1996 Lincoln Town Car: ball joint or control arm failure

Filed May 17, 2016 · Suspension · 45,000 miles · IN

Tl* the contact owns a 1996 lincoln town car. While driving 35 MPH, the vehicle began to vibrate and an unknown clicking sound was heard from the passenger side wheel when making a turn. The failure occurred constantly. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the front ball joints failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 98v322000 (suspension). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 45,000.

Filed Dec 23, 2010 · Suspension · 92,000 miles · FL

Tl*the contact owns a 1996 lincoln town car with 92000 miles. The contact stated that when turning the steering wheel he heard a clanking noise. The contact stated that recall 98v322000, suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint was the cause of failure. The manufacturer was called but they could not find any record of the vehicle being repaired or included in the recall.

Filed Jul 13, 2010 · Body, Suspension · 92,551 miles · NJ

While driving my 1996 signature series town car about 25 mis/hr in residential area the right front ball joint suspension collapsed & "rolled" under the car frame. The slow speed enabled the car to be stopped within feet. Driver & a passenger unhurt. Car towed to aaa certified garage that had been used for over 25 years. Suspension replaced as was the left one that mechanic deemed ready to also collapse. Resident municipality literally surrounded by expressways whose speed limit is 65 mis/hr. Deaths and or severe injuries would most certainly have resulted had collapse occurred while driving at allowed speed limit as this driver does. The car had 92551 carefully driven miles on it. Car always garaged and meticulously maintained by owner, dealer and the mechanic used . Worse that did happen was the almost $500 bill & being late for an annual conference being held at nearby university.

Filed Dec 29, 2009 · Steering, Suspension · 72,000 miles · WA

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: the federal safety agency 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 federal safety agency'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.

Filed Jan 22, 2009 · Suspension · 164,183 miles · SD

Lower ball joint on the rt. Side & lt. Side fail while driving down the road, dropping car to the ground . Towed to fords repair shop and had both replaced. Last fall the rt. One broke and was replaced. Know the lt. One.

Filed Jan 29, 2008 · Engine, Steering · 94,000 miles · IA

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.

Filed Apr 13, 2006 · Suspension · 135,000 miles · GA

Dt*: the contact stated the right lower ball joint fell out while driving 10 MPH causing the steering to fail. The vehicle was towed to a dealership. The contact reports having no problems with the steering prior to the incident. There is an the federal safety agency recall, # 98v322000, regarding the suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint. The vehicle has the same problems as indicated in the recall; however it is not included in the recall due to the VIN.

Filed Apr 12, 2005 · Electrical, Steering · IL · crash

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.

Filed Jan 31, 2005 · Steering, Suspension · OH

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.

Filed Oct 7, 2004 · Steering, Suspension · 105,000 miles · CA

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.

Filed Jul 21, 2004 · Suspension · 72,784 miles · MA

The consumer brought the vehicle to a mechanic to have an oil change, and it was discovered that the lower ball joints were defective. The manufacturer stated that his vehicle is not included in the recall, number 98v322000.

Filed Jun 14, 2004 · Suspension · MI

While pulling inside of a parking lot passenger side wheel collapsed . Consumer was unable to move the vehicle. Had the vehicle towed to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the both upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced.