Recalls
| Campaign | Manufacturer | Manufacturing date | Type | # of units affected | Date Owner notified Mfg | Recall Initiated by | Manufacturers of recalled vehicles/products | Report Recieved Date | Record Creation Date | Regulation Part Number | FMVSS Number | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER BALL JOINT | ||||||||||||||||
| 98V322000 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | V (Vehicle) | 175000 | 01/18/1999 | ODI | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 12/16/1998 | 12/18/1998 | ||||||||
| Defect Summary | Vehicle description: certain 1996-1999 ford crown victoria police, fleet, natural gas, and 1996-1999 lincoln town car limousine vehicles that were produced with a lower control arm ball joint containing a one piece bearing; and 1990-1996 ford crown victoria police, fleet, and ngv vehicles and 1990-1996 lincoln town car limousine vehicles that have been serviced with either a ball joint containing the one-piece bearing or a front lower control arm containing a ball joint with a one-piece bearing. the one-piece bearing within the lower control arm ball joint can weaken slowly during use and eventually crack. this could result in separation of the ball and cap of the joint, allowing the control arm to drop to the ground. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | If this occurs while the vehicle is moving, reduced steering control could occur, increasing the risk of a crash. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Dealers will replace the lower control arm ball joints (2). | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | Owner notification is expected to begin january 18, 1999.owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236). | |||||||||||||||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER ARM | ||||||||||||||||
| 95V194000 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | from 08/01/1992 to 07/01/1994 | V (Vehicle) | 57000 | 11/22/1995 | MFR | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 10/11/1995 | 10/18/1995 | |||||||
| Defect Summary | The bolts that attach the front upper control arms to the frame mounting brackets can loosen and fracture at one of the bolt holes causing substantial negative camber and steering pull to the affected side. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | If the driver's side bracket fractured at both bolt holes, the steering control arm can contact the steering column shaft and result in a loss of steering control increasing the potential for an accident. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Dealers will inspect the torque levels of the four upper control arm mounting bolts, and if any are loose, the brackets will be inspected for damage. if damage is present, it will be repaired. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | System: suspension; front control arm; upper.vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with a police package option.note: owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time, should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673. also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-800-424-9393. | |||||||||||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | |||
| 04/07/2002 | 2 | 02/01/2002 | |
| Vehicle wanders all over the road. took vehicle to mechanic, and had vehicle aligned, but problem still exists. consumer took vehicle to ford. ford adjusted steering box, and stated that replacing gear box may not correct the problem. *ak the dealer lowered the tire pressure as a possible solution for the steering problem. the pitman arm and idler arm had been replaced. *yh | |||
| 02/01/2000 | |||
| Vehicle wanders when traveling at highway speed. steering feels like there is no control. dealer replaced steering box. but, problem continued & delaer couldn't adjust it anymore. wheel alignment couldn't be done because of the steering box adjustment. *ak | |||
| 09/03/1998 | 1 | 01/01/1994 | |
| We had to replace both arm joints. we heard that other 94 crown vic's have had the same problem. | |||
| Occasionally viibrates on smooth or rough road, wheels spin, balance, rotated, replace shocks but did not help the problem. | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT | |||
| 08/01/1994 | 1 | ||
| Misalignment 6 times. *sd | |||
| 03/29/1995 | 1 | ||
| Vehicles steering is erratic pulling from left to right. tt | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM | |||
| 03/05/1999 | 1 | 10/01/1995 | |
| The left front control arm/lower ball joint began to squeak due to lack of grease, no grease fittings were installed in ball joint at time of manufacturing of vehicle. vehicle has the police package, but apparently is not part of the recall of lower ball joints according to the dealer. *ak | |||
| 08/07/1998 | 1 | ||
| Traveling 20mph out of parking lot heard groaning noise. the left front end collapsed & vehicle hit the ground. had vehicle towed to dealer & was informed by mechanic that the ball joints were gone. (#95v194000). *ak | |||
| 08/07/1998 | 1 | 04/01/1994 | |
| The ball joint of the suspension cracked and caused the left front end of vehicle to collapse and hit the ground. | |||
| 06/11/1996 | |||
| Police vehicle squad #1. welds on left lower control arm bolts squeak due to wear. this is a continuous. *ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER ARM | |||
| 03/08/2001 | |||
| Consumer contacted dealership in regard to recall 98v322000/ manufacturer's recal 98s37/ lower control arm. dealer refused service. please provide any additional information / attachments in regard to this case. *ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER BALL JOINT | |||
| 10/12/2008 | 40000 | 1 | |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1994 ford crown victoria. the contact stated that the upper and lower ball joints were very noisy while driving 20 mph. he suggested that they may be rusty due to the high pitch noise he hears throughout the vehicle. the contact inspected the ball joints and stated that they appeared to be damaged. the vehicle has not yet been inspected by a dealer or mechanic. through online research, he found nhtsa campaign id number 98v322000 (suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint). the manufacturer stated that the vin was excluded from the recall. the contact believes that it should be included since the failures were identical. the failure mileage was 40,000 and current mileage was 48,000. updated 07/28/09. *lj updated 07/30/09.*jb | |||
| 09/01/2005 | 3 | 06/15/2005 | |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1994 ford crown victoria lx. the contact stated that the vehicle squeaked and squealed. the contact refused to provide detailed failure information. she stated that she experienced the same failure listed in the recall. there is a recall for the suspension: front control upper arm upper ball joints and lower ball joints (nhtsa campaign id #95v194000, 98v322000). the mileage information was unavailable because the odometer failed at 162,000 miles. | |||
| 11/29/2005 | 133700 | 1 | |
| Dt*: the contact stated while attempting to make a right turn, the lower ball joint on the front passenger side made a rattling noise. the contact recognized the noise from having the driver side lower ball joint replaced last year during regular maintenance. the vehicle has not been inspected. updated 3/3/2006 - *nm while making a right turn the right front tire exploded due to a break in the lower front control arm and ball joint. *nm | |||
| 09/20/2004 | 1 | ||
| A squeaking noise was heard while applying the brakes. vehicle vibrated uncontrollably while driving. consumer drove vehicle to dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that passenger 's side upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced due to corrosion.*ak | |||
| 08/17/2002 | 1 | 06/01/2094 | |
| Ball joint on right side separated from lower control arm. this vehicle was not identified by ford as having problems with faulty ball joints. i am reporting this to identify there maybe other vehicles with ball joint problems.*ak | |||
| 09/18/2001 | 2 | 10/31/1999 | |
| While driving, the passenger side lower control arm ball joint broke, causing the passenger side of the vehicle to drop to the ground, consumers steering then became reduced causing the vehicle to sideswipe a tree, and also the tire needed to be replaced due to a large slash being in the tire, on feb 25, 2000 the drivers side of the vehicle began to make a noise, and while the vehicle was parked at the mechanic shop, the drivers side dropped to the ground, consumer was informed that the drivers side front ball joint assembly needed to be replaced, consumer believes that his vehicle should have been included in recall #98v322000.*jb | |||
| 09/18/2001 | 2 | 10/31/1999 | |
| While driving driver's side and passenger's side wheels malfunctioned. wheels went outward and landed up, facing pavement on the sides. *ak the lower control arm ball joint failure caused the passenger side of the vehicle to drop and damaged two doors. the driver's side underneath was making a grinding noise. consumer took to the dealer, the vehicle dropped to the ground while waiting for repair. consumer states nhtsa sent him a recall campaigns 98v32000 but his vehicle was not included. *yh | |||
| 12/12/2000 | 1 | 09/09/1994 | |
| Lower ball joints prematurely failed and were replaced at 55,000 miles. consumer feels it is same defect as 98v322000, but this vehicle is not included due to vin. *ak | |||
| 07/19/1999 | 2 | 07/01/1997 | |
| Police model, lower ball joints shot, vehicle will not hold alignment, also, seat bolts on both front seats snapped. *ak | |||
| 08/22/1996 | 1 | ||
| Lower ball joint seized up due to lack of grease due to not being designed to be greased. | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER ARM | |||
| 05/19/1999 | |||
| Vehicle experiencing same problem as nhtsa recall #95 v 194 000, notified dealer and informed that vehicle was not part of recall, could nhtsa help in this matter or provide additional information. | |||
| 11/22/1995 | |||
| 95v194 leonard johnson ford. police package. after three months dealership does not have the parts. tt | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER BALL JOINT | |||
| 10/12/2008 | 40000 | 1 | |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1994 ford crown victoria. the contact stated that the upper and lower ball joints were very noisy while driving 20 mph. he suggested that they may be rusty due to the high pitch noise he hears throughout the vehicle. the contact inspected the ball joints and stated that they appeared to be damaged. the vehicle has not yet been inspected by a dealer or mechanic. through online research, he found nhtsa campaign id number 98v322000 (suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint). the manufacturer stated that the vin was excluded from the recall. the contact believes that it should be included since the failures were identical. the failure mileage was 40,000 and current mileage was 48,000. updated 07/28/09. *lj updated 07/30/09.*jb | |||
| 09/01/2005 | 3 | 06/15/2005 | |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1994 ford crown victoria lx. the contact stated that the vehicle squeaked and squealed. the contact refused to provide detailed failure information. she stated that she experienced the same failure listed in the recall. there is a recall for the suspension: front control upper arm upper ball joints and lower ball joints (nhtsa campaign id #95v194000, 98v322000). the mileage information was unavailable because the odometer failed at 162,000 miles. | |||
| 09/20/2004 | 1 | ||
| A squeaking noise was heard while applying the brakes. vehicle vibrated uncontrollably while driving. consumer drove vehicle to dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that passenger 's side upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced due to corrosion.*ak | |||
| While traveling on highway upper ball joint broke. *ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - SPRINGS - COIL SPRINGS | |||
| 1 | |||
| The right front and back springs aren't even. *ak consumer states even after many attempts to repair, vehicle still leans due to faulty springs. *slc | |||