VehicleVerdict

1996 Ford Crown Victoria brakes problems

The 1996 Ford Crown Victoria has 36 brakes complaints filed with NHTSA — 10% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

36

Brakes complaints

10%

Share of year

6

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Brakes complaints by year

Related recalls

98I001000BrakesApril 7, 1998 · 167,742 units

Defect

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATION 573. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. FORD IS INITIATING AN OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR OWNERS OF CERTAIN 1995-1997 CROWN VICTORIA MODEL VEHICLES WITH POLICE, TAXI, AND COMMERCIAL FLEET PACKAGES AND TOWN CAR VEHICLES WITH THE LIVERY PACKAGE. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE LINE AND THE UNDERBODY FRONT FLOOR PAN ASSEMBLY WHICH COULD CAUSE WEAR OF THE BRAKE LINES.

Consequence

THIS COULD LEAD TO BRAKE FLUID LOSS FOR THE REAR BRAKES AND, POTENTIALLY, INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE LINES FOR WEAR, INSTALL TWO NEW TUBE BUNDLE CLIPS, AND CHECK THE BRAKE LINES FOR PROPER CLEARANCES. IF THE BRAKE LINES ARE WORN, THE DAMAGED SECTION OF THE BRAKE LINE WILL BE REPLACED.

What owners report

THE BRAKE LINE FROM THE ABS PUMP TO THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE RUSTED THROUGH WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF ALL FLUID IN THE MASTER CYLINDER. FURTHER INSPECTION FOUND THE TWO REAR BRAKE LINES ALSO SEVERELY RUSTED. THE LOCATION OF THE FAILURE AND THE EXTENSIVELY RUSTED REAR LINES WAS DIRECTLY UNDER THE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · November 19, 2004 · crash

Common questions

How many brakes complaints does the 1996 Ford Crown Victoria have?

NHTSA has 36 complaints about the 1996 Ford Crown Victoria brakes — 10% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1996 Ford Crown Victoria brakes?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the brakes: 98I001000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.