1997 Ford Crown Victoria steering problems

STEERING

THE THREE BOLTS HOLDING THE STEERING GEAR BOX TO THE FRAME FAILED DUE TO CORROSION ALLOWING THE UNIT TO BECOME SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME LEADING TO A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.

NHTSA complaint #10595037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

THE FOLLOWING IS A WELL KNOWN AND WELL DOCUMENTED DESIGN CROWN VICTORIA 4.6 ENGINE FAILURE, WHICH FORD HAS IGNORED AND CLAIMED IT IS "INVESTIGATING" FOR THE ORDINARY CONSUMER, WHILE PROVIDING EXTENDED WARRANTIES FOR POLICE CARS AND TAXIS. OBVIOUSLY, THEY DON'T WANT TO LOSE THIS FLEET MARKET. THERE HAVE EVEN BEEN NEWS STORIES ON THIS VIA NBC. THE FAILURE RELATES TO A PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKING PREMATURELY, CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF COOLANT FLUIDS, EXTREME CONSEQUENT ENGINE OVERHEATING, AND RESULTANT CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. THEY SELL THE REPLACEMENT AND RE-ENGINEERED PART FOR NEARLY 600 DOLLARS AND CHARGE ALMOST 500 DOLLARS ADDITIONAL TO INSTALL IT. THIS IS A NON-MOVING PART WHICH SHOULD NOT FAIL UNDER NORMAL USE! THERE IS EVEN AN ENTIRE AFTERMARKET BUSINESS MAKING THESE PARTS AS A REPLACEMENT FOR LESS MONEY...ALTHOUGH I SUSPECT MOST FOLKS JUST PAY FORD TO DO THE REPAIR. QUERIES TO DEALERS MEET WITH A REITERATION OF THE ABOVE INFORMATION AND A KIND "SORRY, IT'S NOT COVERED" REPLY. I BELIEVE THIS IS A CASE OF FRAUD AND MISREPRESENTATION OF FITNESS, AS OPPOSED TO THE NORMAL RISKS OF WEAR AND TEAR...THEIR POLICY REGARDING LUCRATIVE FLEET EXTENDED REPAIRS SPEAKS TO THIS, IN MY OPINION. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD DEFECT DUE TO ENGINE STALLING AND POWER ASSIST LOSS.

NHTSA complaint #10114787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STEERING WHEEL IS OVERLY SENSITIVE IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION, MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, SINCE IT HAS SO MUCH POWER ASSIT IT MAKES CHANGING LANES OR OTHER STEERING CONDITION HAZARDOUS. NLM THE VEHICLE HAS A STEERING BOX RATIO OF 14 TO 1 WHICH WAS MUCH FASTER THAN THE DESIRED RATIO OF 17 TO 1 OR 18 TO 1.

NHTSA complaint #8019760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

TIE-ROD ASSEMBLY WAS NOT PROPERLY LUBRICATED AND SEALED BY MANUFACTURED LEADING TO PREMATURE FAILURE. NLM

NHTSA complaint #767125 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

CONSUMER WAS ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AND WAS TURNING WHEEL TO LEFT, BUT VEHICLE KEPT GOING STRAIGHT. A PLASTIC NYLON BUSHING BROKE FROM STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.

NHTSA complaint #889365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:LINKAGES

ALL ITEMS LISTED ARE DESIGN FLAWS AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS IF NOT FATAL INJURIES TO OCCUR..TURN SIGNALS WILL NOT STAY ON IF THEY WILL HOLD ON AT ALL. TWICE REPAIRED..STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN JUMP AND VIBRATE ON BUMP IMPACT AT MID TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS.CAR SWERVES. HAVE NOT YET LOST CONTROL!! REAR SHOCKS CANNOT STABILISE REAR END..WINDSHIELD HAS RIPPLE DISTORTION. HAS CAUSED VISION PROBLEMS. BOTH FRONT DOORS WILL NOT STAY OPEN..BOTH MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN INJURED BY THESE DOORS..SERVICE DEPT CLAIMS DOORS ARE WITHIN TOLERENCES..NOT MINE!! HOPE YPU CAN ASSIST ME. THANKS,,PAUL SILBERMAN.

NHTSA complaint #726911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

THE IGNITION KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN IGNITION SWITCH WHEN THE SWITCH IS NOT IN THE OFF POSITION: THIS IS THE SAME TYPE DEFECT THAT WAS FOUND IN THE FORD TAURUS (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 85V172000)

NHTSA complaint #710751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR

POWER STEERING SHAFT CAME OUT OF PUMP WITH THE PULLEY ON IT WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED. VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, STEERING CONTROL LOST - DRIVE BELT SHREDDED. PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #844890 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

POWER STEERING FAILED. MJS

NHTSA complaint #547412 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.