1997 Ford Crown Victoria Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 9about this part
- Share
- 3%of 288 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 100,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 9 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 1997 Ford Crown Victoria, 3% of the 288 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 100,000 miles. 1 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“At 1:15 a.m. On december 27, 2006, I drove my 1997 Crown Victoria for aproximatly 20 miles and parked in my driveway. About an hour and thirty minutes later, I was awaken by a popping sound and the dog barking. I looked out the window to find the car's engine compartment fully engulfed in flames. I then called 911 and ran out to try to extinguish the fire with a garden hose. The heat from the fire burned through the hood on the drivers side in the area of the braking systems master cilinder, then ignited the drivers side tire and all plastic components rendering the hose inefective. …”
NHTSA complaint #10177276, filed 2006-12, 136,000 miles“97 Ford Crown Victoria plastic headlight assemblies fogged over and became useless and dangerous..tried various cleaning agents to no avail..had to replace both headlamp assemblies..”
NHTSA complaint #10168807, filed 2006-09, 75,000 miles“Dt: the consumer stated that the flashing hazard warning lights and the turn signals malfunctioned. This occurred without prior occurrences or warning. The contact discovered that the lights were connected to a large control module instead of a simple fuse. The vehicle had not been to a dealer for repairs. There was no explanation as to why this problem occurred. (11/17/05) the consumer would have to wiggle the signal lever and press on the hazard warning switch to get them to work, but the bright lights had to be held in position.”
NHTSA complaint #10140437, filed 2005-10, 99,400 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 2015-02Exterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 | 4% |
| 2010 | 1 | 8% |
| 2008 | 1 | 2% |
| 2007 | 1 | 2% |
| 2006 | 2 | 4% |
| 2005 | 99 | 51% |
| 2004 | 81 | 59% |
| 2003 | 96 | 39% |
| 2002 | 3 | 5% |
| 2001 | 2 | 4% |
| 2000 | 11 | 13% |
| 1999 | 10 | 7% |
| 1998 | 12 | 10% |
| 1997 | 9 | 3% |
| 1996 | 3 | 1% |
| 1995 | 9 | 4% |
| 1994 | 9 | 5% |
| 1993 | 6 | 3% |
| 1992 | 21 | 7% |
| 1991 | 1 | 2% |
| 1987 | 1 | 2% |
Other parts of the 1997 Ford Crown Victoria
84 complaintsBrakes
57 complaintsSuspension
45 complaintsFuel system
29 complaintsVehicle speed control
23 complaintsElectrical system
14 complaintsSteering
11 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
11 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