2006 Ford Crown Victoria Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report steering column and shaft problems, such as sudden loss of steering control or a loose column, and where mileage is given most cases are above about 75,000 miles. Reports of unintended acceleration or surging, often while braking, form the next largest group, followed by airbag warning lights and airbags that did not deploy. Complaints for this model year are trending downward.

1. 1
   Steering

   Steering column or shaft failure and loss of control

   • 23 complaints (43%)
   • median 108,230 mi at 8.2 yrs old (20 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2026

   Owners describe the steering wheel seizing, becoming stiff, or spinning freely, and some describe a steering column or shaft separating or coming apart. Some complaints describe a sudden loss of steering control while driving or turning, including a collision with a hillside. Some complaints describe a steering column retaining ring that failed, with the owner suspecting heat-related binding of the universal joints. A complaint says the recall repair did not stop the failure, another says the dealer found the column within limits, and others report that recall parts were unavailable or that the recall repair was declined because of vehicle age. Where mileage is given, most cases are above about 75,000 miles, and some are lower.

   Recall 13V385000Recall 14V7040003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the steering column and intermediate shafts have been inspected and whether recall 13V385000 has been completed. During a test drive, check for stiff, loose or uneven steering and for clunking from the steering wheel.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving approax 25 MPH when my steering wheel all of a sudden became free and my wheel just spun freely not moving my wheels, upon inspection I found that the bushing dislocated which caused me to loose control of my steering.”

   NHTSA complaint #10505992, filed 2013-04, 168,329 miles

   “Police track training personnel are reporting momentary power steering loss/lockup when executing hard u-turns with 06/07 production Ford crown vic police interceptions. In addition, we are receiving complaints from the field regarding this same issue. Concern is that this steering defect could result in an accident during normal patrol responses. This defect impacts at least one third of our active patrol fleet (over 175 cars, perhaps as many as 250). …”

   NHTSA complaint #10191422, filed 2007-05
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Unintended acceleration or surging when braking

   • 12 complaints (23%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 5.0 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2026

   Owners describe the vehicle accelerating or surging while they press the brake, or accelerating suddenly with no clear input, and some of these cases ended in a collision. Some complaints say the engine revved sharply or raced, and that shifting to neutral stopped the acceleration. Dealers reportedly could not duplicate the problem in some cases. Some repairs replaced a brake deactivation switch, a throttle body part or a sensor, and a complaint says the sensor replacement did not remedy the failure. Reported mileage runs from about 800 miles to about 140,000 miles, so these reports span both newer and higher-mileage cars.

   What to check: Ask whether the brake deactivation switch and throttle control components have been checked, and whether any stored fault codes relate to throttle or brake systems. During a test drive, check that the brakes and throttle respond normally at low speed in a safe area.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2006 Ford Crown Victoria purchased in june 2006. Problem occurred about 1 mointh after purchase (late june). I was driving out of my apt complex, when I stopped at the gate, the engine suddenly went crazy. It was as if it had max throttle except my foot was on the brake not the accelerator pedal. If I had not had my foot on the brake, I would have crashed into the gate. I put the control into neutral and the engine continued to race for about 6-7 seconds, then it stopped and it was like nothing had happened. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10177281, filed 2006-12, 1,000 miles

   “The driver of the above listed vehicle stated that while pressing the brake of the vehicle, the vehicle unintentionally accelerated and struck a wall. The throttle body unit was replaced at a Ford dealership. On approximately july 13, 2012, the driver stated that there was another unintentional acceleration while braking but no accident occurred in this case. We have had other reports of a similar nature with three 2006 Ford cvpi's and approximately two 2004 cvpi's.”

   NHTSA complaint #10468681, filed 2012-07
3. 3
   Air bags

   Airbag warning lights and non-deployment

   • 10 complaints (19%)
   • median 109,000 mi at 10.8 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2023

   Owners describe airbag warning lights that stay on or come on while driving, and in some cases an alarm sounds with the passive restraint warning. Some crash reports say the airbags did not inflate or deploy, including frontal crashes and a spinning crash into a median. In some cases blown fuses or a bad passive restraint ground were reported, and a dealer said no recall applied to a warning light. Reported mileage runs from about 3,000 to about 155,000 miles, so the airbag reports span the ownership range.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask the dealer to scan for stored airbag fault codes and check the passive restraint ground and fuses, especially if the warning light is on. Confirm that the airbag system is present and working, since a complaint describes a vehicle without airbags.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The car dealership didn't tell us that this car have no air bag and also nothing was checking or change on the car. We paid for the car at 2700 and the electric and the radiator are bad and also the AC unit is bad they don't have no anti-theft system and much more we just don't have the money to fix it no more you already put 5,000 plus $2,700”

   NHTSA complaint #11377044, filed 2020-11, 130,000 miles

   “In 2006 my husband was a deputy sheriff I'm mt.he was driving a 2006 Crown Victoria with approx 3000 miles. He was heading to an assistance call on the interstate at a high rate of speed. Road conditions were good that day and no abnormalities in the road. I hired a private investigator to investigate some issues. I was informed that the air bags never deployed he was in a head on collision through a fence and then wrapped around a metal sign pole. Cause severe damage to this vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10882004, filed 2016-07, 3,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Headlights and instrument cluster going out

   • 6 complaints (11%)
   • median 127,000 mi at 9.2 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2009–2023

   Owners describe headlights switching off while driving, including on a freeway, and an instrument cluster or speedometer that stopped working. Other complaints describe gauges and lights stopping during startup or driving. A complaint describes headlights switching off after being turned on, followed by an engine warning and a low-fuel gauge that read empty after refueling. Reported mileage runs from about 44,000 to about 352,000 miles, and a headlight failure happened on a freeway.

   What to check: Ask whether the instrument cluster and lighting circuits have been diagnosed, and test the headlights on low and high beam during a test drive. Check that the speedometer, fuel gauge and warning lights respond normally when the car is started.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I turned on the head lights applied the bright lights and lights went off. The next day the engine indicator went on after purchasing gas. Five days later I purchased gas and the low fuel light indicator came on and the gage showed empty after fueling the vehicle up.”

   NHTSA complaint #10672504, filed 2015-01, 129,279 miles

   “The headlights on my 2005 Ford Crown Victoria turned off without any indication of a problem beforehand. The lights came on for a while, then went back off and the problem has been repetitive over the past several days. What is alarming about this - is that it happened on the freeway at a speed of 65 MPH.”

   NHTSA complaint #10532684, filed 2013-07, 44,228 miles

Buying note. For this model year, ask whether the steering column and shaft recall work has been completed, since steering complaints make up the largest group. During a test drive, check the steering feel, the airbag warning light and the instrument cluster, and ask for service records for any of these repairs.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 46 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.