1996 Ford Crown Victoria Steering Problems

#1 - I CONSTANTLY HAVE MY ENGINE LIGHT ON AND DURING 2 INSPECTIONS I RECEIVED A SAFETY/EMISSIONS RECALL PRINTOUT, DEFECT # DR-1209 FOR MASS AIR FLOW SENSORS. BOTH TIMES I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND THEY CLAIMED THERE'S NO RECALL FOR IT. I JUST NOTICED ON THE NHTSA SITE, THAT RECALLS ONLY GO BACK AS FAR AS 1999. THEY ALSO SAID THAT SINCE IT'S NO LONGER A "POLICE OWNED" VEHICLE, THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT. # 2 - I HAVE BEEN GETTING A CONSTANT SEVERE FUEL SMELL THAT PERMEATES THROUGH THE CAR WHICH IS EXACERBATED WITH WARM WEATHER AND OR WHEN THE CAR WARMS UP. #3 - THERE'S A CONSTANT ISSUE OF THE CAR VIBRATING WHEN BEING DRIVEN AT 55 - 60 MPH.

NHTSA ID

10786431

Incident

Jun 2, 2015

TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR WITH 108000 MILES AND THE PROTECTIVE SHIELD THAT COVERS THE FUEL TANK HAS NOT BEEN INSTALLED. THE CONTACT FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL (02I003000): AND (96V135000) FOR STEERING:LINKAGES THAT HAD NOT BEEN FIXED ON HIS VEHICLE. WHEN HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THEY TOLD HIM THAT HIS VEHICLE DID NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL. THE CONTACT HAS NOT EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS WITH HIS VEHICLE IN REGARDS TO THE RECALL TO DATE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10178967

Incident

Jan 16, 2007

Mileage

108,000 mi

I RECENTLY GOT THE VEHICLE AND ITS ALREADY GIVING ME PROBLEMS. THE CAR DRIFTS TO THE SIDE AND THE MOTOR IS GIVING ME PROBLEMS THE CAR HAS NOT EVEN REACHED 1500 MILES SINCE I GOT IT AND ITS ALREADY CAUSING ME PROBLEMS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10138194

Incident

Aug 6, 2005

Mileage

159,865 mi

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL. THE DRIVER MANAGED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE PITMAN ARM BROKE AT THE STEERING LINKAGE. CONSUMER . *AK *NLM

NHTSA ID

10038150

Incident

Aug 25, 2003

Mileage

55,848 mi

FRONT SUSPENSION COMPONENTS HAVE FAILED (TIE RODS, CONTROL ARMS). *MJS

NHTSA ID

785103

Incident

Jul 6, 1999

WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS IN LOW IDLE ENGINE WOULD STALL. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT & WOULD HAVE NO WARNING. BEEN TO DEALERSHIP 3 DIFFERENT TIMES & MECHANIC CAN NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. HAD AIR FLOW SENSOR REPLACED DUE TO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. *AK

NHTSA ID

873096

Incident

Jul 29, 2000

THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL RELEASE THE IGNITION KEY BEFORE IT IS IN THE PROPER OFF POSITION. AT TIMES THERE IS A WARNING SOUND AND OTHER TIMES THERE IS NONE. WITH THE IGNITION KEY REMOVED BEFORE THE OFF POSITION IT WILL ALLOW THE CAR TO BE STARTED WITHOUT A KEY. THIS PRESENTS TWO RISKS: ONE - THE CAR CAN BE STOLEN, SECOND  A CHILD COULD ACCIDENTALLY START THE CAR AND PUT THE CAR IN GEAR. *AK

NHTSA ID

732496

Incident

Sep 25, 2000

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, MAKING A TURN ON A SMOOTH CURVE, VEHICLE JUST STRAIGHTENED OUT UNEXPECTEDLY. PITMAN ARM AND CONTROL ARM WERE RELACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

NHTSA ID

865614

Incident

Jun 6, 1998

OFFICER WAS TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON SUMMIT AVE E AT APPROXIMATELY 30-35MPH. AT THE INTERSECTION OF SUMMIT AND E. HARRISON ST, THE OFFICER SLOWED TO CLEAR THE INTERSECTION AND TO NEGOTIATE HER PATROL VEHICLE AROUND A TRAFFIC CIRCLE. THE OFFICER NEGOTIATED HER VEHICLE AROUND THE CIRCLE. NORTH OF THE INTERSECTION, THE OFFICER ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE, BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND - ABS LIGHT WAS ON AND THE ABS MODE DID NOT FUNCTION. THE OFFICER THEN ATTEMPTED TO STRAIGHTEN THE VEHICLE, BUT FOUND THAT THE STEERING HAD FAILED AS WELL. THE VEHICLE FISHTAILED. THE OFFICER'S VEHICLE WAS NOW HEADING WEST TOWARDS A LEGALLY PARKED VEHICLE ON THE WEST SIDE OF SUMMIT AVE. E. THE OFFICER ATTEMPTED TO STEER TO THE RIGHT TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE VEHICLES MOVEMENT. THE OFFICER FOUND THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN LIKE IT HAD BEEN LOCKED. THE VEHICLE HAD TOTAL STEERING FAILURE. THE OFFICER WAS HEADED STRAIGHT TOWARDS THE PARKED VEHICLE, JERKED THE STEERING WHEEL AS HARD AS SHE COULD TO THE RIGHT. HER VEHICLE RESPONDED BUT ENDED UP HITTING TWO PARKED VEHICLES ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE STREET. THESE VEHICLES WERE PUSHED INTO TWO ADDITIONAL VEHICLES AND A MOTORCYLE. THE OFFICE WAS TREATED FOR NECK AND BACK INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ID

715166

Incident

Sep 27, 1999

OFFICER WAS TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON SUMMIT AVE E AT APPROXIMATELY 30-35MPH. AT THE INTERSECTION OF SUMMIT AND E. HARRISON ST, THE OFFICER SLOWED TO CLEAR THE INTERSECTION AND TO NEGOTIATE HER PATROL VEHICLE AROUND A TRAFFIC CIRCLE. THE OFFICER NEGOTIATED HER VEHICLE AROUND THE CIRCLE. NORTH OF THE INTERSECTION, THE OFFICER ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND - ABS LIGHT WAS ON AND THE ABS MODE DID NOT FUNCTION. THE OFFICER THEN ATTEMPTED TO STRAIGHTEN THE VEHICLE BUT FOUND THAT THE STEERING HAD FAILED AS WELL. THE VEHICLE FISHTAILED. THE OFFICER'S VEHICLE WAS NOW HEADING WEST TOWARDS A LEGALLY PARKED VEHCILE ON THE WEST SIDE OF SUMMIT AVE. E. THE OFFICER ATTEMPTED TO STEER TO THE RIGHT TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE VEHICLES MOVEMENT. THE OFFICER FOUND THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN LIKE IT HAD BEEN LOCKED. THE VEHICLE HAD TOTAL STEERING FAILURE. THE OFFICER WAS HEADED STRAIGHT TOWARDS THE PARKED VEHICLE, JERKED THE STEERING WHEEL AS HARD AS SHE COULD TO THE RIGHT. HER VEHICLE RESPONDED BUT ENDED UP HITTING TWO PARKED VEHICLES ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE STREET. THESE VEHICLES WERE PUSHED INTO TWO ADDITIONAL VEHICLES AND A MOTORCYLE. THE OFFICE WAS TREATED FOR NECK AND BACK INJURIES.

NHTSA ID

713237

Incident

Sep 27, 1999

LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHEN MAKING QUICK LANE CHANGES OR MAKING SHARP TURNS. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

850130

Incident

Sep 27, 1999

POLICE CRUISER: WHEN TURNING CORNERS, THE STEERING WHEEL IS VERY TIGHT AND HARD TO TURN. WOULD HAVE TO FORCE IT MANUALLY, TO ORIGINAL POSITION. THIS MAKES IT HARD TO DRIVE OR CONTROL VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

835230

Incident

Jan 14, 1999

PROBLEM INVOLVES NHTSA RECALLS 98I001000 AND 98V322000. DEALER AND FORD SAY MY CAR DOES NOT HAVE THESE PROBLEMS. I DO NOT WANT TO TAKE THE CHANCE OF HAVING MY STEERING CONTROL FAIL, OR HAVING MY BRAKES FAIL. PLEASE HELP. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION HAS AN EXTREMELY LONG SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND. FORD HAS A TSB ON THIS, AND STATES THIS WILL NOT AFFECT THE TRANSMISSION,BUT IT WILL SHORTEN THE LIFE AND LEAD TO POSSBILE ACCUMULATOR BORE SCUFFING. THANKS! *AK

NHTSA ID

703492

Incident

Nov 25, 1998

STEERING LOCKS UP AND WILL NOT RETURN. *AK

NHTSA ID

702855

Incident

Jan 26, 1999

STEERING LOKS UP AND WILL NOT RETURN. *AK

NHTSA ID

702854

Incident

Jan 26, 1999

STEERING LOCKS UP AND WILL NOT RETURN.

NHTSA ID

702853

Incident

Jan 25, 1999

STEERING LOCKS UP AND WILL NOT RETURN.

NHTSA ID

702852

Incident

Jan 11, 1999

STEERING LOCKS UP AND WILL NOT RETURN.

NHTSA ID

702851

Incident

Jan 14, 1999

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING DOWN ROAD WHEN STEERING LOCKED UP AND HE COULD NOT STEER THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL, AND STARTED DOWN AN EMBANKMENT.TRIED TO APPLY BRAKES, BUT THEY DID NOT WORK. *AK

NHTSA ID

830874

Incident

Nov 5, 1998

THE STEERING COLUMN HAS DETERIORATED WHILE MAKING A TURN.THE WHEEL DOES NOT RETURN, AND IT STARTED LOCKING UP, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR THE CONSUMER TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL. THIS IS A POLICE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

830206

VEHICLE HAS HAD THE FRONT BALL JOINT AND INNER TIE RODS REPLACED. RECALL WAS ORDERED ON VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

825048

Incident

Jan 21, 1998

STEERING INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT.

NHTSA ID

532529

STEERING FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

530055

Incident

Oct 1, 1995

WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT AND IT FEELS AS THOUGH HAVE NO STEERING POWER. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THIS SITUATION. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

813837

Incident

Feb 13, 1997

MARSHALL MIZE FORD 96V135 PITMAN ARM; OWNER TOOK VEHICLE IN ON SERVERAL OCCASIONS FOR INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION AND RECALL WORK WAS NOT PERFOMED, MANUFACTURER DID NOT INIDCATE IF PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO HONOR RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ID

802754

Incident

Sep 10, 1996