For 2005-2012 Crown Victoria, 2005-2011 Grand Marquis and Town Car vehicles, Regional Program 13R01 applies to vehicles not registered in corrosion states and not included in Safety Recall 13S08, where operation in high corrosion areas for an extended period may lead to corrosion in the lower intermediate steering shaft swing link. This may result in a compressed upper intermediate steering shaft and separation from the steering column, which can result in a loss of steering control. Vehicles covered under 13R01 that were inspected or repaired without replacement of the lower intermediate shaft, and have relocated to high corrosion areas, may experience subsequent corrosion of the lower inte
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005 Mercury Grand Marquis steering problems
severe 20 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
20
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 20 steering complaints filed for the 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 125,000-150,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 6 model years of Mercury Grand Marquis in our records for steering problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Inpected or repaired under 13R01 - Requests for recall service action under 13S08
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗FORD: THE LOWER INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT, HAS CORROSION OF SWING LINK JOINTS, COMBINED WITH COLLAPSED UPPER INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT, RESULTING IN STEERING COLUMN SEPARATION AND LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. MODEL 2005-2011 CROWN VICTORIA, GRAND MARQUIS, TOWN CAR. UPDATED 04/23/14 UPDATED 07/10/15 UPDATED 7/15/15
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗LIGHT STEERING EFFORTS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis steering complaints center on intermediate and lower steering shafts freezing or seizing up, making the wheel hard or impossible to turn. Several owners experienced this years after Ford issued recalls 13V385000, 13S08, and 14V704000 meant to address these problems. One owner found the intermediate shaft frozen from corrosion even though the lower shaft had been replaced under recall—the intermediate was never done.
The most serious failures involve the steering wheel detaching or bolts coming loose while driving. One owner's wheel spun completely loose an hour after leaving the dealer from recall work; another had bolts come out at 25 mph, landing the car in a ditch. A third reported steering detaching at 5 mph. Several owners also describe sudden steering instability—violent shaking and loss of control at highway speeds—even after recall repairs.
A secondary but significant problem is parts unavailability. Multiple owners received recall notices but could not get service because the steering components were out of stock, and dealers had no delivery dates. Some owners waited months without resolution. When manufacturers were contacted, they denied warranty coverage citing age and mileage, despite these being safety recalls.
Same Mercury Grand Marquis steering reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Steering shaft and intermediate shaft corrosion/seizure
Lower steering shaft and intermediate shaft freeze or seize from corrosion or wear. Owners report steering wheel becoming difficult or impossible to turn, sometimes requiring force. One complaint mentions the shaft being 'frozen from corrosion' after a recall repair did not address the intermediate shaft. Another describes the steering wheel seizing without warning.
When: Reported between 40,000 and 175,000 miles; some occur years after recall repairs
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel difficult or impossible to turn; Steering wheel seizure requiring force to turn; Abnormal clicking noise from steering; Grinding noise when turning steering wheel
Repairs/costs cited: Owners cite replacement of lower steering shaft, intermediate shaft, upper intermediate shaft, and steering column lower bearing; one estimate cited $600 for parts and labor
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 13S08 (lower steering shaft), Recall 13V385000 (steering), Recall 13V850000 mentioned by owner as similar, Recall 14V704000 (steering), Regional Program 13R01. However, multiple owners report recall repairs incomplete or parts unavailable; manufacturer denied further assistance citing age and mileage.
Steering wheel detachment/sudden loss of steering control
Steering wheel bolts or entire steering assembly separate or detach from the steering column during operation without warning. One owner reports steering wheel spinning completely loose after leaving a dealer; another had steering detach at 5 mph after a prior recall repair.
When: Occurred without warning at various speeds (5 mph to 65 mph); one happened an hour after leaving dealer for recall repairs
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel bolts came out while driving; Steering wheel detached without warning; Steering wheel snapped completely loose and spun around; Complete loss of steering control
Repairs/costs cited: Incidents resulted in vehicle going into ditch, crashing into curb, and blocking traffic lane. Repairs were not completed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 13S08 (steering column shaft) and Customer Satisfaction Program 14N01 were performed prior to one detachment. Manufacturer offered no remedy in other cases.
Steering instability/violent shaking
Vehicle experiences extreme steering instability with violent shaking and difficulty controlling vehicle direction at highway speeds. Occurred even after owner had vehicle repaired under steering recall.
When: At approximately 65 mph; at 74,588 miles (after recall repair)
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle shaking violently; Extremely difficult to control steering; Steering completely unstable
Repairs/costs cited: Technician unable to diagnose or replicate the failure; vehicle not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 13V385000 (steering) had been performed; manufacturer provided no remedy when contacted
Steering rack and pinion wear/failure
Steering rack and pinion deteriorates, causing resistance and requiring excessive force to turn the steering wheel. Condition recurred on numerous occasions.
When: At 74,800 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel became difficult to turn; Required force to steer vehicle; Failure recurred on numerous occasions
Repairs/costs cited: Steering rack and pinion replacement needed; repair not completed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified but offered no assistance
Recall parts unavailability
Owners received recall notices for steering issues (primarily 13V385000) but dealers could not perform repairs due to parts being unavailable. Manufacturers could not provide timelines for part availability.
When: Recalls issued August 2013 onward; some owners unable to get service for extended periods
Symptoms owners cite: Unable to schedule recall repair due to part unavailability
Repairs/costs cited: Parts unavailable at dealer; no timeline given for availability
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 13V385000 (steering), Recall 13V385000 (steering), Recall 14V704000 (steering)
Synthesized from 20 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
I was traveling on northfield road in bedford heights ohio and turned right on to the drive way that leads to walmart. The steering wheel snapped completely loose spinning around. I lost control of the steering and the car crashed into a curb before I could apply the brakes. This occurred approximately an hour after I picked up my car from liberty Ford dealership for repairs done in response to…
Had steering trouble with your 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis?
It's a meaningful issue. 20 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 74,800 and 145,065 miles, with the median around 124,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 74,800; a quarter make it past 145,065. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Mercury/Grand Marquis.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.