1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR Steering Problems

I OWN A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WITH APPROXIMATELY 73,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. RECENTLY, I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END WOBBLING. I TOOK THE CAR TO SEARS AUTOMOTIVE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT ARE DEFECTIVE AND CONTROL ARMS. THE PROBLEM MATCHES EXACTLY YOUR RECALL BELOW: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V322000 SUMMARY: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 1996-1999 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE, FLEET, NATURAL GAS, AND 1996-1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINE VEHICLES THAT WERE PRODUCED WITH A LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CONTAINING A ONE PIECE BEARING; AND 1990-1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE, FLEET, AND NGV VEHICLES AND 1990-1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINE VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN SERVICED WITH EITHER A BALL JOINT CONTAINING THE ONE-PIECE BEARING OR A FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM CONTAINING A BALL JOINT WITH A ONE-PIECE BEARING. THE ONE-PIECE BEARING WITHIN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CAN WEAKEN SLOWLY DURING USE AND EVENTUALLY CRACK. THIS COULD RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE BALL AND CAP OF THE JOINT, ALLOWING THE CONTROL ARM TO DROP TO THE GROUND. CONSEQUENCE: IF THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, REDUCED STEERING CONTROL COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. REMEDY: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS (2). NOTES: OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN JANUARY 18, 1999. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236). WE NEVER RECEIVE NOTICE OF ANY RECALL. HOWEVER, WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO CALL FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY COULD NOT FIND THIS RECALL OR MY VIN. THEREFORE, I AM RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THAT YOU ADD OUR VEHICLE VIN TO THIS RECALL FOR REPAIR. *TR

Mileage: 72,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE TIE ROD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND HE STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURS FREQUENTLY FOR THAT YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO LUBRICATION IN THE ZERKS ON THE TIE RODS FOR THAT YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING $229 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND ALL OF THE WATER LEFT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING $900 FOR THAT REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 02/15/08. *LJ

Mileage: 94,000

I HAVE A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR AND THERE IS 6 RECALL FROM 1996 TO 2001 AND I NEVER GOT 1 SINGLE NOTE ON ANY OF THIS RECALL I JUST CALL FORD DEALERS FOR HELP AND I WAS TOLD ALL RECALLS WERE EXPIRED. HERE IS MY VIN#1LNLM82WTY642484 PLEASE HELP ME ALL RECALLS WAS LISTED IS IN MY CAR I AM WILLING TO DRIVE IT AS IS AND ITS A COMPANY RESPONSEBELETY PLEASE E MAIL ME AND TILL ME WHAT TO DO THANK YOU AHMAD H. AHMAD. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH STEERING BOLT DISENGAGED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. *AK

1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR STEERING WENT OUT CAUSING CONSUMER TO RUN INTO A FENCE.*MR THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN LEFT AND RIGHT BUT THE WHEEL DID NOT RESPOND. REAR AIR SPRING WERE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CRACKING. THE VEHICLE STEERING A SUSPENSION PERFORMED POORLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND THE INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS. THE RIGHT FRONT WINDOW REGULATOR BROKE. THE INTERIOR LIGHT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE DID NOT WORK. *NM

THE TIE ROD FAILED AGAIN AFTER TWO PREVIOUS REPLACEMENTS. ALSO, THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED TWICE. WHILE GOING OVER A SPEED BUMP, ONE COULD HEAR THE TIE ROD TOUCHING THE GROUND. *AK

1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE SUSPENSION.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE MOVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE'S SUSPENSION HAD BEEN ADJUSTED BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS A STEERING PROBLEM. *NM

BALL JOINTS CORRODED, RESULTING IN ABNORMAL WEAR. BECAUSE OF THE DEFECT DESCRIBED IN THE STEERING LINKAGE:ARM:PITMAN RECALL 96V135000, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED DUE TO VIN. THE BALLM JOINTS WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP.*AK

Mileage: 105,000

CAR STALLS BOTH WHEN IDLING READY TO MOVE AND TURNING CORNERS WHERE IT LOSES POWER STEERING

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TIE ROD FELL OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. CONSUMER LOSS CONTROL OF VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

THE LOWER CONTROL ARM DISENGAGED FROM THE LOWER BALL JOINT, AND DROPPED TO THE GROUND, TEARING A LARGE HOLE IN THE FRONT TIRE, THIS CAUSED COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *YD. ALSO THE INNER AND OUTER TIE ROD ENDS WERE REPLACED.*JB

THE EXHAUST CONVERTER WENT BAD AT THE MILEAGE SPECIFIED. NOTICE - I ALSO OWN A 1990 LINCOLN TOWNCAR, ON WHICH THE IDENTICAL RIGHT SIDE TIE ROD WORE OUT. ON THE 1996 TOWNCAR THE TIEROD WAS SO BAD THAT THE RIGHT SIDE CONTROL ARM SEPERATED AT THE TIE ROD UPON PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY! IF THIS COMPONENT WOULD HAVE FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE RESULTING LACK OF STEERING CONTROL WOULD HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF LIFE OR EQUIPMENT.

ON ABOVE DATE WHILE IN A PARKING LOT (THANK GOD) WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK MY CAR THE STEERING QUIT WORKING. TURNING OF THE STEERING WHEEL ELICITED NO! RESPONSE. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. REPAIRS CONSISTED OF " REPAIRED STEERING COLUMN SHAFT SLEEVE AND REPLAICING DAMAGED AIR BAG CONTACT"THIS VEHICLE IS IN LIKE NEW CONDITION WITH NO MODIFICATIONS AND IS SERVICED REGULARLY BY THE DEALER ONLY. HAD I BEEN ON THE ROAD WHEN THIS HAPPENED I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THERE WAS NO FORE WARNING OF THIS EVENT NO CLICKING, GRINDING, OR OTHER SOUNDS OR FEELINGS THAT WOULD HAVE FORE WARRNED OF A PROBLEM. JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN NO STEERING AND THE WHEEL GOES ALL THE WAY AROUND!

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT HEARD A LOUD NOISE. CONSUMET THOUGHT THAT DROVE OVER A HOLE, GOT OUT OF VEHICLE, AND FOUND OUT THAT BALL JOINTS HAD FALLEN OFF VEHICLE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED BROKEN LOWER BALL JOINTS AND INNER TIE ROD ENDS. *YH

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WAS COMING TOWARDS AND INTERSECTION, WENT TO APPLY BRAKES AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. ALSO, THERE WAS NO STEERING, FORCING HIM INTO A GUARDRAIL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK

VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED WITH NO GREASE FITTINGS ON BALL JOINTS , IT WAS SEALED AND COULD NOT BE MAINTAINED. THEREFORE, WHEN THERE WAS A LACK OF LUBRICATION ON BALL JOINTS, IT WOULD FREEZE UP, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP, RESULTING IN CONSUMER RUNNING OFF ROAD. *AK REPLACE PITMAN ARM AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. *YH

THE STEERING WHEEL LOSES TENSION WHEN GOING AROUND A CURVE, NOT ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. *AK

VARIABLE ASSIST STEERING FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SWAY.

HAVING A PROBLEM WITH PITMAN ARM, MANUFACTURER SAYS RECALL DOES NOT AFFECT HER VEHICLE BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, ACCIDENT OCCURRED AS A RESULT. *AK