1996 Mercury Grand Marquis Suspension Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS EQUIPPED WITH A DURALAST BALL JOINT, PART NUMBER FA2101. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STUD ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT BROKE AFTER BEING USED FOR 253 MILES. THE PARTS DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD LIKE TO EXAMINE THE BALL JOINT BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT THE STUD BREAKING, NOT THE ACTUAL BALL JOINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE WAS 102,511. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10413311

Incident

Apr 26, 2011

Mileage

102,511 mi

I OWN A 1996 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE STEERING IN THE VEHICLE BEGAN LOCKING UP AT A CERTAIN SPOT WHEN TURNING. THIS WOULD CAUSE ME TO PUSH THE STEERING WHEEL INTO THE TURN A LITTLE HARDER WHICH UNLOCKED THE STEERING CAUSING ME TO VEER LEFT OR RIGHT. I TOOK THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES TO DIFFERENT SHOPS. THEY WOULD LIFT THE CAR AND CHECK THE SUSPENSION AND GIVE IT A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND GOT MUCH WORSE. I TOOK THE CAR TO YET ANOTHER SHOP AND INSISTED THEY TAKE IT OUT AND DRIVE IT A LONG DISTANCE. THE MECHANIC DIDN'T GET OUT OF THE PARKING LOT, CAME BACK AND MADE ME LEAVE THE CAR. HE INSISTED IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING BOX AND THIS WAS REPLACED. I PICKED UP THE CAR ON A FRIDAY AND ON SATURDAY DROVE OVER THE MOUNTAINS. IT WAS A HAIRY RIDE, THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED AND THE CURVY ROADS MADE DRIVING DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS. I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AT MY DESTINATION AND HE INSPECTED THE CAR BUT THIS TIME HE DISCONNECTED THE TIE ROD ENDS SO HE COULD ROTATE THE WHEELS WITH WEIGHT ON THEM. ONE OF THE BALL JOINTS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS NEARLY LOCKED SOLID. THE DRIVERS SIDE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED AND THAT FIXED THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10221155

Incident

Jun 15, 2007

Mileage

134,000 mi

DT: WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKE LINES FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE OWNER CAME OUTSIDE AND SAW THE BRAKE FLUID ON THE GROUND AND REALIZED THAT THE BRAKE LINES FAILED. THE OWNER DROVE THE VEHICLE WITH NO BRAKES TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPAIRED IT. THEN THE OWNER REALIZED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED.*AK THE LEFT REAR SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE WIPER MOTOR, WIPER SWITCH, DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR SWITCH AND ROTORS WERE ALL REPLACED. THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH, DRIVER WINDOW SWITCH , TAIL LIGHT , CATALYTIC CONVERTER WERE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE BALL JOINTS AND SHOCKS WERE BAD. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10133902

Incident

Aug 4, 2005

Mileage

90,473 mi

UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED AT 70,000 MILES. DEALER STATED THAT WAS NORMAL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10048218

Incident

Sep 3, 2003

Mileage

70,000 mi

1996 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS LS, VIN: [XXX] FRONT TIE ROD SEPARATION FROM WHEEL WHEN FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAL BALL JOINT SNAPS IN HALF. ESTIMATED SPEED AT TIME OF BALL JOINT FAILURE WAS BETWEEN 1-5 MPH IN A PARKING LOT. FIRST NOTICED WHEN BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE, HANDLING WAS POOR, TIE ROD SEPARATED COMPLETELY. CAR IS BEING SERVICED BY NYS DOT CERTIFIED C AND D AUTOMOTIVE, STATE ROUTE 104, ONTARIO, NY 14519. THIS VEHICLE WAS IN LATE JUNE, EARLY JULY OF 1999 FOR A REPLACEMENT OF THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE BALL JOINT SEAL DUE TO LOUD NOISES COMING FROM FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL AREA AND QUIVERING STEERING FEEL. *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10039002

Incident

Sep 16, 2003

Mileage

90,000 mi

WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY LEFT BALL JOINT FELL OUT OF VEHICLE. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATED LEFT TIR ROD END AND BALL JOINT FAILED, AND ALSO THE RIGHT SIDE IS IN POOR CONDITION, DEALER REPLACED THE OUTER AND INNER TIE ROD ENDS.

NHTSA ID

8003462

Incident

Jan 31, 2002

WHILE PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY AT SLOW SPEED HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT WELD HOLDING LOWER CONTROL ARM ON DRIVER'S SIDE HAD BROKEN. *AK

NHTSA ID

897406

Incident

Sep 27, 2001

PULLING OUT INTO A STREET WHILE TRAVELLING 10MPH FRONT END STARTED TO MAKE CRUNCHING NOISE. STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN SMOOTHLY AND HAD TO BE FORCED. CONTACTED DEALER , THEY REPLACED TIE RODS. A MONTH LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM. REPLACED WITH A STANDARD LOWER BALL JOINT INSTEAD HEAVY DUTY LOWER BALL JOINT. MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. *AK

NHTSA ID

856915

Incident

Jan 6, 2000

THE ENTIRE WHEEL FELL OFF DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION IN THE SUSPENSION SYSDTEM, AND IS THE RESULT OF MANUFACTURER HAVING NO GREASE FITTINGS. YH

NHTSA ID

549713

SHOCK ABSORBERS FAILED RESULTING IN POOR CONTROL OF VEHICLE .

NHTSA ID

536975

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WANDERS,; ALSO, STEERING IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL. WORSE WHEN WINDY OR RAIN ING. IN ADDITION, HOODE LATCH NEEDED ADJUSTMENT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER STARTING VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALERS AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO LOCATE A PROBLEM. NOTES VEHICLE IS OPERATING ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS. *AK

NHTSA ID

821799

Incident

Jan 9, 1998

FRONT SUSPENSION WELD IS WEAK, CAUSING POOR CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

819614

Incident

Mar 7, 1997

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN NOTICED VIBRATION IN THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER STATED THAT IT ONLY VIBRATES WHEN TRYING TO MAKE RIGHT TURNS. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT THAT TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID

814588

Incident

May 1, 1997

VEHICLE IS PULLS TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT.

NHTSA ID

517507

VEHICLE PULLS TO LEFT DUE TO FRONT END PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID

507742

Incident

Mar 10, 1996