While driving my 1996 signature series Town car about 25 mis/hr in residential area the right front ball joint suspension collapsed & "rolled" under the car frame. The slow speed enabled the car to be stopped within feet. Driver & a passenger unhurt. Car towed to aaa certified garage that had been used for over 25 years. Suspension replaced as was the left one that mechanic deemed ready to also collapse. Resident municipality literally surrounded by expressways whose speed limit is 65 mis/hr. Deaths and or severe injuries would most certainly have resulted had collapse occurred while driving at allowed speed limit as this driver does. The car had 92551 carefully driven miles on it. Car always garaged and meticulously maintained by owner, dealer and the mechanic used. Worse that did happen was the almost $500 bill & being late for an annual conference being held at nearby university.

- Pennsville, NJ, USA

I own a 1996 Lincoln Town car with approximately 73,000 miles on the odometer. Recently, I have been experiencing problems with the front end wobbling. I took the car to sears automotive and discovered that the lower ball joint are defective and control arms. The problem matches exactly your recall below: NHTSA campaign id number: 98V322000 summary: Vehicle description: Certain 1996-1999 Ford Crown Victoria police, fleet, natural gas, and 1996-1999 Lincoln Town car limousine vehicles that were produced with a lower control arm ball joint containing a one piece bearing; and 1990-1996 Ford Crown Victoria police, fleet, and ngv vehicles and 1990-1996 Lincoln Town car limousine vehicles that have been serviced with either a ball joint containing the one-piece bearing or a front lower control arm containing a ball joint with a one-piece bearing. The one-piece bearing within the lower control arm ball joint can weaken slowly during use and eventually crack. This could result in separation of the ball and cap of the joint, allowing the control arm to drop to the ground. Consequence: If this occurs while the vehicle is moving, reduced steering control could occur, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy: Dealers will replace the lower control arm ball joints (2). Notes: Owner notification is expected to begin January 18, 1999. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236). We never receive notice of any recall. However, when I attempted to call Ford customer service they could not find this recall or my VIN. Therefore, I am respectfully requesting that you add our vehicle VIN to this recall for repair.

- Gig Harbor, WA, USA

Lower ball joint on the rt. Side & lt. Side fail while driving down the road, dropping car to the ground. Towed to Ford repair shop and had both replaced. Last fall the rt. One broke and was replaced. Know the lt. One.

- Murdo, SD, USA

Vehicle drifts to the right when driving 65 mph or faster. Wheel alignment was done and tires were replaced, did not remedy the problem.

- Sidney, OH, USA

Vehicle veered out of control.

- Pacific Pa, CA, USA

After 66 mph the car vibrates, took to dealer, couldn't find problem.

- Kenosha, WI, USA