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2002 Ford Crown victoria

The Verdict

73 Solid Pick

The 2002 Ford Crown victoria has 103 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (43 complaints) and engine (20 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 73/100, it earns a "Solid Pick" rating. If you're shopping for a Ford Crown victoria, consider the 2010 model year which has 88% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2010 has 88% fewer complaints

View the 2010 Ford Crown victoria dashboard →

73

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 1

Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.

02V249000 FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

ON CERTAIN NATURAL GAS MODEL VEHICLES, A T-FITTING THAT CONNECTS FUEL TANKS #3 AND #4 CAN DEVELOP A LEAK WHEN THE SOLENOID VALVES ARE ENERGIZED, SUCH AS WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH IS IN THE ON POSITI...

Risk

A GAS LEAK OF SUFFICIENT QUANTITY CONCENTRATED IN AN AREA TO CREATE A COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURE AND IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REDESIGNED "T" FITTING ON #4 FUEL TANK AND TESTED FOR LEAKAGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 13, 2002. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE...

Reported Jun 9, 2002

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
200059828403
200139719243
20024310192011
2003102111132932
200435084144
20054631111712
20063031132
20072239102
2008322643
20091805126
201081210
2011171130

By Category

Body
43
Engine
20
Electrical
19
Transmission
11
Brakes
10

By Severity

1
43
2
40
3
3
4
17

Worst Problems

Complaints

Brakes 4

..

11mo ago
Engine 1

Driving down the roadway at 55 mph a spark plug in cylinder 2 blow out. The car started making a popping noise and started to lose power. After a while the car shut off. The car was able to restart and be driven home. Upon inspection by a mechanic they found the spark plug had came dislodged and shot out of the cylinder and caused damage to the cylinder head the ignition coil and fuel rail. A new Heli coil was installed. A year later while in Texas driving down the road around 35 mph car made a pop noise and shot a spark plug out of cylinder 5 cause the car to lose power and start smoking with a heavy smell of fuel. Car was stopped and inspected. Found a spark plug was blown out of cylinder 5 with damage to the ignition cylinder and fuel rail. repaired the heli coil and placed with new spark plug ignition coil and fuel rail. 2019 while driving down road at 75 mph vehicle makes a loud pop and starts to lose power. Upon inspection by mechanic find spark plug blown out of cylinder 1 with damaged ignition coil. Having mechanic is now replacing both cylinder heads on the engine.

54mo ago
Electrical 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE TURN SIGNALS AND HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO WORK, EXCEPT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS DID NOT WORK AND THE DASHBOARD WAS BLACKED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO SCHEDULE THE VEHICLE FOR A DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. UPDATED 10/06/16*LJ ** UPDATED 10/19/16*LJ *TR

120mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLAMPS DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V861000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 197,000.

121mo ago
Engine 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND PROCEEDING TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MANIFOLD WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 81,218.

128mo ago
Electrical 4

I HAD DRIVEN UP A STEEP MOUNTAIN DIRT ROAD TO SERVE SOME LEGAL PAPERS, AFTER REACHING THE TOP, I CONTINUED DOWN THE OTHER SIDE TO THE ADDRESS I WAS LOOKING FOR. I THOUGHT I STARTED SMELLING SOMETHING BURNING, IT SMELLED ELECTRICAL. WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE ADDRESS, I STOPPED THE CAR AND SHUT IT OFF WHILE I WAS SPEAKING WITH THE RESIDENT. MY WIFE YELLED AT ME THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE, IT STARTED FILLING UP WITH SMOKE FAST, MY WIFE AND DOGS WERE STILL IN THE CAR. I OPENED THE DRIVERS DOOR TO POP THE HOOD WHILE MY WIFE STARTED GETTING THE DOGS OUT, I THEN NOTICED IT WAS MY FLOOR THAT WAS BURNING, JUST ABOUT UNDER THE GAS PEDDLE, A HOLE HAD BURNED THROUGH AND THE METAL WAS GLOWING RED WHERE THE PADDING HAD BURNED AWAY. I POURED A CUP OF COFFEE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WHILE THE RESIDENT GOT SOME WATER FOR ME. THE PADDING AND RUBBER MAT HAD BURNED AWAY AND A HOLE ABOUT 3 INCHES LONG HAD MELTED AWAY FROM THE FLOOR BOARD. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS DIRECTLY BENEATH THE HOLE BUT THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY HOLES IN THE CONVERTER AND THERE IS A EMPTY SPACE ABOUT 1.5 - 2 INCHES FROM THE MELTED HOLE TO THE CONVERTER. WE LET EVERYTHING COOL DOWN BEFORE DRIVING HOME, HOWEVER THE ENTIRE WAY HOME, (49 MILES) WE WERE AFRAID THE CAR WAS GOING TO BURST INTO FLAMES. ONCE WE WERE BACK ON THE PAVED ROADS AND WERE ABLE TO DRIVE THE NORMAL SPEED LIMIT, THERE WERE NO MORE ISSUES NOR ANY FURTHER BURNING, JUST THE LINGERING SMELL. I LOOKED UP AND FOUND A RECALL FOR AN ISSUE IN THE SAME LOCATION HOWEVER THAT WAS FOR 2003 - 2005 VEHICLES. *JS

140mo ago
Body 1

TL** THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT BECAME UNLATCHED SPORADICALLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V227001 (SEAT BELTS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

142mo ago
Brakes 2

BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A FELLOW FRIEND HE ADVISED ME THAT THE CAR HAS HAD A ISSUE WITH THE STEERING WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL HAS PLAY TO IT AND ITS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN I DRIVE OVER 50MPH IM SCARED I MAY CRASH CAUSE THE CAR MOVES LEFT TO RIGHT, AND THE ABS BRAKES HAVE A PROBLEM THE BRAKE JUMP WHEN I HIT THEM IDK WHAT TO DO IM LOW ON FUNDS AND I WANT TO KNOW IF THIS IS A DEFECT THESE CARS ARE KNOWN FOR STEERING AND BRAKES DEFECTS..... *TR

144mo ago
Body 2

POWER STEERING STARTED CATCHING AND COULDN'T TURN THE STEERING WHEEL SMOOTHLY. HIT A CURB WITH MY TIRE AND ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR. STILL JAMMING BUT I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO TAKE IT INTO A DEALERSHIP. HELP! *TR

146mo ago
Body 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING FAILED AND THE WHEEL BECAME TIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE CONTACT AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

156mo ago
Body 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT CAME UNDONE. THE CONTACT RE-SECURED THE SEAT BELT AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT HAD TO PURCHASE A SEAT BELT EXTENSION IN ORDER TO KEEP THE SEAT BELT BUCKLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF THE VEHICLE SAFETY WARRANTY AND HE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELT HIMSELF. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40800.

172mo ago
Electrical 2

POWER WINDOWS FRONT ELECTRIC WHEN YOU TOUCH REAR WINDOW BUTTON THE DRIVERS WINDOW GOES DOWN. *TR

175mo ago
Engine 1

THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING, FOR NO APPARENT REASON. DRIVER (MY RETIRED MOTHER, AGE 72) HAD TO GET CAR OFF ROAD AND RESTART CAR TO CONTINUE. THE POWER STEERING DISABLED WHEN THE CAR ENGINE STALLED. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES (2-3) OVER THE PAST MONTH, AND THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND IS UNABLE TO CORRECT IT. ON ANOTHER OCCASION THERE WAS A THUMPING NOISE AND THE CAR SLOWED CONSIDERABLY, BUT THEN PICKED BACK UP AGAIN. THE "ENGINE HEAT/THERMOMETER" LIGHT HAS FLASHED ALSO, BUT THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE HEAT IS NORMAL. I CONSIDER THIS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR MY MOTOR IF IT WOULD HAPPEN IN A HEAVILY CONGESTED, HIGH TRAFFIC AREA AND COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE CRASHES. IT IS A VERY STRESSFUL SITUATION.

178mo ago
Engine 1

I HAD BEEN DRIVING 250 MILES OR SO AND DROVE DOWN A LONG WINDING INCLINE, AS THE ROAD FLATTENED OUT I HEARD A NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE NOISE SOUNDED LIKE A HOLE IN THE FIRST PART OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. I FOUND A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A SLIGHT ODOR OF NATURAL GAS AS THIS VEHICLE IS FUELED WITH NATURAL GAS. AFTER THE ODOR PASSED, I OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND THAT THE #2 IGNITION COIL MOUNT WAS BROKEN, AND THE COIL AND SPARK PLUG ASSEMBLY WERE LOOSE IN THE SPARK PLUG WELL. MY INITIAL THOUGHT WAS THE SPARK PLUG HAD LOOSENED AND EJECTED. I ATTEMPTED TO RE-INSTALL THE SPARK PLUG BUT THE THREADS IN THE CYLINDER HEAD WERE INEFFECTIVE. THE SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. I HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON DEFECT FOR THESE FORD ENGINES. THE REPAIR INVOLVED REAMING AND TAPPING THE SPARK PLUG HOLE AND PLACING AN INSERT IN THE HOLE. THE SPARK PLUG COIL HAD TO BE REPLACED TOO. THE REPAIR COST WAS $450 AND THE REPAIR SHOP WARNED THAT THIS MAY HAPPEN AGAIN. THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE DANGEROUS UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES. IF I WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP IN A SAFE PLACE FAIRLY QUICKLY, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN MORE FUEL AIR MIXTURE ACCUMULATION UNDER THE HOOD AND SINCE THE SPARK PLUG WAS STILL OPERATIVE, AN IGNITION SOURCE WAS PRESENT TOO. *TR

181mo ago
Body 1

2002 FORD WINDSTAR REAR AXLE PROBLEM WE WERE DRIVING ON 78E AND WERE APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES BEFORE ALLENTOWN. ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HEARD A CRACK, SMELLED SMOKE, AND HEARD METAL SCRAPING. THE CAR STARTED FISHTAILING AND MY HUSBAND VIRTUALLY HAD NO CONTROL OF THE CAR AS THE WINDSTAR REPEATEDLY CROSSED 2 LANES AND ALMOST HIT THE MIDDLE BARRIER AND THEN FISHTAILED TOWARD THE OTHER SIDE. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO CARS OR TRUCKS IN FRONT OR IN BACK OF US AND WE WERE AT A SLIGHT UPHILL. FINALLY, MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VAN AND PULL OVER TO THE SMALL SHOULDER WHICH WAS BARELY BIG ENOUGH TO FIT THE VAN. WE CALLED 911 AND AAA. WHILE WE WAITED ON THE SIDE, WE FEARED THAT WE COULD GET HIT IN THE EVENT THAT A TRUCK OR CAR SWERVED TO THE SIDE. WE WERE SHOCKED TO FIND OUT THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS CRACKED AND THE REAR TIRES WERE CAVED IN. MY AUTO DEALER GILBOY IN WHITEHALL OFFERED TO TOW AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM, BUT ONLY AT MY EXPENSE. FORD EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THERE WAS NO COVERAGE FOR THIS SITUATION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY AND THERE CURRENTLY IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. BOTH GILBOY AND FORD TOLD ME THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE REAR AXLE. I HAD 3 CHILDREN IN THE CAR, 2 OF WHICH WERE MY OWN. THIS WAS THE SCARIEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE AS I FEARED WHAT POTENTIALLY COULD HAPPEN. LUCKILY, SOMEONE FROM ABOVE WAS LOOKING AFTER US BUT I FEAR THE NEXT FORD WINDSTAR OWNER MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY. PLEASE DO NOT WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO GET KILLED BEFORE TAKING ACTION. PLEASE HAVE THE PROBLEM CORRECTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND ALERT ALL FORD WINDSTAR OWNER OF THE SERIOUS POTENTIAL RISK. *TR

194mo ago
Electrical 2

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 TO 50 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE "ABS" WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE REAR DRIVE SHAFT AXLE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V328000 (SUSPENSION;REAR) WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THERE WERE CONCERNS OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000.

205mo ago
Electrical 2

1. WHILE DRIVING ,LED CIRCUITBOARD ,( UNDER DASHBOARD)BURNED UP EMITTING SMOKE INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. IT BURNED A ONE INCH HOLE IN THE CIRCUITBOARD PLASTIC COVER . 2. FAILURE,THE PART BURNED UP, IT MAY HAVE BURNED BEFORE ALSO,BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD A BURNING SMELL BEFORE. 3. CAR WAS PARKED,TURNED OFF FOR ABOUT ONE-HALF HOUR , THEN DRIVEN 6 MILES HOME.,NO ADDITIONAL SMOKE WAS SEEN AT THIS TIME. PART HAS BEEN REMOVED BY OWNER .OLD PART IS AVAILABLE,PART # F8VB-14A597-AB. FUSE DID NOT BLOW AND CAR IS DRIVABLE WITH PART REMOVED. I THINK THIS PART IS A COMPONENT OF THE FACTORY INSTALLED ALARM SYSTEM. *TR

207mo ago
Brakes 2

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS HAS CONTINUED TO BE ON AND CRUISE CONTROL HAS STOPPED WORKING. *TR

208mo ago
Engine 1

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 55-60 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE AND VIBRATE. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL COIL SHORTAGE. THE MISFIRE CYLINDER 5, COIL PACK, AND SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON A SEPARATE OCCASION FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE AND THE MISFIRE CYLINDER 7, COIL PACK, AND SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED AT THAT TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,425 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,045. UPDATED 03-27-09 *BF UPDATED 03/31/09.*JB

211mo ago
Electrical 1

WHILE DRIVING THE LOW BEAMS WENT OUT ON CAR,20 MINUTES LATER HIGH BEAMS WENT OUT. ALL OTHER LIGHTS WORK PROPERLY, HEADLIGHTS HAVE NOT WORKED SINCE. CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS TO REPLACE PART. *TR

212mo ago

103 total

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