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 Lincoln Town Car steering problems
severe 18 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
2crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 18 steering complaints filed for the 2007 Lincoln Town Car, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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
Of the 6 model years of Lincoln Town Car we track for steering problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 18.
Steering accounts for 21% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 6 categories tracked.
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
Owners of the 2007 Lincoln Town Car report multiple steering system failures, many without warning while driving at highway speeds or during routine turns. The primary issue centers on intermediate steering shaft corrosion and separation, addressed by recalls 13V385000 (2013) and 14V704000 (2014). However, complaints show the recall rollout was flawed: some vehicles were excluded despite identical year and model, parts remained backlogs for months blocking repairs, and in at least one case a subsequent recall revealed initial repairs were done incorrectly. Owners describe complete loss of steering control, steering wheels detaching or becoming extremely loose, and shafts snapping—sometimes at low speeds like parking lot speeds, other times at highway speeds where crashes resulted. One vehicle was totaled after veering across lanes during traffic. Beyond the intermediate shaft, owners report intermittent power steering assist failure requiring engine restarts, steering wheel fractures, violent shaking and noise from the steering mechanism, and in one case debris entering the system through a worn ignition switch rubber. Several owners repaired failures out of pocket or were told cause was undetermined. Across the complaints, no warning lights precede most failures, leaving drivers with no advance notice before losing steering control.
Same Lincoln Town Car steering reports on nearby years: 2006
Failure modes owners describe
Intermediate steering shaft corrosion and separation/failure
Lower intermediate steering shaft corrodes, breaks, or separates, causing complete loss of steering control or steering wheel detachment. Two official recalls (13V385000 and 14V704000) addressed this issue, but owners report the repairs were either not performed correctly, not applied to their VIN, or the parts were unavailable.
When: Various mileage from 40,000 to 370,000 miles; one incident at age 8 years (2007 vehicle, incident 2015)
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of steering control while driving; Steering wheel swerving back and forth uncontrollably; Steering wheel detachment or extreme looseness; Steering shaft or column snapping sound; Steering wheel difficult or stiff to turn; Steering shaft fractured or pulled apart
Repairs/costs cited: Recalls 13V385000 and 14V704000 addressed intermediate shaft; parts unavailable for extended periods; one owner repaired shaft replacement out of pocket at independent mechanic; repairs sometimes ineffective (failure recurred after shaft replacement)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recalls 13V385000 (2013) and 14V704000 (2014) for intermediate shaft corrosion/failure. However, some VINs not included despite same year/model, some states (California) not participating, and parts backlogs delayed repairs for months.
Power steering assist failure
Electronic power steering assist intermittently fails or stops functioning without warning, requiring vehicle restart to restore function. Failure may reoccur shortly after.
When: Mileage unknown to 147,224 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering assist stops functioning without warning; Power steering restores temporarily after engine restart but fails again; No warning lights illuminated
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 14V704000 (Steering)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One case linked to Campaign 14V704000; vehicle not repaired
Steering wheel and column assembly damage
Steering wheel becomes loose, fractured, or detached; steering knuckles fracture; lower bearing detaches from steering column. Often occurs suddenly without warning, even at low speeds.
When: 81,000 miles to 286,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel fractured with snap sound; Steering wheel moves in circles; Steering wheel extremely loose without warning; Steering knuckles fractured from steering wheel connection; Lower bearing detached from steering column; Loss of control of vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: One owner repaired at own expense (independent mechanic); steering shaft replaced in one case but failure recurred; one failure discovered only by personal inspection after tow-in
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturers denied recall coverage in several cases despite similar failures on same year/model
Steering system noise and vibration
Abnormal noise from steering wheel area and violent steering wheel shaking during operation; cause undetermined by dealer.
When: 231,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal noise from steering wheel; Steering wheel shakes violently
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired; cause undetermined by dealer
Debris penetration into steering system via ignition switch opening
Rubber around ignition switch wore prematurely, exposing steering wheel system and allowing debris to enter. Hard plastic surrounding soft rubber at base of shifting mechanism came loose, causing rubbing and hole in rubber.
When: Mileage unknown
Symptoms owners cite: Rubber on ignition switch worn prematurely; Hard plastic at base of shifting mechanism loosens from setting; Hole develops in soft rubber of shifting mechanism; Hard plastic and rubber rubbing together
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 9 most recent
The contact owns a 2007 Lincoln Town Car. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning properly. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the steering shaft. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact…
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Lincoln town car. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 13v385000 (steering) and contacted the dealer, who stated that the parts needed to repair the vehicle were unavailable. The dealer was unable to provide an expected date for the part to become available. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The contact had not experience a…
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Lincoln town car. The contact stated that the rubber on the ignition switch became worn prematurely and caused the steering wheel to be exposed and allow debris to penetrate the steering wheel system. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be inspected. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure and current mileage was not…
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Lincoln town car. While driving at approximately 40 MPH, the steering wheel became very stiff and made it difficult to steer the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The steering shaft was replaced, but the failure recurred. It was unknown who performed the repairs on the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 286,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Lincoln town car. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign id number 13v385000 (steering). The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that they were unable to provide an expected date for the parts needed to complete the recall to become available. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The contact had not experienced a…
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Lincoln town car. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 13v385000 (steering). The dealer was contacted and stated that the repair could not be performed because the vehicle was purchased in ohio and the state of california, in which the contact resided, was not participating in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the…
I lost complete control of steering of my Lincoln while driving ( no steering whatsoever) and fortunately the direction of the car was heading toward the shoulder of the turnpike. And I got off the road onto shoulder. Scary!! This car was recalled twice for the steering shaft and was to have been repaired. Or was it!?? This could have been a major accident, with loss of steering!! Ford needs to…
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Lincoln town car. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign id number 13v385000 (steering) and stated that the parts needed to complete the repair were unavailable. The manufacturer was notified but was unable to provide an expected date for the remedy part to become available. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Lincoln town car. While backing out of the driveway at approximately 5 MPH, a snap sound was heard and the steering wheel fractured. The steering wheel moved in circles and the contact lost control of the vehicle. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle crashed into a ditch. The air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries…
Had steering trouble with your 2007 Lincoln Town Car?
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 Lincoln Town Car?
It's a meaningful issue. 18 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 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 98,224 and 231,000 miles, with the median around 147,224. A quarter of owners report trouble before 98,224; a quarter make it past 231,000. 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/Lincoln/Town Car.
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.