1997 Ford Crown Victoria Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 14about this part
- Share
- 5%of 288 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 173,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 14 complaints about the electrical system of the 1997 Ford Crown Victoria, 5% of the 288 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 173,000 miles. 4 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Was driving along and the headlights flickered and went out. Over the pass year it has intermittently done the same. It happened again about a month ago and fortunately I had just stopped at a red light. Each time it took about 3 to 5 minutes to come back on. It is very disconcerting since this is a very serious safety issue. So please do not take this lightly, I use the expressway a lot and am driving in very congested traffic most of the time. I do not know what Ford has done about this problem since there are so many occurrences with these type of vehicles online. …”
NHTSA complaint #10494873, filed 2013-01, 195,000 miles“While parked a fire erupted under the hood. Dealer stated the fire started around the cruise control wiring. No injuries reported. The items under the hood were replaced and there have been no further problems.”
NHTSA complaint #10092594, filed 2004-10, 98,000 miles“The contact owns a 1997 Ford Crown Victoria. The contact stated that when the headlights were activated, the instrument panel, clock, and radio lights failed to illuminate. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 151,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10836445, filed 2016-02, 151,000 miles“The contact owns a 1997 Ford Crown Victoria. While attempting to accelerate, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the tires, tie rods, ball joints, brakes, and battery were replaced. However, the failure kept recurring. On another occasion, the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the vehicle was diagnosed with an unknown electric failure that was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 200,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10694139, filed 2015-03, 200,000 miles“1997 Ford Crown Victoria. Vehicle has had repairs done in the past and still receives same problems due to recall. The consumer stated the vehicle intermittently shut down. A diagnose revealed a problem with the lighting control module. Once it was replaced, the consumer did not experience any more problems until the summer 2014 when the same problem recurred. Again, the lighting control module was replaced.”
NHTSA complaint #10669016, filed 2015-02Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 | 4% |
| 2010 | 1 | 8% |
| 2009 | 5 | 11% |
| 2008 | 5 | 10% |
| 2007 | 5 | 10% |
| 2006 | 4 | 8% |
| 2005 | 21 | 11% |
| 2004 | 23 | 17% |
| 2003 | 20 | 8% |
| 2002 | 9 | 16% |
| 2001 | 4 | 8% |
| 2000 | 6 | 7% |
| 1999 | 10 | 7% |
| 1998 | 8 | 7% |
| 1997 | 14 | 5% |
| 1996 | 12 | 4% |
| 1995 | 16 | 6% |
| 1994 | 11 | 6% |
| 1993 | 22 | 12% |
| 1992 | 52 | 17% |
| 1991 | 10 | 18% |
| 1990 | 10 | 23% |
| 1989 | 24 | 33% |
| 1988 | 18 | 43% |
| 1987 | 14 | 34% |
| 1986 | 14 | 52% |
| 1985 | 10 | 48% |
| 1984 | 5 | 83% |
| 1983 | 3 | 60% |
Other parts of the 1997 Ford Crown Victoria
84 complaintsBrakes
57 complaintsSuspension
45 complaintsFuel system
29 complaintsVehicle speed control
23 complaintsSteering
11 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
11 complaintsExterior lighting
9 complaintsBody and structure
8 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
7 complaintsOther or unknown
6 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Ford Crown Victoria
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology