1996 Ford Crown Victoria: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Mar 11, 2009 · Engine · 82,000 miles · NY

Tl*the contact owns a 1996 ford crown victoria. The contact stated that the air intake manifold on the vehicle was manufactured out of plastic, which caused anti-freeze to leak onto the engine. The anti-freeze leak was noticed due to the burning chemical odor and smoke coming from under the hood. The dealer stated that the repairs would cost over $1,000 at the contact's expense. He was denied repairs under the class action lawsuit. When the heater was activated, the odor from the anti-freeze was overbearing in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The failure and current mileages were 82,000. Updated 4/16/09 *cn updated 04/20/09.

Filed May 23, 2008 · Acceleration · MS · fire

1996 ford crown victoria caught fire. Consumer states that the car caught fire in august and she received a recall in september. She believes that she wasn't treated fairly by ford. She lost both carseats, tires, brakes, and rotors in the fire.

Filed Apr 30, 2008 · Brakes · 150,000 miles · CA · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 1996 ford crown victoria. The contact received a recall notice for the federal safety agency campaign id number 07v336000 (vehicle speed control). The brake reservoir caught fire and caused the driver side emergency brake to fail. The failure also caused the wheels to lock. The manufacturer advised the contact to call his insurance company for a claim. The vehicle was parked at the time of the fire. The failure mileage was 150,000.

Filed Oct 1, 2007 · Acceleration · 99,500 miles · IN · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 1996 ford crown victoria. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the contact noticed smoke coming from underneath the hood. He pulled over to inspect the vehicle and noticed that the wiring harness was on fire. He attempted to restart the vehicle, but it would not restart. The manufacturer stated that they would assume responsibility if he could provide pictures, a police report, and the title because a recall was issued for the speed control. The contact could not locate the police report. The recall number was unavailable. The failure mileage was 99,500 and current mileage was 102,000.

Filed Sep 10, 2007 · Acceleration · 170,000 miles · AL · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 1996 ford crown victoria. While driving 30 MPH, the contact smelled something burning and noticed smoke rising from the vehicle. The contact pulled over and discovered flames rising from under the hood. The police department filed a report and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence, where it currently remains. She reported the fire to the dealer and they stated that it was not their concern. The contact recently received the federal safety agency campaign id number 07v336000 (vehicle speed control). The purchase date was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 170,000.

Filed Sep 21, 2006 · Engine · 100,614 miles · IL

My wife while traveling to visit her son in a distant city, she pulled into a shopping center to call him, he lived nearby. He came to the shopping center in an effort to lead her to his residence. When leaving she noticed smoke and thought the vehicle caught fire. Further investigation proved it was an ant-ifreeze leak. The failure was the intake manifold produced of an inferior material (nylon) a crack developed at 100614 miles causing the antifreeze to leak out and overheat the engine and cause more damage. Within several day the auto went to the repair shop and the intake manifold was replaced a substantial cost. There was no recall present with this event however ford motor company had a class action suit with this event as its center piece. Unfortunately the failure on my ford occurred after the class action suit expired. The suit was limited by a time frame. My thought is all nylon manifold will fail far short of the expectations of the life of the engine.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Brakes, Engine · AL

First I would like to say that what I hear about the grand marquis having problem with the fuel tank is rather disturbing to me I am aware now that these cars are capable of catching on fire if hit from behind. I carry three small children to school every morning in "this car" I have contacted the ford corp. About this problem and they seem to not be bothered about this fact. Now to my other problems. I have just replaced my intake manifold because the one that came with the car cracked while I was driving it. My mechanic stated that he found out that it was a very common problem with the 1996 mercury grand marquis. The ford corp. Has redesigned the intake manifold for this model and raised the price from about 250.00 to almost 500.00. In july of 2002 there was a part that went out on my A/C unit that I had to replace (I have to contact my mechanic to see what part it was that was replaced) in july 2002 I had to have my roters turned, in january 2003, I had to have them turned agian and have my right back roter repaced because it was no longer good. (all this was done on january 10 2003 now it is jan. 20, 2003 and my right front roter is grinding again (I also had new brakes put on all around jan.10,2003. My driver side door is drooping because it needs a new pin put in... My car also seems to balk when I push on the gas peddal,my car also has a popping noise when I hit a hole or turn. When I called the ford corp. On these issues they seemed liked they really didn't care about any of these things. Maybe you might know someone that I could contact in the ford corp. That is "high up" and that would listen to my oncerns. Thank you for your time, sincerly, diane

Filed Nov 5, 2003 · Engine · AR

While driving at 30 MPH driver noticed smoke coming from inside of the vents. Driver pulled over and lifted the hood up. The driver had the vehicle towed to the dealer for analysis. Mechanic noticed that the intake manifold cracked inside, causing a leak.

Filed Dec 31, 2002 · Fuel system · DC · crash · fire · 1 injury

There has been 3 deaths and 1 critical injury within the arizona law enforcement, regarding the ford crown victoria police cruiser's, the design and placement of the fuel tank has been known to catch on fire if the vehicle is involved in a rear side impact collision.*jb

Filed Jun 3, 2002 · Engine · MO

While traveling at 25 MPH the temperature gauge went to hot, and consumer could smell antifreeze burning smell. Mechanic stated it was a cracked manifold behind alternater. Please provide any further information.

Filed May 8, 2001 · Engine, Fuel system · NC

While traveling at 70 MPH for about two hours consumer noticed a rattle and smoke coming from engine. Pulled over and noticed all radiator fluid had leaked to ground. Took car to ford, and they said intake manifold was cracked, and whole engine needed to be replaced.

Filed Apr 17, 2001 · Fuel system · AK · fire

The arizona dept public safety & phoenix police dept are reporting high occurences of fires associated with rear-end collision of the crown victoria vehicles, an officer was killed when his vehicle was struck from behind and burst into flames, the officer was stopped at a collision scene and the other vehicle was traveling inexcess of 66 miles MPH at impact, authorities suspect fuel system related(no VIN given)