Date: 2013-04-26
Ford
Motor Company
NHTSA Action Number: EA13004
Components: STEERING:COLUMN
Subject:
Loss of Steering Control
Opened From: 2013-04-26 - 2013-11-15
NHTSA Recall Number: 13V385
Summary
In its recall notice dated August 26, 2013, Ford Motor Company (Ford) notified NHTSA of a safety defect condition that may result in loss of steering in approximately 355,000 model year (MY) 2005 through 2011 Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles built at the St. Thomas Assembly Plant, MY 2005 through 2007 Lincoln Town Car vehicles built at the Wixom Assembly Plant, and certain MY 2008 through 2011 Lincoln Town Car vehicles built at the St. Thomas Assembly Plant and that are currently registered or were originally sold in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin (NHTSA Recall 13V-385, Ford Recall 13S08).Ford's recall addresses a corrosion related defect in the lower intermediate shaft that may result in separation of the steering column lower bearing and loss of steering control.Ford's recall will remedy the defect condition by instructing dealers to replace the lower intermediate shaft and to inspect and repair the upper intermediate shaft and steering column lower bearing as necessary.A retaining clip will be installed if the lower bearing has separated.Ford's investigation of steering column separations in the subject vehicles identified a defect condition in the lower intermediate shaft that could result in separation of the column lower bearing.According to Ford's August 26th defect report, severe corrosion of the lower intermediate shaft may cause the lower intermediate shaft swing link joint(s) to stiffen or seize.Ford determined that forces acting on the upper intermediate shaft because of seized swing links may eventually cause the upper intermediate shaft to collapse, which may result in separation of the column lower bearing and loss of steering control.Analysis of ODI complaints and Ford complaints and warranty identified 22 incidents of steering separation (12 complaints and 10 non-duplicative warranty claims) that may be related to the lower intermediate shaft defect condition.All 22 incidents involved vehicles in the recall region, where 419,210 or roughly half (52%), of the subject vehicles were sold.Ford's investigation also determined that column lower bearing separation may occur in vehicles that experienced upper intermediate shaft collapse in prior frontal impact collisions if the shaft was not properly diagnosed and repaired.Ford identified 13 steering separation incidents outside the recall region (6 complaints and 7 non-duplicative warranty claims) where 386,003 of the subject vehicles were sold.Ford did not find evidence of the lower intermediate shaft corrosion issue in these vehicles.Six of the vehicles had known prior collisions and the histories of the remaining 7 were unknown.To address concerns with possible steering separations in vehicles outside the region for safety recall 13V-385, Ford is conducting a Regional Program (13R01) to inspect and repair the steering assemblies of those vehicles as necessary.The lower intermediate shaft will be replaced only if it fails the inspection, the upper intermediate shaft will be repaired if it fails a Ford-specified measurement test.In the event the steering column lower bearings are found out of position, they will be re-seated and secured with a retaining clip.Based on Ford's field actions, this investigation is closed.The VOQs cited above can be viewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10505992, 10479893, 10477192, 10475950, 10474596
Investigation Documents
For Latest Documents related to this Investigation, visit the NHTSA Website.
Click the (+) Plus Sign
Then click Associated Document(s).
- [J2534 Pass-Thru Programmer] - TOPDON RLink J2534 is...
- [All-in-One OEM Reprogramming and Diagnostics] - When...
- [Tested, Trusted, and Proven for Accuracy] - TOPDON RLink...
- [One-Click Installation, Continuous Updates] - The exclusive...
- [Works with Windows Compatibility and OEM Software...
Last update on 2026-06-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Search NHTSA Database for Recalls
Search NHTSA Database for (TSB's) Technical Service Bulletins
Technical Service Bulletins TSB's List
Previous Investigation | Next Investigation |
- Obd2 Bluetooth Scanner Lifetime Update: Ediag Elite offers revolutionary Advantage Lifetime Updates with unlimited access to the superior 15 reset service, bidirectional testing and full system diagnostics.The Ediag Elite is an excellent Bluetooth obd2 scanner diagnostic tool ideal for diy's and private car owners
- Bidirectional Control for Quickly Locating Problems: The Bidirectional Scan tool allows you to send commands directly from your smartphone to your vehicle for active testing. This feature helps to quickly narrow down problems such as air conditioning clutches, windows, doors, sunroofs, etc., reducing diagnostic time for mechanics and helping Diy users locate faults more easily. In addition, Ediag Elite provides fault analysis and repair guidance to help you solve problems efficiently.
- 15 Maintenance Resets: The current version introduces 15 popular special features: Oil Reset, Headlight Matching, Bleeding Reset, TPMS Reset, BMS Reset, Gear Box Relearn, Throttle Learning, Injector Coding, SAS Reset and more special functions in system diagnose menu. These functions make it easy for owners to carry out the necessary maintenance and servicing, ensuring that your vehicle stays in top condition, prolonging its service life and preventing common problems and breakdowns. Note: The Special function vary by model& year, Reach us check compatibility.
- Wide Compatibility CANFD & FCA
Autoauth: Compatible with GM, Ford, Toyota, Chrysler, Honda, Mazda, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Hyundai, KIA with standard OBD2 port from 1996 to newer. More car brands and features will be released gradually. Newest Ediag Elite scanner supports CANFD Protocol and FCA cars. Note: Coverage may vary on different vehicle by model& year ,Please contact us to confirm compatibility before purchase. - Perfect for Monitoring The Health of Your Vehicle: Ediag Elite is designed to make vehicle maintenance simple and efficient. With intelligent AutoVIN quick recognition, it is easy to connect to your car without the need for manual input. Real-time data is visualized in a variety of formats, including graphs, numeric, meter displays and clear 4-in-1 data charts, allowing you to effortlessly monitor real-time data. Data logging/reporting is available for playback and further analysis.
- No Annual Fees & 2026 Upgraded CAN FD: Why pay $199/year or more for updates? The 2026 newest Kingbolen K7 obd2 scanner features have been upgraded to Lifetime Updates without subscription fees, saving you significant costs in the long run. K7 scan tool also adds the CAN FD protocol for the latest GM models (2019+), enabling faster data transfer, reducing the risk of undetected errors
- 2026 Newest Top-tier Car Scanner: Kingbolen K7 diagnostic scan tool is equipped with most capabilities for daily repair/maintenance: Wireless diagnosis via Bluetooth, Bidirectional Test, ECU Online/Offline Code, 31+ Resets, PMI for Ford, Lincoln, Mazda, Global version for 100+ brand vehicles and 17 languages, no area limit, FCA AutoAuth
- OE-Level Full Systems Scan Tool: K7 professional diagnostic scanner with Auto Vin can do one-click to scan ECUs on most of vehicles, like pcm, ecm, eps, bcm, tpms, sas, a/c system... to read/clear code, view live data, freeze frame, read ecu info. 4-in-1 data stream graphics can make data viewing more intuitive. Detailed diagnostic reports will help you easily master the car situation as it can be shared by bluetooth or email! Adding workshop information can help your customers to know more
- Bidirectional Test/Active Test & ECU Code: Stop guessing and start fixing. Bidirectional scan tool Kingbolen K7 can perform real active test that can send commands to the vehicle's ECU to drive the actuators to work, like window, rear mirrors, sunroof, door, solenoids, wipers, headlamp, etc, helping you quickly find out bad parts and pinpoint faulty issues. K7 bidirectional scanner will be a good choice to save money and time on car repairs when performing complex maintenance and repair
- 31 Reset Functions: Avoid expensive dealership visits for simple services. Experience tells us that just a small repair service may cost a lot of money. Kingbolen K7 is a professional diagnostic scanner with 31 common maintenance services like Oil /SAS/EPB/TPMS Reset, Battery Matching, ABS Bleeding, Injector Code, etc. It effectively handles most of the car reset and relearning jobs, perfect for experienced DIYers and mechanics. Note: Functions in the menu vary across vehicles. Kindly check the compatibility before purchase
- WHY S608 STANDS OUT:2026 Kingbolen S608 is the only scanner <200 bucks that offers powerful active tests on Engine, ABS, SRS, and Transmission systems. Offers 9 resets,Covers 110+ global brands with a 6.2'' larger touchscreen
- KINGBOLEN'S NEW BIDIRECTIONAL SCAN TOOL: As the 2026 upgraded version of S600, our Newest S608 obd2 scanner has the powerful Bi-directional Control on Engine, ABS, SRS, and Transmission systems. It can send commands to the ECUs of actuators for functional tests and work status checks, such as ABS, fuel injectors, adjusting throttle, coolant pumps, EVAP test, fuel trim reset, etc. No more Guesswork. Quickly identify problem components without teardown, get fuss-free results in seconds.
- 【9 HOT RESET SERVICES CAR SCANNER】Tired of costly mechanic trips for common resets? The Kingbolen S608 obd2 scanner lets you do it yourself, even for beginners—quickly and effortlessly! It offers 9 hot reset functions: Oil/EPB Reset, ABS Bleeding, SAS Calibration, DPF Regeneration, Injector Coding, BMS Matching, Throttle Adaptation, Gear Learning. Stop paying mechanics for 5-minute jobs. Save hundreds per year! 🚗*Function vary from vehicle models. reach us to check compatibility firstly!
- 【4 SYSTEM DIAGNOSTIC TOOL + FULL OBDII FUNCTIONS】Kingbolen S608 is an OBDII scanner and 4 systems diagnostic tool made for home mechanics, DIYers, and professionals. You can access Engine, ABS, SRS, Transmission fault codes, track live data in graphs, and onboard DTC library lookup to find the right troubleshooting procedure, and diagnose with full 10 OBD2 test modes to fix most of emission issues. Give your aging cars routine maintenance to avoid costly repairs, a breakdown, or even a crash.
- 【NEW CAN FD, FCA/RENAULT SGW, 140+ BRANDS】Kingbolen S608 scanner for car supports 140+ vehicle brands, 100,000+ models, 28 languages and can be used worldwide. S608 stays up-to-date with modern vehicles, allows secure access to 2017+ FCA cars and 2015+ Renault cars (📢*Need to purchase an AutoAuth/Renault account by yourself), and supports the latest CAN-FD protocol for 2019+ GM/Chrysler, enabling 2X faster data transfer and more precise diagnostics. 🚗*Check compatibility before purchase.
Last update on 2026-06-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This product presentation was made with AAWP plugin.