NHTSA campaign 96V135000
Ford and Lincoln Recall 96V-135: Steering — Linkages
- Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation
NHTSA recall 96V135000 was reported by FORD MOTOR COMPANY on July 18, 1996, with 72,000 vehicles potentially affected (per NHTSA). NHTSA's record lists the Ford Crown Victoria and Lincoln Town Car for model years 1995–1996 (try.vin imports model years 1995 and later). Owners were notified on August 28, 1996, per NHTSA.
Updated daily from NHTSA's recall files
Is my vehicle included?
This page lists, by model year, the vehicles NHTSA's recall record names for campaign 96V135000 in the model years try.vin imports (1995 and later); NHTSA's own record can list more. A model year on the list doesn't mean every vehicle of that year is included, and some may already have been repaired.
To see whether a specific vehicle is included and still needs the repair, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Free VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Key facts
- NHTSA campaign
- 96V135000 (also written 96V-135 or 96V135)
- Filed by
- FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Report received
- Potentially affected
- 72,000 vehicles (per NHTSA)
- Component
- Steering — Linkages
- Owners notified
Vehicles listed for this recall
NHTSA's recall record lists these vehicles for recall 96V135000. try.vin imports model years 1995 and later, so NHTSA's own list can be longer. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to it. Build dates are NHTSA's range for a model year (per NHTSA); a vehicle built in that range is not necessarily included.
Ford
All Ford recallsLincoln
All Lincoln recallsNHTSA's recall notice
As NHTSA's recall record states it for campaign 96V135000.
Defect description
THE PITMAN ARMS WERE NOT FULLY LUBRICATED AT THE ASSEMBLY PLANT. THE "BALL JOINT" AT THE OUTER END OF THE PITMAN ARM CAN BECOME CONTAMINATED AND CORRODE.
Safety consequence
SUCH CORROSION CAN RESULT IN ABNORMAL WEAR OF THE JOINT, RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF THE JOINT. LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL CAN OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES AND IF THE JOINT IS FOUND TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT WEAR, THE ARM WILL BE REPLACED. THOSE PITMAN ARMS NOT REPLACED WILL HAVE THE "BALL JOINT" FULLY GREASED.
Notes
SYSTEM: STEERING; LINKAGES; ARM; PITMAN. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: POLICE INTERCEPTORS, COMMERCIAL FLEET, TAXI, LIMOUSINES, OR LIVERY/TRAILER TOW PACKAGES. OWNER NOTIFICATION: OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN AUGUST 19, 1996. NOTE: 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 1-800-424-9393.
Sources
Official NHTSA notice for recall 96V135000
Campaign details come from NHTSA's recall files, which try.vin imports once a day. The plain-language subject and the completion rate come from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Recalls Data dataset. How try.vin reads recall data.