1997 FORD CROWN VICTORIA Complaints

THE COMPOSITE INTAKE MANIFOLDS DEVELOPED FATIGUE CRACKS, RESULTING IN TOTAL ENGINE COOLANT LEAKAGE. COMPLETE LOSS OF COOLANT RESULTED IN ENGINE FAILURE, OWNER WAS LUCKY TO BE ON LOCAL STREET AND NEAR TO A CAR REPAIR SHOP, SPENT $1100 ON REPAIR. *JB

THE CONSUMER WAS BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE AND WITHOUT WARNING THE FRONT END COLLAPSED TO THE GROUND. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

RE; SERVICE BULLETIN #97 FOR INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACEMENT FOR 97 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. *BF *SC

I WAS HEADING HOME FROM THE GROCERY STORE WHEN I GOT THREE TO FOUR MILES OF MY HOME WHEN I NOTICED FROM MY REARVIEW MIRROR, THAT THERE WAS A HEAVY MIST BILLOWING FROM BEHIND MY CAR. THEN I BEGAN TO SMELL THE COOLANT FLUID SOON AFTER. I MANAGED TO PULL INTO THE NEXT CLOSEST GROCERY TO INVESTIGATE. HEAVY STEM FROM THE COOLANT BILLOWED UP FROM THE MIDDLE OF MY ENGINE WHICH SOAKED WIRES AND OTHER ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENTS. I LET IT COOL DOWN FOR SOME TIME BEFORE I COULD ADD MORE WATER AND SET FOR HOME WHICH WAS ONLY LESS THAN A MILE AWAY. THE NEXT DAY I GOT THE CAR TO A MECHANIC SO HE COULD INVESTIGATE TO WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. IT WAS THE INTAKE MANUFOLD WHICH WAS MADE OF ALL THINGS...PLASTIC!!! THE MECHANIC CONTACTED AND PICKED UP THE REPLACEMENT THAT WAS MADE OF METAL. HE HAD DISCOVERED THAT HE WAS TOLD THAT FORD CO. NEVER SENT OUT RECALL NOTICES TO CROWN VICTORIA OWNERS ABOUT THE MAIFOLDS CRACKING. I HAD TO PAY OVER $500 FOR THE PART. ALONG WITH PARTS AND LABOR COSTS ADDING UP TO OVER $800. I AM APSOLUTELY BUGGERED TO PUT IT NICELY THAT THEY NEVER SAID ANYTHING!!! KNOWING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE PART! THEY JUST LOST A STEADY FORD CUSTOMER NOT JUST BECAUSE OF MY PLIGHT, BUT BECAUSE OTHER PEOPLE WERE LEFT IN THE DARK ABOUT THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM! AND YES! I HAVE THE OLD MANIFOLD AND PHOTOS! *AK

YOUR AGENCY HAS CONTACTED ME TWICE, CONCERNING A BRAKE FAILURE ON MY 1997 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. I HAVE LOCATED THE DEFECTIVE BRAKE LINE THAT YOU INQUIRED ABOUT, THE PIECE THAT WAS CUT OUT FOR THE REPAIRS. THIS NUMBER MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH MY COMPLIANT EA03012. I JUST CAN NOT REMEMBER THE GENTLEMANS NAME THAT FIRST CALLED ME. LATER AN ATTORNEY CALLED REPRESENTING HERSELF AS BEING WITH YOUR AGENCY. PLEASE CONTACT ME AGAIN.*AK

ON 10-24-04 OUR VEHICLE HAD THIS PROBLEM AS DESCRIPED ON YOUR WEBSITE. FORD REFUSES TO COVER. MAKE: FORD MODEL: CROWN VICTORIA TYPE: ANY YEAR: 1997 RECALL NUMBER: 98I001000 SUMMARY: THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATION 573. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. FORD IS INITIATING AN OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR OWNERS OF CERTAIN 1995-1997 CROWN VICTORIA MODEL VEHICLES WITH POLICE, TAXI, AND COMMERCIAL FLEET PACKAGES AND TOWN CAR VEHICLES WITH THE LIVERY PACKAGE. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE LINE AND THE UNDERBODY FRONT FLOOR PAN ASSEMBLY WHICH COULD CAUSE WEAR OF THE BRAKE LINES. CONSEQUENCE: THIS COULD LEAD TO BRAKE FLUID LOSS FOR THE REAR BRAKES AND, POTENTIALLY, INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES. REMEDY: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE LINES FOR WEAR, INSTALL TWO NEW TUBE BUNDLE CLIPS, AND CHECK THE BRAKE LINES FOR PROPER CLEARANCES. IF THE BRAKE LINES ARE WORN, THE DAMAGED SECTION OF THE BRAKE LINE WILL BE REPLACED. NOTES: NOTE: FORD HAS DECIDED TO CONDUCT A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO INSPECT THE BRAKE LINES WITHOUT CHARGE. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673. HTTP://WWW-SA.DOT.GOV/CARS/PROBLEMS/RECALLS/RESULTS.CFM. *AK

THE REAR SEAT BELT DIDN'T WORK. WHEN THE BELT WAS PULLED OUT IT ONLY CAME OUT PART OF THE WAY. *AK BOTH REAR SHOULDER BELT SUFFERED THE SAME CONDITION. *SC

WHILE PARKED A FIRE ERUPTED UNDER THE HOOD. DEALER STATED THE FIRE STARTED AROUND THE CRUISE CONTROL WIRING. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK THE ITEMS UNDER THE HOOD WERE REPLACED AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. *NM

I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE HIGHWAY AND MY CAR STARTED TO OVERHEAT VERY QUICKLY, WITHIN 2 MINUTES. THE TEMPERATURE GOT SO HOT SMOKE POURED OUT, AND THE CAR STALED. AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES IT COOLED DOWN ENOUGH TO GET IT HOME, AND THEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP. SMOKE WAS EVERYWHERE. THE REPAIR PERSON SIGHTED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ASSEMBLY WAS RESPONSIBLE, AND THAT HE HAS SEEN A LOT OF SUCH PROBLEMS IN CROWN VICTORIA'S OF THE SAME YEAR 1997. THE REPAIR WAS $989.54, AND THE MILAGE ON THE VEHICLE IS CONSIDERABLY LOW FOR THE YEAR. IT ONLY HAS 69, 500 MILES. THE REPAIR SHOP HAS THE DEFECTIVE MANIFOLD.*AK

HEADLIGHT LENSES ARE GRADUALLY TURNING YELLOW, CAUSING REDUCED VISIBILITY AT NIGHT.