Ford Crown Victoria; Lincoln Town CAR (1990-1999): Suspension
Recall 98V322000 · Dec 16, 1998 · Ford Motor Company
175,000
vehicles affected
175,000
vehicles affected
Facts
- Recall number
- 98V322000
- Date
- Dec 16, 1998
- Maker
- Ford Motor Company
- Units affected
- 175,000
- Kind
- Vehicles
- Component
- Suspension > Front > Control arm > Lower ball joint
- Model years
- 1990-1999
- Started by
- The safety regulator
- Hazard
- Crash risk
What is 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.
What can happen
IF THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, REDUCED STEERING CONTROL COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix
Recall repairs are free of charge.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS (2).
Vehicles covered
2 models, 20 model years in all
| Make | Model | Model years |
|---|---|---|
| Ford | Crown Victoria | 1990-1999 |
| Lincoln | Town Car | 1990-1999 |
Related pages
Questions and answers
Which vehicles are in recall 98V322000?
2 models: Ford Crown Victoria (1990-1999), Lincoln Town Car (1990-1999), about 175,000 vehicles in all.
What is the fix for recall 98V322000?
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS (2).
What can happen?
IF THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, REDUCED STEERING CONTROL COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
A recall means the maker found a safety problem and offers a free fix; it does not mean every unit has the problem. Units affected are as reported by the company. Popular models sell more and so have more recalls and complaints. Official public data; texts are shortened. A dealer can tell whether a single vehicle still needs the repair.