FORD CROWN VICTORIA · model year

2001 FORD CROWN VICTORIA

70 NHTSA complaints, 11 crash reports, and 7 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2001FORDCROWN VICTORIA carries 70 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 11 crashes, 2 fires, 10 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2001 CROWN VICTORIA is air bags:frontal with 8 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (4) and fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly (4). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 7 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 2001 CROWN VICTORIA. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

70
Complaints
11
Crashes
2
Fires
10
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

70 filings

Crashes Reported

11 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL8
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE4
STEERING4
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE3
SEAT BELTS3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3
ENGINE3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE2
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR2
SUSPENSION:REAR2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM2
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT2

Recalls (7)

01V22700116/07/2001

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

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 OUTBOARD SEAT BELT BUCKLE MAY NOT FULLY LATCH. FORD CROWN VICTORIA BUILT AT ST. THOMAS ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM

02I00300015/10/2002

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

IN ORDER TO ENHANCE POLICE OFFICE SAFETY, MODEL YEAR 1992-2003 CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR (CVPI) VEHICLES WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH SHIELDS DESIGNED TO HELP PROTECT THE FUEL TANK IN HIGH-SPEED REAR-IMPACT CRASHES. FORD ALSO WILL BE OFFERING AN OPTIONAL TRUNK PACKAGE DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE SAFE

00V27000013/09/2000

AIR BAGS

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 RESULT IN AN AIR BAG OR SEAT BELT PRE-TENSIONER UNEXPECTEDLY ACTIVATING DURING THE SELF-TEST SEQUENCE AT

06E05600013/06/2006

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS SOLD UNDER THE PUROLATOR BRAND NAME, P/N F65277, SHIPPED FROM JANUARY 16 THROUGH JUNE 2, 2006, FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO INCORRECT DESIGN, THE QUICK CONNECTORS MAY NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE INTERFACE, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON MAKING THE

00V41200006/12/2000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

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 CIRCUIT BOARD IN THE HOUSING MISSING. IF SOME OR ALL OF THE SCREWS ARE MISSING, THE PERFORMANCE OF THE OCC

03V47200006/11/2003

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

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.

15E08200006/10/2015

STEERING

Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain model Dorman Steering Shafts, part number 425-359, Solutions Steering Shafts, part number 7-0359, and OE Solutions Steering Shafts, part number 425-359, manufactured April 17, 2014, to September 28, 2015. These aftermarket replacement steering sha

Recent Complaints

20210818STEERING

The vehicle drift back-fourth while driving on highway. Excessive play in steering wheel,

20191126STEERING

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.

Mileage: 194,000

20160427ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

20150630ENGINE

THE INTAKE IS PLASTIC HAS AN CRACK AND LEAK ANTIFREEZE

Mileage: 122,197

20150115ENGINE

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

20150115FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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

20130410ENGINE

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

20110921VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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

Mileage: 36,570

20110730STEERING

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

Mileage: 180,000

20101027ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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

Mileage: 162,000

20100512ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

Mileage: 150,000

20091010AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

ARE AUTO AIRBAGS WARRENTIED BY THE GOVERNMENT?*TR

20080922TIRES

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.

Mileage: 39,000

20080913SEAT BELTS

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

Mileage: 20,000

20080619FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

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.

Mileage: 120,000

20080310VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

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

Mileage: 80,000

20070314SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD CROWN VICTORIA, AND WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AT 5 MPH THE BALL JOINT ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE FELL OFF. THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED BOTH FRONT BALL JOINTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS AT 81,000 MILES. *AK

Mileage: 81,000

20060623ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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

Mileage: 166,000

20060424SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

2001 CROWN VICTORIA DEFECTIVE LOWER BALL JOINTS, POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF NO GREASE FITTING ON BALL JOINTS TO DO NORMAL MAINTENANCE LUBE. *TS *JB

20050718VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

DT: CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE IT REVVED. WHEN PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE IT DID THIS ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE SERVICE DEALER DID SOME REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE, BUT IT DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. AT FIRST IT WOULD DO THIS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS COLD, BUT THE SERVICE DEALER REPLACED AN IAC VALVE. CURRRENTLY IT DOES IT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS HOT OR COLD. *AK

Compare 2001FORDCROWN VICTORIA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2001 FORD CROWN VICTORIA have?
The 2001 FORD CROWN VICTORIA has 70 NHTSA complaints, 11 crashes, 2 fires, 10 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2001 FORD CROWN VICTORIA?
Yes, the 2001 FORD CROWN VICTORIA has 7 recall(s). The most common affected component is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 FORD CROWN VICTORIA?
The most-complained component for the 2001 FORD CROWN VICTORIA is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 8 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY.
Is the 2001 FORD CROWN VICTORIA safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.