Recieved information regarding the lost of steering in the 2005 - 2008 Ford Crown Victoria police interceptors that police agencies where experiencing. After contacting our local dealer and Ford, we were provided with a picture of a light blue/green bearing that is under the dash. We had this vehicle inspected and it was found to have a defect in this bearing which is near the locking column.

- Woodstock, VA, USA

I was pulling into my driveway, the steering wheel would not turn. If I would not have been able to stop, I would have ran down my mailbox and drove into the yard. After opening the hood on my 2008 crown vic, I noticed the heat shield from the exhaust manifold was jammed between the steering knuckle and the exhaust manifold. It had rusted off the bolts and fell in between while I was in motion. The 2005 I know own and purchased in Sept, after driving it all the way from hudon, I opened the hood when I got home and noticed half of the heat shield in the same spot. The other half was gone. I would say if this were to have gotten lodged in a vehicle that has the steering knuckle rust and failure, it could easily break the knuckle while you are trying to steer the vehicle seeing the shield is concave in shape and does not collapse. I would consider this a priority item to check on all 2005-2008 police interceptor crown vics because it is the most used police vehicle during this time period. Just a suggestion. Knowing the issue happened to me, I would not want to see anyone get seriously injured or killed from something I knew was wrong with these vehicles and didn't tell anyone...updated 05/20/14 updated 05/28/2014

- Valley City , OH, USA

Inspection found dislocated bushing.

- Harrisburg Pe, PA, USA

Inspection found dislocated bushing.

- Harrisburg, PA, USA

Inspection found dislocated bushing.

- Harrisburg, PA, USA

Catastrophic failure of the steering column; the steering column retaining ring failed. Binding if the lower and middle universal joints and believe it is heat related? steering shaft not traveling on a true axis and a result is the retaining ring is being worn and eventually wears out.

- Rockville, MD, USA

Catastrophic failure of the steering column; the steering column retaining ring failed. Binding of lower and middle universal joints and believe it is heat related. Steering shaft not traveling on a true axis and a result is the retaining ring is being worn and eventually wears out.

- Rockville, MD, USA

Catastrophic failure of the steering column; the steering column retaining ring failed. Binding of lower and middle universal joints and believe it is heat related. Steering shaft not traveling on a true axis and a result is the retaining ring is being worn and eventually wears out.

- Rockville, MD, USA

Catastrophic failure of the steering column; the steering column retaining ring failed. Binding of lower and middle universal joints and believe it is heat related. Steering shaft not traveling on a true axis and a result is the retaining ring is being worn and eventually wears out.

- Rockville, MD, USA

Catastrophic failure of the steering column; the steering column retaining ring failed. Binding of lower and middle universal joints and believe it is heat related. Steering shaft not traveling on a true axis and a result is the retaining ring is being worn and eventually wears out.

- Rockville, MD, USA

On or about 7/23/12 was turning vehicle into a parking lot when steering locked. Forced steering to return. Went to move vehicle again and steering locked again. Upon inspection, saw heat shield had detached from manifold along side steering column and jammed between exhaust manifold and steering knuckle...updated 05/20/14 updated 05/28/2014

- Tinley Park, IL, USA

The steering column begins to separate in the upper portion of the steering column tube. The steering wheel binds and is very difficult to move from left to right. We have experienced in a like vehicle that the shafts in the upper column actually separated and the vehicle had no mechanical connection to the front wheels. The operator was able to bring the vehicle to a safe stop but they had just begun to accelerate from a traffic light when the shafts separated and the vehicle speed was minimal.

- Miami, FL, USA

Steering wheel disengaged while driving. Wheel rotated more than 360 degrees and had no effect on the car direction. Almost injured pedestrian (police officer) but was making a turn from a complete stop so was able to stop car since was only going slow. I was coming back from a two hour trip from cape cod and if this would have happened on the highway who knows what could have happened. Ford service manager said that the shaft fell out of the steering column and this should not happen unless car was in a collision. Which it wasn't. my personal mechanic who has more than 50 years of experience repairing Ford also had never seen this happen before. Ford did not grant me any dispensation and I paid for the repair ($1381.75). When I called Ford they said there was nothing they could do and could not give me the name of anyone in the company that I could speak with further about this. My call was answered by a service company in Florida and they apparently have no information about who at the Ford company headquaters I couold address this issue to. It seems they have made it virtually impossible for a citizen to obtain appropriate contact information. This wasn't officially reported to the police but since it happened directly outside the local police station, and the horn alarm also went off, about a dozen police offices (including the chief) witnessed the event.

- Marblehead, MA, USA