Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2004 Ford Crown Victoria, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Exterior lighting81
- Electrical system23
- Steering19
- Wheels9
- Engine and engine cooling8
- Power train5
- Vehicle speed control4
- Suspension4
- Fuel system, gasoline3
- Tires3
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 3 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 21 2004 Crown Victoria vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 21 people died inside them, and 5 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2004 Ford Crown Victoria failed the safety check 2.91% of the time — 32% more often than the average 2004 passenger car (2.21%). Median odometer at inspection: 127,230 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
2 cars built in 2004 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 2 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 13.2 L/100 km (about 18 mpg US), CO₂ 304 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crown Victoria · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 15.5 | 10.3 | 13.2 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 2004 Ford Crown Victoria.
| 2015610 21 Dec 2015 | Electrical 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 hea… |
| 2007055 2 Mar 2007 | Wheels The wheels of certain Police Interceptor vehicles may crack, particularly when exposed to severe loading in high speed pursuit situations. Often cracked wheels… |
| 2005146 16 May 2005 | Other 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… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 2004 Ford Crown Victoria: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 636417 | GUIDANCE FOR CNG TANK INSPECTION FOR VEHICLES PRODUCED AFTER DECEMBER 2, 1996. *TT UPDATE. *TT |
| 10177863 | This article supersedes TSB 19-2026 to update the vehicle model years affected. Some 2000 and newer Ford/Lincoln/Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended. |
| 10156863 | Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended. Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition |
| 10155551 | Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended. Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition |
| 10109070 | The Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (ETBs). The ETC_ACT and ETC_DSD PIDs should not used to diagnose possible ETB concerns. The IDS has a limited refresh rate when reading these PIDs and cannot display quickly enough to validate a concern. The PCM automatically monitors these inputs more accurately and will set diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) when appropriate. Using these PIDs for diagnostics will lead to inaccurate results and improper ETB replacements. If a concern is intermittent and no DTCs are present, refer |
| 10074793 | SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE. |
| 10056190 | FORD: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. INFORMATION REGARDING THE LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE, FOR SOME VEHICLES, TO 15 YEARS OR 250,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. MODEL 2003-2005 VICTORIA, GRAND MARQUIS. *PE |
| 10055936 | FORD: THE LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE HAS EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE, ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, DUE TO A POSSIBLE CRACK ON SOLDER JOINT THAT CONNECTS RELAY TO CIRCUIT BOARD. MODEL 2003-2005 CROWN VICTORIA, GRAND MARQUIS. *PE |
| 10023943 | SOME 1997-2008 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4.6L 2V, 5.4L 2V, OR 6.8L 2V ENGINE--SPARK PLUG THREAD REPAIR PROCEDURE--NOT COVERED UNDER NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY. *NJ THIS INCLUDES F-53 MOTORHOME CHASSIS. UPDATED 2/23/10. *PE |
| 10022298 | REDUCTION IN POWER AT WIDE OPEN THROTTLE. *KB |
| 10020077 | CATALYTIC CONVERTER BRICK RATTLE OR BUZZING NOISE. *TT |
| 10018745 | WDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIP - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - ENGINE MISFIRE OR ROUGH RUNNING. *TT |
| 10017556 | NUMEROUS ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) WHEEL SPEED SENSOR (WSS) DTCS, SUCH AS C1145, C1155, C1165, C1175, C1296, C1297, C1298, C1299 AND C1222. *TT |
| 10014680 | CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 04M05. STEEL WHEEL ADDITIONAL COVERAGE. *TT |
| 10014165 | ALUMINUM CORROSION - SERVICE TIP. *TT |
| 10014138 | SAFETY BELT RETRACTION SPEED. *TT |
| 10014100 | LIMITED SLIP AXLE CHATTER, SHUDDER, BINDING SENSATION, OR VIBRATION DURING LOW SPEED TURNING MANEUVERS. *TT |
| 10014086 | GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 10014077 | NUMEROUS ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) WHEEL SPEED SENSOR (WSS) DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS). *TT |
| 10014062 | REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER GRID/INTEGRAL ANTENNA DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR - TERMINAL TAB REPAIR. *TT |
| 10013381 | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMPAND P0460 DTC IN MEMORY. *EH |
| 10013321 | AM/FM AND CELLULAR PHONE RECEPTION INTERFERENCE - SERVICE TIP. *TT |
| 10013116 | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATED - SYSTEM LEAN DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC'S) - SERVICE TIPS. VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2004 F-SERIES. *TT |
| 10012964 | AM FM AND CELLULAR PHONE RECEPTION INTERFERENCE . *EH |
| 10012954 | SAFETY BELT WEB STOP BUTTON SERVICE. *EH |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Loss of headlights
Loss of headlamp/exterior lighting
Steering Column Shaft Obstruction
LOSS OF HEADLIGHT FUNCTION
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
FRACTURE OF THE STEEL WHEEL RIM
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation