2008 Ford Crown Victoria steering problems

“The contact owns a 2008 Ford Crown Victoria. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The contact inspected the steering column underneath the hood and noticed that the steering shaft was corroded. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V385000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 141,000.”

“The right front wheel hub broke at the weld when turning in a parking lot. The part is available for inspection. Had this happened at freeway speed, the right front wheel would have departed the vehicle. The safety hazards are obvious. I attempted to contact customer service and they did not reply.There was no warning sign and the part has not been inspected. I am not a welder. It appears this part had a bad weld from the start. I suspect it was welded by a machine and there may be more just like it from the same production run.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL INDEPENDENTLY TURNED 180 DEGREES. THE CONTACT REGAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND BECAME AWARE OF A LOOSENED STEERING SHAFT BUSHING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.”

“NOTICED INTERMITTENT STIFFNESS IN THE STEERING, AN INSPECTION BY OWNER AT THE STEERING COLUMN DETERMINED THAT THE BEARING CONNECTING THE UPPER AND LOWERS SHAFTS HAD EXTENDED FROM ITS HOUSING. IT WAS DETERMINED THIS FAILURE WAS CONSISTENT WITH A PREVIOUS RECALL 13R01. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GILLESPIE FORD IN GURNEE, IL, WHO STATED THE RECALL HAD BEEN CLOSED OUT IN 2013. THEY WENT ON TO STATE THAT THE ONLY REPAIR MADE IN 2013 WAS REPLACEMENT OF THE LOWER, EXTERIOR STEERING SHAFT, AND NO RETAINING CLIP WAS INSTALLED TO PREVENT SEPARATION OF THE BEARING. GILLESPIE FORD STATED THERE WAS NO CORROSION OR ANY OTHER CAUSE OF THE BEARING FAILURE, SAYING THAT WHEN THE RECALLS WERE DONE THEY WOULD SIMPLY REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AND NOT INSTALL THE RETAINING CLIP. GILLESPIE FORD DECLINED TO MAKE ANY FURTHER REPAIRS UNDER THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH THE CONDITION EXISTED WITH SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS, BUT DID OFFER TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN FOR $1600.00.”

“I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY AND TURNED ONTO MY STREET WHEN MY LOWER STEERING SHAFT COLLAPSED AND CAUSED MY UPPER BEARING RETAINING CLIP TO SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSING ME TO LOSE ALL STEERING CONTROL.”

“TAKATA RECALL FOR SOME ODD REASON ANY LITTLE BUMP OR IN LEVEL GROUND I GO OVER , THE STEERING WHEEL RESPONSE IS HORRIBLE. ALSO MY CHECK GAS CAP LIGHT COMES ON AND I CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP TWICE & HORRIBLE FUMES FLOATS AROUND INSIDE MY CAR CABIN.”