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2001 Ford Crown Victoria Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 53 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Ford Crown Victoria, most often about the engine (21% of complaints, typically around 122,000 miles). It is 6th of 12 Crown Victoria model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2001 Ford Crown Victoria problems
Engine
11 complaints · 21%Half of these problems showed up before 122,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system.
2001 Ford Crown Victoria on a steep hill blew out the #1 spark plug from it's cylinder. The ejected spark plug had been installed more than a year prior, with no previous problems. The vehicle was no longer drivable.
There was a crack in the intake manifold, which caused anti-freeze to leak. Consumer was told that the intake manifold's plastic water jacket failed he was also told that the recall for this condition only covered police vehicles.
Air bags
9 complaints · 17%Parts named most often: frontal.
Steering
7 complaints · 13%Parts named most often: steering wheel/handle bar, hydraulic power assist system, hydraulic power assist.
The steering shaft is creaking when you turn and alotta play in the steering sounds like it's about to snap it happens in the city and highway when I turn or bear left or right the pic the shaft thing on the left is a picture of the part happens when I'm in motion and even when I'm stationary and I turn the steering…
Fuel system
7 complaints · 13%Parts named most often: storage.
The consumer was concerned about the gas tank shield being installed in police vehicles and not regular consumer vehicles. The fuel tank shield was installed at the consumer's expense.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Ford Crown Victoria. The contact stated that he worked for a company that had six crown victorias and one Ford mustang. The gasket had to be replaced on the fuel tank from the filler pipe. When he filled the vehicle with gasoline, fuel would leak out on top of the hot exhaust. The contact…
Brakes
6 complaints · 11%Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, foundation components, power assist.
Seat belts
5 complaints · 9%Parts named most often: front.
Front passenger seat belt retention device would not release resulting in squeezing of child wrapped up in seat belt. The seat belt had to be cut with a knife to get child out of seat belt. Even with the buckle unlatched. No medical treatment was necessary but, child was severely traumatized as the seat belt was…
Speed control
5 complaints · 9%Parts named most often: accelerator pedal, cruise control.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Ford Crown Victoria. The contact received a Ford recall notice for the vehicle speed control: cruise control in october of 2007 and immediately called the dealer. The dealer informed him that they did not know when the parts would be available; however, they deactivated his wiring harness. He…
While pulling into a parking lot the car accelerated and I missed a parked car and was able to stop. I was going about 5mph and it accelerated very fast not sure MPH but it was scary. I happened sept. 14, 2011.
Suspension
4 complaints · 8%Parts named most often: rear, front.
- the contact owns a 2007 Ford Crown Victoria, and while making a left hand turn at 5 MPH the ball joint on the front driver's side fell off. The contact took vehicle to the dealer, and they replaced both front ball joints. The failure mileage was at 81,000 miles.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2001 Ford Crown Victoria recalls
Fuel system: tank assembly
Risk: If the strength of the tank is significantly compromised, it could rupture, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will install an insulator behind the current seat back. Owner notification began on january 7, 2004. Owners should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Full defect summary
On certain natural gas vehicles, if a flame from a vehicle interior fire becomes locally directed at the natural gas fuel tank located immediately behind the rear seat, the flame could damage the fiberglass wrap on the tank weakening the tank.
Seat belts: buckle assembly
Risk: In the event of a crash, the restraint system may not provide adequate occupant protection, increasing the risk of personal injury to the seat occupant.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the front outboard seat belt buckles and if the buckle fails the inspection process, it will be replaced. Owner notification began july 25, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger and sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and minivans. Equipped with seat belts supplied by trw. It is possible that the driver's and/or front passenger's outboard seat belt buckle may not fully latch. Ford crown victoria built at st. Thomas assembly plant from 4/17/00 - 5/29/01 mercury grand marquis built at st. Thomas assembly plant from 4/17/00 - 5/29/01. Lincoln town cars built at wixom assembly plant from 3/27/00 - 5/30/01. Lincoln navigators built at michigan truck plant from 4/11/00 - 5/31/01. Ford windstars built at oakville assembly plant from 3/23/00 - 5/30/01. Ford rangers built at twin cities plant from 3/28/00 - 5/30/01, and also at the edison plant from 3/13/00 - 5/25/01. Ford f-150 truck built at norfolk plant from 4/18/00 - 5/25/00; at ontario plant from 5/10/00 - 5/28/01; at kansas city plant from 9/11/99 - 5/25/01; and at cuautitlan plan
Air bags: sensor/control module-inactive
Risk: In some cases, less than the intended level of protection in the event of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the rcm and crash sensors and, if necessary, replace them.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: minivans and passenger vehicles. A restraint control module (rcm) or a side or front crash sensor may have been assembled with one or more of the screws that mount the circuit board in the housing missing. If some or all of the screws are missing, the performance of the occupant restrains could be affected.
Air bags
Risk: This condition could result in personal injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rcm in these vehicles. Owner notification began september 14, 2000. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Full defect summary
Certain passenger vehicles, limousines, and mini vans were built with a newly designed restraint control module (rcm). In some cases, the rcm does not recognize certain system faults that could result in an air bag or seat belt pre-tensioner unexpectedly activating during the self-test sequence at vehicle start-up.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
Summary
On september 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 ford vehicles with triton v-8 and v-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or the dealer repairing the vehicle, reported that a spark plug detached from the cylinder and/or ejected from the engine.as of december 8, 2005, odi is not aware of any allegations where the alleged defect resulted in a loss of vehicle control, a crash, an injury, or a fatality in any of the 10,319,810 subject vehicles.in addition, odi is aware of only two incidents where the vehi
Front seat belt buckle assembly
Summary
During the initial recall campaign in 2001, the subject vehicles were inspected by ford dealerships using a test tool that would detect a defective front seat outboard seat belt buckle assembly.approximately one million vehicles passed the inspection test for one or both front buckles.subsequent to the recall service action, odi received 15 consumer reports alleging that a passed inspection buckle subsequently failed to latch or inadvertently unlatched during use.in addition, ford has identified 543 owner and field reports alleging buckle failure subsequent to passing the inspection test.ford tested and examined over 100 warranty-returned buckles and found that 44% of the buckles had no prob
Front seat belt buckle assembly
Summary
Under recall campaign (01v227), ford recalled approximately 1.3 million vehicles to inspect and if necessary replace the front driver and/or passenger seat belt buckle.approximately 1.1 million owners responded by taking their vehicles to a dealer for inspection of the buckle using a specialized buckle test tool.ford reported that 829,927 vehicles had both buckles pass the tool test and another 167,336 vehicles had one buckle pass.odi and ford received complaints alleging seat belt buckle failure shortly after passing the original recall inspection service.complainants alleged that the buckle failed by either not latching or false-latching (partial engagement of the latch to the latch plate)
Cng tank explosion
Summary
In september 2002, a fuel cylinder in a natural gas powered vehicle (ngv) exploded during a fire.ford and vrtc test engineers jointly examined the incident vehicle and reviewed testing to determine whether the performance of the pressure relief valve (prd) was proper.the purpose of a prd is to protect a compressed natural gas tank from overpressure by allowing the cng to vent when the temperature reaches a specific point.the prd was removed from the failed tank and subjected to a yield temperature determination test. It was concluded that a direct flame (from the interior of the vehicle) onto the cylinder (located behind the rear seat in the trunk)compromised the hoop strength of the natural
Cng tank exploding in a fire
Summary
An explosion of a compressed natural gas (cng) tank should not be able to occur, as the tank is fitted with a pressure relief device (prd). This prd should release the cng in the tank, prior to the pressure reaching the tank burst pressure.the prd did not release in the subject wisconsin police cruiser explosion.NHTSA has recovered the prd valve from the tank that exploded and testing will be necessary to establish why this tank safety valve did not release in the very high temperature fire that occurred in the police cruiser.there is only the single known event, but due to the catastropic force of such an explosion and the potential for injury and loss of life, this investigation is being u
Fuel-fed fires
Summary
The fars data shows that the risk of fire from impact in all directions in the subject vehicles is the same as all other sedans.the subject vehicles are not over represented with respect to the risk of fire in real-world high-energy crashes.a further discussion of issues related to post crash fires in the subject vehicles is set out in the closing report for sq 01-014 and that report is in the docket for this petition.after reviewing the petition and its supporting materials, as well as information furnished by ford and gm, and information within the agency's possession from previous investigations and other related actions,NHTSA has concluded that futher investigation concerning post-crash
Post rear end collision fires
Summary
There is no summary currently available
Questions about the 2001 Ford Crown Victoria
- What are the most common problems with the 2001 Ford Crown Victoria?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (11 complaints, typically around 122,000 miles); air bags (9 complaints); steering (7 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2001 Ford Crown Victoria have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from November 6, 2003 (fuel system). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2001 a bad year for the Ford Crown Victoria?
- It is 6th of 12 Crown Victoria model years by number of complaints, with 53 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.