2003 Ford Cvpi Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2003 Ford Cvpi, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Other / unspecified6375.0%
- Exterior lighting89.5%
- Tires & wheels56.0%
- Fuel system33.6%
- Electrical22.4%
- Interior & seats11.2%
- Steering11.2%
- Suspension11.2%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIR LEAKS OUT THE BACK WHEEL EVERY DAY AFTER FILL UP GAS IT SMELLS LIKE GAS INSIDE CAR. *TR
I JUST READ ABOUT THE STEERING COLUMN RECALL ON THE CROWN VIC, CVPI, AND GRAND MARQUIS 2005-2011 AND I AM NOT SURE WHY THE 2003-2004 MODELS ARE NOT INCLUDED. THEY HAVE THE SAME ISSUES DESCRIBED IN THIS RECALL. I HAD MY 2003 CVPI IN THE SHOP LESS THAN A MONTH AGO DUE TO SOME STEERING ISSUES I'M HAVING (A LOT OF NOISE DURING DRIVING AND WHILE TURNING) AND THE OUTCOME WAS THAT MY CAR NEEDS A STEERING COLUMN FLEX COUPLER (SHAFT, LOWER) AND THE LOWER BALL JOINT (CONTROL ARM) ALSO NEEDS REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. SO AGAIN, I'M ASKING WHY IT'S NOT PART OF THE RECALL? ALSO, I'M HAVING THE SAME ISSUES WITH MY TIRES THAT A LOT OF OTHER CVPI OWNERS ARE HAVING CONCERNING THE CRACKS IN THE RIMS. MY TIRES ONLY HAVE A FEW THOUSAND MILES ON THEM AND I'M HAVING TO PUT AIR IN THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE ABOUT ONCE A WEEK DUE TO LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE. (I'M LOSING ABOUT 20 PSI A WEEK ON AVERAGE). THE TIRES HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND ARE FINE. *JB
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
HEADLIGHTS GO OFF WHILE DRIVING. LCM IS BAD, $500.00 FOR PART. VERY VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WAS EXPECTING TO SEE A RECALL NOTICE. THIS IS THE SECOND LCM FOR ME! *KB
I JUST PURCHASES AND TOOK POSSESSION OF A 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR. I DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR A COUPLE DAYS DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS WITH NO ISSUES. HOWEVER, ON THE FIRST NIGHT I DROVE THE VEHICLE (WELL AFTER SUNSET) I EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS OCCURRENCES OF THE HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT COMPLETELY FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME (RANGING FROM SEVERAL SECONDS TO SEVERAL MINUTES). THE ONLY WAY I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WAS TO HOLD THE HIGH/LOW BEAM SWITCH IN THE HIGH BEAM POSITION. IF I WERE ON AN UNLIT ROAD THIS SITUATION COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN A VEHICLE CRASH, POTENTIALLY DAMAGING OR DESTROYING THE VEHICLE AND INJURING OR KILLING MYSELF AND/OR ANY NEARBY PEDESTRIANS. I HAVE SEEN THE CLOSED INVESTIGATION #PE08066, WHICH STATES THAT THE REASON THIS ISSUE WAS CLOSED IS BECAUSE IT HAS NOT RESULTED IN A DEATH. BEING A VOLUNTEER FIRE FIGHTER AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONDER, I DO NOT CONSIDER THIS TO BE AN ACCEPTABLE REASON FOR CLOSING SUCH AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE LEARNED THAT THE COST TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE CIRCUITRY IS UPWARDS OF $500+ FOR THE PART ALONE, NOT INCLUDING LABOR COSTS. *TR
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIR LEAKS OUT THE BACK WHEEL EVERY DAY AFTER FILL UP GAS IT SMELLS LIKE GAS INSIDE CAR. *TR
DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION THE SPARE TIRE WAS FOUND TO BE CRACKED. CD WHEEL STAMPING, NO APPARENT DATE CODE, PAPER STICKER WAS OVER STAMPING #. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD CVPI. THE CONTACT PURCHASED A POLICE VEHICLE THREE WEEKS AGO AND FOUND A FEW OUTSANDING RECALLS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO INSTALL DIFFERENT PARTS ON THE VEHICLE. HE CALLED THE FORD MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS HAD NOT BEEN PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEING USED AS A POLICE VEHICLE ANYMORE, THEY DID NOT HAVE TO HONOR THE RECALLS AND REPAIR IT FOR FREE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS IN REFERENCE WERE 02I003000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY), 03V279000 (WHEELS), 05V206000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH), AND 04V328000 (SUSPENSION:REAR). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000. 4/01/09 *NJ UPDATED 04/06/09. *JB
FUEL TANK LEAK DEALER STATED THAT A HOLE HAD "RUBBED THROUGH" THE TANK AND THAT THE TANK WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS HAD BEEN ON-GOING FOR SOME TIME. SINCE THE TANK IS BOLTED IN PLACE, HOW DOES IT RUB AGAINST SOMETHING ENOUGH TO WEAR A HOLE IN THE TANK. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN AND SAFETY FLAW. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
2003 CROWN VICTORIA, HEADLIGHTS STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING. IT APPEARS I NEED TO REPLACE THE LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE (LCM). I SEE FROM INTERNET SEARCHES THAT MANY MANY HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM.THIS PART IS ALMOST $600 FROM FORD. IT APPEARS THAT FORD HAS A SAFETY ISSUE HERE THAT THEY ARE AVOIDING. I'M SURPRISED THAT NO RECALL IS IN EFFECT. AT LEAST FORD SHOULD OFFER SOME GOODWILL SUPPORT TO THEIR CUSTOMERS BY LOWERING THE PRICE OF THIS PART.... *TR
THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS SHUT THEMSELVES OFF RANDOMLY WHILE THE HEADLIGHTS ARE IN USE. INTERMITTENTLY, THE LIGHTS WILL FAIL TO TURN ON WHEN THE SWITCH IS TURNED ON. THESE EVENTS HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY FREQUENT TO THE POINT THAT NOW THE LIGHTS WILL FAIL SEVERAL TIMES ON EVERY NIGHT TRIP. HITTING A BOX CALLED THE "LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE" MAY ENCOURAGE THE LIGHTS TO TURN BACK ON TEMPORARILY. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD CVPI. THE CONTACT PURCHASED A POLICE VEHICLE THREE WEEKS AGO AND FOUND A FEW OUTSANDING RECALLS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO INSTALL DIFFERENT PARTS ON THE VEHICLE. HE CALLED THE FORD MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS HAD NOT BEEN PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEING USED AS A POLICE VEHICLE ANYMORE, THEY DID NOT HAVE TO HONOR THE RECALLS AND REPAIR IT FOR FREE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS IN REFERENCE WERE 02I003000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY), 03V279000 (WHEELS), 05V206000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH), AND 04V328000 (SUSPENSION:REAR). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000. 4/01/09 *NJ UPDATED 04/06/09. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
I JUST READ ABOUT THE STEERING COLUMN RECALL ON THE CROWN VIC, CVPI, AND GRAND MARQUIS 2005-2011 AND I AM NOT SURE WHY THE 2003-2004 MODELS ARE NOT INCLUDED. THEY HAVE THE SAME ISSUES DESCRIBED IN THIS RECALL. I HAD MY 2003 CVPI IN THE SHOP LESS THAN A MONTH AGO DUE TO SOME STEERING ISSUES I'M HAVING (A LOT OF NOISE DURING DRIVING AND WHILE TURNING) AND THE OUTCOME WAS THAT MY CAR NEEDS A STEERING COLUMN FLEX COUPLER (SHAFT, LOWER) AND THE LOWER BALL JOINT (CONTROL ARM) ALSO NEEDS REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. SO AGAIN, I'M ASKING WHY IT'S NOT PART OF THE RECALL? ALSO, I'M HAVING THE SAME ISSUES WITH MY TIRES THAT A LOT OF OTHER CVPI OWNERS ARE HAVING CONCERNING THE CRACKS IN THE RIMS. MY TIRES ONLY HAVE A FEW THOUSAND MILES ON THEM AND I'M HAVING TO PUT AIR IN THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE ABOUT ONCE A WEEK DUE TO LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE. (I'M LOSING ABOUT 20 PSI A WEEK ON AVERAGE). THE TIRES HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND ARE FINE. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD CVPI. THE CONTACT PURCHASED A POLICE VEHICLE THREE WEEKS AGO AND FOUND A FEW OUTSANDING RECALLS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO INSTALL DIFFERENT PARTS ON THE VEHICLE. HE CALLED THE FORD MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS HAD NOT BEEN PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEING USED AS A POLICE VEHICLE ANYMORE, THEY DID NOT HAVE TO HONOR THE RECALLS AND REPAIR IT FOR FREE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS IN REFERENCE WERE 02I003000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY), 03V279000 (WHEELS), 05V206000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH), AND 04V328000 (SUSPENSION:REAR). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000. 4/01/09 *NJ UPDATED 04/06/09. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .