1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA Complaints

THERE IS A STRONG ANTIFREEZE SMELL WHILE DRIVING, THEN, POWER STEERING STARTED SLIPPING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK CONSUMER STATES WHEN PULLING OVER, THE ENGINE WAS STEAMING FROM A CRACK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD JUST BEHIND THE ALTERNATOR, ENGINE COOLANT WAS SPRAYING ONTO THE ALTERNATOR AND BELT, THE COOLANT LEAK DISABLED THE POWER STEERING UNIT, THE SPARK PLUG WIRES HAD ALSO BEEN CONTAMINATED DUE TO THE COOLANT LEAK AND THE THERMOSTAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. *SLC

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED NEAR THE THERMOSTAT AND ALL THE COOLANT LEAKED OUT CAUSING THE CAR TO OVERHEAT. TOOK IT TO RANDALL NOE FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT FIXED. THEY TOLD ME WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. AT THAT TIME I TOLD THEM IT SOUNDED LIKE A DESIGN DEFECT. THEY SAID THEY HAD SEEN A LOT OF FAILURES LIKE THIS. I ASKED THEM TO CHECK FOR RECALLS WHICH THEY DID BUT NONE WERE FOUND. ABOUT 30 DAYS AGO (AROUND MARCH 15, 2002) A RELATIVE SENT ME AN EMAIL SHOWING THAT MANY 1996 CROWN VICTORIAS WERE BEING RECALLED FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAID OURS WAS NOT INCLUDED. I WOULD LIKE THE NTSA TO MAKE THEM INCLUDE IT. I KNOW, ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC, THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT WAS CLEARLY A DESIGN DEFECT AND FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE $800+ THAT I PAID TO HAVE IT FIXED. THANKS MIKE PARKS

WHILE DRIVING BRAKES CONSTANTLY RUBBING AND CAUSING BRAKE LINE TO FAIL. *AK REFERENCED IN RQ03-004

THEIR HAVE BEEN 3 VIN# RECALLED POLICE CARS,TOW TRUCK DRIVER NEW WHEN I TOLD HIM WHAT PART HAD FAILED INTAKE MANIFOLD. NEW MANIFOLD FRONT PART IS NOW MADE OF METAL. THIS A MANUFACTOR PROBLEM NOT A DEALER PROBLEM. A MAN CAME UP TO ME AND ASKED IF I HAD A PROBLEM WITH INTAKE MANIFOLD HIS HAD DONE THE SAME THING. *AK

MY ENGINE COOLANT LEAKS OUT VIA A CRACKED MANIFOLD INTAKE. IT CAUSES THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, AND HAS DAMAGED THE ALTERNATOR WITH LEAKING COOLANT.*AK

MY ENGINE COOLANT LEAKS OUT VIA A CRACKED MANIFOLD INTAKE. IT CAUSES THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, AND HAS DAMAGED THE ALTERNATOR WITH LEAKING COOLANT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD OR DURING A TURN, VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, VEHICLE HAS CRASHED INTO A CURB DAMAGING TIRES AND RIMS, DEALER CAN NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *SLC

RECALL 01 F 025 000/INTAKE MANIFOLD; INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK, AND ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN.FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

VEHICLE STALLS WHEN MAKING SLOW TURNS. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER 6 TIMES, CANNOT FIND CAUSE. *AK

A CORNER SEAL FOR INTAKE MANIFOLD IS CRACKING, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN 01F025000. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK