1997 Ford Crown Victoria complaints

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM PLASTIC MANIFOLD, AND ENGINE SHUT DOWN.. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FEEL FREE TO ADD. *AK

THE PLASTIC COOLANT CROSSOVER ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD RUPTURED CAUSING MY WIFE TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT FORD WAS HAVING A LOT OF THESE TO FAIL. THE NEW MANIFOLD IS MADE WITH METAL ON THE WATER CROSSOVER, THE INSTRUCTIONS WITH THE NEW MANIFOLD EVEN TOLD THE MECHANICS WHERE TO LOOK FOR A COOLANT LEAK. THIS WAS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT I BELIEVE FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD COVER AT LEAST PARTLY UNDER A RECALL. NLM

TIE-ROD ASSEMBLY WAS NOT PROPERLY LUBRICATED AND SEALED BY MANUFACTURED LEADING TO PREMATURE FAILURE. NLM

PLASTIC INTALE MANIFOLD WATER TUBES FAILED. CORY FORD BINGHAMTON, NY. PARTS DEPT RELATED THAT THIS IS A HIGH RATE FAILURE MODE. ON FORD & MERCURY "W" SETRIES ENGINES.RE-ENGINEERED REPLACEMENT MANIFOLD KIT COST APROX $500.00 KIT INCLUDES RE DESIGNED INTAKE MANIFOLD WITH ALUMINUM ENCAPSULATED TUBING , NEW GASKETS & NEW DESIGN ALTERNATOR BRACKET. TOTAL COST OF REPAIR OVER 1,000.00. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL IT IS A DESIGN ERROR. IT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. WITH A HEART CONDITION I WAS FORTUNATE THAT THIS FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR IN A REMOTE AREA. THIS IS A FAILURE IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO AN INHERRANT DESIGN DEFICIENCY. ONE ONLY HAS TO COMPARE THE KIT TO THE OEM PART TO VERIFY THIS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLE STARTED TO SHUTTER, AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM ENGINE. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND THEY STATED INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED. THERE IS A RECALL 01 F 025 000 FOR SAME PROBLEM CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING LOWER BALL JOINTS BROKE ,AND CONSUMER COULD NO LONGER CONTROL VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER ,AND THE DEALER WAS TAKING A LOOK AT VEHICLE.*AK

FAINT SUDDEN NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT (COOLANT CAUSING SERPENTINE BELT SLIPPAGE, I BELIEVE) AND THEN THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. DUE TO ROUGHLY A 3 INCH CRACK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD PLASTIC COMPOSITE WHICH DUMPED COOLANT INTO THE BACK OF THE ALTERNATOR. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF BEFORE THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED. BOTH THE DEALER, WHO IS TO BE COMMENDED FOR A QUICK AND EFFECTIVE REPAIR (MAKES ONE WONDER IF THE MECHANICS HAVE HAD A LOT PF PRACTICE WITH THIS REPAIR), AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY TELL ME THERE IS NO RELIEF FOR REPAIRS ON A CAR WITH MY VIN ALTHOUGH THE REPLACEMENT PART IS CONSTRUCTED OF METAL AND COMPOSITE RATHER THAN COMPOSITE ALONE. I APPRECIATE THIS DESIGN CHANGE WHICH HOPEFULLY WILL WARD OFF ANOTHER SIMILAR FAILURE BUT DOESN'T CHANGING THE DESIGN RECOGNIZE THAT THERE WAS A WEAKNESS? ON THIS SAME WEB-SITE I READ THAT SOME FORD FLEET VEHICLES WERE RECALLED AND REPAIRED. CONCERNING SAFETY, THE ONLY ISSUE THIS SENIOR CITIZEN FACED WAS THE STRESS OF WALKING FOUR TENTHS OF A MILE IN THE JUNE HEAT AND HUMIDITY TO CALL FOR HELP AND IN PAYING THE TOW AND REPAIR EXPENSE. ONE IS NOT SURPRISED OR GREATLY UPSET WHEN THE ALTERNATOR WEARS OUT - BUT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD? WHAT KIND OF STRESS TESTING DID THIS NON-MOVING PART GET WHEN APPROVED FOR PRODUCTION?*AK

LOSS OF COOLANT IS DUE TO A CRACKED ENGINE MANIFOLD. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAK. *AK

FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS AWARE THAT A CRACK IS LIKELY IN THE PLASTIC FRONT COOLANT CROSSOVER ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ASSEMBLY (4.6L ENGINES). THIS IS LISTED AS A FORD TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN DATED 02-02-02 AND AS A FORD SPECIAL SERVICE MESSAGE #10379. WHEN THE CRACK OCCURRED ON MY VEHICLE, IT STRANDED MY WIFE AND I IN THE FLORIDA EVERGLADES ON A HOT SUNDAY AFTERNOON. TOTAL COSTS INCURRED WERE OVER $1,000 OF WHICH MAROONE FORD CHARGED ME $773.75 TO REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE REPLACEMENT CROSSOVER IS MADE OF METAL, NOT PLASTIC. NOT ONLY WAS THIS A FINANCIAL LIABILITY, IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. ANYONE WHO INSPECTS THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT THE TIME OF INITIAL TROUBLE SHOOTING WILL BECOME SEVERELY BURNED BY HOT COOLANT BOILING OUT OF THE CRACK OF THE PLASTIC CROSSOVER.

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN MAKING A TURN THE BALL JOINTS AND THE BUSHING SQUEAK. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. NLM THERE IS A RECALL, 98V322, REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, HOWEVER CONSUMERS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED. *SLC

WHILE BRAKING VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT, MECHANIC DETERMINED LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKET WELD HAD BROKEN ON RIGHT SIDE. *AK *YD

CONSUMER STATE WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH NOTICE ANTI FREEZE BURNING SMELL INSIDE VEHICLE. CONSUMER STOPPED A SERVICE STATION AND NOTICE ANTI FREEZE ALL OVER ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS SERVICE BY TECHNICIAN AND REPLACE INTAKE MANIFOLD. NLM HEATER HOSE LEAKING COOLANT, ALSO THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPAIRED. *YH REFERENCED IN RQ03-004

ABS APPLIED BRAKES WITH CAR IN CRUISE CONTROL AT 65 MPH, THAN BRAKES WERE APPLIED TO RIGHT FRONT WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO PULL TO THE RIGHT, LEFT FRONT BRAKES WERE APPLIED WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO PULL TO THE LEFT, ALSO LOST BRAKE POWER WHERE YOU HAD TO REALLY GET ON THE BRAKES TO GET THE CAR TO STOP LIKE THE CAR HAD NO POWER BRAKES AT ALL, CAR RIGHT NOW SETS IN THE DRIVEWAY AS MY WIFE DRIVES THE CARS AND I FEEL IT IS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS CAR IS INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS CRASH AND I FEEL IT IS TO DANGEROUS TO ALLOW MY FAMILY TO BE IN THE CAR. *AK

COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM VEHICLE. DEALER DETERMINED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED. THERE WAS A RECALL 01F02500ON FOR THIS PART, BUT ONLY POLICE CRUISERS AND TAXI VEHICLES WERE AFFECTED.*AK DEALER REPLACED CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD, ALSO THE FUEL FILTER WAS REPLACED. *TT

WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRONIC CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM ON THIS VEHICLE. THE TIE RODS WORE OUT AT 70K MILES (UNUSUAL SINCE MOST OF THE MILES ARE ON FLAT INTERSTATE HIGHWAY). THE ENGINE SINCE ABOUT 25K MILES HAS HAD A CONSISTANT KNOCKING SOUND THAT THE DEALER INDICATES IS COMMON TO ALL CROWN VICTORIAS, BUT PROVIDES NO SOLUTION. I HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY THE DEALER WOODY ANDERSON FORD REGARDING ANY OF THREE RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE THAT I SEE ON YOUR WEBSITE.*AK

CONSUMERS VEHICLE FRONT END HIT THE PASSENGERS SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 30 MPH, AND NEITHER DRIVERS SIDE OR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. ALSO HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REAR-ENDED BY A VEHICLE TRAVELING AT 65-70MPH AND PUSHED INTO A TRUCK, AND AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY THEN,DEALER HAS VEHICLE. *AK *JG

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT UNDER MODERATE ACCELERATION FRONT PANEL OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WATER PASSAGE CROSSOVER FAILED AND WATER SPRAYED UNDER THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL. *YH

ENGINE HAS NEVER OVERHEATED. COOLING SYSTEM VERY CLEAN. SPONTANEOUS CRACK DEVELOPED IN PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CROOSOVER TUBE, DIRECTLY BEHIND ALTERNATOR. IMMEDIATE COOLANT LOSS THROUGH 3.5" CRACK. REPLACEMENT PART LOOKS IDENTICAL, NO VISIBLE IMPROVEMENT. FORD ADMITS TO FAULTY COMPONENT THROUGH SERVICE BULLETINS,AND HAS MADE REPAIRS TO FLEET VEHICLES. DEALER STATES THEY WILL DO NOTHING FOR INDIVIDUAL OWNERS.*AK

FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS DEFECT BUT WILL NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE TO CUSTOMERS WHO OWN RESIDENTIAL CROWN VICTORIAS. THE DESIGN FLAW (FATIGUE CRACK IN COMPOSITE INTAKE MANIFOLD COOLANT CROSSOVER PASSAGE) AFFECTS VEHICLES WITH THE 4.6 LITER ENGINES ASSEMBLED BETWEEN 8/8/95 AND 11/22/97 AT THE ST. THOMAS PLANT. THE CRACK CAUSES A RAPID LOSS OF COOLANT DIRECTLY BEHIND THE ALTERNATOR AND CAN RESULT IN SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE DUE TO OVERHEATING. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AFTER THE ENGINE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. THE TOW TRUCK TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER WHERE A REDESIGNED MANIFOLD WAS INSTALLED AT MY COST. *AK

THE INCIDENT CONSISTED OF A SUDDEN LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE, RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE SKIDDING TO A STOP ON THE A FRAME. DAMAGE ESTIMATE IS BASED ON THE COST OF NEW BALL JOINTS, TIE ROD, FENDER, AND TIRE REPLACEMENT COSTS

RECALL 98 V 322 000/LOWER CONTROL ARM: LOST CONTROL WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH. VEHICLE TAKEN TO A INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER OF A LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL 01F025000 REPAIRS CONCERNING INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAK, BUT WAS UNABLE TO HAVE WORK COMPLETED FOR LACK OF PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

THIS IS A KNOWN FORD ISSUE, YET THEY DENY RESPONSIBILITY. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD DEVELOPED A CRACK AND I LOST ALL OF THE COOLANT @ 65 MPH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. FORD HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR FLEET VEHICLES (TAXIS, POLICE, LIMOS) BUT DOES NOT COVER THE SAME PART (SAME PART #) ON CIVILIAN VEHICLES. THE REPLACEMENT PART IS THE SAME POORLY DESIGNED UNIT, WHICH OVER TIME, WILL MOST LIKELY FAIL AGAIN.*AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD IS LEAKING RADIATOR FLUID. MY MECHANIC SAID A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM, BUT FORD REFUSED RESPONSIBILITY. 10 COMPLAINS(SAME) LISTED ON DEFECTIVE INVESTIGATION FOR SAME CAR AND DATE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO STOP. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINE HAD WORN THROUGH. IT COST ME ABOUT $81.00 TO HAVE REPAIRED.*AK

BRAKE LINE HAS 1 1/4 LONG CHAFFING OR RUB AREA CAUSING LINE TO FAIL. UNDER BLACK RUBBER PAD DESIGN TO ELIMINATE CHAFFING PROBLEM. AREA IS NEXT TO DRIVERS SIDE OF TRANSMISSION CROSS MEMBER. APPEARS BLACK RUBBER PAD DID NOT PREVENT CHAFFING. MADE TEMPERORY ROADSIDE REPAIR TO KEEP CAR HOME. REPORTED TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER SERVICE ON 8/27/2001. ASSIGNED REFERENCE NUMBER 9005812234. I HAVE FAIED BRAKE LINE AVAILABLE FOR INVESTIGATION.*AK REFERENCED IN RQ03-004

THIS IS APPARENTLY A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM ON 1996 AND NEWER CROWN VICS, T-BIRDS, MUSTANGS AND LINCOLNS. FORD KNOWS THERE IS A DESIGN PROBLEM, BUT REFUSES TO BEAR THE COST. PLENTY OF COMPLAINT INFO CAN BE FOUND ON THE WEB - SEE WWW.THECOMPLAINTSTATION.COM A FORD RECALL IS IN EFFECT FOR 96-98 CROWN VIC TAXIS MADE IN THEIR ST. THOMAS PLANT. VERY FRUSTRATING - MY FAILURE HAPPENED ON THE INTERSTATE AT 75+ MPH WITH NO WARNING. LUCKILY I COULD PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY. GOING TO COST $600+ TO REPAIR. FORD DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE. OUR CITY GARAGE HAS REPLACED AT LEAST 5 FAILED MANIFOLDS ON CV POLICE CRUISERS WITH REDESIGNED MANIFOLDS (FORD MUST KNOW THERE IS AN ISSUE HERE TO REDESIGN THE MANIFOLDS). MINE IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT - LOOK AT YOUR COMPLAINT DATABASE AND THE WEBSITE I REFERENCED. PLEASE DO SOMETHING!!!NO SAFETY DEFEC TLISTED. *AK

SUDDEN STRUCTURAL RUPTURE OF PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WITH RESULTANT SUDDEN LOST OF COOLANT. ALSO, FALSE COOLANT TEMPERATURE READING DUE TO NO COOLANT. PASSING MOTORIST ALERTED DRIVER OF DEPENDING PROBLEMS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING LEFT FRONT ASSEMBLY BROKE OFF.ALSO, ENTIRE FRAME ASSEMBLY COLLAPSED. VEHICLE CAME TO A HALT, AND THERE WAS NO BRAKING.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH VEHICLE DROPPED ON RIGHT SIDE. TOWED TO DEALER, AND LOWER BALL JOINT WAS REPLACED. *AK *JB

ENGINE MANIFOLD DEVELOPED A CRACK AND STARTED TO SPIT OUT ANTI-FREEZE AND WATER. CONSUMER STATED THAT DEALER REPLACED ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *AK CONSUMER WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON SOME MODELS, HOWEVER HIS WAS NOT INCLUDED, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND FRONT BRAKE PADS REPLACED. *SLC

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES STALLING AT SLOW SPEEDS IN TRAFFIC AND AT STOP SIGNS, DEALER HAS REPLACED IDLE AIR CONTROL AND FUEL PUMP AND HAS REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER, HOWEVER THE STALLING STILL OCCURS AND THE DEALER CAN NOT REMEDY, CONSUMER HAS ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED ON TWO OCCASIONS, WHEN STALLING OCCURS, ALL POWER STEERING IS LOST, POSSIBLY ENGINE OR COMPUTER RELATED. *SLC

CONSUMER WAS ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AND WAS TURNING WHEEL TO LEFT, BUT VEHICLE KEPT GOING STRAIGHT. A PLASTIC NYLON BUSHING BROKE FROM STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. *AK

CONSUMER HAD EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES JUST LIKE MENTIONE DIN RECALL 98 I 001 000. BRAKE LINE WORE OUT, THIS COULD LEAD TO BRAKE FLUID LOSS FOR REAR BRAKES. *AK REFERENCED IN RQ03-004

INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT, TSB 01M02, CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT SINCE THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THE PROBLEM. *SLC

I RECENTLY SPENT OVER $1,000 HAVING THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT FIXED ALONG WITH OTHER REPAIRS. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO SUPER LOWE FORD SEVERAL TIMES AFTER I PURCHASED IT BECAUSE THE LIGHT STAYED ON. SUPER LOWE SAID IT WAS "GAS CAP IS LOOSE" AND "IT'S A SHORT, WE CAN DISCONNET IT IF YOU WANT US TO" ETC. IT WOULD BE OFF FOR A FEW DAYS, THEN RIGHT BACK ON. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT IT REALLY DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING, JUST DON'T DRIVE IN CALIFORNIA. WHY DOES THE LIGHT STAY ON?*AK

REAR SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM BRACKETS HAVE CRACKED WHERE THEY WERE WELDED TO FRAME, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. *AK CONSUMER ALSO STATES WELDS ALSO CRACKING WHERE REAR CROSS MEMBER IS WELDED TO FRAME.*JB

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *AK

THIS IS A SHERIFFS' PATROL VEHICLE. THE BRAKE LINE TO THE REAR BRAKES RUBBED THE UNDERSIDE OF THE FLOOR-BOARD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE UNTIL IT WORE THROUGH. THE BRAKES FAILED AT THIS POINT. WE HAVE CONFIRMED THIS PROBLEM ON TWO MORE IDENTICAL PATROL UNITS. NO INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED YET BUT THE POTENTIAL IS THERE. BRAKE LOSS IS REPORTED AS SPONTANEOUS AND FORTUNATLY, IN OUR THREE INCIDENTS, IT HAS OCCURED AT RELATIVELY LOW SPEED.

THE BRAKE LINE THAT GOES TO THE REAR BRAKES, RUBBED ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE FLOOR BOARD UNTIL IT WORE THROUGH. THIS CAUSED SPONTANEOUS BRAKE FAILURE SIMILAR TO THAT DESCRIBED IN TWO OTHER INCIDENTS WITH IDENTICAL VEHICLESIN OUR FLEET . *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING VEHICLE BEGINS TO SHUTTER IN BETWEEN GEARS. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

BRAKE LINES ARE RUBBING THROUGH IN TWO PLACES UNDER THE CAR THIS IS THE THIRD CROWN VIC THAT HAS DONE THIS IN PAST TWO WEEKS.I HAVE CALLED FORD BUT THEY KEEP GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND.I;M AFRAID THAT SOME ONE IS GOING TO GET HURT OR KILLED .CAN YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHATS GOING ON. *AK

BELTS SEPARATED ON FRONT TIRES. *AK (TIRESIZE: 215R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 215R15 )

CARS BRAKE LINE HAS RUBBED THROUGH. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON AND RUN ROUGH DUE TO MAF SENSOR FAILURE. THE HOOD WOULD POP UP WHILE DRIVING DUE TO HOOD LATCH MALFUNCTIONING.*YH

SEAT BELTS IN FRONT & REAR WILL NOT RETRACT BACK TO ORIGINAL POSITION AFTER BEING USED. REAR RIGHT WAS REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP, BUT NOT THE OTHER THREE SEAT BELTS.*AK