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 1999 Ford Crown Victoria submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 27 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 27, in the owner's own words
THE CAR LEAKS ANTI-FREEZE THROUGHT THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD. WHO EVER HEARD OF A PLASTIC MANIFOLD. THE ORIGINAL PART IS A DEFECTIVE PART-MADE OF THE WRONG MATERIAL.FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THIS PART, IT CAUSES HAVIC CONSTANTLY NEEDS TO ADD COOLANT. THE THERMOSTAT CANNOT BE CHANGED BECAUSE THE PLASTIC HOUSING IS ONE PIECE WITH THE MANIFOLD.
ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE SPARK PLUGS HAVE SHOT OUT CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE COIL PACK AND THREADS TO THE BLOCK. THIS IS A 200$ TO 300$ FIX EACH TIME. GETTING TO BE A HASSLE.
DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS WAS MADE OF A CHEAP PLASTIC.. *TR
UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH I BEGAN TO SMELL A SWEET BURNING SCENT THAT I QUICKLY RECOGNIZED AS COOLANT. I PULLED OVER & INSPECTED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRST THING I OBSERVED AFTER REMOVING THE PLASTIC FACIA FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE WAS A CRACK IN THE WATER TEMPERATURE SENSOR HOUSING RIGHT IN FRONT ON THE TOP PASSENGER SIDE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. I WAS LESS THAN A BLOCK FROM MY HOME SO I DROVE HOME AND HAD IT TOWED INTO HARVEY'S AUTO THE NEXT DAY. [XXX] HAS TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS INTAKE MANIFOLD AND AS THE ORIGINAL OWNER I SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS RECALL. I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF ANY RECALLS. [XXX] PLACED A TEMPORARY WELD WHICH HAS HELD UP JUST FINE, HOWEVER HE SAID THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER ISSUES WITH THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF FORDS ORIGINAL DESIGN AND THAT ULTIMATELY THE MANIFOLD WILL FAIL AT THESE WEAK POINTS WITH TIME. I DON'T PUT HEAVY MILES ON MY VEHICLE & ONLY HAVE 41,102 MILES ON IT NOW. ALL SERVICES HAVE BEEN PERFORMED AT 3000 MILE INTERVALS FROM AUTHORIZED MECHANICS. I HAVE ALL RECEIPTS OF MY SERVICE RECORDS AND FEEL THAT THE ONLY REASON I DIDN'T EXPERIENCE A FAILURE EARLIER IS BECAUSE OF MY DILIGENT EFFORTS TO FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE INTERVALS SET FORTH IN THE VEHICLES MAINTENANCE LOG. I FEEL THAT IT WAS AND STILL IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FORD TO SEEK OUT ALL OWNERS UNTIL EACH VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THE OF RECALL EXPIRED IN 2009 ACCORDING TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE BUT I FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE EFFORT BY FORD MOTORS TO INFORM ALL OWNERS OF THIS DEFECT. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF FORD WOULD ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR SELLING A KNOWN FAULTY ITEM AND EXTEND AND HONOR THEIR ORIGINAL RECALL REPARATIONS FOR MY VEHICLE. I DID MY PART IN FOLLOWING ALL SERVICE REQUIREMENTS AND THEY SHOULD AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AND TIME. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
MY PARENTS PICKED MY DAUGHTER UP FROM THE SCHOOL BUS AND PROCEEDED DOWN MY DRIVEWAY SLOWLY. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED EVEN AS MY FATHER HAD BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE. THERE WERE VISIBLE SIGNS OF THE FRONT WHEELS DRAGGING UP DEBRIS AS THE FRONT WHEELS WERE LOCKING UP. HE ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN THE KEY BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO AS THE VEHICLE MUST HAVE REACHED A SPEED IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH BEFORE HE SLAMMED IT INTO PARK AND THEN RAN HEAD ON INTO A TREE. BOTH PARENT WERE INJURED SEVERELY EVEN WITH THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYING. THE CAR WAS DESTROYED. *TR
MY INTAKE MANIFOLD WENT BAD. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND A LAWSUIT WAS FILED. IT COST ME $1,600 AND FORD WON'T REIMBURSE ME. *JS
INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACK CAUSING A MAJOR COOLANT LEAK AND ENGINE MALFUNCTION CAUSE COOLANT RUNNING TO LAST SPARK PLUG HOLE IN PASSENGER SIDE. ENGINE SIZE 4.6 8CYL. SAME AS MY EXPLORER 2002. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH HE SMELLED ANTI FREEZE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICL. HE HAD PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BUT THE DEALER DID NOT PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAD THREE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENTS FOR THIS FAILURE, TWO BY THE DEALER AND ONE THE CONTACT . HE STATED THAT THERE WAS ANTI FREEZE ALL OVER HIS ENGINE. HE STATED HE HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT HE HAS TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE DEALER STATED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,000.
1999 FORD CROWN VICTORIA BLEW OUT ORIGINAL SPARK PLUG AND A FIRE WAS IGNITED AS THE FUEL VAPOR WAS IGNITED BY THE COIL PACK. *TR
I HAVE 2 CROWN VICTORIA SEDANS AND BOTH HAVE "SPIT" SPARK PLUGS OUT OF THEIR RESPECTIVE CYLINDER HEADS. I AM NEITHER AMUSED BY THESE OCCURRENCES NOR SATISFIED WHEN I SPOKE WITH FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE. LISTED BELOW IS THE LAST TIME THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED - THE 4TH BLOWN PLUG. *TR
ENGINE #3 CYLINDER VALVE SEAT FAILED. *NM
I OWN A 1999 FORD CROWN VICTORIA WITH 79,514 MILES ON IT. APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AGO, I STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING HOT BUT NOT OVERHEATING AND WHAT APPEARED TO BE A COOLANT LEAK. I IMMEDIATELY REPLACED THE RADIATOR HOSE. IT DID NOT HELP. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED AND ASKED THAT THE COOLANT SYSTEM BE PRESSURE TESTED FOR LEAKS. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE INCREASED TEMPERATURE OF THE ENGINE HAD CAUSED THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING TO CRACK AND IT WAS ALSO DIAGNOSED TO NEED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACED. I PARKED THE VEHICLE FOR THE NEXT 2 1/2 MONTHS. DUE TO FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS, I COULD NOT AFFORD THE REPAIR WHICH WAS ESTIMATED TO BE $750 -850. NOW THAT I AM ABLE TO MAKE THE REPAIRS, A CALL TO A LOCAL FORD DEALER MADE ME AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS DEFECTIVE, HOWEVER SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS PUT IN PRODUCTION IN DECEMBER 1999, I HAD MISSED THE RECALL DEADLINE. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR ALMOST 3 YEARS. IN THAT TIME, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION ON THE RECALL OR THE CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST FORD. MY VEHICLE HAS HAD MAINTENANCE PERFORMED BY LOCAL FORD DEALERS AT WHICH TIME, I WAS NEVER MADE AWARE OF THE FAULTY PART. I DON'T FEEL AS THOUGH THIS IS FAIR. I WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THIS FACTORY DEFECT, NOR WARRANTY EXTENSION TO HAVE IT REPLACED. IF I HAD BEEN AWARE, I WOULD HAVE HAD THE PART REPLACED. NOW, BECAUSE OF FAILURE BY THE MANUFACTURER TO INFORM THE CONSUMER OF THIS DEFECTIVE PART AND THE RECALL, I AM FORCED TO PAY TO HAVE THIS DEFECTIVE PART REPLACED. THIS IS AN UNEXPECTED EXPENSE THAT WILL DEFINITELY CAUSE A STRAIN ON MY FAMILY FINANCES. NOT ONLY THAT, UPON CALLING TO GET THE PRICE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, I WAS INFORMED THAT I MISSED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DEADLINE FOR MY VEHICLE (DECEMBER 2005). I DO NOT THINK THIS IS FAIR. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF I CAN PURSUE ACTION TO HAVE MY EXPENSES REIMBURSED AND IF NOT, HOW CAN I PURSUE LEGAL ACTION. RESPECTFULLY, OTHA FARRIS, JR. *NM
I BEGAN NOTICING PROBLEMS WITH MY 1999 CROWN VICTORIA IN EARLY 2005. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND IT KEPT USING A LOT OF COOLANT. A FORD TECHNICIAN TOLD ME DURING A RECENT REPAIR THAT IT NEEDED ANOTHER "INTAKE MANIFOLD" AND THAT IT WOULD COST ME $800 TO FIX IT AT THE DEALERSHIP. I ASKED HIM IF IT WAS COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY AND I WAS TOLD NO. THE OTHER NIGHT I WAS DRIVING DOWN I-35 HEADED TOWARDS DALLAS WHEN THE HIGH TEMPERATURE GAUGE STARTED GOING OFF. I SLOWED DOWN AND PULLED OVER AND WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD, THERE WAS COOLANT SPRAYING FROM THE FRONT OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD (NEAR THE THERMOSTAT). I WAS ABLE TO COOL THE CAR DOWN BY PUTTING WATER IN THE RADIATOR. HOWEVER, I HAD TO DO THIS EVERY COUPLE OF MILES BECAUSE THE WATER KEPT SHOOTING OUT OF THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. I FINALLY GOT TO A WELL LIT AREA AND WAS ABLE TO ISOLATE THE LEAK. THERE IS A GASH IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES LONG. I JUST CHECKED THE INTERNET FOR SOLUTIONS TO MY PROBLEM AND I FOUND OUT THAT FORD WAS SUED IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS. IT TURNS OUT, MY VEHICLE IS ONE OF THE VEHICLES THAT WAS COVERED IN THE CLASS ACTION SUIT. (AND, IT WAS COVERED WHEN FORD TOLD ME IT WASN'T!!!) SO I CALLED FORD TO HAVE THEM COME PICK UP MY VEHICLE AND REPAIR IT. NOW THEY TELL ME I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT MYSELF!? COULD SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME? I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT FORD ALREADY KNOWS IS A DEFECTIVE PART. I MEAN, WHO WOULD MAKE ENGINE PARTS OUT OF PLASTIC ANYWAY? I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE CAN HELP ME BUT IF YOU CAN, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I HAVE TAKEN THE REST OF THE WEEK OFF WORK SO I CAN TRY TO RESOLVE THIS. THANK YOU. *JB
I OWN A 1999 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE PACKAGE WITH 160,000 MILES ON IT NOW,I BOUGHT IT IN 2003 WITH 145,000 MILES ON IT, ON OCTOBER,10,2005 THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD STARTING LEAKING WATER FROM THE BACK OF THE MANIFOLD FROM A CRACK IN IT,I HAVE TALKED TO NUMEROUS FORD DEALERS ABOUT THIS,AND THEY GIVE ME THE RUN AROUND SAYING IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY,AND I WAS TOLD A NEW ONE WOULD COST 800.00 DOLLARS,THAT IS A REAL RIP OFF, A INTAKE MANIFOLD SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE ENGINE,I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD VEHICLE AGAIN. *JB
(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
REFERENCE ODI ID 752976 - I HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE AND FAILURE OF THE SAME EQUIPMENT AND PARTS DESCRIBED IN THE REFERENECED COMPLAINT. THESE ARE LATENT DESIGN/MATERIAL/MANUFACTURING DEFECTS. I WAS ORIGINALLY TOLD, UNDER WARRANTY, THAT THE SHUDDER WAS DUE TO THE TRACTION CONTROL SENSORS. THIS APPARENTLY WAS INCORRECT. NOW THAT THE VEHICLE IS JUST OVER 100,000 MI, FORD WILL DO NOTHING TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT. THE DEALER TO THEIR CREDIT IS TRYING TO CORRECT THE SHUDDER PROBLEM BY SERVICING THE TRANSMISSION WITH ADDITIVES. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKING IS A DESIGN/MATERIAL DEFECT WHICH WAS FINALLY DISCOVERED AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD ALTHOUGH I HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT COOLANT ODOR SEVERAL TIMES WHILE IN WARRANTY. FORD SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE WITH ME ON THE COST OF REPAIR, THEY SHOULD HAVE SHOLDERED THE ENTIRE COST. NOW WE HAVE ANOTHER PROBLEM WHICH FORD, ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE SUPERVISOR IS UNWILLING TO CORRECT. THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE BOOSTER, IT HAS A TENDENCY TO CRACK INTERNALLY AND CAUSE A HARD PEDAL. THIS DEFECT WAS DISCOVERED ON MY WIFE'S MERCURY SABLE AT ABOUT 38,000-MI AND NOW IS BE EXHIBITED ON MY CROWN VICTORIA. CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THIS COMPONENT AT HIGH SPEED COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, LOSS OF CONTROL IN A PANIC STOP BECAUSE THE DRIVER WOULD HAVE TO EXERT AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF OF PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND ACTIVATE THE ABS. I WAS TOLD THAT FORD AS A GENERAL POLICY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO CORRECT PROBLEMS ON VEHICLES OVER 100,000 MI. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD NOT HAVE INDEMNITY RELIEF ON SAFETY ISSUES AND LATENT DEFECTS.*AK
INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF COOLANT. THIS FAILURE WAS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. DEALERSHIP INSTALLED AN UPGRADED DESIGN MANIFOLD.*AK
MY CAR HAS 98501 MILES ON IT AND THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD IS CRACKED WITH COOLANT SEEPING INTO THE SPARK PLUG CHAMBER, PER TED BRITT FORD IN VA. I BELIEVE THAT THE CAUSE OF THE CRACK IS A LATENT DEFECT IN THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE FORD REPLACE IT FREE OF CHARGE SINCE IT WAS A LATENT DEFECT OF THE MANUFACTURER. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THIS CONDITION WAS THERE SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR (ORIGINAL OWNER), BECAUSE DURING THE EARLY PART OF MY OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS ALWAYS A FAINT ODOR OF COOLANT IN THE PASSENGER CAB. THIS WAS ALSO REPORTED AND DOCUMENTED WITH THE SERVICE ADVISER EARLY IN MY OWNERSHIP OF THIS VEHICLE. *JB
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC NOTICED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, ALLOWING FLUID TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. *AK
ENGINE ON MY CAR JUST STOPPED WORKING AND WHEN TOWED TO FACILITY THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THE ENGINE WAS GONE. WARRANTY PEOPLE CAME TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AND STATED I USED BAD GASBECAUSE CARBON HAD BUILT UP ON THE RINGS AND WOULD NOT HONOR WARRANTY. ALL FLUIDS WERE CLEAR AND CAR HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED.
REAR BUMPER HAS A LARGE VERTICAL CRACK IN IT WHERE EXHAUST PIPE COMES FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER FEELS THAT HEAT FROM EXHAUST PIPE HAS CAUSED THIS CRACK, AND CHANGED STABILITY OF THE BUMPER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AIK
WHILE DRIVING LOST ALL ENGINE POWER, BUT ENGINE NEVER STALLED. WHEN STEPPING ON GAS PEDAL NOTHING HAPPENED. IT HAPPENED BEFORE ON A INCLINE HILL, AND COULD NOT HOLD VEHICLE FROM ROLLING BACK. THEN, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING. CONSUMER BELIEVED PROBLEM WAS TRACTION CONTROL. *AK
THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING IS LEAKING CAUSING A BAD ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN THE DRIVER BECOMING NAUSEOUS DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY OF THE LEAK. NLM
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE JUST TOTALLY STOPPED AND DIED, CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS UNSAFE IF IT HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC, SOMEONE COULD BE KILLED.*AK
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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