1998 Mercury Grand Marquis Steering Problems

WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS SWAYING BACK AND FORTH.

NHTSA ID

11404137

Incident

Mar 17, 2021

Mileage

241,000 mi

AUTOZONE- VALUCRAFT BRAND- BALL JOINTS PART NUMBER VFA2101 I RECENTLY HAD MY BALL JOINTS REPLACED AND I HAD A PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE BALL JOINT FASTENING HARDWARE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE CITY ROAD IN A STRAIGHT LINE AT 45 MPH. IT CAUSED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF DAMAGE AND IT ALSO ALMOST CAUSE ME GREAT INJURY. I SUSPECT AUTOZONE IS USING LOW GRADE NUTS CAUSE THE NUT THAT WAS ON THE BALL JOINT SHEARED OFF CAUSING ME TO BEND A CONTROL ARM, CRACK MY FRAME, BLOW A TIRE, ALL WHILE BARELY MISSING A TELEPHONE POLE. HAD I BEEN GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT I COULD HAVE FLIPPED MY CAR, GOT PULLED UNDER A SEMI, CROSS THE MEDIAN INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND SO ON. I WOULD LIKE FOR AN INVESTIGATION TO BE STARTED ON THEIR POOR ENGINEERING CHOICES AND A RECALL TO BE STARTED. ITS JUST NOT FOR THE SAFETY OF ME BUT FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHER PEOPLE. I DO HAVE ALL DAMAGE PICTURES AND PICTURES OF THE FAILURE POINT. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE NUT IN QUESTION COMPARED TO ANOTHER COMPETITORS BRAND AND THERE IS A NOTICEABLE SIZE DIFFERENCE AND HARDNESS DIFFERENCE. THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED 9/26/2015 AND FAILED ON 4/25/2016. AUTOZONE PART NUMBER VFA2101. MY BELIEF IS THE NUT IS A LOWER GRADE WHEN IT SHOULD BE A GRADE 8 NUT. I SAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BECAUSE THE AUTO BODY SHOPS AROUND ME SAID THEY WILL NOT REPAIR THE FRAME BECAUSE ITS A LIABILITY AND WOULD RECOMMEND A NEW FRAME TO BE PUT UNDER THE VEHICLE ESSENTIALLY TOTALING MY CAR OUT CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO SPEND THOUSANDS TO REPLACE MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10861946

Incident

Apr 25, 2016

Mileage

213,760 mi

DURING NORMAL DRIVING NOTICED A SQUEAKING AND GROANING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END OF CAR. STEERING HAS BECOME LOOSE AND WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT THE BALL JOINTS,SHOCKS,BUSHINGS ARE DRY AND THAT THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE LUBRICATED BECAUSE IT IS SEALED. SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ON WEBSITE REGARDING THESE SAME ISSUES. I HAVE BEEN WARNED THAT THE TIRES COULD FALL OFF AT HIGH SPEEDS CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10447085

Incident

Jan 23, 2012

Mileage

83,400 mi

DURING NORMAL DRIVING, HEARD EXTREMELY ALARMING LOUD CREAKING, SQUEAKING NOISES FROM FRONT END. STEERING BECAME SLOPPY AND ERRATIC. TOOK IT TO R&R AUTOMOTIVE IN LEX. PK. MD AND HAD COMPLETE FRONT END REPLACED, DUE TO WORN OUT BALL JOINTS, IDLER ARMS, PITMAN ARMS, TIE RODS, SWAY BAR ENDS WHICH COULD NOT BE LUBRICATED. REPLACED WITH THOSE EQUIPPED WITH GREASE FITTINGS. $1750.00 *JB

NHTSA ID

10205557

Incident

Aug 14, 2007

Mileage

105,000 mi

MY 1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS AT SLOW SPEED HAD THE PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD END FAIL AND FALL OFF CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING. THIS HAPPENED AT A SLOW SPEED LUCKILY NO ACCIDENT. CAR TOWED TO FORD DEALER. REPLACED ALL FOUR TIE ROD ENDS. COST $400.00. CAR HAD 50,000 MILES , THIS WAS A FACTORY DEFECT. THIS IS A SEALED UNIT REQUIRING NO GREASE OR MAINTENANCE. I REPLACED WITH GREASED TIE RODENDS.I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALLED PART. *TR

NHTSA ID

10200018

Incident

Aug 7, 2006

Mileage

50,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ENTERING A DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH, AN UNIDENTIFIED NOISE WAS HEARD. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE REAR WHEELS SPUN. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND EXITED THE VEHICLE TO INSPECT THE PROBLEM. THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL WAS TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND THE LINKAGE WAS LAYING ON THE DRIVE WAY, AND THE FRONT WHEEL WAS STILL POINTED STRAIGHT AND RESPONDED TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. UPDATED 11/30/2006 -THE FAILURE WAS THE TIE ROD END WHICH FAILED DUE TO LACK OF GREASE. THE GREASE FITTING COULD NOT BE GREASED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10171577

Incident

Oct 22, 2006

Mileage

81,400 mi

WHILE DRIVING 18 MPH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD BROKE. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING FAILED. NO IMPACT REPORTED.*AK DEALER REPLACED PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE OUTER TIE ROD END, AND PASSENGER SIDE INNER TIE ROD AND SLEEVE. *TT

NHTSA ID

10111468

Incident

Feb 10, 2005

Mileage

51,047 mi

PROBLEMS WITH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS.*MR THE PARTS WERE REPLACED, SOME OF THEM TWICE. FORD PUT UNGREASED PARTS ON. EVENTUALLY THEY DRIED OUT AGAIN AND STARTED SQUEAKING. IF NOT REPLACED THEY WOULD POSSIBLY BREAK WHICH COULD CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL, POSSIBLY CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH. *PH THE FRONT BRAKES WERE RESURFACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10043921

THE INNER AND OUTER TIE ROD ENDS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AS WELL AS THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. *MR *SCC *NLM

NHTSA ID

10021561

Mileage

60,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING DOWN A ROAD TIE ROD FELL DOWN AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, WHEELS WERE LOOSE COULD NOT STEER. TOOK TO DEALER, DEALER STATED TIE ROD WAS WORE AND FELL OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID

8021017

Incident

Oct 15, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 5MPH AND BACKING INTO DRIVEWAY INNER TIE ROD CONNECTION BROKE ON RIGHT WHEEL. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK *TT

NHTSA ID

8003718

Incident

Feb 5, 2002

POWER STEERING RESERVOIR HOSE SEPARATED, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

893945

Incident

Apr 4, 2001

STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP OCCASIONALLY. *SLC

NHTSA ID

558544

WHILE TRAVELING COULD NOT KEEP VEHICLE CENTERED TO ROAD WHILE STEERING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. NO POSITIVE FEEDBACK WHILE GOING STRAIGHT, VEHICLE TENDS TO WANDER, NO "ON-CENTER" FEELING.. *AK

NHTSA ID

856630

Incident

Dec 14, 1999

POWER STEERING FAILS INTERMITTENTLY.

NHTSA ID

544517

Incident

Sep 5, 1998

VEHICLE LOSES POWER STEERING WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, AUTOMATICALLY STEERS EASY AND 25MPH AND LOWER. DEALER CONTACTED AND WORKED ON VEHICLE FOUR TIMES, AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT CHANGED AND STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

832635

Incident

Sep 1, 1998

THE FRONT LEFT STEERING LINKAGE BROKE OFF, LOSING ALL STEERING CONTROL WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. *AK TIE ROD FEL OFF.

NHTSA ID

824721

Incident

Jun 25, 1998