Complaints
303
Crashes
19
Fires
6
Injuries
6
Fatalities
—
Recalls
1
Worst 2003 Ford Crown Victoria Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#185 complaints
Headlight/Taillight Failures
Avg mileage:119,767 mi
Crash-related:3
Fires:2
#224 complaints
Wheel Issues
Avg mileage:102,039 mi
#318 complaints
Wheels:Rim
Avg mileage:36,916 mi
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2003 Ford Crown Victoria.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 85 | 3 | 2 | 119,767 mi | |
| Wheel Issues | 24 | — | — | 102,039 mi | |
| Wheels:Rim | 18 | — | — | 36,916 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 17 | 1 | 1 | 104,693 mi | |
| Suspension:Rear | 14 | — | 1 | 87,271 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 12 | 2 | — | 92,670 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 11 | — | — | 106,858 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 10 | — | — | 135,480 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 9 | — | — | 68,691 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 8 | 4 | — | 128,683 mi | |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft | 7 | — | — | 70,004 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 6 | — | 1 | 156,800 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 5 | 1 | — | 136,700 mi | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Wipers & Visibility | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft:Seal | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 | — | — | — |
Headlight/Taillight Failures
85
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
2
Avg Miles
119,767
Wheel Issues
24
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
102,039
Wheels:Rim
18
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
36,916
Electrical Faults
17
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
104,693
Suspension:Rear
14
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
87,271
Suspension Failures
12
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
92,670
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
106,858
Steering Defects
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
135,480
Transmission / Drivetrain
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
68,691
Tire Defects
8
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
128,683
Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
70,004
Engine Problems
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
156,800
Unintended Acceleration
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
136,700
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wipers & Visibility
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Axle Assembly
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft:Seal
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
2
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2003 Ford Crown Victoria. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2003 Ford Crown Victoria
1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~296,004 vehicles.
15V861000Exterior Lighting:headlights
~296,004 affectedFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2003-2005 Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles manufactured October 3, 2001, to August 2, 2005. The affected vehicles have a lighting control module (LCM) that may fail, resulting in a loss of headlights.
Other Ford Crown Victoria Years
2003 Ford Crown Victoria — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2003 Ford Crown Victoria reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2003 Ford Crown Victoria has 303 NHTSA complaints, 19 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Headlight/Taillight Failures with 85 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2003 Ford Crown Victoria?
Top reported problems: Headlight/Taillight Failures (85 complaints, avg 119,767 mi); Wheel Issues (24 complaints, avg 102,039 mi); Wheels:Rim (18 complaints, avg 36,916 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2003 Ford Crown Victoria?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 104,865 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2003 Ford Crown Victoria?
NHTSA complaints for the 2003 Ford Crown Victoria include 19 crash-related reports, 6 fire reports, 6 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2003 Ford Crown Victoria have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 296,004 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2003 Ford Crown Victoria?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (headlight/taillight failures) and verify open recalls have been addressed.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Ford Crown Victoria reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2003 Ford Crown Victoria
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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