The defect
THE PITMAN ARMS WERE NOT FULLY LUBRICATED AT THE ASSEMBLY PLANT. THE "BALL JOINT" AT THE OUTER END OF THE PITMAN ARM CAN BECOME CONTAMINATED AND CORRODE.
The risk
SUCH CORROSION CAN RESULT IN ABNORMAL WEAR OF THE JOINT, RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF THE JOINT. LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL CAN OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES AND IF THE JOINT IS FOUND TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT WEAR, THE ARM WILL BE REPLACED. THOSE PITMAN ARMS NOT REPLACED WILL HAVE THE "BALL JOINT" FULLY GREASED.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Crown Victoria | 1995, 1996 |
| Lincoln Town Car | 1995, 1996 |
Components: STEERING:LINKAGES
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Crown Victoria | 1995 | 250 | 8 |
| Ford Crown Victoria | 1996 | 276 | 9 |
| Lincoln Town Car | 1995 | 165 | 6 |
| Lincoln Town Car | 1996 | 259 | 8 |
Other steering recalls in 1996
27 of the 297 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1996 concerned the steering; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 96V249000 17 Dec 1996 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 96V229000 18 Nov 1996 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 96V230000 18 Nov 1996 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 96V195000 8 Oct 1996 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 96V187000 26 Sept 1996 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 96V171000 24 Sept 1996 | WESTERN STAR TRUCKS, INC. |
| 96V180000 23 Sept 1996 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 96V167000 19 Sept 1996 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1996