5.9% of complaints about the 2003 Ford Cvpi came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2003 vehicle — around the middle of the 228 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 2.7 yr in service. The most-reported system is wheels (63 complaints), typically at 2.3 yr or about 84,100 miles.
ON CERTAIN POLICE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH STEEL WHEELS, SOME OF THE WHEELS MAY DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE RIM NEAR THE WELD LINE THAT CONNECTS THE RIM TO THE DISK.
THE CRACKS CAN ULTIMATELY RESULT IN RAPID AIR LOSS FROM THE TIRE AND COULD AFFECT VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
ON CERTAIN POLICE INTERCEPTORS (CVPI) AND COMMERCIAL HEAVY DUTY (TAXI) VEHICLES, AT EXTREMELY HIGH OPERATING TEMPERATURES, THE SOUND INSULATING PANEL, LOCATED UNDER THE VEHICLE POSITIONED BETWEEN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND THE UNDERBODY, COULD SAG AND POSSIBLY CONTACT THE SURFACE OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.
IF THIS OCCURS, THE INSULATOR MIGHT EXPERIENCE CHARRING OF THE OUTER LAYER, BURNING ODOR, OR SMOKE WHICH MAY ULTIMATELY RESULT IN A FIRE.
ON CERTAIN POLICE AND TAXI VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH STEEL WHEELS, SOME OF THE WHEELS MAY DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE RIM NEAR THE WELD LINE THAT CONNECTS THE RIM TO THE DISK.
THE CRACKS CAN ULTIMATELY RESULT IN RAPID AIR LOSS FROM THE TIRE AND COULD AFFECT VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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.
SOME HIGH-SPEED REAR-IMPACT CRASHES HAVE RESULTED IN FUEL TANK PUNCTURES AND FIRES IN CVPI VEHICLES.
POLICE GARAGE MECHANICS DISCOVERED FAILED WELD ON STEEL WHEEL OF CROWN VICTORIA POLICE VEHICLE MY2003. NO COLLISION OR ROAD HAZARD DAMAGE TO VEHICLE - WELD SIMPLY FAILED. INSPECTED ALL THE WHEELS ON 15 MY 2003 POLICE CRUISERS; FOUND A TOTAL OF THREE CRACKED WHEELS.
WHEEL FAILURE ON NEW STYLE STEEL WHEELS (OEM) ON 2003 FORD CVPI VEHICLES. TWO PIECE WHEELS ARE EXPERIENCING FAILURE OF WELDING SEAMS. FAILURE EXPERIENCED ON THREE SEPARATE VEHICLES. ALSO SEE ODI ID NUMBER 10003263. FORD MOTOR CO. DEALERSHIP IS NOT AWARE OF POTENTIAL FOR WIDESPREAD FAILURE. PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION INDICATES PROBLEM MAY BE NATIONWIDE. *NLM
2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA WHEELS FAIL AT THE WELD, AND THE TIRE DEFLATES. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. WE ARE AFRAID THAT WE WILL HAVE A GRAVE ACCIDENT IF THIS IS NOT CORRECTED. THIS IS AFTER THE ORIGINAL WHHELS HAD BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE OF RECALL--NEW WHEELS HAVE A PROBLEM