Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Ford Crown Victoria submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
DRIVING EAST ON ALLEN STREET IN SPRINGFIELD MASSACHUSETTS STEERING CONTROL LOCKED UP RESULTING IN A CRASH WITH A GAS STATION PUMP POLICE CRASH REPORT ID 15-3725-AC CAR WAS TOTALLED OUT WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE NO NOISE WAS HEARD SECONDS BEFORE CRASH. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE REPLACEMENT PARTS BUT WONDER IF THE OEM PARTS COULD FAIL RESULTING IN CRASH.
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. *TR
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.*AK
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. *YH
TIE-ROD ASSEMBLY WAS NOT PROPERLY LUBRICATED AND SEALED BY MANUFACTURED LEADING TO PREMATURE FAILURE. NLM
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. *AK
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. *AK
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)
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. *AK
POWER STEERING FAILED. MJS
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE DRIVING.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .