Severe Issues

2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA Problems

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2003 Ford Crown Victoria. This model year has 289 NHTSA complaints β€” top issue: Headlight/Taillight Failures.

289
Complaints
17
Crashes
6
Fires
7
Injuries
β€”
Deaths
7
Recalls

Before you buy β€” check the actual VIN

This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car β€” accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.

Worst 2003 Ford Crown Victoria Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1
96
complaints

Headlight/Taillight Failures

Crash-related:3
Fires:2
#2
43
complaints

Wheel Issues

Crash-related:1
Fires:1
#3
34
complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Fires:2

Considering a 2003 Ford Crown Victoria?

This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car β€” accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).

All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2003 Ford Crown Victoria. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.

ComponentComplaintsCrashesFiresAvg MileageVolume
Headlight/Taillight Failures9632β€”
Wheel Issues4311β€”
Transmission / Drivetrain34β€”2β€”
Electrical Faults3332β€”
Suspension Failures2932β€”
Engine Problems18β€”1β€”
Steering Defects12β€”β€”β€”
Tire Issues1251β€”
Unintended Acceleration122β€”β€”
Brake System122β€”β€”
Fuel System102β€”β€”
Gasoline92β€”β€”
Hydraulic91β€”β€”
Visibility7β€”β€”β€”
Airbag Malfunctions631β€”
Seat-Related Issues6β€”β€”β€”
Visibility/Wiper4β€”β€”β€”
Structural Problems4β€”β€”β€”
Equipment4β€”β€”β€”
Uncategorized Issues3β€”β€”β€”
Seat Belt Issues3β€”β€”β€”
Air31β€”β€”
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)1β€”β€”β€”
Fuel/Propulsion System1β€”β€”β€”
Parking-Brake Issues1β€”β€”β€”
Other1β€”β€”β€”

Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2003 Ford Crown Victoria. Type a keyword (e.g. β€œtransmission”, β€œstalling”, β€œbrakes”) to filter.

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Showing 289 most recent complaints

Headlight/Taillight FailuresMar 27, 2026

I'm having problems with the lighting control module my high beam lights stop working. I see this year (2003) Ford crown Victoria has a recall for the lighting control module but mines isn't listed when I put in my VIN number and I wanted to see if mines can be listed. Also I wou…

Headlight/Taillight FailuresNov 28, 2025

The contact's father owns a 2003 Ford Crown Victoria. The contact stated that the headlamps would flash and failed to turn on or to turn off as intended. The contact stated that the failure initially occurred intermittently, but the headlights had become completely inoperable. Th…

Electrical FaultsMay 7, 2025

I brought this vehicle into the dealership for safety recall 15s39. There were no problems with the vehicle prior to taking it in. When I received the vehicle back from the dealer they had admitted to not completing all the steps in the safety recall. Now that I have the vehicle …

Headlight/Taillight FailuresApr 29, 2025

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Crown Victoria. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact became aware that both headlights were inoperable. The contact stated that the headlights failed to function properly and had become inoperable. The vehicle was…

Headlight/Taillight FailuresJun 20, 2024

When driving at night and early mornings my head lights and tail lights will randomly go out when my light switch is set to automatic. I can turn it on manually and then I have head lights and brakes but no running tail lights. Which is a major problem and safety hazard.

Engine ProblemsApr 21, 2023

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Crown Victoria. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the contact smelled an abnormal coolant odor. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed there was corrosion and a crack near the intake and radiator hose. No warning lights were i…

Steering DefectsJan 8, 2021

MY 2003 CROWN VIC HAS A HORRIBLE TIME STEERING I'VE WATCHED SEVERAL VIDEOS THAT DEPICTS EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE. YOU HOWEVER DO HAVE A RECALL OUT FOR THIS MAKE JUST STARTING AT 2005. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT I AM THE ONLY ONE THAT'S MADE A COMPLAINT. PLS GET THIS FIXED IM …

Wheel IssuesAug 25, 2020

THESE PARTICULAR WHEELS ON THE CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR WERE KNOWN TO CRACK, AND LEAK AIR, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THEY WERE RECALLED BY FORD, BUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, YAVAPAI-APACHE POLICE IN CAMP VERDE, AZ, NEVER HAD THEM REPLACED. I AM CONST…

Headlight/Taillight FailuresJul 31, 2020

A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHILE ON VACATION 200 MILES FROM HOME WITH MY FAMILY THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT. AFTER A LITTLE INSPECTION I FOUND WE STILL HAD FLASH TO PASS HIGH BEAMS. THE NEXT DAY (JULY 3RD) I WENT TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND THE PARTS HOUSES AND NO ONE HAD A REPLACE…

Headlight/Taillight FailuresMar 4, 2020

ON APRIL 14TH 2017 A RECALL WAS ISSUED (RECALL ID = 264137) ON 2003-2005 FORD CROWN VICTORIA'S MANUFACTURED OCTOBER 3RD, 2001 THROUGH AUGUST 2ND, 2005. NHTSA CAMPAIGN # = 15V861000. THE RECALL WAS ON THE AFFECTED COMPONENT, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE A FORD CROWN VICTO…

Headlight/Taillight FailuresFeb 22, 2020

I BOUGHT THE CAR A FEW MONTHS BACK. THE HEADLIGHTS WORKED JUST FINE AT FIRST, THEN STARTED EITHER NOT TURNING ON OR WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. THEY WILL NOT TURN BACK ON BY FLIPPING THE LIGHTS ON THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO. ONLY THING YOU CAN DO IT WAIT A FEW HOUR…

Headlight/Taillight FailuresDec 15, 2019

DASH LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS ON WHEN DRIVING DOWN ROAD ON DARK NIGHT, THEN DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT - COULDN'T SEE SPEEDOMETER OR GEAR INDICATOR. THEN HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, BUT DASH LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING THE 25 MILES HOME. TRIED LOOKING UNDER …

Headlight/Taillight FailuresSep 4, 2019

DRIVING AT NIGHT AND THE LIGHTS WILL CUT OFF I HAVE PULL THE BRIGHT LIGHT LEVER AND HOLD IT ON SO THAT THE LIGHTS WOULD STAY ON OTHER WISE I HAVE NO LIGHTS AT ALL. IF I START THE CAR AND THE LIGHT SWITCH IS ON AUTO ONLY THE PARKING LIGHTS WILL COME ON. NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BE…

Transmission / DrivetrainAug 13, 2019

FORD DEALERSHIP WONT FIX SAFTEY ISSUES RECALLS

Steering DefectsJul 30, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT DECIDED TO PLACE OIL ON THE STEERING SHAFT AND STEERING WHEEL. AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS, THE STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS A…

Headlight/Taillight FailuresJul 18, 2019

DRIVING MY VEHICLE HOME FROM WORK AT NIGHT GOT PULLED OVER BECAUSE I HAVE NO TAIL LIGHTS . THE LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE THAT WAS PUT IN FROM THE RECALL IS BAD AND NOW FORD SAYS ITS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT MYSELF. WHY EVEN HAVE A RECALL OR ISSUE A RECALL AND FIX…

Electrical FaultsπŸ”₯ FireFeb 24, 2019

MY HEADLIGHTS DON'T WORK UNTIL EVER NOW & THEN THE ONLY ONE THAT WORK IS THE RUNNING LIGHTS 🤨 I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A RECALL ON THE HEADLIGHT CONTROL MODULE BUT IT WASN'T ON MY VEHICLE 🤦🏾‍♀️ I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND CAUSE I HAVING PROBL…

Headlight/Taillight FailuresFeb 12, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE FAULTY AND THE TURN SIGNALS DID NOT WORK. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT COULD NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LB SMITH FO…

Headlight/Taillight FailuresDec 10, 2018

RANDOM LOSS OF PARK LAMPS WHILE DRIVING INCREASING REAR-END COLLISION RISK. HEADLIGHTS ARE OPERATIVE AND WORKING. HEADLIGHT RECALL WAS PERFORMED BY RAMEY FORD. 15S39. I PAID LABOR COSTS AND HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED BY FORD AS THE LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE BEING THE PROBLEM. FORD WILL REP…

Headlight/Taillight FailuresNov 13, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FORD OF DALTON (LOCATED AT 925 SHUGART RD, DALTON, GA 30720, (706) 278-1151) TO BE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V861000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHTING CONTROL MODU…

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Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2003 Ford Crown Victoria.

Recalls for 2003 Ford Crown Victoria

7 campaigns

NHTSA recall campaigns for the 2003 Ford Crown Victoria. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.

15V861000Invalid Date
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

06E056000Invalid Date
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

05V206000Sep 5, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

03V279000May 8, 2003
WHEELS

02I003000Invalid Date
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

03V472000Jun 11, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

04V328000Jul 7, 2004
SUSPENSION:REAR

2003 Ford Crown Victoria β€” FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2003 Ford Crown Victoria reliable?β–Ύ

Severe Issues. The 2003 Ford Crown Victoria has 289 NHTSA owner complaints, 17 crash-related, and 7 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Headlight/Taillight Failures (96 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Ford Crown Victoria?β–Ύ

#1: Headlight/Taillight Failures (96 complaints). #2: Wheel Issues (43 complaints). #3: Transmission / Drivetrain (34 complaints)

At what mileage do problems start on the 2003 Ford Crown Victoria?β–Ύ

Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.

How safe is the 2003 Ford Crown Victoria?β–Ύ

The 2003 Ford Crown Victoria has 17 crash-related complaints and 6 fire reports out of 289 total NHTSA complaints. 7 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Does the 2003 Ford Crown Victoria have any recalls?β–Ύ

Yes β€” 7 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2003 Ford Crown Victoria. The largest issue: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.

Should I buy a 2003 Ford Crown Victoria?β–Ύ

The 2003 Ford Crown Victoria has severe issues β€” review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Headlight/Taillight Failures issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.

Wider context: See the full Ford Crown Victoria reliability report with year-by-year comparison.

Check Your Specific 2003 Ford Crown Victoria

Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car β€” accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.

2003 Ford Crown Victoria Problems β€” 289 NHTSA Complaints | VinSpector AI