2001 Ford Crown victoria
The Verdict
The 2001 Ford Crown victoria has 92 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (39 complaints) and engine (24 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 75/100, it earns a "Solid Pick" rating. If you're shopping for a Ford Crown victoria, consider the 2010 model year which has 86% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2010 has 86% fewer complaints
View the 2010 Ford Crown victoria dashboard →
Klunk Score: Solid Pick
Fewer complaints than most vehicles. Generally dependable, but check the top problems below.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
Recalls 3
Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIMOUSINES, AND MINI VANS WERE BUILT WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE (RCM). IN SOME CASES, THE RCM DOES NOT RECOGNIZE CERTAIN SYSTEM FAULTS THAT COULD R...
Risk
THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RCM IN THESE VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 14, 2000. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECE...
Reported Apr 10, 2026
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND MINIVANS. EQUIPPED WITH SEAT BELTS SUPPLIED BY TRW. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE DRIVER'S AND/OR FRONT PASSENGER'S OUTBO...
Risk
IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM MAY NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE OCCUPANT PROTECTION, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT OUTBOARD SEAT BELT BUCKLES AND IF THE BUCKLE FAILS THE INSPECTION PROCESS, IT WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 25, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICL...
Reported Apr 10, 2026
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS AND PASSENGER VEHICLES. A RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE (RCM) OR A SIDE OR FRONT CRASH SENSOR MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH ONE OR MORE OF THE SCREWS THAT MOUNT THE CIRCU...
Risk
IN SOME CASES, LESS THAN THE INTENDED LEVEL OF PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE RCM AND CRASH SENSORS AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THEM.
Reported Jun 12, 2000
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Complaints
The vehicle drift back-fourth while driving on highway. Excessive play in steering wheel,
THE STEERING SHAFT IS CREAKING WHEN YOU TURN AND ALOTTA PLAY IN THE STEERING SOUNDS LIKE IT'S ABOUT TO SNAP IT HAPPENS IN THE CITY AND HIGHWAY WHEN I TURN OR BEAR LEFT OR RIGHT THE PIC THE SHAFT THING ON THE LEFT IS A PICTURE OF THE PART HAPPENS WHEN I'M IN MOTION AND EVEN WHEN I'M STATIONARY AND I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL HAS NOT CAUSED A WRECK YET BUT FEELS LIKE IT WOULD IF THAT PART BRAKES.
WHEN AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT STOPPED AND THE AIR CONDITIONING IS ON HIGH THE TURN SIGNALS PERIODICALLY RAPIDLY FLASH. THE AUDIBLE CLICKING OF THE TURN SIGNALS CLICKS FAST AS WELL. THE BULBS ARE NOT BLOWN. IT HAPPENS RANDOMLY OR IT DOES HAPPEN.
THE INTAKE IS PLASTIC HAS AN CRACK AND LEAK ANTIFREEZE
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, I LOST POWER AND HAD TO PULL OVER, UPON CHECKING UNDER THE HOOD, WE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD (WHICH IS PLASTIC) GOT TO HOT WHICH CAUSED ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK OUT. I ENDED UP HAVING TO HAVE IT TOWED TO MY HOUSE WHICH IS WHERE IT HAS SET SINCE. *TR
THIS HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED: WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IT WILL SHUT OFF NUMEROUS TIMES, YOU HAVE TO LET IT SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN START IT BACK UP, THIS WILL HAPPEN NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING IT. ALSO, IF YOU DON'T DRIVE IT FOR 2 DAYS, IT WILL RUN THE BATTERY DEAD. *TR
WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT THE CAR ACCELERATED AND I MISSED A PARKED CAR AND WAS ABLE TO STOP. I WAS GOING ABOUT 5MPH AND IT ACCELERATED VERY FAST NOT SURE MPH BUT IT WAS SCARY. I HAPPENED SEPT. 14, 2011. *TR
WHILE DRIVING CAR ON 7-25-2011 STEERING BEGAN TO WONDER, CONTINUOUS BATTLE. 2001 CROWN VIC PT71, HAS ALWAYS DONE THIS SINCE DATE OF. *TR
2001 FORD CROWN VICTORIA ON A STEEP HILL BLEW OUT THE #1 SPARK PLUG FROM IT'S CYLINDER. THE EJECTED SPARK PLUG HAD BEEN INSTALLED MORE THAN A YEAR PRIOR, WITH NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER DRIVABLE. *TR
I HAVE A 2001 FOCUS ZX3 - 5SP THAT TENDS TO STALL WHEN THE AC IS ON. BUT IT MAY NOT STALL DURING THE "INITIAL" USE PERIOD. WITHOUT WARNING, IT WILL STALL AFTER THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND THEN RESTARTED. MY SERVICE SHOP CHECKED THE COMPUTER CODES FOR A PROBLEM AND NOTHING CAME UP. YESTERDAY, IT WAS DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 30MINS WITH THE AC ON (OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE AROUND 80+ DEGREES). THE VEHICLE RAN FINE WITH THE RPMS NORMAL WHEN STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF FOR ABOUT 90 MINS. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RESTART IT WOULD STALL. TO GET STARTED I NEEDED TO KEEP FOOT ON GAS PEDAL (TO MAINTAIN A HIGH ENOUGH RPM TO PREVENT THE STALL). IF I DID NOT KEEP THE RPMS UP, VEHICLE WOULD STALL. WHILE DRIVING AND STOPPING, I NEEDED TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL TO MAINTAIN THE RPMS. (THIS CAN BE CHALLENGING WITH A 5-SPD.) THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PARKED FOR OVER FOUR HOURS. IT THEN STARTED WITHOUT PROBLEM AND RAN NORMALLY. DURING THIS PERIOD I DID NOT HAVE THE AC ON. I SEE THAT THIS MAY BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FOCUS. HOWEVER, NEITHER FORD MOTOR'S CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE NOR THE LOCAL FORD DEALER ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP (ECHELON FORD) ON 6/8/10 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY COULD NOT RECREATE IT. I WAS CHARGED $108 FOR THE SHOP TIME AND STILL HAVE NO TECHNICAL ANSWER TO THIS CRITICAL AND POTENTIALLY FATAL PROBLEM... *TR
I WAS PULLING OUT THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THE REAR AXLE SNAPPED IN TWO. THIS IS GOING TO KILL SOMEONE. *TR
AFTER A RAIN MY 2001 FORD CROWN VIC LEAKED THROUGH THE WIPERS INTO THE GEM CAUSING FAILURES OF MOST ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AND UNWANTED ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY. *TR
ARE AUTO AIRBAGS WARRENTIED BY THE GOVERNMENT?*TR
2001 FORD HAS AN OIL LEAK ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. CONSUMER STATES THAT FORD FEEL THAT THE LEAK IS NORMAL AND THAT THERE IS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEM. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE OIL LEAK WAS CAUSED BY METAL CHIP DEBRIS OR DAMAGE TO THE SEALING SURFACE THAT OCCURRED DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, THE ENGINE MUST BE PULLED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *JB UPDATED 03/01/10
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE VEHICLE HAS CORDOVAN CENTRON TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONE OF HIS TIRES WAS LOW ON AIR PRESSURE. HE NOTICED THAT THE SIDEWALL WAS CRACKED AND THE STEEL CORD WAS VISIBLE. HE RETURNED TO WHERE THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED, STRAUSS AUTO. THE MANAGER REFUSED TO INSPECT THE TIRE AND STATED THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER; HOWEVER, THE MANAGER DID NOT WANT TO GIVE HIM THE MANUFACTURER'S NUMBER. THE CONTACT CANNOT LOCATE THE NUMBER TO CALL AND INQUIRE ABOUT THE TIRE. THE SERIAL NUMBER OF THE TIRE IS 1805. THE TIRE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETENTION DEVICE WOULD NOT RELEASE RESULTING IN SQUEEZING OF CHILD WRAPPED UP IN SEAT BELT. THE SEAT BELT HAD TO BE CUT WITH A KNIFE TO GET CHILD OUT OF SEAT BELT. EVEN WITH THE BUCKLE UNLATCHED. NO MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS NECESSARY BUT, CHILD WAS SEVERELY TRAUMATIZED AS THE SEAT BELT WAS SQUEEZING HER SO TIGHT THAT THE ADULTS TRYING TO FREE HER COULD BARELY GET A FINGER BETWEEN HER AND THE SEAT BELT. *TR
WE HAVE HAD THREE INCIDENTS INVOLVING TWO VEHICLES IN WHICH WHEELS HAVE COME OFF OF FORD F-550 VEHICLES DUE TO SHEARED LUG BOLTS. THE WEIGHTS OF ALL OF OUR VEHICLES HAVE BEEN RECORDED AND FALL BELOW THE MANUFACTURERS GVWR. PER A TIRE COMPANY'S RECOMMENDATION, WE HAVE ISSUED A MANDATE THAT ALL SIMILAR VEHICLES HAVE THEIR WHEELS RE-TORQUED, TO MEET THE MANUFACTURERS SPECIFICATIONS AFTER DRIVING, AFTER TRAVELING 50 MILES FOLLOWING ANY WORK DONE ON THE WHEELS. WE HAVE HAD THE WHEELS ON VEHICLE THAT DID NOT COME OFF INSPECTED AND CHECKED TO PROPER TORQUE FOLLOWING ALL INCIDENTS AND THEY HAVE BEEN TORQUED APPROPRIATELY. THE INCIDENT DATES WERE, 12/29/07 ,02/15/08, AND 07/17/08 . ON 12/29/07 AN EMPLOYEE WAS DRIVING UP A ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 20 M.P.H. WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE BACK DUAL WHEELS CAME OFF DUE TO BROKEN LUG BOLTS. THIS WAS A NORMAL USE OF THE VEHICLE ON A WELL-MAINTAINED DIRT ROAD. ON 02/15/08 TWO EMPLOYEES WERE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 84 TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 M.P.H. WHEN THE REAR PASSENGER WHEELS CAME OFF THE VEHICLE AND PASSED THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING MILE. THE STUDS WERE ALSO SHEARED OFF IN THIS INSTANCE. THE INTERSTATE WAS IN GOOD CONDITION AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. IT WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE TIRES DID NOT STRIKE ANOTHER VEHICLE. ON 07/17/08 AN EMPLOYEE WAS DRIVING ON OREGON STATE HIGHWAY 82 AT APPROXIMATELY 55 M.P.H. WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE REAR WHEELS CAME OFF. THE WHEELS STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE DAMAGING THAT VEHICLE?S BRAKE SYSTEM. IN THIS CASE, A FATALITY COULD HAVE EASILY OCCURRED TO THE OTHER DRIVER. THAT DRIVER?S NAME IS: KEITH CULIVER - 740 11TH AVENUE NORTH, PAYETTE, ID (WORKING FOR TNT FOREST PRODUCTS). WE HAVE REPLACED THE LUG BOLTS ON ALL OF OUR FIVE VEHICLES IN THIS CLASSIFICATION AS AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID FURTHER PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, ONE ACCIDENT OCCURRED FOLLOWING THIS REPLACEMENT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WORKED FOR A COMPANY THAT HAD SIX CROWN VICTORIAS AND ONE FORD MUSTANG. THE GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED ON THE FUEL TANK FROM THE FILLER PIPE. WHEN HE FILLED THE VEHICLE WITH GASOLINE, FUEL WOULD LEAK OUT ON TOP OF THE HOT EXHAUST. THE CONTACT NOTICED A TREND AND THE COMPANY REPLACED THE GASKETS ON SEVEN VEHICLES. HE IS CURRENTLY WAITING FOR THE PART FOR THE SEVENTH VEHICLE, WHICH IS ON BACKORDER AT EVERY DEALER IN ATLANTA. HE HAS NOT CONSULTED THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,457 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A FORD RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CRUISE CONTROL IN OCTOBER OF 2007 AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE; HOWEVER, THEY DEACTIVATED HIS WIRING HARNESS. HE RECEIVED A NEW NOTICE IN MARCH OF 2008 STATING THAT THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO PERSONALLY ORDER THE PARTS IF HE WANTED HIS VEHICLE REPAIRED. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,650. UPDATED 4/2/08 *CN UPDATED 04/02/08 *TR
THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS DISCONNECTED BY FORD DEALERSHIP IN OCTOBER OF 2007 BECAUSE OF RECALL. THEY SAID IN DECEMBER THAT I SHOULD HAVE NEW PARTS READY FOR INSTALL ON MY 2001 FORD VAN. THIS IS MARCH OF 2008 AND NO ONE CAN TELL WHEN THIS PART WILL BE REPLACED. I FELL LIKE I HAVE PAID FOR THE COMFORT OF CRUISE CONTROL AND DO NOT HAVE IT. I FELL LIKE I CANT SELL VAN WITH A DEFECTIVE PART OR CRUISE UNPLUGGED. HOW LONG DOES FORD HAVE TO REPAIR THIS PART. *TR
92 total