Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor - Problems and Criticism

Problems and Criticism

Following the criticism of fires following highway-speed rear-end collisions, 2005 and later model Police Interceptors now come with an optional automatic fire suppression system and special "trunk packs" designed to prevent cargo from penetrating the fuel tank in a collision. Each agency must pay an additional $150 per-car for the trunk packs. For a more detailed discussion of the fuel tank leakage concerns that prompted these changes, see Ford Crown Victoria.

There were also some problems with early 2003 Police Interceptors. The newly designed steel wheels would rust prematurely, and the rack and pinion steering units would fail early (≤10,000 miles). This was not limited to the Police Interceptor; some 2004 Mercury Marauders were also affected. A recent recall (04M05) affects the steel wheels used on 2003–05 Police Interceptors.

Another issue with the wheels have been weld points that come loose, causing rapid air loss in tires and the potential for loss of control. A recall was issued after an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. However, the company has created anger among civilian owners of 2003+ Police Interceptors by refusing to honor the recall unless the vehicle is still being used in fleet service. The only way this problem could be addressed is if the civilian customer complains to a dealership about air leakage problems, an inability to balance the wheels properly, or a "nibble" or excessive vibration in the steering at speed. The issue is then addressed through the "Customer Satisfaction Program" that Ford has initiated for the same wheels. Ford ultimately resolved this issue on production cars in 2006 by introducing new 17" steel wheels for their heavy duty models. These wheels may be of interest to those who have 2003–2005 Police Interceptors, 2003–2005 P70/P72 Commercial Heavy Duty models or 2003–2008 Standard (P73) models with 16" steel wheels and are concerned about the safety of these wheels.

The Steel Body-On-Frame Crown Victoria Police Interceptor fares better in crashes overall than current unibody counterparts such as the Chevrolet Impala, and Dodge Charger. The Body-On-Frame structure also yields cheaper repair costs when the vehicle is damaged. Many law enforcement officers, and departments swear by the proven Crown Victoria, and have extreme reluctance to adopt new vehicles after the Crown Vic's impending departure. Some departments have transitioned over to the Chevrolet Tahoe 9C1 since it has a traditional body-on-frame construction despite is status as an SUV.