2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AFTER DRIVING 14 MILES, THE KEY WOULD BECOME VERY HOT WHICH WAS NOTICED WHEN IT WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE ELECTRICAL WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO UP OR DOWN PROPERLY AS THEY SHOULD AND ACTIVATE EITHER VERY SLOWLY OR VERY QUICKLY. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT WOULD NOT GO BACK AND FORTH AS IT SHOULD AND EITHER MOVES VERY SLOWLY OR NOT AT ALL. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL FAILURE WITH THE WINDOWS AND THE SEAT. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH WORKS INTERMITTENTLY AND MUST BE HELD IN ORDER FOR IT TO ACTIVATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE DIFFERENTIAL ON THE VEHICLE IS WORN OUT. THE REAR BEARINGS WERE WORN AND CAUSED THE AXLE TO SEPARATE FROM THE HOUSING. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BEARINGS BEGAN SMOKING AND SMELLED LIKE HOT ASPHALT. SMOKE ALSO ROSE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE GEAR OIL LEAKED OUT OF THE BEARINGS AND ONTO THE BRAKES. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT PERMISSION WAS NEEDED FROM THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. AFTERWARDS, THE DEALER REPAIRED THE FAILURE UNDER RECALL NUMBER 04V328000 (SUSPENSION:REAR). THE DIFFERENTIAL FAILED SIX MONTHS LATER AND THE DEALER CURRENTLY REFUSES TO WORK ON THE VEHICLE UNLESS THE CONTACT PAYS FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,344.

NOISE IN REAR OF CAR. WHEN I LOOKED AT RIGHT REAR WHEEL I SAW OIL. I THEN TOOK IT TO THE CLOSES AUTO REPAIR SHOP IN MIDLAND TEXAS WHICH WAS ALLEN S AUTO REPAIR. THEY TORE THE REAR END DOWN AND FOUND THAT BOTH REAR AXLES WERE WORN CONSIDERABLY THEY ALSO TOLD ME THERE WAS PLENTY OF OIL STILL IN THE REAR END. THEY ALSO SHOWED ME A BULLETIN THAT FORD MOTOR CO. PUT OUT ON THIS PROBLEM, SO APPARENTLY THEY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS IN THE PAST. WHEN I GOT HOME IN BANDER TEXAS AFTER GETTING THE REPAIRS THAT COST ME $677.00 TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE TOLD ME THAT THEY HA D THE SAME PROBLEM ONE EVEN LOST A WHEEL. THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 70,000 MILES WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I HAD JUST DELIVERED 5 GRAND CHILDREN TO THE AIR PORT. THIS COULD HAVE LOCKED UP OR RAN A WHEEL OFF. THE AXLES WERE WORN DOWN QUITE A BIT. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2007, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIR FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V079000 (WHEELS) PERFORMED. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR COULD NOT BE MADE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER AN ACTIVE POLICE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS INFORMATION WAS NOT MENTIONED IN THE SAFETY RECALL. HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WANTS THE RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,300.

WENT TO MIDLAND TEXAS FROM BANDERA TX. WHICH WAS AROUND 300 MI. WAS HAVING NOISE IN LEFT REAR WHEEL UPON INSPECTION SAW OIL ON WHEEL. IT WAS ON WEEK END I HAD A REPUTABLE AUTO SHOP CHECK IT OUT AND FOUND BOTH REAR AXLES WERE WORN REAL BAD. THEIR WAS PLENTY OF OIL IN DIFFERENTIAL. THEY HAD ABULLETIN MAKING THEM AWARE OF THE PROBLEM SO FORD KNEW THEIR IS A PROBLEM. SINCE I HAVE HAD TWO MORE PEOPLE IN BANDERA TX. THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ONE HAD A WHEEL COME OFF. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING AND KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE. HE STATED THAT THE BEARINGS PUNCTURED THE AXLE SHAFT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BEARINGS AND AXLE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 82,000.

I HAVE A 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA WITH A 4.6L V8 AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IN THE LAST 44,000 MILES I HAVE HAD TWO REAR AXLE FAILURES THAT NECESSITATED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AXLE SHAFTS, SEALS ETC. THE FIRST FAILURE WAS AT 57,902 MI AND WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE SECOND AT 102,753MI - 44,851 MILES. I HAVE FOUND THAT FORD DOES HAVE A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES BUT WILL NOT COVER MY VEHICLE AS IT IS NOT A TAXI/POLICE/FLEET VEHICLE. I AM NEARLY 60, DRIVE MOSTLY FREEWAY AND COUNTRY ROADS, DO NOT RACE ANYONE, DO NOT TOW ANYTHING AND WORK TO GET THE BEST GAS MILEAGE I CAN FROM MY CAR. I DRIVE IT GENTLY. I HAVE HAD THE REAR AXLE SERVICED PER THE SCHEDULE AND IT WAS ONLY ABOUT 3,000 MILES AFTER MY LAST AXLE SERVICE THAT THIS NEW FAILURE OCCURRED. I SAW FLUID ALL OVER THE WHEEL WELL AND UPON REMOVING THE TIRE SAW FLUID COMING OUT OF THE HUB AREA. THINKING IT WAS AN EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILURE TOOK IT TO A CERTIFIED SHOP AND FOUND OUT IT WAS THE AXLE SEALS GOING AND THE AXLE SHAFT DETERIORATING. THIS WAS A $458.31 REPAIR THAT I FEEL SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN NECESSARY. MY AXLE HAS FAILED AT 57KMI AND 44KMN LATER. I HAVE READ ON THE WEB OF NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE HAD REAR AXLES GO AND THAT SOME OF THESE CAUSED ACCIDENTS. I WAS LUCKY BOTH TIMES BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON CARS FOR OVER 40 YEARS AS A HOBBY AND WATCH MY CARS CAREFULLY. I FEEL FORDS POSITION OF USING ONLY VIN NUMBERS, RATHER THAT INCIDENTS, IS A DANGER TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

THE SUFFOLK COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT ENCOUNTERED A PROBLEM CONCERNING WHEEL RIMS ON THE 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA WHICH WERE OUTSIDE FORD SAFETY RECALL #03S05. WHILE INSPECTING RIMS DETAILED IN THIS RECALL, THIS DEPARTMENT FOUND CRACKS IN RIMS WHICH HAD NOT BEEN LISTED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN AS BEING POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT AGENCIES UTILIZING CROWN VICTORIAS EQUIPPED WITH WHEEL RIMS HAVING 7 VENT HOLES CONSIDER EXPANDING THE INSPECTION OF SAID RIMS. RIMS THAT HAVE REPETITIVE SLOW LEAKS COUND BE INDICATIVE OF A RIM OR WELD CRACK AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE FOR A PROPER INSPECTION OF THE WELDS.

TL*-THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HIS 2003 CROWN VICTORIA AT A SPEED OF 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE SOUNDED OF METAL GRINDING AGAINST METAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND A FEW SECONDS LATER THE VEHICLE STARTED MOVING AGAIN. WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED, HE TOOK HIS FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE WOULD START GOING AT A LOW SPEED AND WOULD ACCELERATE TO 55 MPH. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR SUSPENSION. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000 MILES.

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2003 CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR HAD A RECALL 04V328000 THAT WAS REPAIRED 08/24/04 FOR THE REAR SUSPENSION. HE STATED THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH ON THE PARKWAY THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT REGAIN SPEED AND HE COASTED DOWN THE HILL TO THE AUTO DEALERSHIP. HE HEARD A SCREECHING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR AXLE. ON THAT DAY HE WAS TAKING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL WAS REPAIRED, AND THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE UNTIL 02/27/07. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH ON A CLEAR DAY THE VEHICLE MADE A SCREECHING NOISE FROM THE REAR AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP ON THE HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR. HE SMELLED SMOKE, AND NOTICED A HUGE CLOUD OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN THE EXPRESS LANE AND COULDN'T MOVE IT. HE STATED THAT HE JUMPED OUT THE VEHICLE AND NOTICE THE TIRE WAS POINTED AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE. THE CONTACT PLACE THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER IN PARK AND THE VEHICLE ROLL BACKWARDS, HE STATED THAT HE GOT THE VEHICLE TO STOP BY PUTTING SOME ROAD DEBRIS BEHIND THE WHEEL AND TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO GET THE WHEEL TO CHANGE ANGELS. HE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR AXLE BROKE, AND THE BRAKED LINE RUPTURED. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED HIM THAT THE BRAKE LINE RUPTURE WAS WHAT CAUSED THE SMOKE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81232. UPDATED 04/12/07. *JB