MotorDeets

2001 Ford Crown Victoria: Recalls, Problems & MPG

Here are the deets on the 2001 Ford Crown Victoria: 4 recalls, 53 owner complaints and up to 18 mpg combined.

4vehicle recalls
53owner complaints
9mention a crash
18best combined mpg
2001 Ford Crown Victoria
Photo: Bubba73 (You talkin' to me?), · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Representative photo of this generation; trim may differ.

Recalls

4 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 3 equipment/tire recalls that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.

Airbags Vehicle recall #00V270000 · 2000 · 18,500 vehicles

What's wrong: Certain passenger vehicles, limousines, and MINI vans were built with a newly designed restraint control module (rcm). In some cases, the rcm does not recognize certain system faults that could result in an air bag or seat belt pre-tensioner unexpectedly activating during the self-test sequence at vehicle start-up.

Why it matters: This condition could result in personal injury.

The fix: Dealers will replace the rcm in these vehicles. Owner notification began September 14, 2000.

Airbags Vehicle recall #00V412000 · 2000 · 16,000 vehicles

What's wrong: A restraint control module (rcm) or a side or front crash sensor May have been assembled with one or more of the screws that mount the circuit board in the housing missing. If some or all of the screws are missing, the performance of the occupant restrains could be affected.

Why it matters: In some cases, less than the intended level of protection in the event of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will inspect the rcm and crash sensors and, if necessary, replace them.

Seat belts Vehicle recall #01V227001 · 2001 · 1,400,000 vehicles

What's wrong: Equipped with seat belts supplied by trw. It is possible that the driver's and/or front passenger's outboard seat belt buckle May not fully latch. Ford crown victoria built at st. Thomas assembly plant from 4/17/00 - 5/29/01 Mercury grand marquis built at st. Thomas assembly plant from 4/17/00 - 5/29/01. Lincoln town cars built at wixom assembly plant from 3/27/00 - 5/30/01. Lincoln navigators built at michigan…

Why it matters: In the event of a crash, the restraint system May not provide adequate occupant protection, increasing the risk of personal injury to the seat occupant.

The fix: Dealers will inspect the front outboard seat belt buckles and if the buckle fails the inspection process, it will be replaced. Owner notification began July 25, 2001.

Fuel system (other) Vehicle recall #03V472000 · 2003 · 4,218 vehicles

What's wrong: 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.

Why it matters: If the strength of the tank is significantly compromised, it could rupture, increasing the risk of a fire.

The 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.

3 aftermarket equipment / tire recalls replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Fuel system Recall #02I003000 · 2002 · 350,000 vehicles

What's wrong: In order to enhance police office safety, model year 1992-2003 crown victoria police interceptor (cvpi) vehicles will be equipped with shields designed to help protect the fuel tank in high-speed rear-impact crashes. Ford also will be offering an optional trunk package designed to improve the safe transport of sharp-edged, heavy equipment in these vehicles.

Why it matters: Some high-speed rear-impact crashes have resulted in fuel tank punctures and fires in cvpi vehicles.

The fix: Ford has advised us that shield kits have been available since late October and will be installed on police interceptor vehicles at no cost. The optional trank package will be available by the end of 2002. Ford has established a new web site at www.cvpi.com to answer additional questions about the…

Fuel system Equipment recall #06E056000 · 2006 · 58,640 vehicles

What's wrong: Certain aftermarket fuel filters sold under the purolator brand name, p/n f65277, shipped from January 16 through June 2, 2006, for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Due to incorrect design, the quick connectors May not fully seat with the tube interface, even though the person making the connection May believe that the quick connector is fully attached.

Why it matters: Failure of this connection could lead to fuel spillage and, in the presence of an ignition source, a fire could occur.

The fix: Ufi will notify owners and replace the filters free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2006.

Steering Equipment recall #15E082000 · 2015 · 1,767 vehicles

What's wrong: Dorman products, Inc. (dorman) is recalling certain model dorman steering shafts, part number 425-359, solutions steering shafts, part number 7-0359, and oe solutions steering shafts, part number 425-359, manufactured April 17, 2014, to September 28, 2015. These aftermarket replacement steering shafts are sold for use in 1995-2002 Ford crown victoria, Mercury grand marquis, and Lincoln town car vehicles. These…

Why it matters: If the shafts separate during vehicle operation, a loss of steering control would result, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

The fix: Dorman will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering shaft, free of charge. The recall began on October 28, 2015.

Most-reported problems

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 2 mention a fire, 8 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.

Airbags9
Engine & cooling8
Steering7
Brakes (hydraulic)6
Seat belts5
Speed control / throttle5
Fuel system5
Suspension4

What owners describe

The 2001 Ford Crown Victoria has 53 owner complaints, ranking #15 of 22 Crown Victoria model years for complaints (well below the 130 average). Complaints peaked in 2001 (18 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 2 years old, at a median of 80,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2000 (85 complaints, 7 recalls), 2002 (58 complaints, 2 recalls).

Engines & fuel economy (EPA)

EngineTransmissionDriveCityHwyComb.Fuel
4.6 L 8-cylAutomatic 4-spdRear-Wheel Drive162318Regular

Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.

Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2001 Ford Crown Victoria.

eManualOnline Download (PDF), keep forever

Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.

Most $25–$78, one-time
Check 2001 Ford Crown Victoria manual
Mitchell 1 DIY Online access, factory-level data

Pro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.

From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yr
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ALLDATAdiy Online access, factory OEM info

OEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.

From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yr
Check 2001 Ford Crown Victoria manual
Haynes Print book or AllAccess online

Step-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.

Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/mo
Check 2001 Ford Crown Victoria manual

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FAQ

Does the 2001 Ford Crown Victoria have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 4 vehicle recalls for the 2001 Ford Crown Victoria, plus 3 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What are the most common 2001 Ford Crown Victoria problems?

Owners have filed 53 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (9), engine & cooling (8), steering (7).

What gas mileage does the 2001 Ford Crown Victoria get?

EPA ratings run up to 18 mpg combined (4.6 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 1 engine and transmission combos.

Where can I get a 2001 Ford Crown Victoria repair manual?

eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.

Other Crown Victoria years

1990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011