2000 Ford Crown Victoria Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe a cracked composite intake manifold that leaks coolant into the spark plug wells, producing misfires and rough running, and several report steering or suspension parts letting go at speed. Complaints span a wide mileage range, from low-mileage fuel and speed-control reports to lighting and front-end problems well past 100,000 miles.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Cracked intake manifold leaking coolant

   • 9 complaints (11%)
   • median 124,975 mi at 7.1 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2004–2014

   Owners describe coolant loss with no obvious external leak, often traced to a crack at the heater hose fitting on the plastic intake manifold. Complaints say coolant then reaches a spark plug well or ignition coil, producing misfires, shaking, sputtering and overheating; some mention a milky residue in the coolant reservoir. Several owners report the repair was quoted at over a thousand dollars and that a dealer declined coverage once an extended coverage period had passed. Reported from roughly 40,000 to 200,000 miles, often on vehicles used for long idling such as patrol cars.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Look for coolant residue or staining around the manifold's heater hose fitting and check the coolant reservoir for a milky appearance; ask whether the manifold has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Plastic intake cracks at heater hose connection. This is a police car which can idle for long periods at a time.this condition leaks antifreeze into the well of the spark plug which causes a misfire,and the car overheats if not constantly watched.we have changed manifolds after calling Ford and we were told only a crack behind the alternator was under warranty.”

   NHTSA complaint #10072408, filed 2004-05, 64,176 miles

   “On 15 nov 2009, my car started spitting and sputtering, I thought it was bad gasoline. On 16 nov 2009, I had my car checked by my garage, was told that #5 spark plug and coil was bad due to leaking coolant at my intake manifold. After contacting my local Ford dealer thinking I could just buy a part vs. A whole manifold (like I was told I needed), I learned that there had been a recall for this problem and repairs were covered by Ford for only 7 years of auto's life. Well naturally, my car is 9 yrs old now and I'm facing a $1100.00 repair bill. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10292412, filed 2009-11, 142,721 miles
2. 2
   Steering

   Steering shaft, tie rod or ball joint separation

   • 10 complaints (12%)
   • median 67,158 mi at 13.4 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2000–2016

   Complaints describe sudden loss of steering: the intermediate steering shaft separating from the lower shaft during a turn, a tie rod detaching at low speed, and a lower ball joint pulling out of its socket so the front corner drops. Owners report the steering wheel spinning freely or the car swaying and becoming hard to control beforehand. Mechanics quoted in complaints attributed the failures to corrosion and to a joint that had no grease fitting. Mostly reported between about 46,000 and 150,000 miles, often during low-speed turns.

   What to check: Have a mechanic inspect the steering shaft coupling, tie rod ends and lower ball joints for play, corrosion and grease fitting presence before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Was steering into an isle of parking spots when suddenly and without warning, the steering wheel began to spin freely and effortlessly. I immediately stopped the car because it could do nothing but go in the direction the tires were turned at the time of the steering failure, which in my case, would have been right into three parked cars. Upon inspection, the steering column had come loose from the rest of the car, causing a loss in control as far as steering was concerned. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10521264, filed 2013-06, 46,000 miles

   “My wife was on her way home from work and she called me saying that something was wrong with the car. She said it was swaying back and forth on the highway and was very difficult to drive. She made it home and pulled into the drive way. When she turned the steering wheel strait the front driver side of the car hit the ground. When I got home I looked at it and seen that the lower ball joint had come out of the socket. I looked up my vehicle online and seen that I wasn't the only one with this problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10487380, filed 2012-12, 88,317 miles
3. 3
   Suspension

   Front suspension noise, sag and broken springs

   • 6 complaints (7%)
   • median 115,000 mi at 13.1 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2000–2018

   Owners report popping and snapping noises from the front suspension over uneven ground and in turns, and one complaint describes the rear of the body sitting several inches higher on one side. Others describe a loud bang followed by a wheel leaning inward, with severe frame rust noted at inspection. Complaints also mention a fractured lower ball joint attributed to a joint that was not greased regularly. Reported from roughly 115,000 to 150,000 miles, with some noise complaints from fleet cars at lower mileage.

   What to check: Listen for clunks or snaps over bumps on a test drive and check ride height side to side; inspect the frame and lower ball joints for rust and wear.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The right rear (passenger side) of the vehicle body continues to raise up higher than the left side. It is now about 5 inches higher. Have noticed this on other crown vic cars in metro area. Suspect a weak or broken spring.”

   NHTSA complaint #10547873, filed 2013-10, 115,000 miles

   “Vehicle has a constant problem with popping and snapping noises in the front suspension when crossing unevevn areas and in turns. This noise is in all our 1999, 2000 and 2001 patrlo cars and has increased in intensity.”

   NHTSA complaint #757384, filed 2002-01
4. 4
   Exterior lighting

   Headlights and instrument lights cutting out

   • 6 complaints (7%)
   • median 212,500 mi at 14.8 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2002–2020

   Complaints describe headlights flickering and then going out completely while driving at night, sometimes taking the instrument panel lighting with them. Owners mention a lighting control module or relay that was reportedly discontinued, and some say the lenses hold moisture and give poor visibility. One complaint notes headlights that appeared misadjusted and threw glare for other drivers. Mostly reported on vehicles past 100,000 miles, including one at 275,000 miles.

   What to check: Test all exterior and dash lighting at night, watch for flicker over bumps, and ask whether the lighting control module or relays have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Brought used july 26,2017 first time driving at night headlights flash off and on then go out completely while driving on a main highway.Ford has problem with light module tried getting vkp-31f32-z01 relays but my research found discontinued 2009 I'm screwed by Ford & relay manufacture.may not be in your data base but it's still a safety hazard & previous owner should had this resolved.”

   NHTSA complaint #11032620, filed 2017-10, 275,000 miles

   “I was driving nd I didn't see a pot hole so after I drove across it like a mile or more my head light started flicking nd after wen I drove for like 30min they turned of nd it also caused all the light to turn off inside nd out the car”

   NHTSA complaint #11318531, filed 2020-03
5. 5
   Fuel system

   Sudden acceleration when shifting or braking

   • 5 complaints (6%)
   • typically at 2.5 yrs old
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2004

   Complaints describe the engine surging to full acceleration on its own, once while shifting into reverse and once while pulling away after refueling, with the brakes reportedly unable to hold the car. Another owner reports sudden acceleration while braking that ended in a collision. In a separate complaint the cruise control stopped engaging at highway speed and could not be repaired after repeated dealer visits. Reported across a wide mileage range, from very low mileage up to about 33,000 miles in the cruise control case.

   What to check: Ask about any history of unintended acceleration or throttle work, and test the cruise control and idle behavior during a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While starting the engine at a service station following filling with gas, my 2000 Ford Crown Victoria made a sudden surge forward when I placed the car in gear and turned the wheel to the right. I had my foot on the break and pressed the break pedal hard to stop the car. If I had not had my foot firmly on the break pedal and reacted quickly, or if someone had been in front of the car, an accident could have occured. …”

   NHTSA complaint #728083, filed 2000-08

   “9:00 a.m., on putting the car into reverse to back out of a space, the motor leaped into full acceleration with a loud roar. The car jumped backward about half a car length, while I jammed the brake pedal down as far as it would go, but the motor overcame the brakes.. I wrestled the gearshift our of reverse but overshot into forward. The car jumped forward with a loud screeching of the tires and a cloud of blue smoke from the tires enveloping the car, before I was able to wrrestle the gearsshift out of forward into neutral. …”

   NHTSA complaint #764345, filed 2002-07

Buying note. These cars are old enough that condition matters more than reputation: have a mechanic check the intake manifold, front-end steering and suspension parts, and the lighting circuits before purchase. Service records showing manifold replacement and recent front-end work are worth asking for.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.