RoadVitals

1997 Ford Crown Victoria Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
13
Latest Feb 16, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 288 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Ford Crown Victoria submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Feb 16, 2016

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 ID
10836445
Incident
Feb 14, 2016
Mileage
151,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 13, 2015

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 ID
10694139
Incident
Feb 15, 2014
Mileage
200,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Feb 25, 2015

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. *JB

NHTSA ID
10669016
Incident
Feb 2, 2015
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jan 27, 2013

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10494873
Incident
Dec 21, 2011
Mileage
195,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Oct 31, 2007
Fire reported

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.*JB

NHTSA ID
10208268
Incident
Sep 3, 2007
Driver assistanceElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Feb 19, 2005

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

NHTSA ID
10111808
Incident
Jan 24, 2005
Electrical
Filed Oct 15, 2004
Fire reported

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

NHTSA ID
10092594
Incident
Mar 3, 2004
Mileage
98,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed May 31, 2001

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 ID
561399
Incident
Sep 18, 2000
Electrical
Filed May 16, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
722774
Incident
May 7, 2000
ElectricalTransmission
Filed Oct 29, 1999

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. *AK

NHTSA ID
852195
Incident
Oct 20, 1999
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Sep 23, 1999
Fire reported

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 ID
848502
Incident
Aug 22, 1999
Electrical
Filed Feb 1, 1999

POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FAILURE, CAUSING HORN TO BEEP WHEN PARKED. *YC

NHTSA ID
607012
Electrical
Filed Jun 10, 1998
Fire reported

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. *AK

NHTSA ID
824150
Incident
Jun 10, 1998

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .