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ProblemsByVin File / 2006-FORD-CROWN-VICTORIA NHTSA data synced 5 days ago
Ford

2006 Ford Crown Victoria problems

The 2006 Ford Crown Victoria has 53 NHTSA owner complaints and 3 active recall campaigns on file. Here's the breakdown — what's serious, what's noise, and what a working mechanic would actually do about it.

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The 2006 Ford Crown Victoria has 53 NHTSA owner complaints and 3 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is steering at 27 complaints, typically surfacing around 115,578 miles (~$700 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.

Ford Crown Victoria owner complaints by model year
Model yearOwner complaintsRecalls
2005 Crown Victoria 193 6
2006 Crown Victoria (this page) 53 3
2007 Crown Victoria 49 4
2008 Crown Victoria 50 3
2009 Crown Victoria 44 2
2006 Ford Crown Victoria
Photo: IFCAR / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain · representative photo of the Ford Crown Victoria
0 5 10
Reliability score
7.4 / 10

Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.

0
Critical
3
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2006 Crown Victoria?
Avoid — the steering

The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the steering was repaired or replaced.

Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.

Buying a used 2006 Ford Crown Victoria? Check these first

Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.

What to inspect on this specific car

⚠ The one to take seriously: steering is flagged critical on this model , showing up around 115,578 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.

Recalls to confirm are done

Run the VIN from the listing — 3 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.

Verdict for buyers: 7.4/10 model. The priciest documented failure is body (~$1,500) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.

We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.

See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →
✦ Ask the data · AI

Ask anything about your 2006 Ford Crown Victoria

A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.

Dash light, leak, worn part — snap it and we'll read it against this car's record.

Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.

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Top trouble spots 5 categories with 3+ complaints

steering
27 reports · fails ~115,578 mi · avg $700
critical
cruise control
8 reports · fails ~93,451 mi · avg $600
severe
airbags
5 reports · fails ~121,968 mi · avg $1,100
severe
body
3 reports · fails ~64,240 mi · avg $1,500
moderate
electrical
3 reports · fails ~202,760 mi · avg $850
moderate
Buyer's checklist
Going to look at one? Use the pre-purchase inspection list.
Generated from this 2006 Crown Victoria's actual NHTSA complaint history — every item points at a documented failure pattern on this exact vehicle, not generic walkaround filler.
See the checklist ->
Honest Calculator
Should you buy an extended warranty on this 2006 Crown Victoria?
We pulled the math: risk-weighted exposure, typical contract cost, and our verdict on whether coverage pencils out for this specific vehicle.
See the calculator ->

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2006 Crown Victoria · engine
2006 Ford crown victoria purchased in june 2006. Problem occurred about 1 mointh after purchase (late june). I was driving out of my apt complex, when I stopped at the gate, the engine suddenly went crazy. It was as if it had max throttle except my foot was on the brake not…
12/29/2006 · at 1,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #10177281.0
2006 Crown Victoria · airbags Crash
The car dealership didn't tell us that this car have no air bag and also nothing was checking or change on the car. We paid for the car at 2700 and the electric and the radiator are bad and also the ac unit is bad they don't have no anti-theft system and much more we just don't…
11/30/2020 · at 130,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #11377044.0 · see airbags pattern →
2006 Crown Victoria · airbags Crash
Vehicle involved in a severe frontal impact. Air bag failed to inflate. [xxx]. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr
11/23/2016 · at 142,840 mi · NHTSA ODI #10927603.0 · see airbags pattern →
2006 Crown Victoria · steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford crown victoria,.while driving various speeds the steering wheel became stiff. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to prescott brothers Ford Lincoln of princeton, inc. (1502 w peru st, princeton, il 61356) where it…
11/20/2019 · at 156,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #11281336.0 · see steering pattern →
View all 53 owner complaints →
Had a problem with your 2006 Ford Crown Victoria? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

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At 80,000 miles
Likely repair cost in next 24 months
$0

Active recalls showing 3 of 3

severe NHTSA 14V704000 November 5, 2014

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria, 2005-2011 Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles manufactured March 23, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and 2005-2011 Lincoln Town Car vehicles manufactured March 8, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and on which the upper intermediate shaft was serviced during the course of safety recall 13V-385

Improper servicing of the upper intermediate shaft could cause the shaft to separate, which can then result in a loss of steering control, and increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Ford will notify the owners of vehicles whose repair records reflect that the upper intermediate steering shaft was repaired during the course of the prior recall 13V-385. Dealers will inspect and replace the upper immediate shaft if necessary free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S25.
severe NHTSA 13V385000 August 29, 2013

Ford is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria (including Crown Victoria Police Interceptors), Mercury Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Car vehicles

If the lower bearing separates, the vehicle may experience a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Ford will notify owners and dealers will replace the lower intermediate shaft, free of charge. The upper intermediate shaft and steering column lower bearing will be inspected to identify any damage that may have occurred as a result of lower intermediate shaft corrosion, and repaired or replaced as necessary. If the steering column lower bearing has separated, a retainer clip will be installed. The recall began on October 23, 2013. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall number is 13S08.
severe NHTSA 06E056000 June 13, 2006

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

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

Fix: Ufi will notify owners and replace the filters free of charge. The recall began on august 4, 2006. Owners may contact ufi filters usa at 800-230-5876.

Common questions

Is the 2006 Ford Crown Victoria reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.4 out of 10 based on 53 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 Ford Crown Victoria is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.

Should you avoid the 2006 Ford Crown Victoria?

On the NHTSA data, the 2006 Ford Crown Victoria is one to avoid unless a specific vehicle proves otherwise. The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the steering was repaired or replaced. The record behind that call: 1 fatality report and 5 crash-related complaints on the steering; Reliability score 7.4/10 — around the segment average; 3 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.

What should I check before buying a used 2006 Ford Crown Victoria?

Inspect the steering first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 27 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 115,578 miles. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.

Is the 2006 Ford Crown Victoria a good used car to buy?

It scores 7.4 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 53 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is steering. Typical failure occurs around 115,578 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.

What's the most common problem on the 2006 Ford Crown Victoria?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is steering, with 27 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 115,578 miles. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The steering is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 115,578 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Ford Crown Victoria has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2006 Ford Crown Victoria?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 53 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $700, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.

Related

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 5 days ago. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Ford/Crown Victoria. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Ford. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you purchase through them.
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