1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA Suspension Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN OFF A DRIVEWAY ONTO A LOT, THERE WAS A LOUD METAL BRAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE COLLAPSED TO THE GROUND. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE LOWER BALL JOINT DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE INDEPENDENT PARKING LOT WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000. *BF CONSUMER STATED FAULTY RUBBER SEAL WAS DUE TO CORROSION AND MAY HAVE ANOTHER ONE WITH SAME PROBLEM.*JB *BF

Mileage: 136,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE. THE CONTACT DID NOT TALK TO THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

Mileage: 125,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT FRACTURED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH ON A DRY HIGHWAY. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 98V322000, REGARDING THE SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

Mileage: 280,000

I RECENTLY GOT THE VEHICLE AND ITS ALREADY GIVING ME PROBLEMS. THE CAR DRIFTS TO THE SIDE AND THE MOTOR IS GIVING ME PROBLEMS THE CAR HAS NOT EVEN REACHED 1500 MILES SINCE I GOT IT AND ITS ALREADY CAUSING ME PROBLEMS. *JB

Mileage: 159,865

DT: CONSUMER HAS A 1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. HE COMPLAINED ABOUT A LOWER BALL JOINT PROBLEM. HE FOUND, ON THE INTERNET NHTSA RECALL 98V322000 . HE WENT TO FORD WEB SITE AND ENTERED THE VIN THE WEB SITE SHOWED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. THE VEHICLE IS NOW NOT DRIVABLE DUE TO BALL JOIN PROBLEM. LOWER BALL FAILED ON 8-3-2005 WHILE DRIVING. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, HE TRAVELING BALL JOINT SEPARATED JUST LIKE MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO HAVE VEHICLE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. *AK

Mileage: 88,500

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A GROANING SOUND. VEHICLE WAS PARKED PARKED WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT END COLLAPSED. A REPAIR SHOP EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT THE LOWER RIGHT BALL JOINTS BROKE.*AK UPDATED 11/18/09. *LJ UPDATED 11/19/09.*JB

Mileage: 60,300

FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WHAT I HEAR ABOUT THE GRAND MARQUIS HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL TANK IS RATHER DISTURBING TO ME I AM AWARE NOW THAT THESE CARS ARE CAPABLE OF CATCHING ON FIRE IF HIT FROM BEHIND. I CARRY THREE SMALL CHILDREN TO SCHOOL EVERY MORNING IN "THIS CAR" I HAVE CONTACTED THE FORD CORP. ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SEEM TO NOT BE BOTHERED ABOUT THIS FACT. NOW TO MY OTHER PROBLEMS. I HAVE JUST REPLACED MY INTAKE MANIFOLD BECAUSE THE ONE THAT CAME WITH THE CAR CRACKED WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. MY MECHANIC STATED THAT HE FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 1996 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE FORD CORP. HAS REDESIGNED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FOR THIS MODEL AND RAISED THE PRICE FROM ABOUT 250.00 TO ALMOST 500.00. IN JULY OF 2002 THERE WAS A PART THAT WENT OUT ON MY A/C UNIT THAT I HAD TO REPLACE (I HAVE TO CONTACT MY MECHANIC TO SEE WHAT PART IT WAS THAT WAS REPLACED) IN JULY 2002 I HAD TO HAVE MY ROTERS TURNED, IN JANUARY 2003, I HAD TO HAVE THEM TURNED AGIAN AND HAVE MY RIGHT BACK ROTER REPACED BECAUSE IT WAS NO LONGER GOOD. (ALL THIS WAS DONE ON JANUARY 10 2003 NOW IT IS JAN. 20, 2003 AND MY RIGHT FRONT ROTER IS GRINDING AGAIN (I ALSO HAD NEW BRAKES PUT ON ALL AROUND JAN.10,2003. MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR IS DROOPING BECAUSE IT NEEDS A NEW PIN PUT IN... MY CAR ALSO SEEMS TO BALK WHEN I PUSH ON THE GAS PEDDAL,MY CAR ALSO HAS A POPPING NOISE WHEN I HIT A HOLE OR TURN. WHEN I CALLED THE FORD CORP. ON THESE ISSUES THEY SEEMED LIKED THEY REALLY DIDN'T CARE ABOUT ANY OF THESE THINGS. MAYBE YOU MIGHT KNOW SOMEONE THAT I COULD CONTACT IN THE FORD CORP. THAT IS "HIGH UP" AND THAT WOULD LISTEN TO MY ONCERNS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, SINCERLY, DIANE

A ARM BRACKET WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE FRONT SUSPENSION IS BROKEN. CONSUMER DISCOVERED IT WHEN SHE HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, AND HAD A MECHANIC CHECK THE NOISE OUT. AFTER CHECKING THE VEHICLE MECHANIC ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR BECAUSE IT LOOKED AS A MANUFACTURE R'S PROBLEM.*AK

CONSUMER STATED HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL#98V322000 LOWER CONTROL ARM. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

FRONT SUSPENSION COMPONENTS HAVE FAILED (TIE RODS, CONTROL ARMS). *MJS

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND COOLANTS WAS ALL OVER THE ENGINE. IT WAS ALMOST INPOSSIBLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF VEHICLE. LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE CRACKED. TECHNICIAN STATED THAT FORD WAS FIXING THIS PROBLEM ON THE POLICE VEHICLES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, MAKING A TURN ON A SMOOTH CURVE, VEHICLE JUST STRAIGHTENED OUT UNEXPECTEDLY. PITMAN ARM AND CONTROL ARM WERE RELACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

ENGINE ROCKER ARM WAS REPLACED. ALSO, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SHAKING AND TREMBLING WHEN HE DROVE VEHICLE. *AK

FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE CONTROL ARM BROKE. OWNER HAS HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE MAKE AND MODEL, HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

THE VEHICLE HAS MANY MORE PROBLEMS THAT ARE NOT LISTED AND THEY STARTED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE. I HAVE ALL THE RECORDS WITH CORRECT DATES, TIMES, MILEAGES, AND ETC. OF ALL THE PROBLEMS. I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO MAIL YOU COPIES OF EVERYTHING ABOUT MY VEHICLE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME. // I USED A FAMILY MEMBERS COMPUTER TO SEND IN THIS COMPLAINT FORM SO PLEASE CONTACT ME BY MAIL OR TELEPHONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONCERN IN THIS MATTER. *AK

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINT FAILED,DEALER REFUSED RECALL REPAIRS DUE TO MILAGE.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AT APPROIMATELY. 40 MPH. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL EVEN THOUGH A RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED CONCERNING THAT DEFECT IN LATE JAN OF 1999. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APROXIMATELY 40MPH WHEN THE BALL JOINT SEPARATED. THERE IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION AT THIS TIME--ID#-IE-98-040, THE VIN# OF THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED. CONSUMER'S OFFERING TO SEND PART(S) TO (ODI) IF WE WOULD LIKE, PLEASE CALL. FORD HAS OFFERED TO TAKE PARTS BACK TO MI. TO LOOK AT.-----PLEASE ADD VIN.#. *AK

THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT WAS WORE TO THE POINT OF POSSIBLE SEPERATION, THERE WAS A RECALL ON OR 1998 CROWN VIC , BUT THE RECALL WAS NOT MADE FOR THE 1996 AND THERE WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM

ON 06/05/1996 EVENING SHIFT LT. C. DAVIS WAS DRIVING VEHICLE #102, A 1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE PACKAGE SEDAN. WAS COMING TO A STOP ON CITY STREET WHEN LF BALL JOINT NUT CAME OFF. LF SUSPENSION CAME LOOSE AND VEHICLE LANDED ON PAVEMENT. CALLED WRECKER SERVICE HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO VEHICLE SERVICES. BALL JOINT NUT WAS FOUND AND PLACED IN ASH TRAY OF #102. VEHICLE TOWED TO BOBBY JONES FORD ON 06/06/1996. REPLACED LF SUSPENSION ARM ASSY. VEHICLE SERVICES CHECKED OTHER CRUISERS. NO OTHER BALL JOINT PROBLEMS FOUND. SAW ARTICLE IN FLEET MANAGEMENT-OCT.98/VEHICLE RECALL REPORT.

LEFT FRONT BALL JOINT FAILED. *ET

LEFT FRONT BALL JOINT FAILED. *ET

LEFT FRONT BALL JOINT FAILED. *ET

LOWER CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT BUSHINGS HAVE FAILED. THE DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

CHIEF OF POLICE IS RESPONDING TO POLICE INTERNET RECALL CONCERNING VEHICLE RECALL FOR FRONT CONTROL ARM/ LOWER BALL JOINT . *AK

LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED.

LOWER CONTROL ARM/BALL JOINTS FAILED, CAUSING FRONT END TO FEEL LOOSE. (QCAW)

LOWER CONTROL ARM/BALL JOINTS FAILED, CAUSING FRONT END TO FEEL LOOSE. (QCAW)

LOWER CONTROL ARM/BALL JOINTS FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO FEEL LOOSE IN THE FRONT END. (QCAW)

LOWER CONTROL ARM/BALL JOINTS FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO FEEL LOOSE IN THE FRONT END. (QCAW)

LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS FAILED.

BALL JOINT FAILURE ON TWO POLICE VEHICLES (1996 CROWN VICTORIAS).

LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.

VEHICLE HAS HAD THE FRONT BALL JOINT AND INNER TIE RODS REPLACED. RECALL WAS ORDERED ON VEHICLE.

NOISE HEARD FROM THE FRONT BALL JOINT AREA.

NOISE FROM THE FRONT BALL JOINT AREA.

LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE WHILE DRIVING. OWNER NOTES OF INVESTIGATION ON PROBLEM. *AK

CHIEF OF POLICE CALLED TO INFORM OF RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED CONCERNING FORD CROWN VICTORIA LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE. *AK DOOR HANDLES WERE REPLACED. REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED AT 18290, FRONT PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED AT 28679 MILES, FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS REPLACED AT 51031 MILES. INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACED TWICE. HEATER HOSE REPLACED. PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT REPLACED. TIRE ROTATIONS ARE DONE EVERY 3000 MILES, HOWEVER TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT APPROXIMATELY 9600 MILES AND AT 600000 MILES, NO SPECIFIC TIRE INFORMATION GIVEN. COOLING FANT AND MOTOR REPLACED. TPC, PVC, AND FUEL REGULATOR REPLACED. *SLC

THE DEFECTIVE LOWER BALL JOINTS BROKE OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. ALSO, A SECOND VEHICLE, A NEW VEHICLE 1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA VIN# [XXX],HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WHICH OCCURRED JUNE 23, 1998 WITH 60 MILES, WITH LOWER BALL JOINTS BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT FAILED.

LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT FAILED CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE.

LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CAME APART CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND DAMAGE.

POLICE OFFICER WAS SLOWING DOWN WHEN WHEEL WENT INTO FENDER AREA (WHEEL HOUSING), CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE INOPERABLE. MECHANIC NOTICED THAT GREASE FITTING WAS OMITTED. THIS CAUSED THE BALL JOINTS TO FALL OUT. *AK *SLC

POLICE OFFICER'S VEHICLE HAS BALL JOINTS FALLING OUT. MECHANIC HAD NOTICED THE GREASE FITTING WAS MISSING. THIS COULD CAUSE THE WHEEL TO GO INTO THE WHEEL HOUSING (FENDER). *AK *SLC

POLICE OFFICER'S VEHICLE WAS SLOWING DOWN WHEN THE WHEEL WENT INTO WHEEL HOUSING AREA (FENDER). VEHICLE COLLAPSED DOWNWARD. MECHANIC NOTICED THAT GREASE FITTING WAS MISSING & BALLJOINTS FELL OUT. *AK *SLC

POLICE CRUISER: SLOWING DOWN. WHEEL GOES INTO WHEEL HOUSING (FENDER). THIS CAUSED VEHICE TO DROP. MECHANIC NOTICED GREASE FITTING WAS OMITTED. THIS CAUSED THE BALL JOINTS TO FALL OUT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING COULD HEAR NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF VEHICLE (LIKE CRACKING NOISE). WAS INSPECTING THE VEHICLE AND SAW A FEW CRACKS ON THE LOWER BALL JOINTS. CONSUMER HAD CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK

TWO OF THE 1996 FLEET VEHICLES (CROWN VICTORIAS) HAVE HAD FAILED LOWER BALL JOINTS, ONE INCIDENT LEADING TO THE COLLAPSE OF THE VEHICLE'S FRONT WHEEL ASEMBLY.

STEERING FAILURE.

INADEQUATE LUBRICATION CAUSED THE RIGHT LOWER BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.

VEHICLE MISALIGNED TWICE.

LOWER CONTROL ARM WELD FAILURE, CAUSING VIBRATION AND SLIGHT PULL WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED/DIMINISHED STEERING AND BRAKING CONTROL.

CONSUMER WA SDRIVING AND SOMETIMES THE STEERING JERKS, ALSO FRONT END MISALIGNMENT, WHILE GOING AROUND CURVES TO THE LEFT, STEERING WHEEL WILL SUDDENLY PULL LEFT, ALMOST CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK

BALL JOINT CONNECTING PITMAN ARM TO DRAG LINK (TRACK ROD) FELL OFF. *AK

FRONT BRACKET BROKEN, THAT THE STEERING AND THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE. *AK