1998 Ford Crown Victoria Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Crown Victoria years
- More complaints than other years 8th of 17 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 7 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 119 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Ford Crown Victoria. That ranks 8th out of 17 Crown Victoria model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (29 complaints, 24%), typically at around 96,000 miles. Complaints mention 3 crashes, 6 fires, 7 injuries. There are 7 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 9 defect investigations involving it.
- 119owner complaints
- 7safety recalls
- 9NHTSA investigations
- 3complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 Ford Crown Victoria problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 29 | 24% | 96,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 18 | 15% | 93,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 15 | 13% | 36,437 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 12 | 10% | 24,380 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 8 | 7% | 160,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 8 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 7 | 6% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 7 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 5 | 4% | 92,768 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 4 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 2% | 90,002 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 2% | 84,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 1% | 160,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 Ford Crown Victoria recalls (7)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Vehicle speed control:cruise control
Problem: Ford is recalling 225,000 my 1992-2003 econoline, my 1993-1995 taurus sho, my 1992-1998 crown victoria, my 1993 bronco, f-series, my 1995-1997 f-series super duty stripped chassis, my 1992-1998 mercury grand marquis, and my 1992-1995 lincoln town car vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired using a wiring harness that is not compatible with the vehicle circuit polarity.
Risk: As a result, the fuse is located in the output circuit rather than in the intended input power feed circuit, and may not offer the intended protection in the event of an electrical short to ground.
Fix: Dealers will install a new wiring harness, or replace the mating electrical component. The recall began on february 18, 2008. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Vehicle speed control
Problem: On certain pickup trucks, passenger vehicles, sport utility vehicles, and motor homes chassis, the speed control deactivation switch may, under certain conditions, leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.
Risk: This could result in an underhood fire.
Fix: Dealers will install a fused wiring harness. Owners of the passenger cars included in this campaign will be instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected as an interim repair. As soon as repair parts are available (expected october 2007), owners will be instructed to return to the dealers for installation of a fused wiring harness. The recall began on august 13, 2007, and mailing completed by september 19, 2007. Owners may contact ford at 1-888-222-2751.
Fuel system, other:storage:tank assembly
Problem: On certain natural gas vehicles, if a flame from a vehicle interior fire becomes locally directed at the natural gas fuel tank located immediately behind the rear seat, the flame could damage the fiberglass wrap on the tank weakening the tank.
Risk: If the strength of the tank is significantly compromised, it could rupture, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will install an insulator behind the current seat back. Owner notification began on january 7, 2004. Owners should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Equipment:mechanical:integrated jack/leveler/stabilizer
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles have jacking instructions which, if followed, could cause the vehicle operator to place the jack on a frame weld when attempting to raise a rear wheel. If the vehicle is jacked up with the jack placed on the frame weld and if the vehicle is free to roll (wheels not blocked or chocked), the jack could yield and the vehicle may drop suddenly.
Risk: If this occurs and any portion of the operator's body is under the vehicle, the potential for personal injury exists.
Fix: Owners will be provided with a revised jack instruction and stowage card and jack warning label, as well as a supplement to the owner guide.
Seat belts:front:anchorage
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles using aftermarket driver's seat belt assemblies that were sold by ford parts departments from january 1, through june 13, 2000. These seat belt assemblies fail to comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 209, "seat belt assemblies." the equipment involved is service stock seat belt assemblies, model nos. H 9977, h 9979, t 9063, and t 9217, built by trw vehicle safety systems, inc. (trw) manufactured from june 1, 1998 through may 21, 2000. Some of these seat belt assemblies may have been installed as service replacement equipment on the vehicles involved in the recall.
Risk: In the event of a collision, these seat belts may not restrain an occupant increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect these vehicles and replace the service seat belt assemblies that were installed in these vehicles from january 1 through june 13, 2000.
Seat belts:front:anchorage
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles using aftermarket front passenger side seat belt assemblies that were sold by ford parts departments from january 1, through june 13, 2000. These seat belt assemblies fail to comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 209, "seat belt assemblies." the equipment involved is service stock seat belt assemblies, model nos. H 9977, h 9979, t 9063, and t 9217, built by trw vehicle safety systems, inc. (trw) manufactured from june 1, 1998 through may 21, 2000. Some of these seat belt assemblies may have been installed as service replacement equipment on the vehicles involved in the recall.
Risk: In the event of a collision, these seat belts may not restrain an occupant increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect these vehicles and replace the service seat belt assemblies that were installed in these vehicles from january 1 through june 13, 2000.
Suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint
Problem: Vehicle description: certain 1996-1999 ford crown victoria police, fleet, natural gas, and 1996-1999 lincoln town car limousine vehicles that were produced with a lower control arm ball joint containing a one piece bearing; and 1990-1996 ford crown victoria police, fleet, and ngv vehicles and 1990-1996 lincoln town car limousine vehicles that have been serviced with either a ball joint containing the one-piece bearing or a front lower control arm containing a ball joint with a one-piece bearing. The one-piece bearing within the lower control arm ball joint can weaken slowly during use and eventually crack. This could result in separation of the ball and cap of the joint, allowing the control arm to drop to the ground.
Risk: If this occurs while the vehicle is moving, reduced steering control could occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the lower control arm ball joints (2).
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Spark plug ejection from cylinder head (DP05005) — opened Sep 22, 2005, closed Jan 4, 2006.
- Cng tank explosion (EA03001) — opened Jan 27, 2003, closed Nov 19, 2003, led to recall 03V472000.
- Cng tank exploding in a fire (PE02071) — opened Oct 1, 2002, closed Jan 27, 2003.
- Fuel-fed fires (DP02007) — opened Aug 22, 2002, closed Dec 4, 2002.
- Post rear end collision fires (SQ01014) — opened Nov 27, 2001, closed Oct 3, 2002, led to recall 02I003000.
- Rear axle trailing arm frame mounting (PE00043) — opened Oct 20, 2000, closed Feb 2, 2001.
- Blow back during refueling (PE99047) — opened Jul 12, 1999, closed Sep 23, 1999.
- Inertia fuel shut off switch (PE98057) — opened Oct 28, 1998, closed Feb 11, 1999.
- Front seat anchor bolt failure (PE98041) — opened Jul 23, 1998, closed Sep 29, 1998.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUSE WHICH CONTROLS THE IGNITION COILS AND THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE UNDER THE DASHBOARD BLEW. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY…
Had my car since 2014 i worked hard to buy it. It drove pretty decide untill electric problems started to occur. Then my passanger side wheel folded in while operating with my kids life or death situation im just a hard working father trying to provide a safe transportation for my family
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 ford crown victoria. While driving approximately 45 mph, the contact noticed smoke under the hood of the vehicle. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road and notice flames underneath the vehicle. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. There…
Bought a set of tires from ebay / simpletire. They were listed as new without any disclaimer. Ordered them jan. 11th 2018, and received them jan. 16th, 2018 via fedex. Checked the dot date code and saw that all four tires are over six years old. Attempted to contact simple tire through ebay…
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 ford crown victoria. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 160,000.
Other Ford Crown Victoria years
← 1997 Crown Victoria · 1999 Crown Victoria →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 Crown Victoria | 23 | 2 |
| 2010 Crown Victoria | 12 | 2 |
| 2009 Crown Victoria | 44 | 2 |
| 2008 Crown Victoria | 50 | 3 |
| 2007 Crown Victoria | 50 | 4 |
| 2006 Crown Victoria | 53 | 2 |
| 2005 Crown Victoria | 193 | 5 |
| 2004 Crown Victoria | 138 | 2 |
| 2003 Crown Victoria | 249 | 5 |
| 2002 Crown Victoria | 58 | 2 |
| 2001 Crown Victoria | 53 | 4 |
| 2000 Crown Victoria | 85 | 7 |
| 1999 Crown Victoria | 134 | 5 |
| 1998 | 119 | 7 |
| 1997 Crown Victoria | 288 | 8 |
| 1996 Crown Victoria | 276 | 9 |
| 1995 Crown Victoria | 250 | 8 |
See all Ford Crown Victoria problems by year, every Ford model, or the Ford VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Ford Crown Victoria?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, suspension, fuel system, gasoline problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 29 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Ford Crown Victoria?
Yes, 7 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1998 Ford Crown Victoria a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Crown Victoria model years, the 1998 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.