Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. 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. 85 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.
The 25 most recent of 85, in the owner's own words
THE CAR HAS A FIBER GLASS INTAKE AND MY CAR HAS ABOUT 75,000 MILES..A FIBERGLASS INTAKE IS A DEFECTED PRODUCT FOR THIS PART OF A ENGINE,BECAUSE OF THE HEAT.I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW AND EVEN PAID FOR THE EXTENDED WARRENTY..FORD MOTOR CO. SHOULD REPLACE THIS DEFECT PART,,FOR FREE..I HAD TO PARK MY CAR OVER 3 YEARS AGO..
WHILE DRIVING IN NJ, THE MANIFOLD BLEW AND MADE THE VEHICLE INOPERATIVE. LUCKILY, MY MECHANIC CAME AND TOWED THE CAR TO HIS GARAGE. THE MECHANIC PERFORMED A PRESSURE TEST AND DETERMINED THAT THE 'PLASTIC MANIFOLD' HAD BLOWN. THE ORIGIN OF THE FLUID LEAK WAS BEHIND THE ALTERNATOR. THEN WE DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM BACK IN 2004-5. I NEVER KNEW, NOR WAS I NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR. THE CAR WAS JUST INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO DIAGNOSE A "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ON, NO DISCUSSION WAS MADE ABOUT THIS MANIFOLD PROBLEM ... THEY EVEN CHECKED FOR ANY PREVIOUS TECHNICAL BULLETINS. SO, NOW WHAT HAPPENS?
I OWN A 1997 CROWN VIC LESS THAN 100 THOUSAND MILES. BOUGHT THE CAR 2 YEARS AGO AT DEALERSHIP IN LOUISVILLE KY. FOUND OUT THERE WAS RECALLS ON VEHICLE AFTER PURCHASE WAS TOLD CARMAX WAS GOOD. NOW HERE I SIT WITH A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH WAS RECALLED, BUT NOONE EVERY FIXED IT. SOMEONE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS, YES WAS A RECALL SHOULDN'T THERE BE A LAW TO MAKE SOMEONE STAND BEHIND THE CRACK INTAKE MANIFOLD THIS WAS A 1 OWNER WHEN I BOUGHT IT WITH ONLY LIKE 60000 MILES,. *TR
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND THOUGHT A COOLANT HOSE HAD RUPTURED BUT AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY MECHANIC'S PLACE OF BUSINESS WAS TOLD THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. AFTER RESEARCHING I FOUND THAT FORD HAD ISSUED A RECALL FOR ONLY A FEW MODELS EVEN THOUGH MOST OF THEIR 8 CYLINDER 4.6 ENGINES UTILIZED THE SAME DEFECTIVE "COMPOSITE" INTAKE MANIFOLD. MY CROWN VICTORIA IS A 1997 WITH 60,000 ORIGINAL MILES! *TR
WHILE CHECKING THE OIL IN THE CAR, WE NOTICED A CRACK IN THE INTAKE. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM LIKE WITH THE FIREBIRD INTAKE RECALLS. *TR
INTAKE PLASTIC MANIFOLD CRACKED CAUSING LOSS OF COOLANT. VEHICLE HAD 67660 MILES ON IT. THIS IS THE SECOND CROWN VIC WE HAVE OWNED AND IT WILL BE THE LAST. THE FIRST ONE'S TRANSMISSION WENT OUT JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY RAN OUT. WE HAD TO BUY A SECOND CROWN VIC DUE TO THE STEERING MODIFICATIONS NECESSARY FOR MY WIFE TO DRIVE AND THE CROWN VIC IS THE ONLY CAR AT THE TIME THAT COULD BE MODIFIED TO THE NECESSARY STANDARDS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE ENGINE THEN BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO FURTHER INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED STEAM NEAR THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT BECAUSE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC, IT FAILED. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY OVER $3,000 TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 91,000.
I RECENTLY DETERMINED THAT I NOW HAVE A LEAKING FRONT COVER/INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET/CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD ON MY 1997 FORD CROWN VICTORIA 4.6 LITER V-8 WHICH WILL REQUIRE IMMEDIATE REPAIR. HAD THIS DEFECT MANIFESTED ITSELF BACK IN 2005, I WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY THE CHAMBERLAN V. FORD SETTLEMENT BUT CLASS MEMBERS HAD TO SEEK REIMBURSEMENT BY MARCH 16, 2006. SINCE MY 1997 FORD CROWN VICTORIA HAS ONLY RECENTLY STARTED LEAKING COOLANT, I GUESS I WILL HAVE TO FORK OVER THE REPAIR MONIES MYSELF. IS THERE ANY CHANCE OF FORD REPAIRING THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT GRATIS? F
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT A STRONG GUST OF HEAT COMING THROUGH HER VENTS. SHE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO HER RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. A LOCAL MECHANIC CAME TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED HER THAT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH AN IRON INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000. UPDATED 06/17/08. *LJ
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VENTS. SHE PULLED OVER AND EXITED THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE INSURANCE AND WAS TAKEN TO THE JUNK YARD. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.
INTAKE MANIFOLD ON MY 1997 FORD CROWN VICTORIA CRACKED ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO MANIFOLD. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT IN 2005 WHICH I NEVER WAS TOLD ABOUT. *TR
I OWN A !997 CROWN VICTORIA, WHICH OVERHEATED DUE TO A CRACK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE 4-06-2002, AND DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE RECALL UNTIL I LOOKED IT UP ON THE INTERNET! I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR MYSELF, I THINK I SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED BY FORD! *JB
TL*THE CONTACT'S SON OWNS A 1997 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE PARKED. THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE NOTICED SMOKE FILLING UP INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, THEN LIFTED THE HOOD AND FLAMES BEGAN TO RISE. THE WIRES TO THE MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKES WERE DAMAGED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED FORD AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE AND THAT IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THERE WERE RECALLS FOR TRUCKS OF THAT LINE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE FORD DEALER. THE POWER TRAIN AND MILEAGE INFORMATION WERE UNKNOWN.
1997 FORD CROWN VIC TRAVELING EAST OF AUSTIN TX AT POSTED HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN A CRACK DEVELOPED IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WITH RESULTED IN LOSS OF COOLANT , AND SUBSEQUENTLY MOTOR FUNCTION. TOWED TO AUTHORIZED LINCOLN MERCURY DEALER IN AUSTIN, AND WAS INFORMED BY TOW TRUCK DRIVER THAT THIS WAS VERY COMMON DEFECT FOR THIS MODEL CAR , AND SUGGESTED I CONTACT FORD PEOPLE FOR A RECALL NOTICE. WAS ADVISED BY THE FORD REPRESENTATIVE AT THE 800 TELEPHONE NUMBER PROVIDED IN THE OWNERS MANUEL THAT NO RECALL WAS IN EFFECT HOWEVER, NO COST REPAIR WAS AVAILABLE TO THOSE VEHICLE SEVEN YEARS OR UNDER. A FURTHER PROGRAM THROUGH THE DEALERS MAY ALSO BE AVAILABLE NAMED CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAMMABILITY THIS HAD RESTRICTION OF EIGHT YEARS AND 80000 MILES. MY CAR DIDN'T QUALIFIED FOR EITHER PROGRAM DUE TO AGE AND MILEAGE EVEN THOUGH THE CAR HAS METICULOUS BEING TAKEN CARE OF AND WAS UNDER 82000 MILES. UPON COMPLETION OF A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD INSTALLATION AT A COST OF $1029.98 DOLLARS IT WAS DETERMINED THE ENGINE WAS A TOTAL LOSS AS THE ENGINE MUST HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DUE TO LOSS OF COOLANT AND RESULTANT OVERHEATING. A REPLACEMENT MOTOR WAS QUOTED AT $6000 DOLLARS ON TOP OF THE ALREADY INCURRED $1029.98 DOLLAR EXPENCE. THE CAR WAS JUNK!!! I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND WHY NO RECALL WAS IN EFFECT SINCE FORD KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THEY HAD MANY SIMILAR REPAIRS IN THEIR SHOP. ALSO INFORMED ALL SIMILAR POLICE MODELS WERE REPAIRED WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS. IF THIS IS SO I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY I AM DISCRIMINATED. I WOULD LIKE THE FORD CORPORATION REIMBURSE MY EXPENSES AND/OR GIVE ME A VOUCHER FOR A SUBSTANIAL DISCOUNT ON A NEW FORD VEHICLE. *AK
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND LEAKED COOLANT. THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 89,000. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55-60 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, AND THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE FAIR. THE CONTACT SAW A PLUME OF WHITE SMOKE FOLLOWING BEHIND HIM. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY DROVE THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS OR SIGNS OF OVERHEATING. THE DEALER REMOVED AND REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND ADDED ENGINE COOLANT. *AK UPDATED 01/26/07. *JB
97 FORD CROWN VICTORIA AND 97 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS WITH 4.6 V8 ENGINES HAVE BOTH HAD THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACED DUE TO CRACKING AND LEAKING COOLANT AND RESULTING IN CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE. THIS OWNER JOINED A CLASS-ACTION SUIT HELD IN FEDERAL COURT IN OAKLAND CALIF. AND ON 12-16-05 ISSUED A JUDGMENT RULING THAT FORD WOULD REIMBURSE FOR THIS PROBLEM. A VERY SHORT THREE MONTH PERIOD WAS PROVIDED FOR OWNERS TO CLAIM THIS REIMBURSEMENT. IT IS NOT KNOWN IF THE COURT REQUIRED NOTIFICATION OF THE OWNERS OF THIS RULING. IF IT DID THIS OWNER DID NOT RECEIVE NOTIFICATION. THE EXPENSE FOR BOTH CARS WAS $1500. FORD NOTIFIED FLEET OWNERS AND OFFERED REPLACEMENT OF THE MANIFOLD. HOWEVER, PRIVATE OWNERS WERE EXCLUDED. IN VIEW OF THIS NOTIFICATION AND THE COURT RULING, REIMBURSEMENT OF THIS EXPENSE SHOULD APPLY TO PRIVATE OWNERS. *JB
TL* - THE CONTACT STATES THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON HIS 1997 CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT SAID THAT 8:20 AM ON 12/19/06 WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN HE NOTICE A LARGE TRAIL OF STEAM AND SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF HIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND STEAM AND SMOKE STOPPED, AT WHICH TIME HE OPENED HOOD OF VEHICLE AND NOTICED COOLANT RUNNING ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. CONTACT CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP OF KANSAS. THE FORD DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONTACT THAT THE INTAKE RADIATOR HAD CRACKED. THE REPRESENTATIVE THEN ASKED QUESTIONS REGARDING THE PROBLEM AND TOLD HIM THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE INTAKE FUEL MANIFOLD BUT, THAT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED IN 2004. THE REPRESENTATIVE ALSO TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THE INTAKE HAD TO HAVE A CRACK IN IT IN ORDER FOR THEM TO HAVE REPAIRS DONE.
THE MANIFOLD CRACKED, ENGINE OVERHEATED,BLEW HEATER CORE HAD TO TOW CAR MILES FOR REPLACEMENT. PARTS INCLUDED MANIFOLD,GASKETS, HEATER CORE AND HOSES. THIS AT 84000 MILES AND NO WARRANTY. *JB
1997 CROWN VICTORIA TECHNICAL BULLETIN 05N04 NHTSA 10018959 DATE OF BULLETIN: DEC, 14, 2005 /INCIDENT JUNE 12, 2006 THIS SETTLEMENT EXTENDED THE COVERAGE OF ALL COMPOSITE INTAKE MANIFOLD 7 YEARS FROM THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY....WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE 1997 OWNERS? THE BULLETIN WAS RELEASED A YEAR AFTER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE ENDED!? ONE YEAR LATE FOR 1997 OWNERS. WHAT SHOULD WE DO BECAUSE IT IS PAST THE EXTENDED WARRANTY? A DEFECT IS A DEFECT WITH OR WITHOUT A TIME LIMIT. WE DID NOT CHOOSE TO HAVE IT BREAK WHEN IT DID....THE DEFECTIVE PART DID THAT FOR US! WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET THIS PART/SERVICE COVERED? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME! *JB
THE CLASS ACTION SUIT THAT WAS WON REGARDING 1997 FORD CROWN VIC (AND OTHER MAKES) DEFECTIVE MANIFOLD PART WAS HANDLED INCORRECTLY. MINE JUST WENT AND IS WELL PAST THE MARCH 16TH, 2006 DEADLINE AND OVER 7 YEARS OLD WHICH MAKES RECOURSE EXEMPT. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP GETTING A $1300 + ENGINE REPAIR. AND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. DEFINITELY NOT FAIR!!! *JB
I WAS REFERRED BY MR. MICHAEL J. SACKS AT [email protected] HIS RESPONSE: IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE GETTING THE RUN AROUND AND I WOULD RECOMMEND YOU CONTACT NHTSA IN WASHINGTON DC IF THE COMPANY IS NOT WILLING TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH RECALLS. WEBSITE IS WWW.NHTSA.GOV PROBLEM DETAILS: RECENTLY I RECEIVED AN ESTIMATE FOR WORK FOR $899.14 TO FIX A CRACKED MANIFOLD ALONG WITH GASKETS, AND SEALS ON MY 1997 FORD CROWN VICTORIA, THAT I PURCHASED FROM A USED CAR DEALERSHIP IN BALTIMORE, MD IN 2003. THIS PIECE WAS ORIGINALLY RECALLED BY FORD COMPANY, BUT NEVER REPLACED BY IT'S ORIGINAL OWNER, NOR THE DEALERSHIP THAT I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM. WHEN THIS BREAKDOWN OCCURRED I CONTACTED THE COMPANY WHERE I PURCHASED MY EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM IN SEPTEMBER OF 2005. THE CLAIM WAS DENIED BECAUSE THEY DO NOT COVER ITEMS THAT WERE RECALLED. I WAS THEN DIRECTED BY THE WARRANTY COMPANY TO CALL FORD COMPANY DIRECTLY, I FOLLOWED UP AND MADE THE CALL TO FIND THAT THE MANIFOLD THAT WAS RECALLED HAD A SEVEN YEAR WARRANTY FROM FORD COMPANY THAT HAD EXPIRED. I AM NOW STUCK WITH AN $899.14 BILL OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE FOR SOMETHING I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT UNTIL IT OCCURRED. I FEEL THAT BEFORE SELLING ME THE VEHICLE THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATED AND TAKEN CARE OF BY THE DEALERSHIP BRUNS MOTORS. I AM YET TO BE ABLE TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM, BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS. PLEASE ADVISE ME IN ANYWAY THAT YOU CAN, YOUR HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. IF I AM NOT ABLE TO ANSWER THE PHONE PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO LEAVE A MESSAGE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE HEAT HAND STARTED TO RISE. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. UPON INSPECTION THERE WAS WATER LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS BROKEN. REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED. UPDATED 03/22/06. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH SLOWING TO A STOP, STEAM WAS NOTICED COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. UPON INSPECTION, THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP AND HOSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED HOWEVER, NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.
I BOUGHT A USED 1997 CROWN VIC IN 2005 AND I NOTICED COOLANT LEAKAGE ON JAN 16, 2005. THE LEAKAGE MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR, BUT IT WAS NOT OBVIOUS ENOUGH FOR PEOPLE TO NOTICE THE PROBLEM. *JB
DT: THE VEHICLE IS A 1997 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. ON 6-12-05 THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON ROUTE I40 WHEN HE SMELLED AN ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. HE CALLED THE HIGHWAY PATROL WHICH ARRANGED TO HAVE HIM TOWED TO BARSTOW. THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN BECAUSE THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED. THE VEHICLE LOST ALL THE COOLANT WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. WHEN THE MECHANIC FROM CASTNERS AUTO SERVICE 214 SOUTH BRADFORD AVENUE, PLACENTIA, CA 92870 TELEPHONE # 714-528-1311 WAS REMOVING THE SPARK PLUGS HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS ALUMINUM FLAKING ON THEM. THERE WAS NO COMPRESSION. HE REPLACED THE ENGINE AND ALL THE PARTS THAT WENT WITH IT ON 6-15-05 THROUGH 6-30-05. MECHANIC TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT IT WOULD COST MORE TO REPAIR THE ENGINE THAN TO BUY A NEW ONE. THE REPLACED ENGINE WAS FORD MANUFACTURED. CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AS OF NOW. VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN OCTOBER 1996. *AK *NM
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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