2010 Ford Crown Victoria: common problems

Owners of the 2010 Ford Crown Victoria filed 12 complaints with NHTSA, most often about steering and air bags. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 12
involving a crash: 3

What fails most often

1 Steering 58% of all complaints
2 Air bags 8% of all complaints
3 Electrical system 8% of all complaints
4 Exterior lighting 8% of all complaints
5 Fuel/propulsion system 8% of all complaints
6 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
7 Suspension 8% of all complaints
8 Wheels 8% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Steering: 7 complaints (58% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Air bags: 1 complaints (8% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Electrical system: 1 complaints (8% of all).
Exterior lighting: 1 complaints (8% of all).
Fuel/propulsion system: 1 complaints (8% of all).

Engines and transmissions

US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.

4.6 L · petrol · 8 cyl
automatic, 4-speed

Drive: RWD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 12 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

vibration2 · 17%
warning lights, check engine2 · 17%
airbags did not deploy1 · 8%
fuel system, fuel smell1 · 8%
headlights and tail lights1 · 8%
tires: bulges, blowouts1 · 8%
windows, sunroof1 · 8%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Steering	7	2
Air bags	1	1
Electrical system	1	0
Exterior lighting	1	0
Fuel/propulsion system	1	0
Service brakes	1	0
Suspension	1	0
Wheels	1	1

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

All kinds of warning lights illuminated and flickered on the instrumental panel. Only the front passenger's air bag deployed. A police report was filed. The contact sustained neck, chest, back, hand injuries, as well as head injuries as his head hit the window.
Steering · crash · 2020-02-07 · NHTSA complaint #11307791
The air bag did not deploy and no injury was reported. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the steering shaft fractured. The contact called the al packer's white marsh ford dealer [phone], located at [address], middle river, [ZIP]) and was told that there was no recall.
Steering · crash · 2019-08-19 · NHTSA complaint #11245062
I was in the far left thru lane when suddenly, and with no warning whatsoever, the right rear tire blew out, causing my 2010 crown victoria to fishtail on I-75 and, I believe, to be struck by a semi-truck which continued south. My car spun and came to rest on the opposite side of the interstate.
Wheels · crash · 2015-11-04 · NHTSA complaint #10788425
The contact stated while driving at various speeds, excessive force was needed to steer the vehicle as an unknown warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact also stated that the gear oil would leak from the rear passenger side of the vehicle.
Steering · 2021-10-29 · NHTSA complaint #11438684
My watts link stud is broke off in the rear axle it happened this morning on my way too work when I made a turn so now the car shifts side too side I had too drive 10 mph so that I could keep it in the road
Suspension · 2019-11-01 · NHTSA complaint #11277519
The contact veered to the shoulder of the road and noticed that the fuel tank detached from the vehicle without warning, but no fuel leaks were found. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel tank needed to be replaced. The failure recurred. The dealer was not contacted.
Fuel/propulsion system · 2019-08-28 · NHTSA complaint #11252046
The headlight sockets are melting, causing the bulbs to blow out. We have replaced approximately 6 sockets, mostly on the drivers side, and multiple bulbs. Mhq says this is common. Should there be a recall? Should ford be fixing this?
Electrical system · 2013-03-20 · NHTSA complaint #10503714
The contact stated on several occasions while braking from approximately 30 mph, the vehicle vibrated excessively and jump. The dealer advised that the warranty was expired and the vehicle would need diagnostic testing at his expense. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.
Service brakes · 2010-07-13 · NHTSA complaint #10342913

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

20101
20121
20131
20151
20195
20202
20211

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 10,160 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 28% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Crown Victoria has 94 complaints (33 years in the data). This year has 12, below average.

What to check before buying

Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.

Other years of this model

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2010 Ford Crown Victoria?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: steering, air bags, electrical system. Total complaints: 12. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: vibration (17%), warning lights, check engine (17%), airbags did not deploy (8%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2010 Ford Crown Victoria?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 2010 Ford Crown Victoria from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 2010 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.