FaultScore

1997 Ford Crown Victoria electrical problems

14 of the 340 complaints about the 1997 Ford Crown Victoria are about the electrical system — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 173,000 miles.

F

14

Complaints

0

Crashes

4

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Electrical System 6 42.9%
Front Underhood 3 21.4%
Horn 1 7.1%
Module 1 7.1%
Fuses AND Circuit Breakers 1 7.1%
Interior/Under Dash 1 7.1%
Alternator/Generator/Regulator 1 7.1%

Electrical System across every Ford Crown Victoria year

1985 11 3.3%
1986 21 6.4%
1987 15 4.6%
1988 21 6.4%
1989 26 7.9%
1990 11 3.3%
1991 10 3.0%
1992 58 17.6%
1993 23 7.0%
1994 12 3.6%
1995 16 4.9%
1996 13 4.0%
1997 14 4.3%
1999 12 3.6%
2003 21 6.4%
2004 23 7.0%
2005 22 6.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 151,000 miles Hickory, NC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, CLOCK, AND RADIO LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.

NHTSA complaint #10836445 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 200,000 miles Shakopee, MN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TIRES, TIE RODS, BALL JOINTS, BRAKES, AND BATTERY WERE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE KEPT RECURRING. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AN UNKNOWN ELECTRIC FAILURE THAT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA complaint #10694139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Decatur, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1997 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. VEHICLE HAS HAD REPAIRS DONE IN THE PAST AND STILL RECEIVES SAME PROBLEMS DUE TO RECALL. *TA THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY SHUT DOWN. A DIAGNOSE REVEALED A PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE. ONCE IT WAS REPLACED, THE CONSUMER DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY MORE PROBLEMS UNTIL THE SUMMER 2014 WHEN THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRED. AGAIN, THE LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10669016 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 195,000 miles Nashville, TN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WAS DRIVING ALONG AND THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED AND WENT OUT. OVER THE PASS YEAR IT HAS INTERMITTENTLY DONE THE SAME. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND FORTUNATELY I HAD JUST STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. EACH TIME IT TOOK ABOUT 3 TO 5 MINUTES TO COME BACK ON. IT IS VERY DISCONCERTING SINCE THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. SO PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS LIGHTLY, I USE THE EXPRESSWAY A LOT AND AM DRIVING IN VERY CONGESTED TRAFFIC MOST OF THE TIME. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT FORD HAS DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY OCCURRENCES WITH THESE TYPE OF VEHICLES ONLINE. IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE A MAJOR ACCIDENT OCCURS. ALSO MOST PEOPLE LIKE ME CANNOT AFFORD THESE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS THAT ARE NOT DUE TO ORDINARY WEAR AND TEAR, BUT A MANUFACTURER'S PROBLEM. IF NO ACTION IS TAKEN IT WILL BE QUITE A DISAPPOINTMENT BECAUSE THESE CARS ARE VERY POPULAR AND YOUNGER PEOPLE ARE BUYING THEM WHICH BECOMES MORE SCARY IN LIGHT OF THE KIND OF DRIVERS THEY ARE.

NHTSA complaint #10494873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Raleigh, NC Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1997 FORD CROWN VICTORIA CAUGHT FIRE. CUSTOMER STATES THAT CAR WAS CHECKED BY THE DEALER FOR THE DEFECTIVE PART FOR THE RECALL REGARDING THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH AND THE MECHANIC TOLD HIM EVERYTHING WAS FINE. FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *KB ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, THE FIRE WAS DETERMINED TO BE ELECTRICAL.

NHTSA complaint #10208268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Roseville, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

THE HORN / CRUISE CONTROL / AND HAZARD LIGHTS HAVE QUIT WORKING I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET IT REPAIRED YET.

NHTSA complaint #10111808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 98,000 miles Bishopville, SC Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

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.

NHTSA complaint #10092594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pittsburgh, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES STALLING AT SLOW SPEEDS IN TRAFFIC AND AT STOP SIGNS, DEALER HAS REPLACED IDLE AIR CONTROL AND FUEL PUMP AND HAS REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER, HOWEVER THE STALLING STILL OCCURS AND THE DEALER CAN NOT REMEDY, CONSUMER HAS ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED ON TWO OCCASIONS, WHEN STALLING OCCURS, ALL POWER STEERING IS LOST, POSSIBLY ENGINE OR COMPUTER RELATED. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #561399 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Glendale, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #722774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW York, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WHILE DRIVING TAXI TO GARAGE TRANSMISSION WOULD KEEP SLIPPING, EVEN ON THE STREETS. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE IN MOTION & VEHICLE STOPPED. FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. DRIVER WAS INFORMED LOCATION FROM ENGINE AFTER NOTICING SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD.

NHTSA complaint #852195 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Malden, MA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

HAD A PREVIOUS PROBLEM WITH ALWAYS BLOWING A FUSE. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CAUSE WAS A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE HEATING SYSTEM. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK REFERENCED IN EA02-025

NHTSA complaint #848502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LOS Angele, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

ELECTRONIC DIGITAL INSTRUMENTATION FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #607004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santa Mari, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FAILURE, CAUSING HORN TO BEEP WHEN PARKED.

NHTSA complaint #607012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

East Hampton, NY Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

POLICE DEPARTMENT- EAST HAMPTON TOWN POLICE: WHEN TRAVELING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNDETERMINED. VEHICLE IS AWAITING SERVICE AT A FORD DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #824150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 Ford Crown Victoria problems

← Full 1997 Ford Crown Victoria report