The defect
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.
The risk
IF THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, REDUCED STEERING CONTROL COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS (2).
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Crown Victoria | 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 |
| Lincoln Town Car | 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 |
Components: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
Other suspension recalls in 1998
20 of the 367 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1998 concerned the suspension; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 98V319000 15 Dec 1998 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 98V314000 11 Dec 1998 | NEWELL COACH CORP. |
| 98V286000 6 Nov 1998 | SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. |
| 98V255000 14 Oct 1998 | VOLVO TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA INC |
| 98V245000 6 Oct 1998 | HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA |
| 98V239000 6 Oct 1998 | PREVOST CAR, INCORPORATED |
| 98V247000 5 Oct 1998 | WHEELED COACH INDUSTRIES |
| 98V199000 25 Aug 1998 | BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1998