The contact owns a 1996 Lincoln Town car with 92000 miles. The contact stated that when turning the steering wheel he heard a clanking noise. The contact stated that recall 98V322000, suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint was the cause of failure. The manufacturer was called but they could not find any record of the vehicle being repaired or included in the recall.

- Tampa , FL, USA

I own a 1996 Lincoln Town car with approximately 73,000 miles on the odometer. Recently, I have been experiencing problems with the front end wobbling. I took the car to sears automotive and discovered that the lower ball joint are defective and control arms. The problem matches exactly your recall below: NHTSA campaign id number: 98V322000 summary: 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). Notes: Owner notification is expected to begin January 18, 1999. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236). We never receive notice of any recall. However, when I attempted to call Ford customer service they could not find this recall or my VIN. Therefore, I am respectfully requesting that you add our vehicle VIN to this recall for repair.

- Gig Harbor, WA, USA

Lower ball joint on the rt. Side & lt. Side fail while driving down the road, dropping car to the ground. Towed to Ford repair shop and had both replaced. Last fall the rt. One broke and was replaced. Know the lt. One.

- Murdo, SD, USA

: the contact stated the right lower ball joint fell out while driving 10 mph causing the steering to fail. The vehicle was towed to a dealership. The contact reports having no problems with the steering prior to the incident. There is an NHTSA recall, # 98V322000, regarding the suspension: Front: Control arm: Lower ball joint. The vehicle has the same problems as indicated in the recall; however it is not included in the recall due to the VIN.

- Union City, GA, USA

The tie rod failed again after two previous replacements. Also, the ball joints were replaced twice. While going over a speed bump, one could hear the tie rod touching the ground.

- Boardman, OH, USA

Ball joints corroded, resulting in abnormal wear. Because of the defect described in the steering linkage:arm:pitman recall 96V135000, but this vehicle was not covered due to VIN. The ballm joints were replaced by the dealership.

- Pasadena, CA, USA

The consumer brought the vehicle to a mechanic to have an oil change, and it was discovered that the lower ball joints were defective. The manufacturer stated that his vehicle is not included in the recall, number 98V322000.

- Springfield, MA, USA

While pulling inside of a parking lot passenger side wheel collapsed. Consumer was unable to move the vehicle. Had the vehicle towed to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the both upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced.

- Felch, MI, USA

While consumer was backing into a parking space at low speed, the lower ball joint on the right front wheel suddenly failed. Consumer had all four(4) ball joints replaced (left and right).

- New York, NY, USA

The lower control arm disengaged from the lower ball joint, and dropped to the ground, tearing a large hole in the front tire, this caused complete loss of control of vehicle.. also the inner and outer tie rod ends were replaced.

- Akron, OH, USA

The lower control arm/ball joint experienced the same problem as stated in recall 98V322000. The manufacturer was contacted. The vehicle was not included in the recall due to the vehicle identification number.

- Albany, NY, USA

After pulling into a parking lot and shutting vehicle off front left ball joint for lower control arm broke. Dealership has informed consumer that vehicle was not affected by recall 98V322000. Please provide any additional information/attachments.

- Syracuse, NY, USA

While pulling into a parking lot heard a loud noise. Consumet thought that drove over a hole, got out of vehicle, and found out that ball joints had fallen off vehicle without prior warning. The dealer replaced broken lower ball joints and inner tie rod ends.

- Utica, NY, USA

Vehicle was manufactured with no grease fittings on ball joints, it was sealed and could not be maintained. Therefore, when there was a lack of lubrication on ball joints, it would freeze up, causing steering wheel to lock up, resulting in consumer running off road. Replace pitman arm and lower ball joints.

- Swampscott, MA, USA