Equal-exposure complaint evidence and changes in the reported problem mix

1997 vs 1998 FORD CROWN VICTORIA

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Share shifts show how a vehicle's problem mix changed. They do not measure reliability, and complaint counts are not normalized for sales volume.

First 347 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▼ 59.0% fewer reports in the equal exposure window

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Component share shift

Bars start at the neutral midpoint. Left means a smaller share; right means a larger share.

View component share data as a table
Component 1997 share 1998 share Share change
SERVICE BRAKES 16.8% 3.4% ▼ 13.4 pts smaller share
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 2.8% 10.3% ▲ 7.5 pts larger share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 6.7% 1.7% ▼ 5.0 pts smaller share
FUEL SYSTEM 8.8% 13.7% ▲ 4.9 pts larger share
ENGINE 28.1% 23.9% ▼ 4.1 pts smaller share
POWER TRAIN 2.1% 6.0% ▲ 3.9 pts larger share
STRUCTURE 2.8% 6.0% ▲ 3.2 pts larger share
STEERING 2.5% 5.1% ▲ 2.7 pts larger share
SUSPENSION 15.1% 12.8% ▼ 2.3 pts smaller share
TIRES 0.7% 2.6% ▲ 1.9 pts larger share
WHEELS 0.4% 1.7% ▲ 1.4 pts larger share
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 3.2% 4.3% ▲ 1.1 pts larger share
PARKING BRAKE 0.7% not reported ▼ 0.7 pts smaller share
SEAT BELTS 0.7% not reported ▼ 0.7 pts smaller share
VISIBILITY 3.9% 3.4% ▼ 0.4 pts smaller share
AIR BAGS 0.7% 0.9% ▲ 0.2 pts larger share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 77.9% 76.9% ▼ 1.0 pts smaller share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

Recall campaigns

1997 11

Campaign components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, SEAT BELTS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SUSPENSION, and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1998 10

Campaign components: EQUIPMENT, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER, SEAT BELTS, SUSPENSION, and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Safety signals

◆ Fires
15 → 6
◆ Injuries
18 → 7