2008 Mercury Grand Marquis Steering Problems

The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V385000 (Steering). The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the lower intermediate shaft was replaced. The contact stated that it was determined that the upper intermediate shaft and steering column lower bearing did not need to be replaced at the time. Several years after the recall repair was completed, the steering column began lowering unintendedly, and a zip tie was used to keep it in place. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was no longer covered under the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

NHTSA ID

11699192

Incident

Nov 13, 2022

Mileage

140,000 mi

See attached document from complainant

NHTSA ID

11549319

Incident

May 11, 2023

The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the steering felt loose. The contact stated that the power steering was still operable however, the vehicle would drift to the left or right with no input on the steering wheel. The contact stated that he would correct the steering and the vehicle would continue to drift to the right and to the left. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that he drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was diagnosed and the mechanic related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V385000 (Steering). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.

NHTSA ID

11464285

Incident

May 6, 2022

Mileage

68,000 mi

Left home the other day I noticed that the steering had become was stiff when the wheels were straight..it wasn't bad turning till it was going straight..the next day the steering became stiff and erratic. It would work sometimes and it would be stiff...found out the lower steering shaft had frozen up..There was a recall back in 2013 doe the lower shaft with is breaking..My car was a Florida car but Ford supposed have fixed it because I was moving back to NY..Have been back in NY for 3 1/2 years now it froze up..The recall for cars in the northern states..Seeing I was moving back to NY they claimed they did the recall..it shouldn't have corroded that fast..I have no way to prove they did the recall or if they faked it..It is cleared as it had been repaired..

NHTSA ID

11420733

Incident

Jun 4, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH ON A RESIDENTIAL ROAD, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL DETACHED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

NHTSA ID

11254541

Incident

Sep 10, 2019

Mileage

90,000 mi

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND TURNING LEFT AT A SLOW SPEED WHEN SHE HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND. IT LOOKS LIKE A CHUNK OF ONE OF THE STEERING COLUMN BEARINGS FELL OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN.

NHTSA ID

11231522

Incident

Jul 12, 2019

THE GEAR SHIFT ID ON THE DASH BOARD HAS QUIT WORKING, AND WE CAN ONLY IDENTIFY THE GEAR THAT WE HAVE ENGAGED BY FEEL. ALSO, WE HAVE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT REAR TURN SIGNAL FLASH GOING BAD. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE TURN SIGNAL FLASHES AT A SUPER FAST RATE. BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE SAFETY ISSUES. THE GEAR SHIFT PROBLEM HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS STATIONARY, THE TURN SIGNAL PROBLEM HAPPENED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN.

NHTSA ID

11140733

Incident

Jun 15, 2015

Mileage

90,000 mi

VEHICLE SERVICED AT FRAMINGHAM FORD 12/19/13 INV 331045 3/17/14 INV 333649 REGARDING FORD SAFETY RECALL 13S08/NHTSA RECALL 13V385 STEERING COLUMN SHAFT. IN MAY 2016 I EXPERIENCED OCCASIONAL BUT UNUSUAL STEERING STIFFNESS WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN. CONTACTED FRAMINGHAM FORD AND FMC TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN FOR STEERING SAFETY AS RELATED TO THE SAFETY RECALL REPAIRS. FRAMINGHAM FORD RESPONDED THE RECALL & REPAIR WARRANTYY HAD EXPIRED AND INSTRUCTED ME TO CONTACT FMC FOR AUTHORIZATION TO INSPECT/REPAIR THE STEERING ASSEMBLY. CAS 104 76461 D4Y3V8 DOCUMENTS MY 2 PHONE CONTACTS DATED 9/ 2 & 11/ 23,16 WITH FMC CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER TO EXPRESS MY STEERING SAFETY CONCERNS REGARDING THE RECALL 13S08 REPAIRS. EACH TIME THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE STATED 1) REPAIR WARRANTY FOR RECALL 13S08 HAD EXPIRED 2))FORD MOTOR CO UNABLE TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE FOR CURRENT STEERING INSPECTION/REPAIRS 3) THERE ARE NO ACTIVE RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE 4) I SHOULD SAVE "OUT OF POCKET REPAIR EXPENSES" IN THE EVENT THAT NEW RECALL IS ISSUED NOV 22, 2016 VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT THE INTERSECTION OF CEMETERY ST & POND ST NATICK, MA 01760. I TURN RIGHT ONTO POND ST TRAVEL 25 YARDS @20MPH WHEN I LOST COMPLETE STEERING CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL SPUN FREELY IN BOTH DIRECTIONS WITH NO RESPONSE TO CHANGE VEHICLE DIRECTION. I APPLIED BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE, PLACED IT INTO PARK, TURNED ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS, AND CALLED NATICK POLICE DEPARTMENT NPG LOG DOCUMENT 16-2154 MARBADY GULF SERVICE CALLED BY NPD TO TOW THE DISABLED VEHICLE LOSS OF STEERING WAS DUE TO UPPER STEERING SHAFT COMPLETELY SEPARATING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO FORD MOTOR CO (SEE ABOVE NOV23,16). WHO CONTINUES NOT TO ACCEPT MY SAFETY CONCERN OR TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE STEERING SAFETY DEFECT.

NHTSA ID

10927800

Incident

Nov 22, 2016

Mileage

91,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE HAD A ROUTINE INSPECTION BY THE DEALER AND CORROSION WAS FOUND. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND A MECHANIC WAS TO FURTHER INSPECT AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING ON A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER CONCERNING THE REPAIR SOLUTION FROM THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V704000 (STEERING) AND 13V385000 (STEERING). THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10865585

Incident

Feb 3, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

NHTSA ID

10809702

Incident

Dec 6, 2015

Mileage

56,000 mi

AFTER EXPERIENCING A STRANGE SIREN-LIKE SOUND INTERMITTENTLY FOR A FEW DAYS, ESPECIALLY WHEN MAKING A TURN, I NOTICED ON SUNDAY THAT THIS NOISE WAS BECOMING LOUDER AND MORE FREQUENT. AFTER DRIVING ONLY ABOUT TWO MILES I REALIZED THAT SOMETHING FELT ODD IN THE STEERING, SO I IMMEDIATELY RETURNED HOME. ON MONDAY AUGUST 24, 2015 I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; SINCE THIS WAS A POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM I AGREED TO HAVE THE WORK DONE IMMEDIATELY WHICH ENTAILED LEAVING IT OVERNIGHT FOR COMPLETION. LATER IN THE EVENING I HAD A NAGGING FEELING THAT I HAD HEARD ABOUT A SIMILAR ISSUE, SO I CHECKED MY CAR RECORDS AND CONFIRMED THAT I HAD TAKEN MY CAR TO MY CLOSEST MERCURY DEALER IN RESPONSE TO A RECALL #13S08 FROM FORD MOTOR CORP. ON NOV. 13, 2013; THE GARAGE "INSPECTED THE STEERING SHAFT" AND DECLARED "NO REPAIRS NEEDED AT THIS TIME". I WAS TOLD, HOWEVER, THAT I WOULD BE ASKED TO RETURN IN A FEW MONTHS WHEN THEY HAD SUFFICIENT PARTS TO ADDRESS THE RECALL FULLY.IN MARCH 2014 FORD NOTIFIED ME TO AGAIN CONTACT THE DEALER IN REGARD TO SAFETY RECALL 13S08/NHTSA RECALL13V385. THE DEALERSHIP DID THE RECALL REPAIR ON APRIL 22, 2014 WHICH INVOLVED "REPLACING THE LOWER INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT". UPON INVESTIGATION I LEARNED THAT THIS IS CERTAINLY IN THE AREA OF MY NOW FAILED RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY. WHAT MAKES THIS FRIGHTENING TO ME IS THAT THE REPAIR WAS DONE AT A MILEAGE OF 39923 AND THE PART FAILED AT A MILEAGE OF 44,725. WHEN I CALLED FORD THIS MORNING TO ASK ABOUT ANY HELP THEY MIGHT GIVE ME WITH THIS OR WHETHER OR NOT THIS HAD BEEN A PROBLEM TO OTHER DRIVERS I WAS POLITELY TOLD THAT A RECALL REPAIR IS A ONE TIME FIX. SINCE THE FAILED PART OCCURRED ONLY 4800 MILES AFTER THE REPAIR, I THINK THAT PERHAPS THE "FIX" WAS NOT ENOUGH; THIS SEEMS UNFAIR, ESPECIALLY IF IT EFFECTS MANY DRIVERS. HELP?

NHTSA ID

10759319

Incident

Aug 23, 2015

Mileage

44,725 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE UPPER INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

NHTSA ID

10716006

Incident

Apr 15, 2015

Mileage

66,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V385000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT MADE THE PARTS AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10693654

Incident

Oct 6, 2014

I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH MY POWER STEERING ON MY 2008 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHEN ITS COLD OUTSIDE OR WHEN I NEED TO MAKE A REALLY QUICK TURN OF THE WHEEL IT TURNS VERY HARD AND HAS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST HAVE AND ACCIDENT. THE CAR HAS SPEED SENSITIVE POWER STEERING ON IT . I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL FORD CARS AND TRUCKS BUT THIS IS THE FIRST STEERING PROBLEM I HAVE HAD. I REALLY WISH I HAD NEVER BOUGHT A CAR WITH THIS TYPE OF POWER STEERING SYSTEM ON IT. I THINK THAT THIS A PROBLEM ON FORD CARS WITH THIS TYPE OF STEERING SYSTEM ON THEM I HAVE TALKED WITH SEVERAL OTHER FORD CAR OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND NONE OF THEM HAVE BEEN GIVEN A REAL ANSWER AS TO WHAT CAN BE DONE. *JS

NHTSA ID

10690296

Incident

Jan 1, 2014

Mileage

62,008 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING EVEN THOUGH THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TWO TIMES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE A PROBLEM. THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID

10643094

Incident

Feb 28, 2014

Mileage

50,000 mi

2008 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR POOR STEERING. THE CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WHEREBY HE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION KEY OFF AND SHIFT THE GEAR . *TGW

NHTSA ID

10638927

Incident

Aug 1, 2013

NHTSA RECALL 13V385 STEERING DEALERSHIP HAS INDICATED THAT REPAIR PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. INITIAL NOTICE 10/2013 SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 13S08. *TR

NHTSA ID

10567841

Incident

Mar 7, 2014

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V385000 (STEERING) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE THE REQUIRED REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED AN UNREASONABLE DATE FOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL SERVICE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10567568

Incident

Oct 25, 2013

Mileage

300 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN, A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE VEHICLE AS THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE CONTACT LOST STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH, CAUSING THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEFT HIP AND RIGHT LEG. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

NHTSA ID

10552433

Incident

Apr 6, 2012

Mileage

47,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS COMING OFF OF A HIGHWAY EXIT RAMP DOING AROUND 40-45 MPH AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS TURN THE DRIVER LOST HIS CONTROL OF HIS STEERING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VEER INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC ALMOST CAUSING A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON INSPECTION OF VEHICLE FOUND THAT A STERRING COLUMN SHAFT WICH IS ONLY HELD IN PLACE BY A PLASTIC RETAINER AND CONSIST OF 4 CLIPS, 2 OF THE CLIPS WERE BROKEN CAUSING THE COLUMN SHAFT TO SLIDE APART AND HAVE LOSS OF STEERING. SO FAR THE ONLY FIX FROM FORD IS TO SELL YOU A NEW STERRING COLUMN 7W1Z-3C529-A THIS PART IS DESIGNED THE SAME WAY AS THE OLD PART WAS. THIS ISSUE COULD CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT, I AM A MECHANIC WITH A GOVERMENT AGENCY WITH MANY OF THESE VEHICLES IN OUR FLEET. I URGE YOU TO PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AND ASK FOR A RECALL WITH THESE VEHICLES BEFORE A LIFE IS LOST! *TR

NHTSA ID

10512484

Incident

May 16, 2013

Mileage

45,659 mi

THE LOWER RETAINER SLIPPED OUT (RETAINER TABS ARE CRACKED)OF THE COLUMN DISCONNECTING THE STEERING WHEEL FROM THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT. OBVIOUSLY COULD NOT CONTROL DIRECTION OF AUTOMOBILE - WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT AN EVENT. THE NEW ASSEMBLY 'FORD PART NUMBER 7W1Z-3C529-A' LOOKS TO BE MADE AS THE ONE CURRENTLY IN MY AUTOMOBILE. THIS WILL ALLOW THE SAME SCENARIO TO HAPPEN AGAIN! I MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY THE NEXT TIME! I HOPE THE REPLACEMENT ASSEMBLY ?FORD PART NUMBER 7W1Z-3C529-B? CORRECTS THIS PROBLEM FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT SAFETY. PLEASE CORRECT THIS DEFECT FOR THE STANDARD MODELS. I AM REQUESTING A REVIEW AND RESOLVE BY FORD MOTOR CORPORATION PAYING TO CORRECT THIS SERIOUS DEFECT. THANKS FOR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. [XXX] P.S. MY AUTOMOBILE IS IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF TEAM FORD OF NAVASOTA, TEXAS. THERE PHONE NUMBER IS 936-825-2225 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10478155

Incident

Sep 22, 2012

Mileage

79,000 mi