The most-reported Crown Victoria run is 2FALP74W4VX (1997 builds) with 24 complaints, 8.9× the typical run. Steering problems make up 17% of reports; 1997 is the worst model year at 4.7 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 51 recall campaigns for Crown Victoria model years 1987–2011.
Which build runs owners report most
A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Ford Crown Victoria has 884 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 4% of every Crown Victoria complaint on file.
| Production run (VIN 1–11) | Year | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2FALP74W4VX•••••• | 1997 | — | — | |
| 2FACP74W3NX•••••• | 1992 | — | 1 | |
| 2FALP74W8VX•••••• | 1997 | 3 | — | |
| 2FACP74W7NX•••••• | 1992 | — | 2 | |
| 2FACP74W1NX•••••• | 1992 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2FACP74W2NX•••••• | 1992 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2FACP74W5NX•••••• | 1992 | 1 | 2 | |
| 2FALP74W1VX•••••• | 1997 | — | — | |
| 2FACP74WXNX•••••• | 1992 | 1 | — | |
| 2FACP74W6NX•••••• | 1992 | — | — | |
| 2FALP74W2VX•••••• | 1997 | — | — | |
| 2FALP74W5VX•••••• | 1997 | 1 | 1 |
Each of the other 872 Crown Victoria runs has 13 complaints or fewer. ForCar has checked 59 Crown Victoria VINs so far, most often 2011, 2006, 2008 builds; 1 of them belong to one of the 12 runs above.
Which model years to check twice
Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Ford Crown Victoria the gap between build years is 2.9×: a 1997 car draws 4.7 complaints per run, a 2002 one 1.6.
| Year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 20 | 11 | — | |
| 2010 | 12 | 7 | 3 | |
| 2009 | 42 | 14 | 5 | |
| 2008 | 47 | 25 | 9 | |
| 2007 | 44 | 27 | 5 | |
| 2006 | 50 | 31 | 9 | |
| 2005 | 173 | 60 | 12 | |
| 2004 | 119 | 53 | 2 | |
| 2003 | 205 | 58 | 15 | |
| 2002 | 42 | 27 | 7 | |
| 2001 | 40 | 23 | 8 | |
| 2000 | 56 | 33 | 3 | |
| 1999 | 110 | 41 | 3 | |
| 1998 | 100 | 39 | 2 | |
| 1997 | 232 | 49 | 8 | |
| 1996 | 210 | 80 | 11 | |
| 1995 | 201 | 62 | 12 | |
| 1994 | 154 | 42 | 13 | |
| 1993 | 160 | 62 | 10 | |
| 1992 | 238 | 68 | 14 |
Heaviest year here is 1997 at 4.7 complaints per run; lightest is 2002 at 1.6.
What to inspect on this car
One system accounts for 17% of everything Ford Crown Victoria owners report: Steering, 359 of 2,428 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.
| System | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 24 | 5 | |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 4 | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 | 24 | |
| Suspension | 6 | 3 | |
| Electrical System | 7 | 69 | |
| Service Brakes | 23 | 7 | |
| Hydraulic | 17 | 6 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 43 | 24 |
Recalls to check against your VIN
NHTSA has 51 recall campaigns on the Ford Crown Victoria; the 6 below cover build years 1990 to 2011. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.
| Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|
| 02I003000 | Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly | 1992–2003 |
| 98V322000 | Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint | 1990–1999 |
| 06E056000 | Fuel System, Gasoline | 1998–2006 |
| 03V472000 | Fuel System, Other:storage:tank Assembly | 1996–2003 |
| 15E082000 | Steering | 1995–2002 |
| 14V704000 | Steering:rack And Pinion:pinion Shaft | 2005–2011 |
The Crown Victoria against its rivals
The Crown Victoria draws 2.7 complaints per production run; the Cadillac DTS 4 and the Buick Lucerne 3.6. That is the lowest rate of the 3.
| Model | Complaints | Runs | Per run | Involved a crash |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Crown Victoria | 2,428 | 884 | 6.8% | |
| Cadillac DTS | 469 | 116 | 6.6% | |
| Buick Lucerne | 824 | 228 | 7.9% |
How serious were they
Of the 2,428 reports on the Ford Crown Victoria, 6.8% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, above the norm.
| Outcome | Ford Crown Victoria | All vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints filed | 2,428 | 1,115,966 |
| Involved a crash | 164 (6.8%) | 64,194 (5.8%) |
| Involved a fire | 143 (5.9%) | 26,974 (2.4%) |
| Injuries reported | 150 | 58,013 |
| Deaths reported | 11 | 2,728 |
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How this check works
The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Ford Crown Victoria share of that is 2,428 complaints over 884 runs, 0.22% of everything on record.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a Ford Crown Victoria VIN for free?
Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 2,428 NHTSA complaints from 884 Crown Victoria runs and 51 recall campaigns. No account, no card.
Which Crown Victoria production run has the most complaints?
2FALP74W4VX, a 1997 build, with 24 complaints. The typical Crown Victoria run has 2.7.
Which Crown Victoria years have the most complaints?
Per production run, 1997 is heaviest at 4.7 complaints per run and 2002 lightest at 1.6.
Does the Crown Victoria get more complaints than the Cadillac DTS?
No: 2.7 complaints per production run for the Crown Victoria against 4 for the Cadillac DTS.
How many Crown Victoria complaints involve a crash?
6.8% of 2,428 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 143 involved a fire.
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