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Problems · by component

1996 Ford Crown Victoria suspension problems

52 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1996 Ford Crown Victoria cite suspension, 18% of all 294 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

All 1996 Crown Victoria problems
Complaints
52
18% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the suspension

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN OFF A DRIVEWAY ONTO A LOT, THERE WAS A LOUD METAL BRAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE COLLAPSED TO THE GROUND. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE LOWER BALL JOINT DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE INDEPENDENT PARKING LOT WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000. *BF CONSUMER STATED FAULTY RUBBER SEAL WAS DUE TO CORROSION AND MAY HAVE ANOTHER ONE WITH SAME PROBLEM.*JB *BF”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 2, 2017SuspensionODI 11012424
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE. THE CONTACT DID NOT TALK TO THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 17, 2011SuspensionODI 10407258
“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT FRACTURED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH ON A DRY HIGHWAY. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 98V322000, REGARDING THE SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 21, 2006SuspensionODI 10166099
“I RECENTLY GOT THE VEHICLE AND ITS ALREADY GIVING ME PROBLEMS. THE CAR DRIFTS TO THE SIDE AND THE MOTOR IS GIVING ME PROBLEMS THE CAR HAS NOT EVEN REACHED 1500 MILES SINCE I GOT IT AND ITS ALREADY CAUSING ME PROBLEMS. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 29, 2005Steering, Suspension, Engine and engine coolingODI 10138194
“DT: CONSUMER HAS A 1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. HE COMPLAINED ABOUT A LOWER BALL JOINT PROBLEM. HE FOUND, ON THE INTERNET NHTSA RECALL 98V322000 . HE WENT TO FORD WEB SITE AND ENTERED THE VIN THE WEB SITE SHOWED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. THE VEHICLE IS NOW NOT DRIVABLE DUE TO BALL JOIN PROBLEM. LOWER BALL FAILED ON 8-3-2005 WHILE DRIVING. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, HE TRAVELING BALL JOINT SEPARATED JUST LIKE MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO HAVE VEHICLE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 16, 2005SuspensionODI 10133064
“WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A GROANING SOUND. VEHICLE WAS PARKED PARKED WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT END COLLAPSED. A REPAIR SHOP EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT THE LOWER RIGHT BALL JOINTS BROKE.*AK UPDATED 11/18/09. *LJ UPDATED 11/19/09.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 5, 2004SuspensionODI 10087304

Showing 6 of 52 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Suspension: lower ball joint

Free remedy

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.

SuspensionReported Dec 16, 1998NHTSA 98V322000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.