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2003 Ford Crown Victoria recalls, complaints and safety ratings

There are 5 US recalls for the 2003 Ford Crown Victoria, and 6 in Canada. Owners filed 249 complaints with NHTSA, most often about exterior lighting.

5US recalls
0urgent recalls
249owner complaints
–overall crash rating

Is your car affected?

Check by VIN to confirm the exact model and see every recall for it.

Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.

US recalls (5)

Exterior lighting: headlights

2015-12-22 · campaign 15V861000 · 296,004 vehicles

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2003-2005 Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles manufactured October 3, 2001, to August 2, 2005. The affected vehicles have a lighting control module (LCM) that may fail, resulting in a loss of headlights.

Risk and remedy

Risk: A loss of headlights can reduce driver visibility and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the LCM, free of charge. The recall began April 14, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S39.

Electrical system: wiring, interior/under dash

2005-05-09 · campaign 05V206000 · 132,800 vehicles

ON CERTAIN POLICE INTERCEPTORS (CVPI) AND COMMERCIAL HEAVY DUTY (TAXI) VEHICLES, AT EXTREMELY HIGH OPERATING TEMPERATURES, THE SOUND INSULATING PANEL, LOCATED UNDER THE VEHICLE POSITIONED BETWEEN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND THE UNDERBODY, COULD SAG AND POSSIBLY CONTACT THE SURFACE OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.

Risk and remedy

Risk: IF THIS OCCURS, THE INSULATOR MIGHT EXPERIENCE CHARRING OF THE OUTER LAYER, BURNING ODOR, OR SMOKE WHICH MAY ULTIMATELY RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE EXISTING DASH INSULATOR AND INSTALL A REVISED DESIGN INSULATOR PAD FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 3, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Suspension: rear

2004-07-07 · campaign 04V328000 · 47,314 vehicles

CERTAIN POLICE, COMMERCIAL, AND PASSENGER VEHICLES SOLD TO FLEETS TYPICALLY INPUT HIGHER LOADS INTO THE VEHICLE CHASSIS OVERLOADING THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND AXLES.

Risk and remedy

Risk: THIS COULD LEAD TO EARLY BEARING FAILURE AND ULTIMATELY TO AXLE SHAFT FRACTURE. IN THE EVENT OF AXLE SHAFT FRACTURE, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE DRIVE FUNCTION AND WOULD COAST TO A STOP. LOSS OF DRIVE FUNCTION COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS, SEALS,AND AXLE SHAFTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 15, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Fuel system, other: storage, tank assembly

2003-11-06 · campaign 03V472000 · 4,218 vehicles

ON CERTAIN NATURAL GAS VEHICLES, IF A FLAME FROM A VEHICLE INTERIOR FIRE BECOMES LOCALLY DIRECTED AT THE NATURAL GAS FUEL TANK LOCATED IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE REAR SEAT, THE FLAME COULD DAMAGE THE FIBERGLASS WRAP ON THE TANK WEAKENING THE TANK.

Risk and remedy

Risk: IF THE STRENGTH OF THE TANK IS SIGNIFICANTLY COMPROMISED, IT COULD RUPTURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN INSULATOR BEHIND THE CURRENT SEAT BACK. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JANUARY 7, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Wheels

2003-08-05 · campaign 03V279000 · 29,946 vehicles

ON CERTAIN POLICE AND TAXI VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH STEEL WHEELS, SOME OF THE WHEELS MAY DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE RIM NEAR THE WELD LINE THAT CONNECTS THE RIM TO THE DISK.

Risk and remedy

Risk: THE CRACKS CAN ULTIMATELY RESULT IN RAPID AIR LOSS FROM THE TIRE AND COULD AFFECT VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE FOUR ROAD WHEELS AND SPARE WHEEL WITH THE MANUFACTURING DATE CODES OF AUGUST 18, 2001 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 22, 2002. IN ADDITION, FORD IS PROVIDING EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR WHEELS ON 2003 CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR AND TAXIS BUILT FROM OCTOBER 1, 2002 THROUGH APRIL 29, 2003. THESE WHEELS ARE EXHIBITING CRACKS AT A SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER RATE THAN THOSE WHEELS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON AUGUST 8, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Canadian recalls (6)

Show 6 Canadian recalls

Electrical

2015-12-21 · campaign 2015-610

On certain vehicles, a defect in the Lighting Control Module could cause the headlight high and low beams to become inoperative without warning, causing the headlights to revert to reduced-voltage daytime running light function. This would cause a reduction in lighting output, potentially increasing the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will replace the Lighting Control Module.

Wheels

2007-03-02 · campaign 2007-055

The wheels of certain Police Interceptor vehicles may crack, particularly when exposed to severe loading in high speed pursuit situations. Often cracked wheels can be identified as a result of slow air leaks, steering wheel nibble, or difficulty or inability to properly balance a wheel and tire assembly. In time, the cracks could propagate circumferentially and lead to sudden air loss, which could result in a loss of vehicle control and a crash. Correction: Dealers will replace the wheels.

Other

2005-05-16 · campaign 2005-146

On certain Police Interceptors and Commercial Heavy Duty (Taxi) vehicles, the dash outer sound insulator could sag and possibly contact the surface of the light-off catalyst. If this occurs, the insulator might experience charring of the outer layer, burning odour, or smoke which may result in a fire. Correction: Dealers will remove a section of the dash outer sound insulator above the light-off catalysts and replace that portion with a redesigned insulating material that has an aluminium outer layer and a full adhesive backing.

Suspension

2004-07-09 · campaign 2004-236

Certain Crown Victoria Police Interceptors, Crown Victoria commercial vehicles and Lincoln Town Car fleet vehicles. As opposed to civilian vehicles, the potentially affected vehicles typically input higher loads into the vehicle chassis, including the wheel bearings and axles, as a result of steering, suspension and tire design differences, as well as vehicle usage patterns and vehicle operating weight. The increased loading and/or weight these vehicles experience during their high duty cycles result in increased stress on the rear axle shafts and bearings. This may lead to early bearing failure and ultimately axle shaft fracture. In the event of axle shaft fracture, the vehicle would loose drive function and would coast to a stop. The wheel is likely to be retained in the wheel well by the brake caliper and brake rotor, and vehicle control is maintained. Correction: Dealers will replace rear wheel bearings, seals and axle shafts.

Fuel system

2003-11-07 · campaign 2003-274 · 278 vehicles

On certain natural gas vehicles, in the rare circumstance that a flame from a vehicle interior fire becomes locally directed at the natural gas tank located immediately behind the rear seat, the locally directed flame could damage the fiberglass wrap on the tank thereby reducing the hoop strength of the tank. If the hoop strength is significantly compromised, the tank could rupture and potentially result in personal injury. Correction: Dealer will install an insulator behind the seat back.

Wheels

2003-08-11 · campaign 2003-191 · 852 vehicles

On certain vehicles in police and taxi applications, the steel wheels could crack due to loads input to the wheels as a result of the unique tires and suspensions used. Correction: Dealer will replace the wheels that have a manufacturing date between August 18, 2001 and September 22, 2002.

Owner complaints (249)

Owners filed 249 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Ford Crown Victoria (16 crashes, 4 fires, 6 injuries reported). Among 32 model years of this model, it ranks #5 for the most complaints (median 53).

Most-reported problemComplaints
Exterior lighting96
Wheels42
Suspension27
Power train25
Electrical system20
Steering11
Vehicle speed control11
Tires9

Crash test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2003 Ford Crown Victoria.

VersionOverallFrontalSideRollover
2003 Ford Crown Victoria 4-DR.––––

Fuel economy

EPA ratings for each 2003 Ford Crown Victoria version.

VersionCity MPGHighway MPGCombinedYearly fuel cost
Crown Victoria 4.6 L Automatic 4-spd162318$3,700
Crown Victoria CNG 4.6 L Automatic 4-spd121714$3,300
Crown Victoria Police 4.6 L Automatic 4-spd142016$4,200
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Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada). Recalls updated 2026-10-30.