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ProblemsByVin File / 2011-FORD-CROWN-VICTORIA NHTSA data synced 1 hour ago
2011 · Ford

Ford Crown Victoria problems

Light NHTSA footprint — 23 owner complaints and 2 active recall campaigns. Either a clean record or thin data; we'll show what's there.

0 5 10
Reliability score
8.0 / 10

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

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Critical
2
Severe
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Moderate
Should you avoid this 2011 Crown Victoria?
Generally reliable

Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.

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 2011 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

Recalls to confirm are done

Run the VIN from the listing — 2 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.

Verdict for buyers: 8.0/10 model. The priciest documented failure is steering (~$700) — 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 2011 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 1 category with 3+ complaints

steering
12 reports · fails ~79,928 mi · avg $700
moderate
Buyer's checklist
Going to look at one? Use the pre-purchase inspection list.
Generated from this 2011 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 2011 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

2011 Crown Victoria · powertrain
Car stalls when in high speed passing gear. Turns over, will not restart. Happened multiple times. Was told by dealer this model has a history of this event. *tr
11/25/2013 · at 37,002 mi · NHTSA ODI #10553794.0
2011 Crown Victoria · wheels
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Ford crown victoria police package. The contact stated that the front rims would become cracked. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician was unable to diagnose the failure however, the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made…
10/23/2013 · at 10,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #10549219.0
2011 Crown Victoria · steering
Inspection found lower bushing of steering column dislodged and shaft working out of spline. *tr
09/21/2012 · at 54,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #10476620.0 · see steering pattern →
2011 Crown Victoria · steering
Inspection found the lower column bushing dislodged from tube and shaft working out of spline. *tr
09/21/2012 · at 77,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #10476621.0 · see steering pattern →
View all 23 owner complaints →
Had a problem with your 2011 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 2 of 2

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 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.

Common questions

Is the 2011 Ford Crown Victoria reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.0 out of 10 based on 23 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 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 2011 Ford Crown Victoria?

On the NHTSA data, the 2011 Ford Crown Victoria does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 8.0/10 — above the segment average; 2 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 2011 Ford Crown Victoria?

Inspect the steering first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 12 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 79,928 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 2011 Ford Crown Victoria a good used car to buy?

It scores 8.0 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 23 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is steering. Typical failure occurs around 79,928 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 2011 Ford Crown Victoria?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is steering, with 12 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 79,928 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 79,928 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 2011 Ford Crown Victoria?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 23 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 1 hour ago. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/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 complete a quote or purchase.
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