Ford, Lincoln & Mercury Recall

[GAMike]

Ford recalls 370,000 cars


The Associated Press

NEW YORK —
Ford is recalling 370,000 cars due to potential corrosion to their steering shaft that may result in loss of steering.
No incidents or injuries have been reported.
The cars include 2005 to 2011 Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Cars. About 355,000 are in the U.S. and 15,000 in Canada.
Dealers will inspect the cars and may replace the lower intermediate steering shaft and if necessary resecure a lower steering column bearing and replace the upper intermediate steering shaft.
States included in the recall are: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin and West Virginia.
Owners in other states can also ask for inspections and repairs.

Copyright The Associated Press

[Motorhead350]

So this has nothing to do with Marauders correct? We have a different steering system?

[GAMike]

"The cars include 2005 to 2011 Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Cars." Based on this quote Dom I would say "No".... I posted it to alert Marauder owners who also own F/L/M vehicles within those years. More than a few here have Crown Vics, GMs and Town Cars in their fleets....

[Motorhead350]

Copy that. I just like being 100% clear on everything.

[White Knuckles]

But----my 06 Grand Marquis may have an issue
Thanks for the heads up

[Granddaddy Marq]

So this has nothing to do with Marauders correct? We have a different steering system?


Dom the way your luck goes you'll be the only Marauder owner affected by this. Just take it on over to the dealer.

[Motorhead350]

Dom the way your luck goes you'll be the only Marauder owner affected by this. Just take it on over to the dealer.

Because I am the only one in the midwest to drive my Marauder to a point of corrosion?

:lol:

[GAMike]

But----my 06 Grand Marquis may have an issue
Thanks for the heads up

Yep.... You George, Marty with his Town Car .... The list goes on and on:)

[jerrym3]

If I owned a Marauder and lived in one of those states, I'd check with my local Ford/Lincoln dealer.

Better to be safe than sorry.

[fordmike65]

I read about this upcoming recall earlier last week on Ford's site. Glad is doesn't affect my car, but it wouldn't anyway since it was not originally sold in any of those states. If you happen to have a '05-'11 car that was sold out of state but now resides in these affected states, I'd have it inspected. I don't believe our MM's are affected, but you can have you dealer run the VIN through OASIS (FORD's site database) to be sure. If it doesn't come up, then your vehicle is not included in the recall. At present time, there are no replacement parts or repair procedures. Just a notice that FORD is aware of the iissue and is looking into how to remedy it. I shouldn't see too many of these out here in CA, but I'm sure a few have filtered their way over from those affected states. We had a similar recall recently affecting Windstars from those states. Roadsalt would get caught in the rear axle and front subframe. Ends up rusting them out from the inside. I didn't see too many, but I did see a couple nasty ones that were beyond repair and needed to have those parts replaced.

[jsignorelli]

I have no trust in Ford doing the right thing. If it did, why wasn't the LCM and radios on recall. Everyone I speak to, has had both of these parts fail.
Really... the LCM is only a minor part. Who needs lights anyway?

[fastblackmerc]

I have no trust in Ford doing the right thing. If it did, why wasn't the LCM and radios on recall. Everyone I speak to, has had both of these parts fail.
Really... the LCM is only a minor part. Who needs lights anyway?

The NTSA was involved due to the number of complaints about headlights not working (LCM fails). Ford convinced them that since you could still use the high beams a recall was necessary... and the NTSA agreed.

[GAMike]

Agree guys... We consumers are blind to how recalls occur.... We like to believe a company has our interest at the forefront, when in fact they are doing everything they can not to issue a recall up until the time it happens..... Bad for business. Skew's perception, associated cost of ect....

What ever happened to doing the right thing.... Even when nobody was looking?:shake:

[jsignorelli]

I recall how I drove home from Carlisle, at night, with my hand holding the high beams on. That is not a solution. That is like saying that swallowing plaster is a fix for ulcers.

[vegasmarauder]

The basic rule on a recall is that a part has to fail in such a way as to quickly render the car unable to be controlled or stopped quickly. Reference the LCM, if it goes out, you pull over and stop the car, problem solved. Reference the steering link (or any other part), it breaks, you lose control and get hurt, hence a recall.

So, wheel studs can get a recall, but a loose steering column (80's GM products) does not.

[jsignorelli]

Ford recalled my '93 Mustang GT because the Neutral Safety Switches were failing. Isn't that a built in safety device? If you can't start the car, you can't lose control!

[Ken]

So this has nothing to do with Marauders correct? We have a different steering system?Do we? My 04 MM (126K) steering shaft was replaced last summer because it was worn to the point that it didn't always return when I let go of the wheel after a turn.

[fastblackmerc]

Do we? My 04 MM (126K) steering shaft was replaced last summer because it was worn to the point that it didn't always return when I let go of the wheel after a turn.

If it one of these then it's included n the recall.

2005 to 2011 Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Cars

[ctrlraven]

This is what mine looks like. It needs to be cleaned. lol

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a164/ctrlraven/20130905_085919_zpsf230264b.jp g

[Hg M75]

How is the '05 different then the '04 and '03's?

[ctrlraven]

How is the '05 different then the '04 and '03's?
It could be due to different materials used to make the part.

[jsignorelli]

Perhaps the '05 - '011 shafts were produced in China, like the LCM's. So much for "Buy American"!

[larryo340]

Perhaps the '05 - '011 shafts were produced in China, like the LCM's. So much for "Buy American"!
I was thinking along the same lines, but that maybe Ford used a new vendor.

With that said working on and around cabs all day I do see the '02 and '03 lower and intermediate shafts both bind up.

[jsignorelli]

When I first installed my SW long tube headers and exhaust system, the shaft would rub against the headers when making a hard left turn. A little persuasion with a leather bag and mallet fixed the problem. A slight dent was needed in the one header tube.
The shaft doe not have rust on it, so maybe there was a material or supplier change in '05.

[Canadasvt]

How is the '05 different then the '04 and '03's?

I've been told the shaft is shorter starting with '05 model. Not sure there is a difference, except the fact recalls only go back 10 years from purchase date. I'm going to give the dealer my vin to run tomorrow and check just in case. Many CV owners at my work never got a letter but their vin was on the list.

[Bruce Wayne]

the lower shafts are made in Turkey, and they get hot from the exhaust manifold, and the u-joints dry up and bind, I'm thinking we got the same shafts in our MM's

[fordmike65]

Just did a couple of these this week. As far as the recall is concerned, only '05-'11 are covered. If anyone wants to check just in case, you can PM ur VIN so I can run it.

[MyRaider]

I have no trust in Ford doing the right thing. If it did, why wasn't the LCM and radios on recall. Everyone I speak to, has had both of these parts fail.
Really... the LCM is only a minor part. Who needs lights anyway?

... and front end alignment, rear axle bearings. Fortunately, I bought the extended warranty so all of these issues (except for the front end alignment) were under warranty. The rear end was rebuilt twice.

[1Marauder]

I recall how I drove home from Carlisle, at night, with my hand holding the high beams on. That is not a solution. That is like saying that swallowing plaster is a fix for ulcers.

I'd try this about 20 nights a year--does it work???