NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
143 reports73,250 miles · Apr 1, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control
I AM CERTIFIED SAFETY PROFESSIONAL WITH OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE WORKING IN THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY FIELD. TWICE WITHIN THE LAST WEEK, MY VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 5000 RPM WHILE PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND NOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. I HAD TO QUICKLY SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL TO AVO…
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I AM CERTIFIED SAFETY PROFESSIONAL WITH OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE WORKING IN THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY FIELD. TWICE WITHIN THE LAST WEEK, MY VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 5000 RPM WHILE PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND NOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. I HAD TO QUICKLY SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL TO AVOID ENTERING THE INTERSECTION INTO CROSSING TRAFFIC. BRAKES WOULD NOT HOLD. A FEW SECONDS AFTER SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL THE ENGINE DECELERATED BACK TO NORMAL ON ITS OWN. CARPET WAS NOT THE ISSUE. THIS IS A SERIOUS MALFUNCTION THAT COULD HAVE KILLED ME OR SOMEONE ELSE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10393918
55,000 miles · Jul 30, 2010
Visibility
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD THE WIPER MOTOR REPLACED TWICE IN A NINE MONTH PERIOD. WHEN THE MOTOR MALFUNCTIONED DURING RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD. THE LOCAL MECHANIC THAT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE STATED THAT SEVERAL FORD OWNERS ALSO HAD DEFEC…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD THE WIPER MOTOR REPLACED TWICE IN A NINE MONTH PERIOD. WHEN THE MOTOR MALFUNCTIONED DURING RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD. THE LOCAL MECHANIC THAT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE STATED THAT SEVERAL FORD OWNERS ALSO HAD DEFECTIVE WIPER MOTORS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000. UPDATED 03/16/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDSHIELD MOTOR STOPPED WORKING THREE TIMES WHILE DRIVING. UPDATED 05/06/11
NHTSA ODI #10346366
16,400 miles · Jul 6, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control
CAR ACCELERATION ON ITS OWN, ESTIMATED START END OF DEC.2009. ESTIMATES THAT IT HAPPENS ONCE A MONTH, NO CLUE AS TO WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. GOING TO SLOW DOWN / PARK, CAR STARTS TO ACCELERATE ON ITS' OWN., HAVE TO PRESS HARD ON BRAKE AND USE 2 FEET.. BROUGHT CAR INTO DEALER 4 TIMES BETWEEN JAN THRU JUNE , AT THIS POINT. DEALER S…
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CAR ACCELERATION ON ITS OWN, ESTIMATED START END OF DEC.2009. ESTIMATES THAT IT HAPPENS ONCE A MONTH, NO CLUE AS TO WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. GOING TO SLOW DOWN / PARK, CAR STARTS TO ACCELERATE ON ITS' OWN., HAVE TO PRESS HARD ON BRAKE AND USE 2 FEET.. BROUGHT CAR INTO DEALER 4 TIMES BETWEEN JAN THRU JUNE , AT THIS POINT. DEALER SAYS CAN'T FIND ANYTHING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10341654
99,300 miles · Jun 2, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
NO ABNORMAL OPERATION NOTED BEFORE EVENT. THE FAILURE IS SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT ON A 4.6L ENGINE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE IN A 2 WEEK TIME PERIOD ON THE SAME CYLINDER DAMAGING THE SPARK PLUG AND COIL PACK. FIRST INSTANCE WAS THE FACTORY INSTALLED SPARK PLUG. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10334212
30,351 miles · Apr 13, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UP TO 50 MPH ALTHOUGH THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN EVEN AFTER THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND CONTINUED TO COAST UP THE HILL UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO A CURB. THE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UP TO 50 MPH ALTHOUGH THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN EVEN AFTER THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND CONTINUED TO COAST UP THE HILL UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO A CURB. THERE WERE NO INJURIES BUT A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE VEHICLE BUT NO FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD GET BACK WITH HIM FOR AN INVESTIGATION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 30,351.
NHTSA ODI #10325507
26,000 miles · Mar 30, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN UTILIZING THE CRUISE CONTROL AT 60 MPH AND HIGHER, THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARRANT. HE WAS ABLE TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO IDLE VIOLENTLY AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN UTILIZING THE CRUISE CONTROL AT 60 MPH AND HIGHER, THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARRANT. HE WAS ABLE TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO IDLE VIOLENTLY AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL USING THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. HE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AND THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO EITHER THE FLOOR MATS OR DRIVER ERROR WHERE THE CONTACT WAS MISTAKENLY HITTING THE CRUISE CONTROL RESUME BUTTON. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,000. UPDATED 6/3/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED TAPPING THE BRAKE DIDN'T ALWAYS RELEASE THE CRUISE CONTROL. UPDATED 06/17/10*JB
NHTSA ODI #10322777
40,000 miles · Feb 25, 2010
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, MY CRUISE CONTROL WILL ACTIVATE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATE. I HAD BEEN USING THE CONTROL BUT HAD DE-ACTIVATED IT BUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE WHICH LEAVES THE UNIT "ON" BUT NOT ACTIVATED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10314250
17,000 miles · Feb 9, 2010
Power Train
I HAVE HAD 37 INSTANCES OF ENGINE ACCELERATION WHEN I BRAKE WITH MY 2006 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE FIRST INSTANCE WAS IN MAY, 2007. I DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND THE ENGINE FIRST SLOWS TO APPROX 850 - 900 RPM THEN BEGINS RUNNING UP TO OVER 2500 RPM. THE DEALER SAYS I'M HITTING THE BRAKE AND THE GAS AT THE SAME TIME. I'VE T…
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I HAVE HAD 37 INSTANCES OF ENGINE ACCELERATION WHEN I BRAKE WITH MY 2006 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE FIRST INSTANCE WAS IN MAY, 2007. I DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND THE ENGINE FIRST SLOWS TO APPROX 850 - 900 RPM THEN BEGINS RUNNING UP TO OVER 2500 RPM. THE DEALER SAYS I'M HITTING THE BRAKE AND THE GAS AT THE SAME TIME. I'VE TRIED DOING THAT AND IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. I SUSPECT A COMPUTER MALFUNCTION WHERE THE BRAKING IS TRIGGERING A COMPUTER-INITIATED ENGINE ACCELERATION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10307743
34,640 miles · Nov 5, 2009
Structure
WATER COMING THROUGH AIR VENT BELOW WINDSHIELD AND CAUSING WET FLOOR UNDER PASSENGERS SEAT AND BEHIND THE SEAT ON FLOOR WHEN IN HARD RAIN OR GOING THROUGH CAR WASH. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10291058
27,000 miles · Jun 16, 2009
Vehicle Speed Control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, THE GEAR LURCHES FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CONTACT HAS TO SWITCH THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL TO STOP THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAU…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, THE GEAR LURCHES FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CONTACT HAS TO SWITCH THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL TO STOP THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,000. UPDATED 07/17/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED ON 2 OCCASIONS, HE STARTED THE VEHICLE; PUT IT IN DRIVE AND THE MOTOR RACED AND THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD. HE HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE CONSUMERS CONCERN. UPDATED 07/17/09.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10273976
Official recalls
2Nov 5, 2014
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria, 2005-2011 Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles manufactured March 23, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and 2005-2011 Lincoln Town Car vehicles manufactured March 8, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and on which the upper intermediate shaft was serviced during the course of safety recall 13V-385. The prior repairs may not have been correctly performed.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: Ford will notify the owners of vehicles whose repair records reflect that the upper intermediate steering shaft was repaired during the course of the prior recall 13V-385. Dealers will inspect and replace the upper immediate shaft if necessary free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S25.
Aug 29, 2013
Ford is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria (including Crown Victoria Police Interceptors), Mercury Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Car vehicles. The affected vehicles 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, and Wisconsin. Severe corrosion can seize the lower intermediate shaft which may cause the upper intermediate shaft to collapse and the steering column lower bearing to separate.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the lower bearing separates, the vehicle may experience a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners and dealers will replace the lower intermediate shaft, free of charge. The upper intermediate shaft and steering column lower bearing will be inspected to identify any damage that may have occurred as a result of lower intermediate shaft corrosion, and repaired or replaced as necessary. If the steering column lower bearing has separated, a retainer clip will be installed. The recall began on October 23, 2013. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall number is 13S08.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE14021 · Steering Column Shaft Obstruction
Opened Jul 7, 2014 · Closed Nov 21, 2014
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System; Steering
On July 7, 2014 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a preliminary evaluation based on five complaints (VOQs) alleging incidents ofinterference between dislodged exhaust manifold heat shields and the lower steering shaft/knuckle, including one alleging the interference resulted in a crash on a highway entrance ramp. Since opening this investigation, ODI has received four additional owner complaints.One indicated that the shield was removed before binding could occur.The other three occurred at low speed and produced some momentary steering binding that was overcome by the driver when additional steering effort was applied.Once the shield was repaired or removed, the steering returned to normal.The single incident ODI identified as a possible crash (VOQ No. 10578715) related to this condition could not be verified and the description of the crash in the complaint was not supported by the police accident report.No additional crash allegations have been identified related to the alleged defect condition.Information provided by Ford in its September 10, 2014 response to ODI's information request letter identified 10 additional incidents resulting in a low rate of 1.6 incidents per 100,000 vehicles sold in vehicles ranging from 7 to 11 years in service.Six of these incidents were reported by a single source, a state police fleet that corrected the problems in March 2011 and has not reported any additional failures since.Ford also reported 5 warranty claims, but these incidents occurred at very low mileages and appeared to be caused by loose or missing heat shield attachment hardware rather than the corrosion condition that was the cause of the more recent incidents and the focus of this investigation.This investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted.The following VOQs are associated with this investigation:10643753, 10615584, 10611362, 10610451, 10578715, 10479681, 10471833, 10317493.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System
On July 7, 2014 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a preliminary evaluation based on five complaints (VOQs) alleging incidents ofinterference between dislodged exhaust manifold heat shields and the lower steering shaft/knuckle, including one alleging the interference resulted in a crash on a highway entrance ramp. Since opening this investigation, ODI has received four additional owner complaints.One indicated that the shield was removed before binding could occur.The other three occurred at low speed and produced some momentary steering binding that was overcome by the driver when additional steering effort was applied.Once the shield was repaired or removed, the steering returned to normal.The single incident ODI identified as a possible crash (VOQ No. 10578715) related to this condition could not be verified and the description of the crash in the complaint was not supported by the police accident report.No additional crash allegations have been identified related to the alleged defect condition.Information provided by Ford in its September 10, 2014 response to ODI's information request letter identified 10 additional incidents resulting in a low rate of 1.6 incidents per 100,000 vehicles sold in vehicles ranging from 7 to 11 years in service.Six of these incidents were reported by a single source, a state police fleet that corrected the problems in March 2011 and has not reported any additional failures since.Ford also reported 5 warranty claims, but these incidents occurred at very low mileages and appeared to be caused by loose or missing heat shield attachment hardware rather than the corrosion condition that was the cause of the more recent incidents and the focus of this investigation.This investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted.The following VOQs are associated with this investigation:10643753, 10615584, 10611362, 10610451, 10578715, 10479681, 10471833, 10317493.
Steering
On July 7, 2014 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a preliminary evaluation based on five complaints (VOQs) alleging incidents ofinterference between dislodged exhaust manifold heat shields and the lower steering shaft/knuckle, including one alleging the interference resulted in a crash on a highway entrance ramp. Since opening this investigation, ODI has received four additional owner complaints.One indicated that the shield was removed before binding could occur.The other three occurred at low speed and produced some momentary steering binding that was overcome by the driver when additional steering effort was applied.Once the shield was repaired or removed, the steering returned to normal.The single incident ODI identified as a possible crash (VOQ No. 10578715) related to this condition could not be verified and the description of the crash in the complaint was not supported by the police accident report.No additional crash allegations have been identified related to the alleged defect condition.Information provided by Ford in its September 10, 2014 response to ODI's information request letter identified 10 additional incidents resulting in a low rate of 1.6 incidents per 100,000 vehicles sold in vehicles ranging from 7 to 11 years in service.Six of these incidents were reported by a single source, a state police fleet that corrected the problems in March 2011 and has not reported any additional failures since.Ford also reported 5 warranty claims, but these incidents occurred at very low mileages and appeared to be caused by loose or missing heat shield attachment hardware rather than the corrosion condition that was the cause of the more recent incidents and the focus of this investigation.This investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted.The following VOQs are associated with this investigation:10643753, 10615584, 10611362, 10610451, 10578715, 10479681, 10471833, 10317493.
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