1996 Ford Cvpi problems

General information about Ford-Cvpi
Overview of popular issues
Analysis of common problems
Сomplaints list
Recalls list

The Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor (colloquially referred to as the CVPI, P71, or P7B) is a four-door, body-on-frame sedan that was manufactured by Ford from 1992 to 2011. It is the police car version of the Ford Crown Victoria and was the first vehicle to use the Ford Police Interceptor name.

From 1997 to 2013, the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor was the most widely used automobile in law enforcement fleets in North America, namely the United States, Canada and Mexico. It was also used for this purpose on a more limited scale in other regions, such as Europe and the Middle East.

History

After the discontinuation of the Chevrolet Caprice, the Ford Motor Company held a near-monopoly on the market for police vehicles in the United States and Canada for over a decade. The conventional rear-wheel drive, V8 power, and body-on-frame construction were considered advantageous for police use. The body-on-frame construction allowed inexpensive repairs after collisions without the need to straighten the chassis. Rear-wheel drive was deemed better for hard maneuvers and more robust than the front-wheel-drive competition for rough driving over curbs and other obstacles in the urban environment.

Although CVPIs were not sold directly to the general public by the manufacturer, they were widely available in North America as used vehicles after being decommissioned. The cars were in demand by taxi companies and others who wanted a safe, durable, and/or inexpensive car, and those who needed a car with a large back seat.

The CVPI came equipped with many heavy-duty parts, such as a revised transmission, and a 186 kW (253 PS; 249 hp) engine. Used versions are normally stripped of any police decals, equipment, police radios, and emergency lights before being sold or auctioned to the public.

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Common 1996 Ford Cvpi problems

The 1996 Ford Crown Victoria, a full-size sedan, has been known to have several common problems based on complaints from owners. Here are some of the most frequently reported issues:

Transmission Cooler: The transmission cooler is a component of the car's transmission system that helps to cool the transmission fluid and prevent overheating. However, if the transmission cooler is not working properly, it can cause a range of issues, such as transmission failure, leaks, and reduced performance. One common problem reported with the 1996 Ford Crown Victoria is related to the transmission cooler, which can leak and cause these issues.

Radiator Hoses: The radiator hoses are critical components of the car's cooling system, as they help to circulate coolant throughout the engine. However, if the radiator hoses are not working properly, they can cause a range of issues, such as overheating, leaks, and reduced performance. One common problem reported with the 1996 Ford Crown Victoria is related to the radiator hoses, which can blow and cause these issues.

These are just some of the most common problems reported with the 1996 Ford Crown Victoria. If you own one of these cars, it's important to be aware of these issues and to have your car regularly serviced and maintained to prevent them from becoming more serious.

What was the worst year for the Ford Crown Victoria?

The worst year for Crown Victoria in terms of reliability was arguably 2008. This model year was marked by a number of common problems that plagued owners, including transmission troubles, blown head gaskets, and failures of the fuel pump.

How many miles is a Crown Vic good for?

Anything can happen at any age or mileage, but generally speaking, the 4.6 OHC modular engine as installed in most Crown Vics, Grand Marquis, and Town Cars are good for a minimum of 300K miles with an oil change every 6K miles.

What are common Crown Vic transmission problems?

Slipping, Erratic Shifting, Harsh Forward or Reverse Gear Engagement: Some of the most common 4R75E / 4R75W transmission problems are slipping between gears, erratic up or down shifts, or a hard slam when the 4R75E / 4R75W transmission engages Drive or Reverse.

How fast can a CVPI go?

The 2004–2011 Police Interceptors are equipped standard with an open 3.27:1 rear axle (axle code Z5), with a traction-lock (Trac-Lok) 3.27:1 rear axle (axle code X5) optional, and are electronically limited to 129 mph (208 km/h) due to critical drive-line speed limitations.

How reliable are Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor?

For decades, this ride has been synonymous with power and reliability. Within police work, the Crown Victoria has served as the definitive police car in many parts of the United States. Today, you're still likely to find this car being used as a reliable commuter or as a budget-friendly first car for teenagers.

What engine is in a CVPI?

4.6 L 2V SOHC V8

Comparison with standard Crown Victoria. Both cars use the same 4.6 L 2V SOHC V8 (both Flex Fuel starting in 2008), Ford modular engine, and Ford four-speed automatic transmission.

What are common Crown Vic transmission problems?

How long do Crown Vic engines last?

1996 Ford Cvpi car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Ford Cvpi problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

Structure problems
Engine and engine cooling problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1996 Ford Cvpi vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

1996 Ford Cvpi complaints

The NHTSA has received 2 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1996 Ford Cvpi.

2009-06-13

STRUCTURE PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2009-06-12
VIN: 2FALP71W3TX
Components: STRUCTURE
Summary: I JUST PURCHASED A 1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA PI. WHILE CHECKING UNDER THE CAR, I DISCOVERED THE FRAME WAS RUSTING AWAY IN THE AREA OF THE IDLER ARM & WHERE THE RIGHT SWAY BAR BUSHING IS ATTACHED (THE PIECE THAT HOLDS THAT IN PLACE IS GONE AS THERE'S NOTHING TO ATTACH IT TO). I TOOK THE CAR TO A BODY SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME TO REPAIR THIS (PROPERLY) WOULD REQUIRE REPLACING THE FRAME AND THAT TO PATCH IT WOULD DEGRADE THE DESIGNED ABILITY OF THE CAR TO PROTECT THE DRIVER & PASSENGERS IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE BODY MAN ALSO MADE A REMARK TO ME THAT HE THOUGHT A BATTERY MIGHT HAVE LEAKED OUT AND CAUSE THAT DAMAGE. THE REST OF THE CAR SEEMS TO BE IN DECENT SHAPE. *TR

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2003-10-30

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2003-07-10
Crash: 1
VIN: 2FALP74W6TX
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Summary: MY CAR OVERHEATED AND SHUT OFF, WHEN I GOT IT TO A REPAIR STATION, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, WHICH I HAVE IN MY POSSESSION. ANYWAY, I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED, TO THE NEAREST PLACE TO HAVE IT REPAIRED TO THE COST OF $125.00. THIS HAPPENED ON A SUNDAY, IT TOOK A WEEK TO HAVE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACED WITH A COST OF $779.00. THREE DAYS OFF WORK, BECAUSE OF IT AND ALSO LOSS OF WAGES AND LOSS OF USE OF AUTO. I HAVE NOTICED THAT FOR THE POLICE INTERCEPTOR, THAT IF YOU ARE ON THE POLICE FORCE THAT THIS WAS REPLACED AT NO COST..SO WHAT MAKES THE POLICE FORCE ANY BETTER THAN THE AVERAGE CONSUMER THAT PURCHASES THIS AUTO. WHY CAN THIS NOT BE REPLACED FOR ANYONE THAT HAPPENS TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN. I FEEL THAT WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS OF THIS OCCURRENCE, THAT THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FOR THOSE THAT HAVE ALREADY HAD THE REPLACEMENT DONE, THEY SHOULD BE REIMBURSED THE AMOUNT OF MONIES THAT IT TOOK TO HAVE THIS SITUATION TAKEN CARE OF. LISA LOVEJOY. *LA

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1996 Ford Cvpi recalls

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 1996 Ford Cvpi.

2002-10-15

Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
Summary: IN ORDER TO ENHANCE POLICE OFFICE SAFETY, MODEL YEAR 1992-2003 CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR (CVPI) VEHICLES WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH SHIELDS DESIGNED TO HELP PROTECT THE FUEL TANK IN HIGH-SPEED REAR-IMPACT CRASHES. FORD ALSO WILL BE OFFERING AN OPTIONAL TRUNK PACKAGE DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE SAFE TRANSPORT OF SHARP-EDGED, HEAVY EQUIPMENT IN THESE VEHICLES.
Consequence: SOME HIGH-SPEED REAR-IMPACT CRASHES HAVE RESULTED IN FUEL TANK PUNCTURES AND FIRES IN CVPI VEHICLES.
Remedy: FORD HAS ADVISED US THAT SHIELD KITS HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE SINCE LATE OCTOBER AND WILL BE INSTALLED ON POLICE INTERCEPTOR VEHICLES AT NO COST. THE OPTIONAL TRANK PACKAGE WILL BE AVAILABLE BY THE END OF 2002. FORD HAS ESTABLISHED A NEW WEB SITE AT WWW.CVPI.COM TO ANSWER ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SAFE USE OF CPVI VEHICLES.

Additional sources

More sources of information about 1996 Ford Cvpi problems:

Q&A: Ford Crown Victoria Police - 1996 Model Windshield ...

https://www.justanswer.com/ford/4s66m-ford-crown-victoria-police-hi-i-just-bought-old-1996.html

Mar 27, 2011 ... Do you know of a stock answer to this (what looks like) common problem.

Ford Crown Victoria Questions - How many miles before breakdown ...

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/Discussion-d324_ds482616

Jul 4, 2010 ... 91-94 4.6L known for valve stem seals and puffing blue smoke out exhaust at high mileage. Suspension replace with all MOOG problem solver parts ...

Q&A: Troubleshooting 1994 Ford Crown Victoria Acceleration Issues

https://www.justanswer.com/ford/1pyfk-1994-ford-crown-victoria-xl-idel-lopping-no-power-excelleration.html

Jan 13, 2009 ... Thank you for asking your question on JustAnswer. The common issue with the problem your describing in most cases is eaither a bad or dirty MAF ...