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2005 Ford Crown Victoria Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 193 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Ford Crown Victoria, most often about the lights (51% of complaints, typically around 80,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Crown Victoria model year since 2000 and has 5 recalls.
Most common 2005 Ford Crown Victoria problems
Lights
99 complaints · 51%Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles. Parts named most often: headlights, brake lights, tail lights.
Tl contact owns a 2005 Ford Crown Victoria. While driving approximately 55 MPH the contact stated that the headlights shut off and on intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technicians were unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was also taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the…
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Crown Victoria. The contact was driving at various speeds with the headlights on when suddenly, they shut off. The high beam headlights were engaged and the control mechanism was manually held while driving in order for the headlights to remain illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired nor…
Steering
36 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 99,500 miles. Parts named most often: linkages, gear box, column.
Steering started feeling stiff while on a long road trip when I went to change lanes. When I returned home I parked it for a month. Had a few people look at it and they found nothing wrong. Drove it on another long trip and it slowly became worse. Felt like the car was floating opposite my steer or delaying the…
Catastrophic failure of the steering column; the steering column retaining ring failed. Binding of lower and middle universal joints and believe it is heat related. Steering shaft not traveling on a true axis and a result is the retaining ring is being worn and eventually wears out.
Electrical
21 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 82,500 miles. Parts named most often: horn, 12v/24v/48v battery, adas.
Recent article in paper indicates that high humidity states, such as florida could have a air bag problem on several models and makes of automobiles, affecting the deployment of air bags. Please advise.
Air bag light comes on everytime car is started flashes 3 then 4 then stays on constantly do not feel safe and my car isn't the first to have this problem Ford needs to step it up and put out a recall
Transmission
14 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 53,000 miles. Parts named most often: axle assembly, driveline, automatic transmission.
: the contact stated while driving various speeds, a growling noise was heard coming from the rear of the vehicle. It was driven to an independent repair shop who determined the rear axle was worn and was replaced.
: the contact stated while driving various speeds, a growling noise was heard coming from the rear of the vehicle. It was driven to an independent repair shop who determined the rear axle was worn and was replaced. Updated 10/5/2006 - the consumer explained that the axle bearings were gullying the axle's causing…
Speed control
11 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 33,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Crown Victoria. The contact stated that the engine exhibited an abnormally excessive increase in RPM's. The contact stated that he would have to depress the brakes hard so that the vehicle would not run away. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they were unable to duplicate the…
Dt: the contact stated the horn was not working. The service dealer replaced the horn, and reprogrammed the ccm to the latest calibration. Since the repair she had to press firmly, in the exact location of the horn symbols. Sometimes she has to press on both horn symbols to get the horn to work. The dealer said after…
Engine
11 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 90,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Crown Victoria. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH the wrench warning symbol illuminated and the engine stalled. Upon restarting the vehicle it failed to accelerate over 5 MPH. The failure was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate…
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Crown Victoria. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was restarted. The contact discovered that the serpentine belt failed and was replaced. The failure recurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of…
Fuel system
7 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 70,000 miles. Parts named most often: storage, delivery.
1995 Ford Crown Victoria [] upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced. Tie rod and pitman arm replaced. Gas tank leaks. Moisture on piston which threw a rod and broke block. Headlight lenses turned dark orange. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)
Austintown police officer was operating a 2005 Ford Crown Victoria police vehicle when the vehicle was struck from behind, causing the vehicle to explode into flames. Preliminary indications are the police vehicle was moving at the time of impact and the second vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed. Officer…
Seat belts
7 complaints · 4%Parts named most often: front, rear/other.
The seat belt is fraying in my car. It has been doing this for the last year and half. Reported to dealership and no remedy was made.
Air bag light came on when vehicle was started and did not turn off. Dealer diagnosed it to be a seat belt tensioner switch and repaired it a cost of $700.+ light went out .6 months later light came and dealer diagnosed it to be the drivers seat belt tensioner this time, cost to repair $700+. Needless to say it has…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2005 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.
Steering: pinion shaft
Risk: Improper servicing of the upper intermediate shaft could cause the shaft to separate, which can then result in a loss of steering control, and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify the owners of vehicles whose repair records reflect that the upper intermediate steering shaft was repaired during the course of the prior recall 13v-385. Dealers will inspect and replace the upper immediate shaft if necessary free of charge. The recall began november 17, 2014. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14s25.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 ford crown victoria, 2005-2011 mercury grand marquis vehicles manufactured march 23, 2004, to august 30, 2011, and 2005-2011 lincoln town car vehicles manufactured march 8, 2004, to august 30, 2011, and on which the upper intermediate shaft was serviced during the course of safety recall 13v-385. The prior repairs may not have been correctly performed.
Steering
Risk: If the lower bearing separates, the vehicle may experience a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners and dealers will replace the lower intermediate shaft, free of charge. The upper intermediate shaft and steering column lower bearing will be inspected to identify any damage that may have occurred as a result of lower intermediate shaft corrosion, and repaired or replaced as necessary. If the steering column lower bearing has separated, a retainer clip will be installed. The recall began on october 23, 2013. Owners may contact ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall number is 13s08.
Full defect summary
Ford is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 ford crown victoria (including crown victoria police interceptors), mercury grand marquis, and lincoln town car vehicles. The affected vehicles are currently registered or were originally sold in connecticut, delaware, the district of columbia, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, virginia, west virginia, and wisconsin. Severe corrosion can seize the lower intermediate shaft which may cause the upper intermediate shaft to collapse and the steering column lower bearing to separate.
Electrical: cables
Risk: This condition may result in heat damage and could lead to a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the fusible link and position it away from the cross member bolt. If the fusible link has already chafed and copper wires have been exposed, the fusible link will be replaced. The recall began on november 18, 2005. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673, or lincoln/mercury at 1-800-521-4140.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles, the battery cable includes a fusible link that may contact and subsequently chafe on a #2 cross member attaching bolt.
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 steering control
Summary
In its recall notice dated august 26, 2013, ford motor company (ford) notified NHTSA of a safety defect condition that may result in loss of steering in approximately 355,000 model year (my) 2005 through 2011 ford crown victoria and mercury grand marquis vehicles built at the st. Thomas assembly plant, my 2005 through 2007 lincoln town car vehicles built at the wixom assembly plant, and certain my 2008 through 2011 lincoln town car vehicles built at the st. Thomas assembly plant and that are currently registered or were originally sold in connecticut, delaware, the district of columbia, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hamp
Loss of steering control
Summary
In the subject vehicles, the mechanical connection between the steering wheel and rack and pinion steering assembly consist of the steering column and an upper and lower intermediate shaft.a disconnection of any of these components from the steering system can create a loss of steering control.allegations of a loss of steering control incidents reviewed during the preliminary evaluation pe12-025 appear to be related to a separation of the upper and lower shafts within the steering the column. In response to the office of defects investigation's (odi) information request (ir) during pe12-025, ford provided 2 complaints and 9 warranty claims related to the alleged defect in the subject vehicle
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
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 2005 Ford Crown Victoria
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Ford Crown Victoria?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: lights (99 complaints, typically around 80,000 miles); steering (36 complaints, typically around 99,500 miles); electrical (21 complaints, typically around 82,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2005 Ford Crown Victoria have?
- 5 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 2005 a bad year for the Ford Crown Victoria?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Crown Victoria model year since 2000, with 193 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.