Ford Crown Victoria Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Ford Crown Victoria model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2010 drew the fewest (12) and the 2003 the most (327).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Among the fewest complaints |
12 | 2 | Steering | — | 19 |
| 2011 Among the fewest complaints |
23 | 2 | Steering | — | 19 |
| 2009 Among the fewest complaints |
44 | 2 | Steering | — | 19 |
| 2007 | 50 | 4 | Steering | — | 18 |
| 2008 | 50 | 3 | Steering | — | 18 |
| 2006 | 53 | 2 | Steering | — | 17–18 |
| 2001 | 54 | 4 | Air bags | — | 16–18 |
| 2002 | 60 | 2 | Electrical system | — | 16–18 |
| 2000 | 89 | 7 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 16–18 |
| 1998 | 122 | 7 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 17–18 |
| 1999 | 138 | 5 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 15–18 |
| 2004 | 155 | 3 | Exterior lighting | — | 14–18 |
| 1993 | 182 | 7 | Power train | — | 17 |
| 1994 | 193 | 6 | Vehicle speed control | — | 17 |
| 2005 | 213 | 6 | Exterior lighting | — | 16–19 |
| 1995 | 251 | 8 | Steering | — | 17–18 |
| 1996 | 278 | 9 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 17–18 |
| 1997 Among the most complaints |
289 | 8 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 17–18 |
| 1992 Among the most complaints |
310 | 7 | Service brakes | — | — |
| 2003 Among the most complaints |
327 | 6 | Wheels | — | 14–18 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Ford Crown Victoria years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2003 Ford Crown Victoria: 327 complaints
Most-reported: Wheels 105 (32%); Exterior lighting 104 (32%); Suspension 28 (9%).
Reports mention 17 crashes, 4 fires, 7 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 100,000 miles. 6 recall campaigns listed.
1992 Ford Crown Victoria: 310 complaints
Most-reported: Service brakes 72 (23%); Electrical system 52 (17%); Engine and engine cooling 48 (15%).
Reports mention 18 crashes, 24 fires, 11 injuries, 3 deaths. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 103,500 miles. 7 recall campaigns listed.
1997 Ford Crown Victoria: 289 complaints
Most-reported: Engine and engine cooling 84 (29%); Service brakes 53 (18%); Suspension 45 (16%).
Reports mention 9 crashes, 15 fires, 18 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 86,000 miles. 8 recall campaigns listed.
The Ford Crown Victoria years with the fewest complaints
2010 Ford Crown Victoria: 12 complaints
Most-reported: Steering 7 (58%); Air bags 1 (8%); Electrical system 1 (8%).
Reports mention 3 crashes, 4 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 140,000 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
2011 Ford Crown Victoria: 23 complaints
Most-reported: Steering 12 (52%); Seats 4 (17%); Suspension 4 (17%).
Reports mention 1 crash. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 54,000 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
2009 Ford Crown Victoria: 44 complaints
Most-reported: Steering 17 (39%); Fuel system 11 (25%); Power train 7 (16%).
Reports mention 5 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injury. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 71,000 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Ford Crown Victoria owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 54,000 |
| 2010 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 140,000 |
| 2009 | 44 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 71,000 |
| 2008 | 50 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 100,500 |
| 2007 | 50 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 103,000 |
| 2006 | 53 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 107,000 |
| 2005 | 213 | 13 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 80,171 |
| 2004 | 155 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 92,000 |
| 2003 | 327 | 17 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 100,000 |
| 2002 | 60 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 50,000 |
| 2001 | 54 | 9 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 80,000 |
| 2000 | 89 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 94,000 |
| 1999 | 138 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 80,584 |
| 1998 | 122 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 89,000 |
| 1997 | 289 | 9 | 15 | 18 | 0 | 86,000 |
| 1996 | 278 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 4 | 103,582 |
| 1995 | 251 | 15 | 11 | 15 | 0 | 98,007 |
| 1994 | 193 | 21 | 14 | 34 | 2 | 112,000 |
| 1993 | 182 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 4 | 121,911 |
| 1992 | 310 | 18 | 24 | 11 | 3 | 103,500 |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Ford Crown Victoria recalls
- FORD/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION (1988–1989 model years; 7,900,000 vehicles across all models; filed Apr 1996; 96V071000)
- SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (1992–1998 model years; 3,600,000 vehicles across all models; filed Aug 2007; 07V336000)
- FUEL:FUEL LINES:METALLIC (1986–1987 model years; 3,600,000 vehicles across all models; filed Sep 1987; 87V139000)
- FORD/TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLES (2001 model year; 1,400,000 vehicles across all models; filed Jul 2001; 01V227001)
- FORD/JACKING INSTRUCTIONS (1998–2000 model years; 875,000 vehicles across all models; filed Jul 2000; 00V200000)
All 48 Ford Crown Victoria recall campaigns · Ford Crown Victoria problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Ford Crown Victoria years FAQ
Which Ford Crown Victoria year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2010 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (12). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Ford Crown Victoria years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2003, 1992 and 1997 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the steering. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Ford Crown Victoria problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the steering (411 of 2,893 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Ford Crown Victoria have?
NHTSA lists 48 recall campaigns covering the Ford Crown Victoria. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Ford Crown Victoria recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.