2008 FORD CROWN VICTORIA Steering Problems

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Crown Victoria. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The contact inspected the steering column underneath the hood and noticed that the steering shaft was corroded. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V385000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 141,000.

Mileage: 141,000

The right front wheel hub broke at the weld when turning in a parking lot. The part is available for inspection. Had this happened at freeway speed, the right front wheel would have departed the vehicle. The safety hazards are obvious. I attempted to contact customer service and they did not reply.There was no warning sign and the part has not been inspected. I am not a welder. It appears this part had a bad weld from the start. I suspect it was welded by a machine and there may be more just like it from the same production run.

I purchased this vehicle a week ago and I also downloaded car fax and it states my vehicle was due for a recall in 2014 but the previous owner next got it.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL INDEPENDENTLY TURNED 180 DEGREES. THE CONTACT REGAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND BECAME AWARE OF A LOOSENED STEERING SHAFT BUSHING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.

Mileage: 166,000

NOTICED INTERMITTENT STIFFNESS IN THE STEERING, AN INSPECTION BY OWNER AT THE STEERING COLUMN DETERMINED THAT THE BEARING CONNECTING THE UPPER AND LOWERS SHAFTS HAD EXTENDED FROM ITS HOUSING. IT WAS DETERMINED THIS FAILURE WAS CONSISTENT WITH A PREVIOUS RECALL 13R01. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GILLESPIE FORD IN GURNEE, IL, WHO STATED THE RECALL HAD BEEN CLOSED OUT IN 2013. THEY WENT ON TO STATE THAT THE ONLY REPAIR MADE IN 2013 WAS REPLACEMENT OF THE LOWER, EXTERIOR STEERING SHAFT, AND NO RETAINING CLIP WAS INSTALLED TO PREVENT SEPARATION OF THE BEARING. GILLESPIE FORD STATED THERE WAS NO CORROSION OR ANY OTHER CAUSE OF THE BEARING FAILURE, SAYING THAT WHEN THE RECALLS WERE DONE THEY WOULD SIMPLY REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AND NOT INSTALL THE RETAINING CLIP. GILLESPIE FORD DECLINED TO MAKE ANY FURTHER REPAIRS UNDER THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH THE CONDITION EXISTED WITH SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS, BUT DID OFFER TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN FOR $1600.00.

Mileage: 189,000

I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY AND TURNED ONTO MY STREET WHEN MY LOWER STEERING SHAFT COLLAPSED AND CAUSED MY UPPER BEARING RETAINING CLIP TO SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSING ME TO LOSE ALL STEERING CONTROL.

Mileage: 162,000

TAKATA RECALL FOR SOME ODD REASON ANY LITTLE BUMP OR IN LEVEL GROUND I GO OVER , THE STEERING WHEEL RESPONSE IS HORRIBLE. ALSO MY CHECK GAS CAP LIGHT COMES ON AND I CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP TWICE & HORRIBLE FUMES FLOATS AROUND INSIDE MY CAR CABIN.

Mileage: 179,000

I HAVE A 2008 FORD CROWN VICTORIA (P71) POLICE INTERCEPTOR. I AM HAVING A KNOCKING NOISE WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT TO RIGHT. THE NOISE IS ACCOMPANIED BY A WANDERING STEERING WHEEL WHEN THE VEHICLE GOES OVER BUMPS. ALSO THE STEERING WHEEL SOMETIMES BECOMES HARD TO TURN THEN RAPIDLY BECOMES LOOSE LIKE SOMETHING IS BINDING UP, THEN FINALLY BREAKING FREE THROUGHOUT THE TURN. THIS HAPPENS WHEN TAKING LOW SPEED WIDE TURNS. AFTER INSPECTING THE STEERING COMPONENTS I NOTICED MY EXCESSIVE PLAY WHERE TJE INTERMITTENT STEERING SHAFT ATTATCHES TO THE RACK N PINION. I THINK MY UPPER SHAFT MAY HAVE BEEN REPLACED BEFORE SINCE IT IS NOT NEARLY AS CORRODED AS THE LOWER INTERMITTENT SHAFT. I CAN ROTATE THE WHOLE SHAFT ABOUT A QUARTER TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION WHILE THE CAR PARKED AND AT THE END OF EACH TURN THE KNOCK RESONATES NEAR THE LOWER INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT KNUCKLE TO WHERE IT CONNECTS INTO TJE PINION GEAR OF THE RACK N PINION. NOW, I INSPECTED ALL STEERING AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS AND THEY ARE ALL IN GOOD SHAPE....NO PLAY ANYWHERE 8N THE SYSTEM BESIDES THE "RECALLED" STEERING SHAFT! I HAVE TWO KIDS AND IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT AND THEY GET HURT BECAUSE A "RECALLED" PART DIDNT GET REPLACED BY FORD WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE(FOR FREE) I WILL NEVER FORGIVE THE COMPANY RESPONSIBLE. HONORING A FREE REPLACEMENT FOR AN OBVIOUSLY POORLY ENGINEERED AND DEFECTIVE FACTORY PART SEEMS TO BE TJE RIGJT THING TO DO.....SO WHERE IS MY RECALL AND WHY DOESNT IT SHOW UP WHEN I SEARCH MY CARS VIN NO??? THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR EVEN DIES. I DONT MAKE A LOT OF MONEY AND THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED FOR FREE LILE IT WAS ON ALL THE OTHER VEHICLES. IT DRIVES LILE NEW BESIDES THE SCARY KNOCK AND WANDERING STEERING. IT'S JUST RIDICULOUS NOT TO RECALL THIS PART!

Mileage: 130,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPAIR FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V704000 (STEERING) WAS PERFORMED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DISCOVERED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOWER SHAFT SEPARATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,567. UPDATED 02/10/16*LJ UPDATED 05/21/18*JB

Mileage: 41,567

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BEARINGS SEPARATED FROM THE VEHCLE, CAUSING THE POWER STEERING TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V385000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

Mileage: 117,000

UNMARKED POLICE CROWN VICTORIA SEDAN TRAVELING IN LEFT LANE OF 4-LANE, GRASS MEDIAN-SEPARATED HIGHWAY WITH POSTED SPEED LIMIT 55 MPH. POLICE OFFICER DRIVER DECEASED IN CRASH. WITNESSES REPORT: AFTER ENTERING HIGHWAY, VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO HIGH RATE OF SPEED; IN VICINITY POLICE MEDIAN TURNAROUND, POLICE STROBE LIGHTS WENT ON; VEHICLE STARTED WOBBLING AND MOVING GRADUALLY TO LEFT IN STRAIGHT PATH. EVENT DATA RECORDER INDICATED BRAKES APPLIED AND VEHICLE SLOWED BEFORE COLLIDING WITH CONCRETE BRIDGE UNDERPASS ABUTMENT. SMALL GRASS FIRE EXTINGUISHED AROUND FRONT-END OF VEHICLE. CURSORY VEHICLE EXAMINATION ON 09/15/11 REPORTS: AIRBAG DEPLOYED, SEAT BELT LOCKED UP DUE TO IMPACT, UNABLE TO CHECK BRAKE PEDAL, UNABLE TO CHECK FRONT BRAKES, AND BAD STEERING (NO FURTHER DETAILS ON CONDITION STEERING PARTS). *TR

CORRECTED DESCRIPTION FOR COMPLAINT 10618222: DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 70 M.P.H., NOTICED INCREASING "PLAY" IN STEERING WHEEL; STOPPED AT REST AREA. WHEN READY TO LEAVE, STARTED TO BACK OUT AND TURNED STEERING WHEEL LESS THAN 1/2 TURN TO THE LEFT. I HEARD/FELT SOMETHING "POP," AT WHICH POINT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SPIN FREELY AND NO LONGER AFFECTED THE FRONT WHEELS--COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. HAD CAR TOWED TO A FORD DEALER, WHO CONFIRMED THE STEERING COLUMN HAD BROKEN COMPONENTS. THE DEALER ALSO NOTED THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED REPAIRS TO THE STEERING UNDER FORD RECALL 13S08. FORD DEALER STATED THEY HAD CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY ABOUT COVERING ALL OR PART OF THE REPAIR, BUT "CORPORATE HAD REFUSED." THE EXPENSIVE REPAIR ($1,093.60) WAS ALL MINE. CAN 'T HELP BUT WONDER IF THE RECALL REPAIR WENT FAR ENOUGH. *TR

Mileage: 146,800

VEHICLE SUDDENLY JERKED TO THE LEFT CAUSING IT TO FLIP OVER AND DAMAGING TWO UTILITY POLES AND BRINGING DOWN POWER LINES. *TR

Mileage: 76,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2008 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THERE WAS A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THE CONTACT THEN UNEXPECTEDLY CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER AND FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK, BACK AND BODY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO CENTER FOR INVESTIGATION. THREE WEEKS AFTER THE CRASH, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V385000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

Mileage: 180,000

NOTE: THIS IS A POLICE CAR. OFFICER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40MPH WHEN SUDDENLY, WITHOUT WARNING, THE STEERING WHEEL HAD A LOT OF PLAY IN IT, WHICH BECAME MORE APPARENT WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL DID A COMPLETE 360 DEGREE TURN WHILE THE VEHICLE KEPT GOING STRAIGHT. HE WAS ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL HARD ENOUGH AT THE LAST SECOND AND LANDED ONTO A HOMEOWNERS DRIVEWAY. UNIT WAS TOWED TO THE FLEET DEPARTMENT WHERE THE UNIT IS BASED. OFFICER DID NOT HAVE ANY WARNING THAT THIS WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN, NO POPPING, GRINDING OR HARD STEERING PRIOR TO THE EVENT. I AM THE LEAD FLEET TECHNICIAN, ASE MASTER AND ADVANCED CERTIFIED & 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE. FINDINGS UPON INSPECTION: I FOUND THE SPLINED STEERING SHAFTS IN THE COLUMN HAD SEPARATED AND THE LIGHT GREEN PLASTIC BUSHING AT THE LOWER SECTION OF THE COLUMN WAS BROKEN, THE SPLINED BLACK HARD PLASTIC ON THE SPLINED SHAFT WAS CHEWED UP ON THE END (UNKNOWN IF THESE OCCURRED AFTER SHAFT SEPARATION). AFTER INSPECTION, THE COLUMN WAS REASSEMBLED AND BENCH TESTED. NO PROBLEM WAS NOTED. NO VISIBLE CRACKS, ABNORMAL WEAR OR LOOSENESS NOTED. NEW FORD STEERING COLUMN AND CLOCK-SPRING INSTALLED, ALIGNMENT AND UNIT WAS PUT BACK IN SERVICE. THE FAULTY COLUMN IS ON HAND. *TR

Mileage: 88,140

ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10 AT APPROXIMATELY 3:45 PM TROOPER WAS TRAVELING ON RESERVOIR AVENUE IN THE CITY OF CRANSTON. AS THE TROOPER APPROACHED THE ON-RAMP FOR ROUTE 10 SOUTH HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN ONTO THE RAMP. AS HE DID SO HE HEARD A LOUD SNAP AND THE STEERING WHEEL KEPT TURNING WITHOUT TURNING THE FRONT WHEELS. HE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND WENT UP ONTO THE CURBING NEXT TO THE RAMP. WHEN HE CAME TO A STOP THE HORN WAS SOUNDING AND THE LIGHTS AND SIREN WERE ALSO GOING ON AND OFF. THE CRUISER IN QUESTION IS A 2008 AND HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY SERIOUS PROBLEMS UNTIL THIS. IT WAS TOWED TO TASCA FORD AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN HAD SNAPPED AND AFFECTED THE WIRING IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT TASCA AWAITING REPAIRS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. *TR

Mileage: 98,430

INSPECTION FOUND DISLOCATED BUSHING. *TR

Mileage: 55,900

INSPECTION FOUND DISLOCATED BUSHING. *TR

Mileage: 58,578

INSPECTION FOUND DISLOCATED BUSHING. *TR

Mileage: 48,611

INSPECTION FOUND DISLOCATED BUSHING. *TR

Mileage: 65,893

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE VEHICLE BUT INSTEAD, HEARD A LOUD NOISE AS THE WHEEL BEGAN TO MOVE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN HAD BECOME DISASSEMBLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 96,000

DRIVER FELT RESISTANCE IN STEERING AND HEARD NOISE UNDER DASH. DROVE CAR FOR SOME UNTIL IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO PARK THEN BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE. TECHNICIAN EXAMINING VEHICLE NOTICED SMALL PLASTIC PARTS ON FLOOR UNDER STEERING COLUMN AND FOUND THE LOWER BUSHING OUT OF TUBE. STEERING SHAFT WAS STILL CONNECTED. *TR

Mileage: 95,254

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING KNUCKLE AND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE PLASTIC OF THE STEERING KNUCKLE WAS DEFECTIVE AND OFFERED TO REPLACE THE PLASTIC WITH A RUBBER BAND. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE WAS 98,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106.000. *UPDATE SUBMITTED...I AM A DEPUTY SHERIFF AND ON THE DATE OF THIS INCIDENT, I WAS TRAVELING AT 15 MPH. I NOTICED A GRANULAR FEELING IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE STEERING WHEEL HAD NO RESISTANCE. THE STEERING COLUMN WHEEL COULD BE SPUN CONTINUOUSLY IN EITHER DIRECTION WITHOUT AFFECTING THE VEHICLES DIRECTION. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND COULD'VE BEEN DEADLY FOR ME AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD THAT DAY IF MY SPEED WAS FASTER THAN WHAT IT WAS.

Mileage: 98,000

THE STEERING COLUMN BEGINS TO SEPARATE IN THE UPPER PORTION OF THE STEERING COLUMN TUBE. THE STEERING WHEEL BINDS AND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED IN A LIKE VEHICLE THAT THE SHAFTS IN THE UPPER COLUMN ACTUALLY SEPARATED AND THE VEHICLE HAD NO MECHANICAL CONNECTION TO THE FRONT WHEELS. THE OPERATOR WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE STOP BUT THEY HAD JUST BEGUN TO ACCELERATE FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN THE SHAFTS SEPARATED AND THE VEHICLE SPEED WAS MINIMAL. *TR

Mileage: 35,700

THE STEERING COLUMN IN THIS VEHICLE SEPARATED IN THE UPPER PORTION OF THE STEERING COLUMN TUBE. THE STEERING WHEEL BINDS AS REPORTED AT FIRST AND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. WHEN THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN SHAFTS SEPARATED FROM THIS VEHICLE IT HAD NO MECHANICAL CONNECTION TO THE FRONT WHEELS. THE OPERATOR WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE STOP BUT THEY HAD JUST BEGUN TO ACCELERATE FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN THE SHAFTS SEPARATED AND THE VEHICLES SPEED WAS MINIMAL. *TR

Mileage: 39,955