RoadVitals

1999 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.
9
Latest Jan 8, 2023
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.
7%
of 134 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.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

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 1999 Ford Crown Victoria submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 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

Electrical
Filed Jan 8, 2023

My 99 ford crown victoria lx has front end issues. I have had to replace the ball joints about 4 times every 2 to 3 months because the front end keeps dropping. I'm not sure if you guys know about this but I've spoken with our local Ford mechanic and a few friends who have crown Victoria's as well and said that it has been a big issue with them along with the electrical components for the turn signals

NHTSA ID
11500729
Incident
Jan 8, 2023
ElectricalInterior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Aug 5, 2006

HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS AND ALL INTERIOR DASH LIGHTS FLASH OFF FOR PERIODS OF UP TO 30-45 SECONDS AT A TIME WHILE DRIVING. LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AT SUBSTANTIAL COST. LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED TWICE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AT ANY SPEED. FORD IS NON COOPERATIVE. I AM A POLICE OFFICER, THIS IS A PERSONALLY OWNED POLICE INTERCEPTOR VEHICLE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10164596
Incident
Aug 2, 2006
Mileage
110,111 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 17, 2005
Fire reported

DT: THE CONTACT STATES WAS GOING TO A MEDICAL APPOINTMENT WHEN HE HANDED KEYS TO A VALET, ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER, HE WAS NOTIFIED THAT CAR HAD WAS ON FIRE ON 8-10-05. HE WAS NOT HAVING ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR PRIOR TO FIRE. HE DID NOT KNOW WHERE THE FIRE ORIGINATED BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO SAW THE FIRE SAID IT WAS HARD TO SEE WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM BECAUSE THE CAR WAS INSIDE A PARKING GARAGE. THE MOST DAMAGE OCCURRED IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. HE HA NOT YET NOTIFIED THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER. *AK *SC

NHTSA ID
10132600
Incident
Aug 10, 2005
Mileage
105,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 25, 2004

(1) DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY CAR ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER WHILE CHANGING LANE. WAS ALMOST HIT FROM BEHIND BUT LUCKILY THE OTHER CAR WAS ABLE TO STOP. (2) THE ENGINE IN MY CAR, '99 FORD CROWN VICTORIA, HAD BLOWN A SPARK PLUG.*AK (3) REPAIR INVOLVED CHANGING THE CYLINDER HEAD IN THE ENGINE OR REPLACE THE WHOLE ENGINE THAT I OPTED TO DO. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THIS IS JUST A SINGLE INCIDENT BUT I LATER LEARNED THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME MAINLY ON FORD PICK-UP TRUCKS BUT ALSO ON OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ENGINE / CYLINDER HEAD DESIGN. A FORD DEALER WHO DID THE WORK FOR REPLACING THE ENGINE SAID THEY HAVE NOT HEARD ABOUT THIS BEFORE. I HAVE LATER ALSO LEARNED THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCE THE SAME WITH FORD, I.E. THEY CLAIM NOT KNOWING ABOUT THE ISSUE BUT THEY MUST AS SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS. IN MY LIFETIME I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT CAR ENGINES WEAR OUT OVER TIME. IT IS NOT A NORMAL MODE OF FAILURE THAT CAR ENGINE BLOWS SPARK PLUGS AND CAUSES THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF UNEXPECTED COST TO CONSUMERS LIKE ME. NEARLY $5000 'CHRISTMAS PRESENT' WAS NOT IN MY PLANS. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET FORD TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT IN THIS CASE? AS IT MIGHT NOT SOUND A SAFETY ISSUE AT FIRST JUST THINK WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IF A SPARK PLUG BLOWS DURING A PASSING OF ANOTHER VEHICLE ON A 2-LANE HIGHWAY WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE IS APPROACHING IN NOT SO FAR DISTANCE? IT BECOMES A SAFETY ISSUE IN A HURRY! ABOUT THIS ISSUE CAN BE READ IN THE INTERNED. JUS SEARCH BLOWN SPARK PLUG AND IT'S ALL IN FRONT OF YOU. THANK YOU, ARI ROUSU

NHTSA ID
10082609
Incident
Dec 22, 2003
Mileage
139,771 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 14, 2002

I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE "BATTERY" LIGHT. IT WOULD COME ON AND STAY ON. THE CAR WAS RETRUNED TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. THE LAST TIME THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND WOULD ORDER A PART AND THAT THE CAR WAS "SAFE" TO DRIVE IN THE MEANTIME. NOT SO. THE CAR HAD LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENGINE SHUTDOWN. ENGINE SHUTDOWN, LOSS OF POWER STEERING, LOSS OF HYDRAULIC BRAKE AND LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE CAR WAS TOWN INTO THE DEALER THAT NIGHT. THEY DENY KNOWING THERE WOULD BE ANY "PROBLEM." SEE YOUR NHTSA RECALL NO. 94V056/FORD RECALL NO. 94S83. DIFFERENT YEAR AND REGION. SIMILAR "PROBLEM."

NHTSA ID
758224
Incident
Jan 11, 2002
Electrical
Filed Feb 6, 2002

BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY AND STAYS ON FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, WHICH LEADS TO A SHUTDOWN WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING.*AK

NHTSA ID
8003636
Incident
Nov 13, 2001
Electrical
Filed Jan 14, 2002

HORN FAILED TO SOUND AFTER PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK DEALER STATES THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. *JB

NHTSA ID
8002138
Incident
Jan 1, 2002
Electrical
Filed Nov 13, 2000

WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING SHUT OFF. THIS MEANT I HAD NO POWER, NO POWER STEERING, AND NO CONTROL.THE ENGINE STARTED AGAIN WHEN I USED THE STARTER. CAR ACTED NORMALLY UNTIL THE NEXT DAY THE SAME THING OCCURRED.THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. IF IT HAPPENED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR THE INTERSTATE A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD OCCUR. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND SO REFUSES TO TAKE ANY ACTION. FORD WILL NOT AUTHORIZE ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION EITHER. I FEEL THE CARE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL SOME COREECTIVE ACTION IS TAKEN. *AK

NHTSA ID
736246
Incident
Oct 22, 2000
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jan 19, 2000
Crash reported1 injury reported

DUE TO A DEFECTIVE ALTERNATOR VEHICLE SURGES FOWARDS OR BACKWARDS. WHEN OCCUPANT WAS IN REVERSE POSITION VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED BACKWARD, HITTING ANOTHER PERSON AND CAUSING SERIOUS INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
855098
Incident
Jan 10, 2000

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 .