Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford crown victoria. While driving various speeds, the steering wheel seized while turning right or left. The contact mentioned that the failure occurred periodically. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall on the vehicle. The failure mileage was 96,000.
Ford Crown Victoria steering lock-up problems
27 of the 2,855 owner complaints about the Ford Crown Victoria describe steering wheel locks up, most of them for the 1996 model year.
- owner complaints
- 27
- worst model year
- 1996
- typical mileage
- 106,000
Is there a fix? There are 3 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
Often reported together
Engine failure 11Power steering loss 1Headlights 1Check engine light 1
What owners say
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford crown victoria. While driving various speeds, the steering wheel became difficult to steer. The contact decided to place oil on the steering shaft and steering wheel. After a couple of months, the steering seized without warning. The contact was an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the steering shaft bearing failed and there was heavy corrosion on the shaft. The failure recurred. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 ford crown victoria. While driving 25 MPH and making a turn, the steering wheel seized and was difficult to turn. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the steering column was rusted. The manufacturer was contacted and did not assist. The dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 92,000.
Steering shaft is bad, excessive rust to the u joint is causing vary stiff steering and steering wheel lock up in turns
Steering locking up and my steering pump is in good working condition no leaks
Today I was driving my 2005 ford crown victoria on a city street. I made a left hand 90 degree turn at a relatively slow speed. Upon turning the wheel back, the steering locked. To avoid hitting a parked car to the left, I forced the steering over forcefully. It felt as if the steering shaft was blocked by something. I pulled the car immediately over to a parking spot on my right. In the process of turning the wheel, the steering was suddenly normal, then very difficult, normal, then difficult, as if it were being intermittently hit. I opened the hood and found the left header heat shield, opposite of the steering shaft, separated from its normal position and was lodged between the steering shaft and the header. The heat shield was heavily corroded. I took a photo of it in its lodged position. I then removed the heat shield and attempted to move the steering wheel. It turned freely and normally. Due to my location, I had to drive the vehicle (which appeared drive-able) for another hour to my house.the vehicle has already been fixed by the recall involving the steering shaft replacement, and has been driven for many months since then. The steering shaft impacted the heat shield multiple times, collapsing part of the heat shield and leaving surface marks on the steering shaft. This may have caused damage to the steering system and/or shaft, apart from the fact that the heat shield is now absent, potentially further damaging other components. Thank you
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 ford crown victoria. While driving 20 MPH, the steering wheel seized. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the driver side heat shield fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 170,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford crown victoria. While driving 55 MPH, the steering wheel seized without warning. The contact stated that the failure occurred several times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford crown victoria. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the steering wheel seized making it difficult to make a left turn. In addition, the contact stated that the steering wheel was rusted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 106,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 ford crown victoria. While making a right turn at an unknown speed, the steering wheel seized and became very difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was repaired according to the federal safety agency campaign number: 13v385000 (steering); however, the failure persisted. The dealer stated that the upper intermediate shaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
Related recalls
Steering: rack and pinion: pinion shaft
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria, 2005-2011 Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles manufactured March 23, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and 2005-2011 Lincoln Town Car vehicles manufactured March 8, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and on which the upper intermediate shaft was serviced during the course of safety recall 13V‑385. The prior repairs may not have been correctly performed.
- Risk
- Improper servicing of the upper intermediate shaft could cause the shaft to separate, which can then result in a loss of steering control, and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify the owners of vehicles whose repair records reflect that the upper intermediate steering shaft was repaired during the course of the prior recall 13V‑385. Dealers will inspect and replace the upper immediate shaft if necessary free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S25.
Recall number 14V704000 · Recall details
Steering
- What is wrong
- Ford is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria (including Crown Victoria Police Interceptors), Mercury Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Car vehicles. The affected vehicles are currently registered or were originally sold in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Severe corrosion can seize the lower intermediate shaft which may cause the upper intermediate shaft to collapse and the steering column lower bearing to separate.
- Risk
- If the lower bearing separates, the vehicle may experience a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners and dealers will replace the lower intermediate shaft, free of charge. The upper intermediate shaft and steering column lower bearing will be inspected to identify any damage that may have occurred as a result of lower intermediate shaft corrosion, and repaired or replaced as necessary. If the steering column lower bearing has separated, a retainer clip will be installed. The recall began on October 23, 2013. Owners may contact Ford at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's recall number is 13S08.
Recall number 13V385000 · Recall details
Steering: linkages
- 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 Ford Crown Victoria steering lock-up
Which Ford Crown Victoria years have steering wheel locks up problems?
The model years with the most reports are 1996 (8 complaints), 2004 (6 complaints) and 2005 (5 complaints).
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