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NHTSA Campaign 98V322000

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

Issued by FORD MOTOR COMPANY · Reported Dec 16, 1998 · 175,000 vehicles affected

What's wrong

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.

Consequence

IF THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, REDUCED STEERING CONTROL COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS (2).

Vehicles affected by this recall

Make Model Year Units
FORD CROWN VICTORIA 1990 175,000
FORD CROWN VICTORIA 1991 175,000
FORD CROWN VICTORIA 1992 175,000
FORD CROWN VICTORIA 1993 175,000
FORD CROWN VICTORIA 1994 175,000
FORD CROWN VICTORIA 1995 175,000
FORD CROWN VICTORIA 1996 175,000
FORD CROWN VICTORIA 1997 175,000
FORD CROWN VICTORIA 1998 175,000
FORD CROWN VICTORIA 1999 175,000
LINCOLN TOWN CAR 1990 175,000
LINCOLN TOWN CAR 1991 175,000
LINCOLN TOWN CAR 1992 175,000
LINCOLN TOWN CAR 1993 175,000
LINCOLN TOWN CAR 1994 175,000
LINCOLN TOWN CAR 1995 175,000
LINCOLN TOWN CAR 1996 175,000
LINCOLN TOWN CAR 1997 175,000
LINCOLN TOWN CAR 1998 175,000
LINCOLN TOWN CAR 1999 175,000

Source: NHTSA Campaign 98V322000 on nhtsa.gov. To check the current repair status for a specific vehicle, use our free VIN decoder.