11 of the
340 complaints about the 1997 Ford Crown Victoria are about the
lighting — 3% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
100,000 miles.
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.
Decatur, GA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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 milesNashville, TN
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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.
at 136,000 milesTinley Park, ILFire
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
AT 1:15 A.M. ON DECEMBER 27, 2006, I DROVE MY 1997 CROWN VICTORIA FOR APROXIMATLY 20 MILES AND PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. ABOUT AN HOUR AND THIRTY MINUTES LATER, I WAS AWAKEN BY A POPPING SOUND AND THE DOG BARKING. I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW TO FIND THE CAR'S ENGINE COMPARTMENT FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I THEN CALLED 911 AND RAN OUT TO TRY TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A GARDEN HOSE. THE HEAT FROM THE FIRE BURNED THROUGH THE HOOD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE IN THE AREA OF THE BRAKING SYSTEMS MASTER CILINDER, THEN IGNITED THE DRIVERS SIDE TIRE AND ALL PLASTIC COMPONENTS RENDERING THE HOSE INEFECTIVE. BY THE TIME THE FIRE TRUCK ARRIVED, THE FLAMES HAD SPREAD TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR AND A MASSIVE PLASTIC / RUBBER FIRE ENSUED.THE FIREMEN DOUSED IT WITH WATER FOR ABOUT FIFTEEN MINUTES THEN USED A FOAMING AGENT TO EXTINGUISH WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTING THE REMAINS, IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BECAUSE THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR WAS MOSTLY INTACT. I HAD OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND HAD IT MAINTAINED ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE ONLY MAJOR REPAIR PERFORMED ON THE CAR WAS REPLACING A DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD (THAT TOO SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED, DUE TO THE HIGH NUMBER OF INCIDENTS INVOLVING THAT PERTICULAR MANIFOLD DESIGN). AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH INTO THE CAUSE OF THIS FIRE, I DISCOVERED THAT THIS WAS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. IT WOULD SEEM THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN SEVERAL MODELS MADE BY THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY. TO RESEARCH THIS PROBLEM GO TO WWW.VEHICLE-INJURIES.COM AND LOOK UNDER "FORD EXPEDITION CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH FIRES".
NHTSA complaint #10177276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 75,000 milesPhiladelphia, PA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES
97 FORD CROWN VICTORIA PLASTIC HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES FOGGED OVER AND BECAME USELESS AND DANGEROUS..TRIED VARIOUS CLEANING AGENTS TO NO AVAIL..HAD TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES..
NHTSA complaint #10168807 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 99,400 milesHampton, VA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FLASHING HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS AND THE TURN SIGNALS MALFUNCTIONED. THIS OCCURRED WITHOUT PRIOR OCCURRENCES OR WARNING. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE LIGHTS WERE CONNECTED TO A LARGE CONTROL MODULE INSTEAD OF A SIMPLE FUSE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TO A DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. *AK (11/17/05) THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO WIGGLE THE SIGNAL LEVER AND PRESS ON THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH TO GET THEM TO WORK, BUT THE BRIGHT LIGHTS HAD TO BE HELD IN POSITION.
NHTSA complaint #10140437 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 99,400 milesHampton, VA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FLASHING HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS AND THE TURN SIGNALS MALFUNCTIONED. THIS OCCURRED WITHOUT PRIOR OCCURRENCES OR WARNING. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE LIGHTS WERE CONNECTED TO A LARGE CONTROL MODULE INSTEAD OF A SIMPLE FUSE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TO A DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. *AK (11/17/05) THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO WIGGLE THE SIGNAL LEVER AND PRESS ON THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH TO GET THEM TO WORK, BUT THE BRIGHT LIGHTS HAD TO BE HELD IN POSITION.
NHTSA complaint #10140437 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Roseville, MI
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS
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 100,000 milesStony Brook, NY
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHT LENSES ARE GRADUALLY TURNING YELLOW, CAUSING REDUCED VISIBILITY AT NIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #10086553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Daytona Beach, FL
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
PLASTIC HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS DISINTEGRATED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, AND WILL PERAIR THE VEHICLE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE.
NHTSA complaint #859461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angele, CA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEAD LIGHTS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #607004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.