KnownCarProblems2003 Ford Cvpi Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 78 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Ford Cvpi, most often about the wheels and tires (86% of complaints, typically around 83,500 miles). It is the most complained-about Cvpi model year since 2000 and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2003 Ford Cvpi problems
Wheels and tires
67 complaints · 86%Half of these problems showed up before 83,500 miles. Parts named most often: rim, temporary/emergency spare tire.
Two tires (rt fr & rt rr) kept losing air. The tires/wheels were inspected. The wheels had developed small cracks. These wheels had been replaced at 31643 miles as part of campaign 03s05.
This was a police vehicle involved in a pursuit. At approximately 110 MPH, the left front wheel cracked, the tire flattened, the operator lost control and crossed the median, the opposing lanes of traffic and impacted the guide rail. Trooper was treated and released, vehicle demolished.
Lights
8 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 135,000 miles. Parts named most often: headlights.
2003 crown victoria, headlights stop working while driving. It appears I need to replace the lighting control module (lcm). I see from internet searches that many many have had this same problem.this part is almost $600 from Ford. It appears that Ford has a safety issue here that they are avoiding. I'm surprised that…
Headlights go off while driving. Lcm is bad, $500.00 for part. Very very dangerous situation. I was expecting to see a recall notice. This is the second lcm for me!
Fuel system
3 complaints · 4%Parts named most often: delivery, storage.
Vehicle has lack of power, no acceleration, won't shift in high gear, and check engine light comes on. Fuel pump failure, fuel pump pressure low under hard acceleration. Replace fuel pump. Three pump replacements in three years.
Fuel tank leak dealer stated that a hole had "rubbed through" the tank and that the tank would need to be replaced. This had been on-going for some time. Since the tank is bolted in place, how does it rub against something enough to wear a hole in the tank. I believe this is a design and safety flaw.
Electrical
3 complaints · 4%Parts named most often: wiring.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Ford Cvpi. The contact purchased a police vehicle three weeks ago and found a few outsanding recalls while attempting to install different parts on the vehicle. He called the Ford manufacturer and was informed that the recall repairs had not been previously performed. They further stated that…
The vehicle's headlights shut themselves off randomly while the headlights are in use. Intermittently, the lights will fail to turn on when the switch is turned on. These events have become increasingly frequent to the point that now the lights will fail several times on every night trip. Hitting a box called the…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2003 Ford Cvpi recalls
Wheels and tires: wheels
Risk: The cracks can ultimately result in rapid air loss from the tire and could affect vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the four road wheels and spare wheel based on the wheel part number. The recall began on march 15, 2007. Owners should contact ford at 1-800-343-5338.
Full defect summary
On certain police vehicles equipped with steel wheels, some of the wheels may develop cracks in the rim near the weld line that connects the rim to the disk.
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.
Wheels and tires: wheels
Risk: The cracks can ultimately result in rapid air loss from the tire and could affect vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the four road wheels and spare wheel with the manufacturing date codes of august 18, 2001 through september 22, 2002. In addition, ford is providing extended warranty coverage for wheels on 2003 crown victoria police interceptor and taxis built from october 1, 2002 through april 29, 2003. These wheels are exhibiting cracks at a substantially lower rate than those wheels included in the recall. Owner notification began on august 8, 2003. Owners should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Full defect summary
On certain police and taxi vehicles equipped with steel wheels, some of the wheels may develop cracks in the rim near the weld line that connects the rim to the disk.
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
Fracture of the steel wheel rim
Summary
Fracture (cracking) of the subject vehicle (sv) wheel, which was previously investigated under preliminary evaluation pe03-009 (safety recall 03v-279), occurs in the model year (my) 2003 to 2005 police interceptor vehicles only; civilian specification and other my vehicles are unaffected by this condition.for the affected subject wheels, a fatigue crack occurs in the heat affected zone of the rim material adjacent to the circumferential weld that attaches the rim to the outboard wheel disc.the crack initiates under the outboard tire bead near the heel (where air leakage cannot be assured) and subsequently grows circumferentially through cyclic bending as the wheels rolls.although the vast ma
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 2003 Ford Cvpi
- What are the most common problems with the 2003 Ford Cvpi?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: wheels and tires (67 complaints, typically around 83,500 miles); lights (8 complaints, typically around 135,000 miles); fuel system (3 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2003 Ford Cvpi have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from March 6, 2007 (wheels and tires). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2003 a bad year for the Ford Cvpi?
- It is the most complained-about Cvpi model year since 2000, with 78 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.
Other Ford Cvpi years
- 2003