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1996 Ford Crown Victoria: steering wheel locks up

8 of the 276 complaints about the 1996 Ford Crown Victoria describe steering wheel locks up.

owner complaints
8
of this car's complaints
3%
recalls
1
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall and 2 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below

Steering wheel locks up by model year

  • 2009
    1
  • 2006
    3
  • 2005
    5
  • 2004
    6
  • 2003
    1
  • 1997
    1
  • 1996
    8
  • 1995
    1
  • 1993
    1

What owners say

Filed Oct 1, 2003 · Steering · 55,848 miles · OH

While making a left turn at a traffic light steering wheel locked up, causing driver to lose control. The driver managed to stop the vehicle and had it towed to the dealer. It was determined that the pitman arm broke at the steering linkage. Consumer . *ak

Filed Jul 7, 2001 · Engine · VA

The first time we experienced that anything was wrong was when the yellow engine light on the dashboard show up. We immediately went to nearst ford dealar service dept. (purvis ford in fredericksburg, va. They place the automobile under a diagnosis test and told us they had to replace a mass airflow sensor assy. They told us it was safe to drive the ford car the incident happen to us again and we called the purvis service dept. They had the car tow back to their service shop. They again put the car under the diagnosis computer an after 2 days of having it at their shop told us they could not find any wrong with our car. It now happen to us again on a route 3 going 55 miles an hr.,on heavily traveled road. Now here is the scary part, route 3 is a curvy and winding road. No accident has occurred, as yet. But when it does we could be wrapped around a tree going at 55 miles per. So please help us. We have been dealing a ford dealer by the name of "purvis ford and have had no solution to our problem every time we have left our car with them. We had to pay for a rental every time we leave the car there. "the problem is when are driving the steering wheel locks up and the engine quits". We have had this car serviced every 3000 miles since the day we bought it and we have the records to prove it.

Filed Feb 2, 1999 · Steering · IL

Steering locks up and will not return.

Filed Feb 2, 1999 · Steering · IL

Steering locks up and will not return.

Filed Feb 2, 1999 · Steering · IL

Steering locks up and will not return.

Filed Feb 2, 1999 · Steering · IL

Steering locks up and will not return.

Filed Nov 16, 1998 · Brakes, Steering · TN · crash · 1 injury

Consumer was driving down road when steering locked up and he could not steer the vehicle. Consumer lost control, and started down an embankment.tried to apply brakes, but they did not work.

Filed Feb 16, 1996 · Steering · CT

Noise when turning the tilt steering wheel, then steering locks up, due to defective steering box cracked open and pump malfunctioned, replace box and pump. Tt

Service bulletins that may apply

Related recalls

Steering: linkagesReported July 18, 1996 · 72,000 vehicles affected
What is wrong
The pitman arms were not fully lubricated at the assembly plant. The "ball joint" at the outer end of the pitman arm can become contaminated and corrode.
Risk
Such corrosion can result in abnormal wear of the joint, resulting in separation of the joint. Loss of steering control can occur increasing the risk of a vehicle accident.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the vehicles and if the joint is found to have significant wear, the arm will be replaced. Those pitman arms not replaced will have the "ball joint" fully greased.

Recall number 96V135000 · Recall details

Questions about the 1996 Ford Crown Victoria steering lock-up

Is steering wheel locks up a common problem on the 1996 Ford Crown Victoria?

8 of 276 owner complaints about the 1996 Ford Crown Victoria (3%) mention steering wheel locks up. The model year with the most reports is 1996.

Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 1996 Ford Crown Victoria?

There is 1 recall and 2 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.

Other symptoms on the 1996 Ford Crown Victoria

Ball joint 42Overheating 21Fire or smoke 14Stalling 11Check engine light 7Adaptive cruise 5

All model years of the Ford Crown Victoria

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