1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA Complaints

INTAKE MANIFOLD HAS MALFUNCTIONED WHICH CAUSED ANTI FREEZE TO LEAK INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT, RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

MANIFOLD PIPE IS CRACKED, IT IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC AND WATER IS LEAKING OUT, AND VEHICLE OVERHEATED. CONSUMSER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP.*AK

THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL RELEASE THE IGNITION KEY BEFORE IT IS IN THE PROPER OFF POSITION. AT TIMES THERE IS A WARNING SOUND AND OTHER TIMES THERE IS NONE. WITH THE IGNITION KEY REMOVED BEFORE THE OFF POSITION IT WILL ALLOW THE CAR TO BE STARTED WITHOUT A KEY. THIS PRESENTS TWO RISKS: ONE - THE CAR CAN BE STOLEN, SECOND  A CHILD COULD ACCIDENTALLY START THE CAR AND PUT THE CAR IN GEAR. *AK

PARKING BRAKE: THE LINING ON THE PARKING BRAKES (DRIVER SIDE) WAS SEPARATED AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE WHEN APPLIED. THE PROBLEM WITH THE DISK/DRUM COMBINATION OF THE REAR ROTORS IS THAT DURING BRAKES INSPECTIONS THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BE OVERLOOK. IF THE BRAKE LINING WERE TO SEPARATE WHILE DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE A WHEEL TO FREEZE AND MAKE THE DRIVER LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.*AK

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON THE 1996 CROWN VICTORIA IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC. I BEGAN NOTICING AN "ANTIFREEZE SMELL" SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE THE PROBLEM WAS FINALLY ISOLATED. EVIDENTLY, THE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND WOULD NOT OPEN UP UNTIL THE ENGINE REACHED A CERTAIN TEMPERATURE. THEN WHEN THE TEMPERATURE REACHED THAT POINT THE ANTIFREEZE WOULD SPEW OUT ON TOP OF THE HOT ENGINE. WHEN THE HOOD WAS RAISED YOU COULD SEE THE MOISTURE ON THE NON-HOT PARTS. THE RESERVOIR WOULD BE DOWN ABOUT ONE OR TWO INCHES. I KEPT REFILLING IT WITH ANTIFREEZE. FINALLY, I CARRIED IT TO THE SHOP THINKING IT WAS A PIN HOLE IN THE HOSE OR A HUNG THERMOSTAT. IT WAS NEITHER. IT WAS A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE REPAIR COST $583.41. I HAVE THE PART AND A COPY OF THE INVOICE. *AK

VEH. # 1, "WIFE'S CAR-1996 FORD CV WITH A 4.6 LTR. 281CU ENGINE SUFFERED A CRACKED PLASTIC MANIFOLD IN APRIL OF 2000 WHILE ENROUTE TO WORK. VEHICLE HAS 85,000 MILES ON IT. COST OF REPAIR WAS $839.00 . FORD SHOP SAID THAT CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. VEH. NO. 2, "HUSBANDS CAR" SUSTAINED A CRACKED PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD ON 8-21-2000, CAR HAD 105,000 MILES ON IT. COSTS OF REPAIR WAS 739.00. FORD SHOP SAID THAT THEY WERE GIVING ME A DEAL BUT THAT MANUF. WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. I SPOKE TO APPROX. 22 FORD DEALERS AND PARTS HOUSE'S AND QUESTIONED THE NUMBER OF PLASTIC MANIFOLD INTAKE THAT HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE AND MOST PLACES SELL MORE THAN TWO DOZEN EACH MONTH. FORD CO. REFUSED TO DISCUSS THE MATTER WITH ME. TOLD ME TO WRITE A LETTER AND THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 5 MPH AND MAKING A SHARP TURN ON A CITY STREET ENGINE STALLLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.HAD NOT HAPPENED AGAIN SINCE THIS DATE.*AK VEHICLE STALLED 2 MORE TIMES SINCE SEP 2000

BRAKES WERE VIBRATING VERY LOUD, CONSUMER WAS VERY CONCERNED THAT BRAKES WERE GOING TO QUIT.*AK THE FRONT DISC ROTORS FAILURE AND FRONT ROTORS PULSATING WAS THE CAUSE FOR LOUD VIBRATION OF BRAKES. THE PROBLEM REOCCORED DUE TO BRAKE PAD FAILURE. *YH

CITY OF PENSACOLA POLICE VEHICLE A 1996 CROWN VICTORIA, UNIT 842, CAUGHT FIRE WHILE IT WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF WHILE PARKED UNDER A CARPORT DAMAGING THE RENTED MOBILE HOME AND TOTALLING THE VEHICLE. OUR JOFFICER WAS ASLEEP AT THE TIME AND WAS AWAKEN BY A NEIGHBOR WHO ADVISED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATALITY .ITY

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, MAKING A TURN ON A SMOOTH CURVE, VEHICLE JUST STRAIGHTENED OUT UNEXPECTEDLY. PITMAN ARM AND CONTROL ARM WERE RELACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK