1997 Ford Crown Victoria

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
1997 Ford Crown Victoria
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

Complaints
288
Recalls
11

Campaigns on file for 1997

Investigations
10

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Engine and engine cooling

31% of complaints

Complaints per year

1980: 2 complaints 1980 1981: 2 complaints 1982: 3 complaints 1983: 5 complaints 1984: 6 complaints 1984 1985: 21 complaints 1986: 27 complaints 1987: 42 complaints 1988: 43 complaints 1988 1989: 75 complaints 1990: 43 complaints 1991: 56 complaints 1992: 316 complaints 1992 1993: 188 complaints 1994: 198 complaints 1995: 250 complaints 1996: 276 complaints 1997: 288 complaints 1997 288 1998: 119 complaints 1999: 134 complaints 2000: 85 complaints 2001: 53 complaints 2002: 58 complaints 2003: 249 complaints 2004: 138 complaints 2004 2005: 193 complaints 2006: 53 complaints 2007: 50 complaints 2008: 50 complaints 2008 2009: 44 complaints 2010: 12 complaints 2011: 23 complaints
1980: 2 complaints 1980 1981: 2 complaints 1982: 3 complaints 1982 1983: 5 complaints 1984: 6 complaints 1984 1985: 21 complaints 1986: 27 complaints 1986 1987: 42 complaints 1988: 43 complaints 1988 1989: 75 complaints 1990: 43 complaints 1990 1991: 56 complaints 1992: 316 complaints 1992 1993: 188 complaints 1994: 198 complaints 1994 1995: 250 complaints 1996: 276 complaints 1997: 288 complaints 1997 288 1998: 119 complaints 1999: 134 complaints 2000: 85 complaints 2000 2001: 53 complaints 2002: 58 complaints 2002 2003: 249 complaints 2004: 138 complaints 2004 2005: 193 complaints 2006: 53 complaints 2006 2007: 50 complaints 2008: 50 complaints 2008 2009: 44 complaints 2010: 12 complaints 2010 2011: 23 complaints
1980: 2 complaints 1980 1981: 2 complaints 1982: 3 complaints 1982 1983: 5 complaints 1984: 6 complaints 1984 1985: 21 complaints 1986: 27 complaints 1986 1987: 42 complaints 1988: 43 complaints 1988 1989: 75 complaints 1990: 43 complaints 1990 1991: 56 complaints 1992: 316 complaints 1992 1993: 188 complaints 1994: 198 complaints 1994 1995: 250 complaints 1996: 276 complaints 1997: 288 complaints 1997 288 1998: 119 complaints 1999: 134 complaints 2000: 85 complaints 2000 2001: 53 complaints 2002: 58 complaints 2002 2003: 249 complaints 2004: 138 complaints 2004 2005: 193 complaints 2006: 53 complaints 2006 2007: 50 complaints 2008: 50 complaints 2008 2009: 44 complaints 2010: 12 complaints 2010 2011: 23 complaints

1997: 288 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19802
19812
19823
19835
19846
198521
198627
198742
198843
198975
199043
199156
1992316
1993188
1994198
1995250
1996276
1997288
1998119
1999134
200085
200153
200258
2003249
2004138
2005193
200653
200750
200850
200944
201012
201123

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Engine and engine cooling

31% · 88 reports

Most commonly citing manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe and cooling system.

FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

While driving vehicle caught on fire from plastic manifold, and engine shut down.. Dealer has been notified. Any additional information feel free to add.

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-09-17

Also filed under Fuel system, gasoline

Service brakes

19% · 54 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Suspension

16% · 47 reports

Most commonly citing lower ball joint and front.

CRASHFIRE
Show complaint excerpts

The contact owns a 1997 Ford Crown Victoria. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel jerked, and the vehicle became difficult to maneuver.

NHTSA ODI report, 2023-04-07

Fuel system, gasoline

10% · 30 reports

Most commonly citing carburetor system and hoses, lines/piping, and fittings.

FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

Vehicle caught on fire due to a faulty fuel line. No prior warning.

NHTSA ODI report, 1998-03-19

Vehicle speed control

8% · 23 reports

Most commonly citing cruise control and linkages.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Safety timeline

11 recalls · 10 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. ▮
    1997Complaint volume 288 complaints filed for this model year.
  2. R
    1997-04-24Latches/locks/linkages97V024000 Vehicle description: police and taxi vehicles. The hood latch striker can wear or become detached from the hood.

    Remedy: Dealers will install an improved hood latch striker (Vehicles with 1992 model hoods) or revised striker plate attaching fasteners (Vehicles with 1993-1997 model hoods).

  3. R
    1998-05-01Service brakes, hydraulic98I001000 This is not a safety recall in accordance with federal regulation 573. However, it is deemed a safety improvement campaign by the agency. Ford is initiating an owner notification program for…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the brake lines for wear, install two new tube bundle clips, and check the brake lines for proper clearances. If the brake lines are worn, the damaged section of the brake line…

  4. I
    1998-07-23Preliminary evaluationClosed 1998-09-29 Front seat anchor bolt failure
  5. R
    1999-01-18Suspension98V322000 Vehicle description: certain 1996-1999 Ford Crown Victoria police, fleet, natural gas, and 1996-1999 Lincoln town car limousine vehicles that were produced with a lower control arm ball joint…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the lower control arm ball joints (2).

  6. R
    2000-09-28Seat belts00V157002 Vehicle description: passenger vehicles using aftermarket front passenger side seat belt assemblies that were sold by Ford parts departments from January 1, through June 13, 2000. These seat belt…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect these vehicles and replace the service seat belt assemblies that were installed in these vehicles from January 1 through June 13, 2000.

  7. R
    2000-09-28Seat belts00V157001 Vehicle description: passenger vehicles using aftermarket driver's seat belt assemblies that were sold by Ford parts departments from January 1, through June 13, 2000. These seat belt assemblies…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect these vehicles and replace the service seat belt assemblies that were installed in these vehicles from January 1 through June 13, 2000.

  8. I
    2001-11-27SQClosed 2002-10-03 Post rear end collision fires
  9. I
    2002-08-22Defect petitionClosed 2002-12-04 Fuel-fed fires
  10. I
    2002-09-06Engineering analysisClosed 2004-06-30 Speed control deactivation switch fires
  11. I
    2002-10-01Preliminary evaluationClosed 2003-01-27 Cng tank exploding in a fire
  12. I
    2003-01-03Recall queryClosed 2003-06-03 Ball joint separation
  13. I
    2003-01-27Engineering analysisClosed 2003-11-19 Cng tank explosion
  14. I
    2003-03-11Recall queryClosed 2003-07-25 Rear brake line failure
  15. I
    2003-07-25Engineering analysisClosed 2005-04-11 Rear brake line failure
  16. R
    2004-01-07Fuel system, other03V472000 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…

    Remedy: Dealers will install an insulator behind the current seat back. Owner notification began on January 7, 2004. Owners should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.

  17. R
    2005-07-15Service brakes, hydraulic05V086000 On certain passenger vehicles built with electronic traction control, the rear brake line may chafe due to contact between it and a floor pan stiffening rib, and a brake fluid leak may occur.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the subject vehicles for contact between the brake tube and floor pan stiffening rib. If contact is evident, but no abrasion or leaks exist, the brake tube will be repositioned…

  18. I
    2005-09-22Defect petitionClosed 2006-01-04 Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
  19. R
    2007-08-13Vehicle speed control07V336000 On certain pickup trucks, passenger vehicles, sport utility vehicles, and motor homes chassis, the speed control deactivation switch may, under certain conditions, leak internally and then overheat…

    Remedy: Dealers will install a fused wiring harness. Owners of the passenger cars included in this campaign will be instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control…

  20. R
    2008-02-18Vehicle speed control08V051000 Ford is recalling 225,000 my 1992-2003 Econoline, my 1993-1995 Taurus SHO, my 1992-1998 Crown Victoria, my 1993 Bronco, F-Series, my 1995-1997 F-Series super duty stripped chassis, my 1992-1998…

    Remedy: Dealers will install a new wiring harness, or replace the mating electrical component. The recall began on February 18, 2008. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.

  21. R
    2015-10-28Steering15E082000 Dorman Products, Inc.

    Remedy: Dorman will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering shaft, free of charge. The recall began on October 28, 2015. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492, option 5.

  22. R
    Date not on fileFuel system, gasoline02I003000 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.

    Remedy: Ford has advised us that shield kits have been available since late October and will be installed on police interceptor vehicles at no cost. The optional trank package will be available by the end of 2002.

Buy-smart checklist

1997 Ford Crown Victoria — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Engine and engine cooling: 88 reports on file for this year.
  • Service brakes: 54 reports on file for this year.
  • Suspension: 47 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 02I003000 · Fuel system, gasoline
  • Recall 97V024000 · Latches/locks/linkages
  • Recall 98I001000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 98V322000 · Suspension
  • Recall 00V157002 · Seat belts
  • Recall 00V157001 · Seat belts
  • Recall 03V472000 · Fuel system, other
  • Recall 05V086000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 07V336000 · Vehicle speed control
  • Recall 08V051000 · Vehicle speed control
  • Recall 15E082000 · Steering

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 1997 Ford Crown Victoria reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1997 Ford Crown Victoria is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Ford Crown Victoria?
The most-reported component is engine and engine cooling, accounting for 31% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1997 Ford Crown Victoria have?
11 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.