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2004 Ford Crown Victoria Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 138 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Ford Crown Victoria, most often about the lights (59% of complaints, typically around 92,000 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about Crown Victoria model year since 2000 and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2004 Ford Crown Victoria problems
Lights
81 complaints · 59%Half of these problems showed up before 92,000 miles. Parts named most often: headlights.
Headlight failure of both low and high beam at all speeds. Intermittent failures beginning at end of march 2011 at approximately 92,000 miles and finally total failure in june 2011. Very dangerous if not in safe location to pull over or in middle of critical driving maneuvers such as passing, sharp turns, etc.…
I was coming home from work, and I pulled into a local subway shop, received my food, as I went to turn on my car, the automatic lights did not come on, the park lights did, but not the automatic lights, I flicked the lever to high beam but to my surprise no lights. I pulled the lever back and held it, until I got…
Electrical
23 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 89,500 miles.
Due to faulty manufacturing by Ford, I have faulty headlights. On more than 20 occasions I have been without headlights. I have to wait until the lights come on before I can proceed to drive the vehicle, endangering my life depending on my location at the time! Please ask Ford to consider fixing the problem before…
Headlight failure of both low and high beam at all speeds. Intermittent failures beginning at end of march 2011 at approximately 92,000 miles and finally total failure in june 2011. Very dangerous if not in safe location to pull over or in middle of critical driving maneuvers such as passing, sharp turns, etc.…
Steering
19 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 122,500 miles. Parts named most often: column.
Steering column (lower shaft) was replaced by all american Ford in paramus nj on 25 october 2011 with a later type shaft (per receipt a 2006 part number). Steering now binds severely at any speed, particularly along the center, in mild turns (such as on a highway). Have attempted to lubricate the u-joints, but the…
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Crown Victoria. While driving at various speeds, the steering wheel seized and required excessive force to maneuver. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 118,565. Updated 10/22/14 the consumer…
Wheels and tires
12 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 101,000 miles. Parts named most often: rim, sidewall.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Ford Crown Victoria. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign id number 07v079000 (wheels). When the dealer inspected the wheels, they stated that the recall did not apply; however, the dealer billed Ford for the recall repair. A second dealer informed the contact that his vehicle…
The good year eagle sport tires tore apart on a short trip to the grocery store and caused the car to be unsafe to drive. The tires were manufactured on june 2019 and purchased october 2019 and by january 3rd of 2021 they were flat and chewed up with only around 13,000 miles on them even though they were 50,000 mile…
Engine
10 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 83,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system, cooling system.
The problem began as a small hissing sound, much like that of a exhaust manifold leak. I was on my way of taking the car to a mechanic to ensure that was the problem when a loud <bang> occurred. Parts of the sparkplug boot were found in the engine compartment at the repair shop.
2004 Ford Crown Victoria intake manifold cracked, causing coolant lost and smoking engine. Vehicle emergency stopped and towed. Consumer facing expensive repair costs .
Transmission
5 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 49,500 miles. Parts named most often: axle assembly, automatic transmission.
I am in charge of a police department fleet in warrick county indiana, we have had three 2004 Ford Crown Victoria's (police interceptors) develop axle problems in the last six months. It seems as if these axles are wearing out prematurely, I have had to replace the axles on cars with 40000, this is unheard of in a…
I was driving and all the sudden I start hearing this real loud noise coming from passenger rear and all my brake lights ABS lights and traction lights came on . Well I was told it was wheel seals come to gind out there is a bit grove out of shaft wherr bearing rides. And shaft is very week
Suspension
4 complaints · 3%Parts named most often: rear.
Dt: the contact stated the rear axle non powered assembly experienced extensive wear. As a result, there was a severe vibration while driving. The vehicle was taken to a service repair shop, and the mechanic contacted a local dealership about the issue. A factory authorized axle replacement kit was purchased; part…
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Crown Victoria. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH he heard a loud rattling noise. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic who advised him that the right rear wheel bearing and axle fractured and needed to be replaced. The wheel bearing and axle were…
Speed control
4 complaints · 3%Parts named most often: cruise control.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Ford Crown Victoria. While driving between 55 and 60 MPH with the cruise control activated, the vehicle began to decelerate. The cruise control would not reactivate. The contact stated that the automatic dimmer and heater fan stopped operating. The fuse only failed when the cruise control was…
On 12/29/2010 []was driving her 2004 Crown Victoria (VIN number []) when the car accelerated out of control. She immediately depressed the brake pedal and turned off the car. She then returned home. [] her son then took the car out to check the problem. He reached a speed of 40 MPH and took his foot off the…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2004 Ford Crown Victoria recalls
Lights: headlights
Risk: A loss of headlights can reduce driver visibility and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the lcm, free of charge. The recall began april 14, 2017. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15s39.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain model year 2003-2005 ford crown victoria and mercury grand marquis vehicles manufactured october 3, 2001, to august 2, 2005. The affected vehicles have a lighting control module (lcm) that may fail, resulting in a loss of headlights.
Electrical: interior/under dash
Risk: If this occurs, the insulator might experience charring of the outer layer, burning odor, or smoke which may ultimately result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will remove the existing dash insulator and install a revised design insulator pad free of charge. The recall began on june 3, 2005. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Full defect summary
On certain police interceptors (cvpi) and commercial heavy duty (taxi) vehicles, at extremely high operating temperatures, the sound insulating panel, located under the vehicle positioned between the exhaust system and the underbody, could sag and possibly contact the surface of the catalytic converter.
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
Loss of headlights
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened an investigation concerning the loss of headlights in model year (my) 2003-2005 ford crown victoria and mercury grand marquis vehicles. The subject vehicles share the same architecture and major components.odi has received 636 unique reports (for all submission dates) related to the alleged defect, with owners describing a loss of both low and/or high beam headlights occurring while driving.odi identified 4 vehicle owner questionnaire ( voq) reports alleging minor crash or loss of control incidents due to headlight failures.drivers alleged running off of the road due to a lack of headlights and one driver reportedly struck a deer.no injuries w
Loss of headlamp/exterior lighting
Summary
In a letter dated october 2, 2014 the office of defects investigation (odi) was initially petitioned by the north carolina consumers council, inc. Requesting a defect investigation of an alleged defect condition resulting in headlight and/or exterior lighting failure on 2003-2005 ford crown victoria and mercury grand marquis vehicles.odi analyzed vehicle owner questionnaire (voq) complaints received from consumers and identified a total of 605 reports (for all submission dates) alleging headlight failure.the complaints indicate failures of both low beam headlights typically while driving, a defect condition that was evaluated under a prior odi investigation (pe08066).most consumer voqs indic
Steering column shaft obstruction
Summary
On july 7, 2014 the office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation based on five complaints (voqs) alleging incidents ofinterference between dislodged exhaust manifold heat shields and the lower steering shaft/knuckle, including one alleging the interference resulted in a crash on a highway entrance ramp. Since opening this investigation, odi has received four additional owner complaints.one indicated that the shield was removed before binding could occur.the other three occurred at low speed and produced some momentary steering binding that was overcome by the driver when additional steering effort was applied.once the shield was repaired or removed, the steering retu
Loss of headlight function
Summary
The agency has closed this investigation based on its review of complaint reports, field and technical data provided by ford and complainant interviews. Ford found that some lighting control modules (lcm) in the subject vehicles contained defective solder joints on the printed circuit board.this condition can lead to poor headlight performance ranging from intermittent outage and dimming to eventual headlights failure.the failure does not affect other lighting functions (park, emergency flasher, brake and flash to pass lights).the agency is aware of a total of 306 consumers complaints and no report of crash, injury or fatality.ford reports 2,074 warranty claims related to headlight failure l
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
Fracture of the steel wheel rim
Summary
During a september 23, 2004 meeting and in subsequent discussions in november, ford advised the office of defects investigation (odi) of their plans to introduce an improved steel wheel for manufacturing and service component use on the subject vehicles, indicating this would occur in december 2004.the new wheel design incorporates an additional manufacturing process (shot peening) which lowers tensile stress in the surface layer of the rim material adjacent to the circumferential weld. Theoretically this should improve rim durability by reducing fatigue crack initiation sites.indications from ford?s accelerated testing methods show an improvement in the performance of the new wheel.in addit
Questions about the 2004 Ford Crown Victoria
- What are the most common problems with the 2004 Ford Crown Victoria?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: lights (81 complaints, typically around 92,000 miles); electrical (23 complaints, typically around 89,500 miles); steering (19 complaints, typically around 122,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2004 Ford Crown Victoria have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from December 22, 2015 (lights). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2004 a bad year for the Ford Crown Victoria?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about Crown Victoria model year since 2000, with 138 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.