I received a recall notice in february 2015 and brought my car to a dealership for repairs on march 18, 2015. The service manager of that branch informed me that there is a problem with the upper steering column bearings that aren't covered by the recall. He said he spoke to the recall center and the reason they gave was because this recall was issued in 2013 and I didn't respond in time. I did not receive a letter and if I did, I certainly would've responded in a timely way. Then I spoke to the recall center and argued that this upper column problem is a direct result of the lower column shaft; to which I was told that typically ford only covers what's explicitly detailed in the recall notice. Also, I was told, the reason for my issues with the letter may be because the nj mvc has been slow in disseminating driver information to car companies. If that's the case, it's absolutely unfair and unreasonable to hold me responsible for a bureaucratic issue of communication. This argument might not be too valid, but there is a recall issued by the federal safety agency regarding improper repairs of the upper steering column shaft. This suggests to me that there is a problem in general with steering column shafts, so I think my repairs should be covered. I told the service manager to just fix what's covered and I'll take whatever risks afterwards. I don't have the money for those repairs and, out of principle, I don't think I should be liable for those costs.
2005 Ford Crown Victoria steering complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 36 of 36, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford crown victoria. While driving at 40 MPH, the steering wheel became loose. As a result, the contact had to shut off and restart the vehicle in order to temporarily correct the failure. The failure recurred on multiple occasions and no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
I was responding as a volunteer ambulance emt from my residence to the fire station for an emergency call when the steering locked up. I tried to turn the steering wheel back and forth while applying the brakes and it began to steer again. I continued to the station about 3/4 mile away, made the ambulance call. Upon completion of the call I lifted the hood and observed the lower joints of the steering shaft were rusty and corroded. I sprayed the joint with wd-40 and turned the steering back and forth. In preparation for a trip two days later I was checking the vehicle and found the "exhaust heat shield" lying on the frame between the engine and frame. It was then I figured the part had come off and jammed between the steering shaft and the frame causing a momentary loss of steering control. I have not replaced the heat shield. After a factory recall replacement of the lower shaft resulted in the car steering like new with very little effort for a month or so. I then noticed the steering seemed to bind again at times. I looked and the upper steering shaft is corroded so I sprayed the u joint contained in the upper shaft with lubricant. I contacted the dealer who said the upper shaft was not part of the recall so I called ford and was told the same thing. The upper shaft joint is experiencing the same failure as the lower shaft. Corrosion in the u joint is causing the needle bearings to not operate properly resulting in more difficult turning of the steering. I lubricate the joint at times. I believe the "upper steering shaft" should be included in a recall due to corrosion effecting the parts due to design not sufficient to prevent contaminates from entering the steering u joints. The "exhaust heat shield" was deteriorated due to corrosion of the mounting holes used to secure the shield to the exhaust manifold mounting bolts.
I was approaching a stop sign and I made a complete stop as I pulled forward and attempted to make a right turn my steering failed completely. I had no control what so ever to turn left or right. With further inspection it was the lower heavy duty bluish green bearing that was no longer connected to the upper shaft inside my steering column.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford crown victoria. The contact stated that while driving 5 MPH, he attempted to make a right turn but the power steering assist failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection where they stated that the steering shaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 102,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford crown victoria. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and after completing a left turn, the steering wheel seized without warning. In addition, the contact stated that low beam headlights intermittently failed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the exhaust manifold heat shield and the light control module needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 54,000 and the current mileage was 60,000. ..updated 05/20/14 *bf the consumer stated the steering wheel did not seize. It became difficult to turn when going around corners. Updated 05/28/2014
Turning corner and steering all of a sudden binds up. Told its a ujoint problem that ford should get on top of before somebody gets hurt. Mines not the only one with this problem that I've met.
On multiple drives steering became difficult and not responsive. The problem was more pronounced at slower speeds. The steering linkage assy. Had to be replaced at considerable expense.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford crown victoria. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and after completing a left turn, the steering wheel seized. The failure recurred numerous times. The VIN was unavailable. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 36,000.
Steering started feeling stiff while on a long road trip when I went to change lanes. When I returned home I parked it for a month. Had a few people look at it and they found nothing wrong. Drove it on another long trip and it slowly became worse. Felt like the car was floating opposite my steer or delaying the direction I would steer .felt like it was catching on something or being block from movement. Had it looked at again fluids check ,rac checked,pump check,greased up. Let it sit again for sometime then took it down the street and steering would not turn. Had no control almost caused a serious accident it took bruet force to save us. Had it looked at again and he said the steering rod looks strange in movement nothing he has ever seen before and that the arm it self looks bent. I now have a car I can not drive and no one can fix because they don't know what to fix. I can't even sell it knowing someone could die.
Recieved information regarding the lost of steering in the 2005 - 2008 ford crown victoria police interceptors that police agencies where experiencing. After contacting our local dealer and ford, we were provided with a picture of a light blue/green bearing that is under the dash. We had this vehicle inspected and it was found to have a defect in this bearing which is near the locking column.
I was pulling into my driveway, the steering wheel would not turn. If I would not have been able to stop, I would have ran down my mailbox and drove into the yard. After opening the hood on my 2008 crown vic, I noticed the heat shield from the exhaust manifold was jammed between the steering knuckle and the exhaust manifold. It had rusted off the bolts and fell in between while I was in motion. The 2005 I know own and purchased in sept, after driving it all the way from hudon, I opened the hood when I got home and noticed half of the heat shield in the same spot. The other half was gone. I would say if this were to have gotten lodged in a vehicle that has the steering knuckle rust and failure, it could easily break the knuckle while you are trying to steer the vehicle seeing the shield is concave in shape and does not collapse. I would consider this a priority item to check on all 2005-2008 police interceptor crown vics because it is the most used police vehicle during this time period. Just a suggestion. Knowing the issue happened to me, I would not want to see anyone get seriously injured or killed from something I knew was wrong with these vehicles and didn't tell anyone. *tr..updated 05/20/14 *bf updated 05/28/2014
Inspection found dislocated bushing.
Inspection found dislocated bushing.
Inspection found dislocated bushing.
Catastrophic failure of the steering column; the steering column retaining ring failed. Binding if the lower and middle universal joints and believe it is heat related? Steering shaft not traveling on a true axis and a result is the retaining ring is being worn and eventually wears out.
Catastrophic failure of the steering column; the steering column retaining ring failed. Binding of lower and middle universal joints and believe it is heat related. Steering shaft not traveling on a true axis and a result is the retaining ring is being worn and eventually wears out.
Catastrophic failure of the steering column; the steering column retaining ring failed. Binding of lower and middle universal joints and believe it is heat related. Steering shaft not traveling on a true axis and a result is the retaining ring is being worn and eventually wears out.
Catastrophic failure of the steering column; the steering column retaining ring failed. Binding of lower and middle universal joints and believe it is heat related. Steering shaft not traveling on a true axis and a result is the retaining ring is being worn and eventually wears out.
Catastrophic failure of the steering column; the steering column retaining ring failed. Binding of lower and middle universal joints and believe it is heat related. Steering shaft not traveling on a true axis and a result is the retaining ring is being worn and eventually wears out.
On or about 7/23/12 was turning vehicle into a parking lot when steering locked. Forced steering to return. Went to move vehicle again and steering locked again. Upon inspection, saw heat shield had detached from manifold along side steering column and jammed between exhaust manifold and steering knuckle. *tr..updated 05/20/14 *bf updated 05/28/2014
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.
Steering wheel disengaged while driving. Wheel rotated more than 360 degrees and had no effect on the car direction. Almost injured pedestrian (police officer) but was making a turn from a complete stop so was able to stop car since was only going slow. I was coming back from a two hour trip from cape cod and if this would have happened on the highway who knows what could have happened. Ford service manager said that the shaft fell out of the steering column and this should not happen unless car was in a collision. Which it wasn't. My personal mechanic who has more than 50 years of experience repairing fords also had never seen this happen before. Ford did not grant me any dispensation and I paid for the repair ($1381.75). When I called ford they said there was nothing they could do and could not give me the name of anyone in the company that I could speak with further about this. My call was answered by a service company in florida and they apparently have no information about who at the ford company headquaters I couold address this issue to. It seems they have made it virtually impossible for a citizen to obtain appropriate contact information. This wasn't officially reported to the police but since it happened directly outside the local police station, and the horn alarm also went off, about a dozen police offices (including the chief) witnessed the event.
Tie rod failed. Car is ford crown victoria 2005. Has approx. 6,000 miles on it and is just one year old. Side swiped truck parked on residential street. Police report filed. No prior notice.
Steering wheel on new ford crown victoria was loose and horn did not work. Ford replaced steering column but horn still did not work. Ford replaced horn electrical contacts.
1995 ford crown victoria [xxx] upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced. Tie rod and pitman arm replaced. Gas tank leaks. Moisture on piston which threw a rod and broke block. Headlight lenses turned dark orange. *js information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)
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