1994 Ford Crown Victoria Suspension Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION DETACHED AT THE BALL JOINT. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE BRAKE DUST COVER TO PUNCTURE THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE REPAIRED. THE BALL JOINT WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE BRAKE DUST COVER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO BE REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

11320144

Incident

Jun 1, 2011

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE VERY NOISY WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. HE SUGGESTED THAT THEY MAY BE RUSTY DUE TO THE HIGH PITCH NOISE HE HEARS THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE BALL JOINTS AND STATED THAT THEY APPEARED TO BE DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR MECHANIC. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, HE FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V322000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED SINCE THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000. UPDATED 07/28/09. *LJ UPDATED 07/30/09.*JB

NHTSA ID

10275484

Incident

Oct 12, 2008

Mileage

40,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD CROWN VICTORIA LX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SQUEAKED AND SQUEALED. THE CONTACT REFUSED TO PROVIDE DETAILED FAILURE INFORMATION. SHE STATED THAT SHE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE SUSPENSION: FRONT CONTROL UPPER ARM UPPER BALL JOINTS AND LOWER BALL JOINTS (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #95V194000, 98V322000). THE MILEAGE INFORMATION WAS UNAVAILABLE BECAUSE THE ODOMETER FAILED AT 162,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID

10205244

Incident

Sep 1, 2005

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE LOWER BALL JOINT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE MADE A RATTLING NOISE. THE CONTACT RECOGNIZED THE NOISE FROM HAVING THE DRIVER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT REPLACED LAST YEAR DURING REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED. UPDATED 3/3/2006 - *NM WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE EXPLODED DUE TO A BREAK IN THE LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10148980

Incident

Nov 29, 2005

Mileage

133,700 mi

A SQUEAKING NOISE WAS HEARD WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES. VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT PASSENGER 'S SIDE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION.*AK

NHTSA ID

10092863

Incident

Sep 20, 2004

BALL JOINT ON RIGHT SIDE SEPARATED FROM LOWER CONTROL ARM. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT IDENTIFIED BY FORD AS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FAULTY BALL JOINTS. I AM REPORTING THIS TO IDENTIFY THERE MAYBE OTHER VEHICLES WITH BALL JOINT PROBLEMS.*AK

NHTSA ID

766063

Incident

Aug 17, 2002

VEHICLE WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND HAD VEHICLE ALIGNED, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO FORD. FORD ADJUSTED STEERING BOX, AND STATED THAT REPLACING GEAR BOX MAY NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK THE DEALER LOWERED THE TIRE PRESSURE AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION FOR THE STEERING PROBLEM. THE PITMAN ARM AND IDLER ARM HAD BEEN REPLACED. *YH

NHTSA ID

8007743

Incident

Apr 7, 2002

WHILE DRIVING, THE PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT BROKE, CAUSING THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE TO DROP TO THE GROUND, CONSUMERS STEERING THEN BECAME REDUCED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SIDESWIPE A TREE, AND ALSO THE TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A LARGE SLASH BEING IN THE TIRE, ON FEB 25, 2000 THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A NOISE, AND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE MECHANIC SHOP, THE DRIVERS SIDE DROPPED TO THE GROUND, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT HIS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN RECALL #98V322000.*JB

NHTSA ID

564874

Incident

Sep 18, 2001

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEELS MALFUNCTIONED. WHEELS WENT OUTWARD AND LANDED UP, FACING PAVEMENT ON THE SIDES. *AK THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT FAILURE CAUSED THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE TO DROP AND DAMAGED TWO DOORS. THE DRIVER'S SIDE UNDERNEATH WAS MAKING A GRINDING NOISE. CONSUMER TOOK TO THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND WHILE WAITING FOR REPAIR. CONSUMER STATES NHTSA SENT HIM A RECALL CAMPAIGNS 98V32000 BUT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *YH

NHTSA ID

8004391

Incident

Sep 18, 2001

CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP IN REGARD TO RECALL 98V322000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECAL 98S37/ LOWER CONTROL ARM. DEALER REFUSED SERVICE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS IN REGARD TO THIS CASE. *AK

NHTSA ID

882516

Incident

Mar 8, 2001

LOWER BALL JOINTS PREMATURELY FAILED AND WERE REPLACED AT 55,000 MILES. CONSUMER FEELS IT IS SAME DEFECT AS 98V322000, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

879688

Incident

Dec 12, 2000

VEHICLE WANDERS WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. STEERING FEELS LIKE THERE IS NO CONTROL. DEALER REPLACED STEERING BOX. BUT, PROBLEM CONTINUED & DELAER COULDN'T ADJUST IT ANYMORE. WHEEL ALIGNMENT COULDN'T BE DONE BECAUSE OF THE STEERING BOX ADJUSTMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

860273

Incident

Feb 1, 2000

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY UPPER BALL JOINT BROKE. *AK

NHTSA ID

858819

POLICE MODEL, LOWER BALL JOINTS SHOT, VEHICLE WILL NOT HOLD ALIGNMENT, ALSO, SEAT BOLTS ON BOTH FRONT SEATS SNAPPED. *AK

NHTSA ID

708816

Incident

Jul 19, 1999

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM AS NHTSA RECALL #95 V 194 000, NOTIFIED DEALER AND INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF RECALL, COULD NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER OR PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA ID

840529

Incident

May 19, 1999

WE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH ARM JOINTS. WE HEARD THAT OTHER 94 CROWN VIC'S HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

706095

Incident

Sep 3, 1998

THE LEFT FRONT CONTROL ARM/LOWER BALL JOINT BEGAN TO SQUEAK DUE TO LACK OF GREASE, NO GREASE FITTINGS WERE INSTALLED IN BALL JOINT AT TIME OF MANUFACTURING OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS THE POLICE PACKAGE, BUT APPARENTLY IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL OF LOWER BALL JOINTS ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

704968

Incident

Mar 5, 1999

TRAVELING 20MPH OUT OF PARKING LOT HEARD GROANING NOISE. THE LEFT FRONT END COLLAPSED & VEHICLE HIT THE GROUND. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE GONE. (#95V194000). *AK

NHTSA ID

828415

Incident

Aug 7, 1998

THE BALL JOINT OF THE SUSPENSION CRACKED AND CAUSED THE LEFT FRONT END OF VEHICLE TO COLLAPSE AND HIT THE GROUND.

NHTSA ID

539789

Incident

Aug 7, 1998

OCCASIONALLY VIIBRATES ON SMOOTH OR ROUGH ROAD, WHEELS SPIN, BALANCE, ROTATED, REPLACE SHOCKS BUT DID NOT HELP THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

523844

LOWER BALL JOINT SEIZED UP DUE TO LACK OF GREASE DUE TO NOT BEING DESIGNED TO BE GREASED.

NHTSA ID

508585

Incident

Aug 22, 1996

THE RIGHT FRONT AND BACK SPRINGS AREN'T EVEN. *AK CONSUMER STATES EVEN AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR, VEHICLE STILL LEANS DUE TO FAULTY SPRINGS. *SLC

NHTSA ID

987124

POLICE VEHICLE SQUAD #1. WELDS ON LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM BOLTS SQUEAK DUE TO WEAR. THIS IS A CONTINUOUS. *AK

NHTSA ID

985494

Incident

Jun 11, 1996

95V194 LEONARD JOHNSON FORD. POLICE PACKAGE. AFTER THREE MONTHS DEALERSHIP DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS. TT

NHTSA ID

977971

Incident

Nov 22, 1995

CATALYTIC CONVERTER RUSTED. *SD

NHTSA ID

485260

Incident

Aug 1, 1994