RoadVitals

2003 Ford Crown Victoria Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Jan 8, 2021
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 249 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 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.

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Steering
Filed Jan 8, 2021

MY 2003 CROWN VIC HAS A HORRIBLE TIME STEERING I'VE WATCHED SEVERAL VIDEOS THAT DEPICTS EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE. YOU HOWEVER DO HAVE A RECALL OUT FOR THIS MAKE JUST STARTING AT 2005. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT I AM THE ONLY ONE THAT'S MADE A COMPLAINT. PLS GET THIS FIXED IM 67 AND WITH CANCER MY ONLY WAY OF GETTING AROUND. PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP THIS IS SERIOUS. OF COURSE IT ON MOLLY DOES THIS WHEN IN MOTION.

NHTSA ID
11387249
Incident
Dec 28, 2020
Mileage
142,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 30, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT DECIDED TO PLACE OIL ON THE STEERING SHAFT AND STEERING WHEEL. AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS, THE STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT BEARING FAILED AND THERE WAS HEAVY CORROSION ON THE SHAFT. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 123,000.

NHTSA ID
11240610
Incident
Jul 9, 2019
Mileage
123,000 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 27, 2018

DRIVING STEADILY AT AROUND 30 MPH ON A CITY STREET. SUDDENLY THE STEERING STARTING BINDING MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO TURN. UPON EXAMINATION THERE WAS A LOT OF RUST ON THE LOWER INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT AND NEEDED AN IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT. THE MECHANIC NOTED SEVERE CORROSION AND NOTED IT COULD HAVE FULLY BROKEN WITHOUT A LOT OF WARNING. SOME RESEARCH REVEALED THAT A RECALL WAS DONE FOR MODEL YEARS 2005-11 (13V385000). YOU MAY WANT TO EXTEND THIS TO 2003-2004 WHICH USE THE SAME STEERING COMPONENTS.

NHTSA ID
11143440
Incident
Oct 4, 2018
Mileage
99,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 28, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HALL FORD ELIZABETH CITY (1310 N ROAD ST, ELIZABETH CITY, NC 27909) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID
11081900
Incident
Sep 1, 2017
Mileage
100,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 26, 2018

MY VEHICLE'S LOWER STEERING SHAFT BECAME SO CORRODED TO THE POINT I WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE SAFELY. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND THAT FORD ACTUALLY RECALLED 2005-2011 CROWN VICTORIA (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V385000) FOR THAT SAME EXACT PROBLEM. I AM RESIDE IN ONE THE AFFECTED STATES UNDER THE RECALL HOWEVER FORD REFUSES TO HONOR THE RECALL STATING THAT MY VEHICLE VIN IS NOT AFFECTED AND MY VEHICLE IS A 2003. I DON'T THINK IT'S A COINCIDENCE MY VEHICLE JUST HAPPENS TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE AND EXCERPT FROM THE RECALL "THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN OCTOBER 21, 2013. FORD'S RECALL NUMBER IS 13S08. CUSTOMERS LOCATED IN NON-CORROSION STATES WHO HAVE CONCERNS REGARDING THEIR STEERING WILL HAVE A ONE-TIME OPTION TO HAVE THEIR VEHICLES INSPECTED AND, IF NECESSARY, REPAIRED." I REPAIRED MY VEHICLE OUT OF POCKET AT MY EXPENSE, HOWEVER FORD REFUSES TO REIMBURSE ME.

NHTSA ID
11081339
Incident
Dec 7, 2017
Mileage
192,799 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 7, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, THE STEERING SHAFT BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID
10653445
Incident
Aug 5, 2014
Mileage
100,000 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 12, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE STEERING SHAFT WAS CORRODED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000.

NHTSA ID
10543350
Incident
Sep 11, 2013
Mileage
139,000 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 10, 2013

STEERING THE VEHICLE BECAME HARD WHEN MAKING TURNS, AS IF THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT OPERATING. AFTER MAKING TURNS, THE WHEELS DID NOT STRAIGHTEN BY THEMSELVES, AND TURNING THEM BACK HAD TO BE DONE MANUALLY, AS IF NO POWER STEERING WAS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS STANDING STILL. I SEE THAT THE RECENT RECALL IS ONLY FOR 2005-2001 CROWN VICTORIAS (AND SIMILAR PANTHER PLATFORM VEHICLES), BUT THIS FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED MY 2003. A VIEW UNDER THE HOOD SHOWED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN UNIVERSAL JOINTS, LOCATED IN 2 PLACES ON THE SHAFT, WERE RUSTED AND DRY. AFTER FIRST APPLYING SILICONE SPRAY TO LOOSEN THEM UP (WHICH RELIEVED THE APPEARANCE OF POWER STEERING FAILURE), I APPLIED VERY GENEROUS AMOUNTS OF LITHIUM GREASE TO BOTH JOINT LOCATIONS. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED, BUT POSSIBLY ONLY TEMPORARILY IF THE SHAFT ACTUALLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED LIKE ON THE 2005-2011 VEHICLES. I REPORT THIS TO SHOW THAT THE PROBLEM MAY BE LARGER THAN ONLY WITHIN THE SELECTED RANGE OF VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10542968
Incident
Jun 15, 2013
Mileage
173,000 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 3, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 189,000. *JB

NHTSA ID
10538510
Incident
Jul 25, 2013
Mileage
189,000 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 3, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT WAS CORRODED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000. *JB

NHTSA ID
10538505
Incident
Aug 11, 2013
Mileage
97,000 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 18, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
767356
Incident
Sep 12, 2002

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .