Complaints
175
Crashes
4
Fires
6
Injuries
5
Fatalities
—
Recalls
1
Worst 2004 Ford Crown Victoria Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#176 complaints
Headlight/Taillight Failures
Avg mileage:100,216 mi
Fires:1
#223 complaints
Electrical Faults
Avg mileage:92,683 mi
Fires:2
#318 complaints
Steering Defects
Avg mileage:117,986 mi
Crash-related:1
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 Ford Crown Victoria.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 76 | — | 1 | 100,216 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 23 | — | 2 | 92,683 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 18 | 1 | — | 117,986 mi | |
| Wheel Issues | 8 | — | — | 118,567 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 6 | — | — | 86,368 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 | — | 2 | — | |
| Body Structure | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Wipers & Visibility | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Other | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Column | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Rear | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Rear:Axle:Non-Powered Axle Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Sidewall | 1 | — | — | — |
Headlight/Taillight Failures
76
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
100,216
Electrical Faults
23
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
92,683
Steering Defects
18
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
117,986
Wheel Issues
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
118,567
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
86,368
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wipers & Visibility
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Other
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Interior Lighting
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Column
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Rear
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Rear:Axle:Non-Powered Axle Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Sidewall
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2004 Ford Crown Victoria. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2004 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
2004 Ford Crown Victoria — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2004 Ford Crown Victoria reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 2004 Ford Crown Victoria has 175 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Headlight/Taillight Failures with 76 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2004 Ford Crown Victoria?
Top reported problems: Headlight/Taillight Failures (76 complaints, avg 100,216 mi); Electrical Faults (23 complaints, avg 92,683 mi); Steering Defects (18 complaints, avg 117,986 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 2004 Ford Crown Victoria?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 101,822 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2004 Ford Crown Victoria?
NHTSA complaints for the 2004 Ford Crown Victoria include 4 crash-related reports, 6 fire reports, 5 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 2004 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 2004 Ford Crown Victoria?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
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 2004 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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