2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA Complaints

MY 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA, DEVELOPED A GRINDING NOISE IN THE REAR END ON 8/05/04. TOOK IT TO HAVE IT CHECKED ON 8/12/04 AND FOUND OUT THAT THE REAR AXLE BEARINGS WERE BAD AND THAT THEY HAD CUT INTO THE AXLE SHAFT. I HAD TO HAVE THE AXLE SHAFTS, BEARINGS AND SEALS REPLACED AT A COST OF $513.45. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THE 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA "FLEET" VEHICLES (RECALL #04S16) FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED FORD ON 8/13/04 AND FOUND OUT THAT IT ONLY APPLIED TO VEHICLES ASSEMBLED AT THE ST. THOMAS FACILITY BETWEEN 12/01 AND 12/02. THEY ALSO VERIFIED BY MY VIN# [XXX], THAT MY CAR WAS ASSEMBLED IN THE ST. THOMAS FACILITY IN 7/02. I WAS INFORMED THAT MY CAR IS NOT INVOLVED IN THIS RECALL. I ALSO FOUND THAT FORD HAD ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) ADVISING DEALERS TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SERVICE COMPLAINTS CENTERING AROUND REAR AXLE NOISE IN THE 2003 CROWN VICTORIAS, AND TWO OTHER MODELS MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO 01/01/03 AND INCLUDED ALL CHASSIS CONFIGURATIONS (NOT ONLY FLEET VEHICLES) EXCEPT HEAVY-DUTY LIMOUSINE AND HEARSE CHASSIS. ACCORDING TO FORDS RECALL INFORMATION, "EARLY BEARING FAILURE AND ULTIMATELY AXLE SHAFT FRACTURE WOULD LEAD TO LOSS OF DRIVE FUNCTION AND COULD LEAD TO A CRASH". I ALSO FOUND THAT IT COULD LEAD TO A WHEEL-OFF FAILURE AND A RESULTING CRASH. I ALSO FIND THAT FORD ISSUED A "SILENT RECALL" OR "SECRET WARRANTY" TO DEAL WITH CUSTOMER PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THE END OF THE FACTORY WARRANTY (DEALER OPERATION CODE 030505A). MY CAR HAD APPROX 21000 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT AND NOW HAS APPROX 69000 MILES ON IT. IN MY OPINION, FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS DECIDED TO BE SELECTIVE IN WHICH VEHICLES THEY ARE RECALLING WITHOUT REGARD FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD OVERLOOK THE MANY PEOPLE THAT FERRY THEIR FAMILIES AROUND ON A DAILY BASIS IN A CAR THAT IS NOT DEEMED A "FLEET" CAR BUT THAT APPARENTLY STILL HAS A PROBLEM.*AK UPDATED 07/25/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO TH

COMPLAINT REGARDING DEFECT OF SOME STEEL ROAD WHEELS.*MR THE OFFICERS DEPT WAS NOTIFIED OF THE SAFETY RECALL 03S05 CONCERNING THE DEFECT OF SOME STEEL WHEELS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT RECALL 03S05 HAD BEEN PERFORMED. ABOUT 10 MONTHS LATER THE VEHICLE'S FRONT TIRE BEGAN LOOSING AIR PRESSURE OFTEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER. THE INSPECTION REVEALED A SEVERE CRACK IN THE AREA OF THE WELD JOINING THE DISK OF THE WHEEL HUB. THERE WAS A SEPARATION OF 1/16 OF AN INCH BETWEEN THE WHEEL HUB AND OUTSIDE WHEEL DISK AND THE CRACK EXTENDED 18 INCHES AROUND THE HUB WELD. *NM SEE ODI 10093959, SAME INCIDENT. *DSY

LEFT FRONT WHEEL HAS SLOW LEAK. THE TIRE WAS DISMOUNTED AND HAD NO PUNCTURES EVIDENT. THE WHELL WAS INSPECTED AND A SMALL CRACK WAS DETECTED. THE WHEEL WAS REPLACED. THE CRACKED WHEEL WAS RETURNED TO FORD MOTOR CO., ATTN: DEB USRUM.*AK

WHILE ENGAGING IN REVERSE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT 90 MPH. THE TIRES WERE SCREECHING AND SMOKING. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE COLLIDED INTO THREE OTHER VEHICLE AND A PEDESTRIAN. *AK A CHILD WAS INJURED. (PINNED BETWEEN THE VEHICLE AND HIS FATHER'S VEHICLE) THE CONSUMER STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR TO BACK OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE. THE CONSUMER THEN STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND GENTLY ON THE ACCELERATOR AGAIN, AND THE VEHICLE RACED AWAY BACKWARDS AT A EXTREMELY FAST SPEED. THE CONSUMER STEPPED ON THE BRAKES WITH ALL HER STRENGTH, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. *SC

DEALERSHIP HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO PERFORM THE STEEL WHEEL RECALL 03V279000 REPAIRS FOR ALMOST 10 MONTHS BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER.*AK

DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO PERFORM THE STEEL WHEEL RECALL 03V279000 REPAIRS FOR ALMOST 10 MONTHS BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER.*AK

DEALERSHIP HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO PERFORM THE STEEL WHEEL RECALL 03V279000 REPAIRS FOR ALMOST 10 MONTHS BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER. *AK

1) LACK OF POWER/ENGINE STOPS 2) FUEL PUMP FAILURE 2003 MODELS 20% FAILURE RATE AS OF TODAY (10 OF 49 UNITS) 3) REPLACE FUEL PUMP, ONE UNIT ON IT'S SECOND REPLACEMENT. *AK

1) REAR AXLE WHEEL SEAL LEAK, REAR AXLE "PLAY" 2) AXLE GROOVES AND VEHICLE STABILITY AND HANDELING (DRIVEABILTY) PROBLEMS, BRAKES COATED WITH GREASE CAUSING BRAKE PREFORMANCE ISSUES. *AK 3) AXLE AND BEARINGS REPLACED

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED FRONT SEAT MOVED BACK AND FORTH. ALSO, SPEEDOMETER FAILED. DEALERSHIP URGED CONSUMER TO CALL AND FILE A COMPLAINT. *AK