AND REFUSED TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE WHATSOVER. THIS ISSUE IS WELL ESTABLISHED AS NHTSA HAS THE BULLETINS LISTED AND THERE A NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS DOCUMENTED. SOME PEOPLE COULD DRIVE THEIR VEHICLE UNKNOWINGLY WITH THIS DEFECT WHICH COULD RESULT IN FIRE OR BURNING FROM ESCAPING STEAM. FORD MOTOR COMPANY MUST REIMBURSE ME AND OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD EXPENSES TO REPAIR THEIR PROBLEM OF A POOR ORIGINAL DESIGN. THE NEW PART HAS BEEN UPDATED WITH AN ALUMINUM COOLANT CROSSOVER INSTEAD OF PLASTIC. DT

FRONT SUSPENSION SYSTEM BRACKET (SHOCK ABSOBER) COLLAPSED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STEERING WHEEL IS OVERLY SENSITIVE IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION, MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, SINCE IT HAS SO MUCH POWER ASSIT IT MAKES CHANGING LANES OR OTHER STEERING CONDITION HAZARDOUS. NLM THE VEHICLE HAS A STEERING BOX RATIO OF 14 TO 1 WHICH WAS MUCH FASTER THAN THE DESIRED RATIO OF 17 TO 1 OR 18 TO 1. *YH

1997 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. PH *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**767676

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 50MPH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED.*JB