1999 FORD CVPI Recalls, Complaints & Safety

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

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.

Remedy: 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 SAFE USE OF CPVI VEHICLES.

350,000 vehicles affected

THE STEERING WAS SO LOOSE ON THE CAR IT STARTED STEERING BY ITSELF AND TRYING TO GO OFF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH THEN THE DRIVER SEAT BELT WOULD NOT HOLD THE SEAT BELT KEEP COMING OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING HAD TO HOOK UP TO THE MIDDLE SEATBELT

WHEN THIS PROBLEM FIRST HAPPENED I WAS IN A CURVE OF AN OFF RAMP AT NIGHT. MY HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED ON AND OFF A FEW TIMES BUT I FIGURED MAYBE MY BULBS OR FUSES WERE ON THEIR WAY OUT. CHANGED BULBS AND FUSE AND PROBLEM REMAINED. HEADLIGHTS STILL RANDOMLY TURN OF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO NOT ONLY BE LOOKED INTO BUT ALSO RECALLED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD CROWN VICTORIA CVPI. WHILE DRIVING AT 10 TO 60 MPH THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY DURING THE NIGHT. THERE ARE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATING BEFORE THE HEADLIGHTS GOES OUT. AS THE VEHICLE WAS BEING PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SOMETIMES IT WILL RETURN WITHIN 5 TO 10 MINUTES OR NEVER. THE VEHICLE WOULD HAD TO BE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE DEALER STATED THAT HE HAD TO PAY $418 IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 274,560.

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY MY 1999 FORD CROWN VICTORIA WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AS IF SOMEONE HIT MY TRUNK WITH A HAMMER. I PULLED INTO A CONCRETE DRIVE WAY THAT BELONGED TO A GROCERY WAREHOUSE SO I COULD TURN AROUND AND GO BACK TO MY WORK. I DROVE BACK TO MY WORK ABOUT ONE QUARTER MILE FROM WHERE I HEARD THE NOISE. WHILE ENROUTE BACK TO MY WORK I HEARD SCRAPING NOISES SEVERAL TIMES. UPON ARRIVAL TO MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE FOR PROBLEMS AND FOUND THAT THE GASOLINE TANK HAD FALLEN OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE I HAVE HAD FOR OVER 2 YEARS AND HAS NOT BEEN WRECKED AND I AM METICULOUS ABOUT SERVICING THE VEHICLE AT THE FORD RECOMMENDED INTERVALS. AT THE TIME THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED AND FOR ALL OF THE TIME I HAVE HAD VEHICLE PRIOR TO INCIDENT NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD OR ABUSED. THIS VEHICLE IS BARELY 9 YEARS OLD. THE FUEL TANK IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ITEM. A FUEL TANK AND COMPONENT RELATED TO THE FUEL TANK RETENTION TO THE VEHICLES UNDERSIDE SHOULD NOT BE FALLING OUT. I HAVE NOT YET REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. NOT ONLY DOES THE TANK NEED TO BE REFASTENED BUT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO OBVIOUSLY SCRAPING THE ASPHALT ROAD SURFACE MULTIPLE TIMES AND CAUSING THE TANK TO LEAK NOW. I HAVE PURCHASED USED A FUEL TANK AND ALL HARDWARE REQUIRED FOR RE-INSTALLATION FOR $110 AND FORD QUOTED $192.50 IN LABOR TO INSTALL. THAT PRICE IS ONLY A QUOTE AND I DO NOT KNOW IF THERE IS ANY OTHER DAMAGE TO COMPONENTS CONNECTED TO THE TANK SUCH AS FUEL LINES, FUEL PUMP BUT NOT LIMITED TO JUST THOSE ITEMS. *TR