1996 Ford Cvpi

Defect. IN ORDER TO ENHANCE POLICE OFFICE SAFETY, MODEL YEAR 1992-2003 CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR (CVPI) VEHICLES WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH SHIELDS DESIGNED TO HELP PROTECT THE FUEL TANK IN HIGH-SPEED REAR-IMPACT CRASHES. FORD ALSO WILL BE OFFERING AN OPTIONAL TRUNK PACKAGE DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE SAFE TRANSPORT OF SHARP-EDGED, HEAVY EQUIPMENT IN THESE VEHICLES.

Risk. SOME HIGH-SPEED REAR-IMPACT CRASHES HAVE RESULTED IN FUEL TANK PUNCTURES AND FIRES IN CVPI VEHICLES.

Remedy. FORD HAS ADVISED US THAT SHIELD KITS HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE SINCE LATE OCTOBER AND WILL BE INSTALLED ON POLICE INTERCEPTOR VEHICLES AT NO COST. THE OPTIONAL TRANK PACKAGE WILL BE AVAILABLE BY THE END OF 2002. FORD HAS ESTABLISHED A NEW WEB SITE AT WWW.CVPI.COM TO ANSWER ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SAFE USE OF CPVI VEHICLES.

I JUST PURCHASED A 1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA PI. WHILE CHECKING UNDER THE CAR, I DISCOVERED THE FRAME WAS RUSTING AWAY IN THE AREA OF THE IDLER ARM & WHERE THE RIGHT SWAY BAR BUSHING IS ATTACHED (THE PIECE THAT HOLDS THAT IN PLACE IS GONE AS THERE'S NOTHING TO ATTACH IT TO). I TOOK THE CAR TO A BODY SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME TO REPAIR THIS (PROPERLY) WOULD REQUIRE REPLACING THE FRAME AND THAT TO PATCH IT WOULD DEGRADE THE DESIGNED ABILITY OF THE CAR TO PROTECT THE DRIVER & PASSENGERS IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE BODY MAN ALSO MADE A REMARK TO ME THAT HE THOUGHT A BATTERY MIGHT HAVE LEAKED OUT AND CAUSE THAT DAMAGE. THE REST OF THE CAR SEEMS TO BE IN DECENT SHAPE. *TR

MY CAR OVERHEATED AND SHUT OFF, WHEN I GOT IT TO A REPAIR STATION, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, WHICH I HAVE IN MY POSSESSION. ANYWAY, I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED, TO THE NEAREST PLACE TO HAVE IT REPAIRED TO THE COST OF $125.00. THIS HAPPENED ON A SUNDAY, IT TOOK A WEEK TO HAVE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACED WITH A COST OF $779.00. THREE DAYS OFF WORK, BECAUSE OF IT AND ALSO LOSS OF WAGES AND LOSS OF USE OF AUTO. I HAVE NOTICED THAT FOR THE POLICE INTERCEPTOR, THAT IF YOU ARE ON THE POLICE FORCE THAT THIS WAS REPLACED AT NO COST..SO WHAT MAKES THE POLICE FORCE ANY BETTER THAN THE AVERAGE CONSUMER THAT PURCHASES THIS AUTO. WHY CAN THIS NOT BE REPLACED FOR ANYONE THAT HAPPENS TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN. I FEEL THAT WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS OF THIS OCCURRENCE, THAT THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FOR THOSE THAT HAVE ALREADY HAD THE REPLACEMENT DONE, THEY SHOULD BE REIMBURSED THE AMOUNT OF MONIES THAT IT TOOK TO HAVE THIS SITUATION TAKEN CARE OF. LISA LOVEJOY. *LA