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 ↗2010 Mercury Grand Marquis steering problems
severe 5 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
5
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
2crashes
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 5 steering complaints filed for the 2010 Mercury Grand Marquis, 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
Steering accounts for 21% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 3 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 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 ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
On 11/14/18 I received a "regional program 13r01" letter concerning my vehicle. It indicates "in states where heavy road salt is used, severe corrosion of the joints on the lower intermediate steering shaft can result in a steering column separation, leading to a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash" (see attachment). On 11/14/18 I visited a Ford dealer for inspection, and…
the lower bearing separates, the vehicle may experience a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash. Improper servicing of the upper intermediate shaft could cause the shaft to separate, which can then result in a loss of steering control, and increasing the risk of a crash
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 mercury grand marquis. While driving at an unknown speed, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The dealer replaced the power steering rack. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 28,546. Updated 11/21/14*cn updated 5/6/2015 *js
The road was dry and bare. I felt a right rear skid (?"black ice"). I tried to turn steering wheel to correct the skid and it was locked. It jerked out of my hands, the engine roared and the car flew to the left across the road into a large tree. I had no control over the steering wheel. On impact of the tree, there was no balloon with air bag deployment, only pungent fumes and white flecks. The…
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 mercury marquis. The contact stated that she attempted to have the vehicle repaired for NHTSA recall campaign number:13v385000. The contact was advised that the parts were not available as a result the repair could not be performed. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. There are no failures at this…
Had steering trouble with your 2010 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 2010 Mercury Grand Marquis?
It's a meaningful issue. 5 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 5 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 48,009 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2010/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.