Ford Crown Victoria Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy

Q: What year Crown Victoria should I avoid?

Based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, the 2003 Ford Crown Victoria has the most documented problems with a problem score of 198 — driven by 5 recalls, 179 complaints.

Q: What is the best year Crown Victoria to buy?

The 2010 Ford Crown Victoria is the best-scoring year in our analysis with a problem score of only 15, meaning 2 recalls and 9 complaints on record.

Q: Which Crown Victoria has the fewest problems?

The 2010, 2011, 2009 model years have the fewest reported problems in the NHTSA database. Always verify a specific vehicle's history with a VIN report before purchasing.

Every Ford Crown Victoria model year (1998–2012) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, deaths, and injuries. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.

Years Tracked

Total Recalls

837

Total Complaints

Reported Injuries

Reported Deaths

Ford Crown Victoria Years to Avoid

#1 WORST

2003

5 recalls · 179 complaints

2 reported injuries

Top issue: EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Problem score: 198

#2 WORST

2005

3 recalls · 112 complaints

11 reported injuries

2 reported deaths

Top issue: EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Problem score: 153

#3 WORST

1999

6 recalls · 94 complaints

5 reported injuries

1 reported death

Top issue: WHEELS:HUB

Problem score: 127

Best Ford Crown Victoria Years to Buy

#1 BEST

2010

2 recalls · 9 complaints

Main area: STEERING

Problem score: 15

#2 BEST

2011

2 recalls · 20 complaints

Main area: STEERING

Problem score: 26

#3 BEST

2009

2 recalls · 30 complaints

Main area: STEERING

Problem score: 36

Found the right year? Verify that specific Crown Victoria with a free VIN report.

Ford Crown Victoria — Year-by-Year Problem Report

Year	Recalls	Complaints	Injuries	Deaths	Problem Score	Verdict
2012	0	0	—	—	0	Excellent
2011	2	20	—	—	26	Good
2010	2	9	—	—	15	Excellent
2009	2	30	—	—	36	Good
2008	3	40	5	3	74	Caution
2007	3	39	4	—	56	Good
2006	2	40	2	—	50	Good
2005	3	112	11	2	153	Avoid
2004	1	88	5	—	101	Caution
2003	5	179	2	—	198	Avoid
2002	4	27	1	—	41	Good
2001	6	34	2	—	56	Good
2000	6	51	5	—	79	Caution
1999	6	94	5	1	127	Caution
1998	6	74	2	—	96	Caution

All 15 model years shown. Deaths and injuries from NHTSA complaint filings. Higher problem scores indicate more reported safety issues.

Ford Crown Victoria Shopping Guide by Era

Pre-2013

Proceed with Caution

Older Crown Victoria models have more accumulated wear and a larger recall history. These are higher-risk purchases without documented maintenance records and a clean VIN history report.

Frequently Asked Questions

What year Crown Victoria should I avoid?+

Avoid the 2003 Ford Crown Victoria if possible. It has 5 recalls, 179 owner complaints. The overall problem score is 198 — the highest in our dataset.

What is the best year Crown Victoria to buy?+

The 2010 Ford Crown Victoria is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 15. It has only 2 recalls and 9 complaints on record with NHTSA.

Which Crown Victoria has the fewest problems?+

The 2010, 2011, 2009 model years have the fewest documented problems. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.

More Ford Crown Victoria Research

Reliability Score

Overall reliability rating and score breakdown for the Ford Crown Victoria.

Common Problems

Full breakdown of every reported defect for the Ford Crown Victoria.

Check a Specific Ford Crown Victoria VIN

Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.

Run a Free VIN Report →