2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA Complaints

PREMATURE BEARING AND AXLE WEAR. IF NOT REPAIRED AXLE MAY BREAK. THIS WAS FOUND ON 7 OF 8 CARS CHECKED. CARS BUILT 02-04-03. MILEAGE 29278 TO 40559.*AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE PERTAINING TO HIS RIMS, BUT HAD DIFFICULTY GETTING THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED. *PH ONE OF THE VEHICLE'S RIMS WERE LEAKING. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER ABOUT THE RECALL BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER THE CONSUMER CALLED ABOUT THE RIMS AND WAS GIVEN AN APPOINTMENT. WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED AT THE DEALER THEY CLAIMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT IF THE CONSUMER WANTED THE RIMS REPLACED HER WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. (RECALL NUMBER 03V279000). *NM

FOUR 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE CRUISERS WERE INSPECTED AND MECHANIC FOUND THREE OUT OF FOUR HAD DAMAGED AXLES. *PH THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE REAR AXLES. ONE OUT THE AXLES WAS SAID TO HAVE DAMAGE TO THE POINT THE VEHICLE WASN'T DRIVABLE. THE UNIT HAD 25,300 MILES ON IT. THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS. *SC *JB

FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE SECOND TIME THE BRAKES FAILED TO COMPLETELY STOP THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. *PH *MR

I WAS APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT APROX. 25 MPH. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN. I AGAIN APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THERE WAS A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE AS IF I HAD SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES..WHICH I HAD NOT DONE. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ROLL FORWARD EVEN THOUGH I HAD THE BRAKE PEDAL FULLY ENGAGED.*AK

2003 CROWN VIC POLICE INTERC. POLICE CAR HAD ITS TIRE RIM REPLACED BY FORD 9/2003, NEW RIM DATED 8/1/2003 WAS FOUND TO HAVE A 12 INCH CRACK ON THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE RIM WHICH CAUSED THE TIRE TO DEFLATE. NUMBERS ON THE RIM WERE 16X7 J T DOT K4 34 080103.*AK

MY CONCERN IS FOR THE 2003 FORD POLICE CROWN VICTORIA (POLICE INTERCEPTOR) PROGRAM 03M03 WHICH IS CONCURRENT WITH SAFETY RECALL 03S05. THEY BOTH INVOLVE INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT OF CRACKED RIMS. HOWEVER, THE 03M03 DOES NOT ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. IT ONLY EXTENDS THE WARRANTY. BOTH CONCURRENT CAMPAIGNS DESCRIBE THE SAME SYMPTOMS (REPEATED SLOW AIR LEAK, NIBBLE IN STEERING, DIFFICULTY IN BALANCING TIRES AND RAPID AIR LOST). HOWEVER, AFTER CONTACTING MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY, I WAS TOLD THE RIMS WOULD NOT BE INSPECTED AT MY REQUEST. I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS WITH CITY OF RICHMOND FUNDS. FORD STATES "THAT ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF STEEL WHEELS MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 23, 2002 THROUGH APRIL 22, 2003 WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS CONDITION" . I FEEL A FAILURE THAT COULD OCCUR DURING A HIGH SPEED PURSUIT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. FORD ALSO SAYS IN THE 03S05 SAFETY RECALL THAT RAPID AIR LOSS MAY AFFECT VEHICLE CONTROL , POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.....PERSONAL INJURY OR POSSIBLE DEATH. PLEASE ADVISE ME CONCERNING THE ACTION TO TAKE WITH THESE RIMS. WE (CITY OF RICHMOND), ARE NOT AN ISOLATED CASE. MARK SCHULTZ FLEET MAINTENANCE TRAINING & QUALITY ASSURANCE CITY OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA . *JB

FOIA REQUEST ALL DOCUMENTS, COMPLAINTS, DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS, RECALLS, SERVICE BULLETINS, ETC RELATING TO NHTSA'S INVESTIGATION INTO THE POWER TRAIN ASSEMBLY, AXLE SHAFT OF THE 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA, NHTSA NO: PE 04010, ES HAVE NO RECORDS. (NAR) *LA *CB *JB

MY 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR HAS FIVE WHEELS THAT HAVE THE AFFECTED DATE CODE STAMPED ON THEM THAT INDICATE THEY ARE DEFECTIVE. THE LOCAL DEALER SERVICE WRITER TELLS ME THAT THEY DO NOT NEED REPLACING IF THEY ARE NOT LEAKING AIR. AM I SUPPOSED TO WAIT UNTIL I AM STRANDED OR INVLOVED IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE FORD WILL REPLACE THE RIMS? *AK

PROBLEM: THE REAR SWAY-BAR AND SWAY-BAR HOUSING ARE DAMAGED. APPARENTLY, THE INITIAL PROBLEM OCCURRED IN THE SWAY-BAR HOUSING, CAUSING EXCESS STRESS ON THE SWAY-BAR, CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER TOLD ME FORD IS APPARENTLY RE-MANUFACTURING THE PARTS BECAUSE OF "PROBLEMS" WITH THIS MODEL. THE DEALER WAS UNSURE IF FORD WAS GOING TO INITIATE A RECALL ON THIS MODEL. THE VEHICLE IS OWNED BY THE KNOX COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, BUT IT IS ASSIGNED TO ME FOR PERMANENT USE. THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND IS (STILL) AWAITING SERVICE AT LANCE CUNNINHAM FORD IN KNOXVILLE, TN. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS DEMONSTRATES YET ANOTHER SERIOUS AND POTENTIALLY LIFE-ENDANGERING DEFECT WITH THE CROWN VICTORIA. IF I HAD BEEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS (OR ABOVE, AS IS SOMETIMES REQUIRED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT WORK), I FEEL THAT (AT LEAST) SERIOUS BODILY INJURY WOULD HAVE RESULTED FROM A CRASH. I AM HOPEFUL THAT FORD WILL RECOGNIZE THE DEFECT AND TAKE APPROPRIATE MEASURES TO SAVE LIVES.