The Lemon Index

All carsFordCrown Victoria2009

2008 Ford Crown Victoria, 2nd generation, illustration2008
2009 Ford Crown Victoria, 2nd generation, illustration
2011 Ford Crown Victoria, 2nd generation, illustration2011

2009 Ford Crown Victoria problems.

2nd generation

792009 Lemon Index · 100 = average car

Better than average · most complaints: fuel system, gasoline

Better years to buy

This generation201121200563

All 6 yearsCompare

21 owner complaints, first 3 years 19 mpg combined, EPA

Similar cars, same year

2009 Toyota Avalon 1362009 Chevrolet Impala 732009 Nissan Maxima 124

Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.

What breaks most on the 2009 Ford Crown Victoria

  1. Fuel pump8 complaintsmostly at 30,000–35,000 miles (48,000–56,000 km)

Specific parts named in the 44 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2009 Ford Crown Victoria (all dates). Miles = the odometer owners typed in (middle half); cost = the repair bills owners wrote in those same complaints, in U.S. dollars. Owners' reports, not confirmed defects.

When problems show up

Only 19 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.

Questions to ask the seller

  1. Were recalls 14V704000 (steering) and 13V385000 (steering) done? Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
  2. Any fuel smell, stalling or hard starts? On a hybrid or EV, any reduced-power warning or battery work?
  3. Any slipping, hard or late shifts, or a transmission warning light? Ask for transmission fluid service records.
  4. Any steering noise, wander or power-steering warning? Has the steering rack or pump been replaced?
  5. Ford sent dealers 18 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Right side rear axle oil leaks”?

From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Ford's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.

How serious. Out of all 21 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:

2crashesaverage car: 1
0injuriesaverage car: 1
1firesaverage car: 0
0towsaverage car: 1

“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.

What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.

fuel system, gasoline48%
transmission & drivetrain24%
steering19%
suspension10%
seat belts5%

Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.

Check engine light on? Look up any code →

When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.

half by 36K
0K50K100K150K200K

Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 27K to 51K miles (43K to 83K km) on the car (19 of all 21 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.

In owners' words

Police package vehicle. Right rear axle bearing seal fails covering brake disk with grease. Vehicle had 5,000 miles on it at the time of incident.

2009 Ford Crown Victoria owner · NHTSA complaint 10276835
More owner reports

Police package. Right rear wheel bearing seal fails, covering brake disc and caliper with grease.

NHTSA complaint 10276838

Police package. Transmission slips and lacks ability to move forward.

NHTSA complaint 10276839

Problems Ford told dealers about

Ford sent dealers 18 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:

  • Right side rear axle oil leaks
  • The lower intermediate steering shaft, has corrosion of swing link joints, combined with…
  • Ford/lincoln/mercury: the indicator may illuminate overdrive off and/or slipping in 3rd or no…

Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.

Recalls 2

  • Steering · recall issued 2014

    The prior repairs may not have been correctly performed.

  • Steering · recall issued 2013

    The affected vehicles are currently registered or were originally sold in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri,…

Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.

Check a VIN for open recalls

Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada

Every Ford Crown Victoria recall, all years · All Ford recalls

Safety

Stability controlNot offered
Collision warningNot offered
Lane departure warningNot offered

Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★★★★

NHTSA front crash test of the 2009 Ford Crown Victoria
Front crash test · NHTSA
Fuel cost and engines

About $3,150 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 4.6L 8-cyl.

Every Ford Crown Victoria year. 2009 is highlighted. Lower is better.

Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average or too few complaints to score.

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<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/ford-crown-victoria/?y=2009" title="Ford Crown Victoria reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="284" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/ford-crown-victoria/2009/">Lemon Index</a> (2009 Ford Crown Victoria reliability)</p>

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Quick answers

Is the 2009 Ford Crown Victoria reliable?

Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew about three-quarters as many complaints as the average car filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 79; 100 is average, lower is better). The Ford Crown Victoria year with the fewest complaints per car sold since 2010 is 2011.

What are the most common 2009 Ford Crown Victoria problems?

In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are fuel system, gasoline (48%), transmission & drivetrain (24%) and steering (19%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.

How many recalls does the 2009 Ford Crown Victoria have?

2 safety recalls (latest: steering). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2009 Ford Crown Victoria get?

19 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).

Does the 2009 Ford Crown Victoria have transmission problems?

Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 24% of its owner complaints.

How much does the 2009 Ford Crown Victoria cost in fuel a year?

About $3,150 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.

What engines does the 2009 Ford Crown Victoria have?

4.6L 8-cyl.

What Ford Crown Victoria year is better than the 2009?

Nearby, the 2011 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (about a fifth as many complaints as the average car).

The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works

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