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 ↗2007 Ford Crown Victoria steering problems
severe 25 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
25
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
2crashes
3injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 25 steering complaints filed for the 2007 Ford Crown Victoria, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 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.
How fast does it fail?
Cumulative share of the 11 mileage-bearing steering complaints filed against the 2007 Ford Crown Victoria by each odometer reading. Median failure: 118,985 mi.
10% have failed by67,257 mi
Half the fleet by118,985 mi
90% have failed by140,909 mi
Curve based on owner-reported odometer mileage at the time of complaint. Reflects when owners filed, not when symptoms first appeared. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve.
What stands out
Steering accounts for 51% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 6 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 25 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
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 ↗FORD: SWING LINK JOINTS ON LOWER INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT, HAS CORROSION, AND COMBINED WITH COLLAPSED UPPER INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT, ON SOME VEHICLES, CAUSES STEERING COLUMN TO SEPARATE, LEADING TO STEERING CONTROL LOSS. MODEL 2005-2011 CROWN VICTORIA, GRAND MARQUIS, TOWN CAR.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
2007 Ford Crown Victoria owners report persistent steering failures across multiple failure modes. The most common complaint is difficulty turning the steering wheel—described as stiff, hard to maneuver, or suddenly unresponsive—occurring at mileages from 100,000 to 200,000 miles. Several owners feel clicking or clunking from the steering column, and two report the upper steering shaft nearly separating or actually separating from the lower shaft, a condition the owner notes would have left the car uncontrollable.
Rust and wear on steering components appear common. One owner reports the green sleeve on the upper end of the steering column protruding, indicating separation had begun. Power steering loss is also reported, sometimes during low-speed turns and sometimes at highway speeds; one police unit lost steering during deceleration and sharp turns. Three crashes resulted—owners struck a curb, a pole, and a guardrail while trying to steer at low speed. Two owners sustained injuries and airbag deployment.
Critically, several owners report that Ford recall repairs (campaigns 13S08 and 13V385000) either failed to address the full problem or did not prevent recurrence. One owner's replacement parts corroded "over safe use again" within two years. Some dealers informed owners the vehicle was not under recall despite the known issue.
Same Ford Crown Victoria steering reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2008 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Steering shaft separation or excessive wear
Upper and/or lower steering shaft components separate, slip, or wear excessively, making the steering wheel difficult to turn or causing sudden loss of steering control. Owners report rust, bearing failure, and intermediate shaft near-separation.
When: 100,000–200,000 miles; some intermittent, others sudden
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel hard to turn in either direction; Steering wheel becomes stiff and sluggish; Steering wheel freewheels or turns without control response; Clicking or clunking sensation in steering column; Loud bang from steering column area; Green sleeve on upper steering column protrudes
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of steering shaft assembly, steering column, and rack-and-pinion reported; some owners paid out-of-pocket after failed recall repairs
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 13S08 (steering shaft assembly replacement); NHTSA Campaign 13V385000 (steering); some vehicles not included in recalls despite failure; Ford dealership informed some owners vehicle not under recall despite known issue
Power steering malfunction or loss during operation
Power steering system fails or becomes severely stiff at various speeds and conditions, including during turns, deceleration, or low-speed maneuvers. No warning lights reported.
When: Occurs at various speeds, notably during turns and deceleration; some at slow speeds (5–10 mph), some at highway speeds (50+ mph)
Symptoms owners cite: Excessive physical force required to turn wheel; Power steering sluggish or completely lost; Steering hard to maneuver at low speed; Power steering fails during deceleration; Steering wheel vibrates violently at highway speed
Repairs/costs cited: Checked power steering fluid level and tire pressure; root cause often undiagnosed before accident
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall repair performed but failures recurred; upper steering shaft not inspected during first recall repair; no remedy provided for recurrent failures
Steering column bearing failure
Steering column bearing components deteriorate, dislodge, or come apart. One owner reports lower bearing coming apart at 130,000 miles; another reports bushing dislodged and fallen out of position.
When: 130,000+ miles reported; exact timing variable
Symptoms owners cite: Lower steering column bearing coming apart; Steering shaft bushing dislodged and fallen out; Excessive play in steering wheel
Repairs/costs cited: Not specified; dealer informed owner known issue but not under recall
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers acknowledge known issue but state not under recall
Sudden steering loss resulting in crash
Steering control is abruptly lost during low-speed turning, causing vehicle to strike curbs, guardrails, or poles. Two owners sustained injuries and airbag deployment; one vehicle destroyed.
When: Occurred at 5–10 mph (parking/low-speed maneuvers), 15 mph (left turn), and 50+ mph (highway); mileages 154,000 and 168,000
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel suddenly fails to respond or continues turning uncontrolled; Inability to steer vehicle; Vehicle strikes fixed object; Airbag deploys
Repairs/costs cited: Lower steering shaft failure diagnosed post-collision at dealer; vehicle destroyed in one case
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer notification in one crash case; recall history unclear in another
Synthesized from 25 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 14 most recent
During deceleration of the Ford cvpi, the vehicle's power steering fails. It makes the police unit very hard to control during routine police vehicle operations such as u-turns, sharp turns, or during any type of situation where the vehicle's speed is quickly slowed, and a turn is initiated. *tr
On 3/5/14, owner brought the vehicle, a 2007 Ford crown victoria police, to an authorized Ford dealer who completed factory recall 13s08 that called for replacing steering shaft assembly. On 11/30/14, when turning at approximately 10 MPH, the steering became very stiff requiring excessive physical force to turn the wheel. A collision with a pole was barely avoided. Steering has remained stiff and…
Loss of power steering during abrupt and normal turning. *tr
Steering loss control, intermediate shaft snapped
The steering shaft bushing became dislodged and fell out of position. *tr
Steering wheel became very hard to turn and would not bring itself back to straight position on its own. Also a clicking noise could be heard from the steering column when turning the steering wheel. Ford dealership found that the upper steering shaft had malfunctioned. *tr
ABS brakes/brake fluid. When I apply my brakes on a hill, steep slope, and especially while turning the steering wheel, the brakes will start to make a mechanical noise and will almost start to loose the brakes, causing the pedal to slip closer to the floor. The steering is also very loos and feels like there s an extreme play in the wheel or a missing pin of some sort
Inspection found dislocated bushing. *tr
Inspection found dislocated bushing. *tr
Inspection found dislocated bushing. *tr
Had steering trouble with your 2007 Ford Crown Victoria?
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 2007 Ford Crown Victoria?
It's a meaningful issue. 25 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 20 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 70,000 and 154,000 miles, with the median around 118,985. A quarter of owners report trouble before 70,000; a quarter make it past 154,000. 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/2007/Ford/Crown Victoria.
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.