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Campaign 13V385 Posted August 29, 2013 355,000 units

2005-2011 Mercury Grand Marquis Recall 13V385: Steering

RN
Reviewed by the RecallNotify editorial team
Published June 2, 2026

Recall 13V385 covers 355,000 2005-2011 Mercury Grand Marquis, Crown Victoria and Town Car vehicles for steering corrosion. Free repair at a franchised Mercury dealer.

Mercury is recalling 355,000 2005-2011 Grand Marquis, Crown Victoria, and Town Car vehicles under recall 13V385 because severe corrosion can seize the lower intermediate steering shaft. If the lower bearing separates, the driver can lose steering, which increases crash risk, and the dealer repair will be free once available.

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What's wrong?

On 2005-2011 Grand Marquis, Crown Victoria, and Town Car vehicles, the intermediate steering shaft is the mechanical link between the steering column and the steering gear. When the driver turns the wheel, this shaft carries that rotation through the column so the front wheels respond. The lower bearing helps hold the column in place while the shaft turns.

On affected vehicles, severe corrosion can seize the lower intermediate shaft. Once that shaft binds, steering force no longer moves cleanly through the column. The upper intermediate shaft can collapse, and the lower bearing in the steering column can separate. That leaves the steering column components out of position and prevents the system from transmitting driver input as designed.

There is no warning sign before failure. Do not wait for a dashboard light, noise, or steering feel change before checking whether your VIN is included.

Who's affected?

Spans 3 full-size sedan nameplates across 7 model years, all tied to the steering system.

2011 Mercury Grand Marquis steering system
2011 Ford Crown Victoria steering system
2011 Lincoln Town Car steering system
2010 Mercury Grand Marquis steering system
2010 Lincoln Town Car steering system
Units affected355,000

A matching year and model does not confirm inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific sedan is included.

What's the safety risk?

A separated lower steering bearing can cause loss of steering and increase the risk of a crash. There is no warning sign listed before failure, so schedule the recall repair soon instead of waiting for a symptom. Repair will be free at any franchised Mercury dealer once available.

What should I do?

  1. Check your VIN to confirm your 2005-2011 Grand Marquis, Crown Victoria, or Town Car is included in this recall.
  2. Contact a franchised Mercury dealer to ask whether the free steering repair is open for your VIN.
  3. Schedule the lower intermediate shaft replacement and steering-column inspection that addresses corrosion linked to loss of steering.
  4. Bring the recall notice if Ford has mailed one. If not, reference recall number 13V385 when you call.
  5. Drive cautiously until the repair is complete, and contact the dealer if steering feels stiff or abnormal.

What happens at the repair

At the dealer, a Mercury technician will replace the lower intermediate shaft once the dealer repair is available. The technician will also inspect the upper intermediate shaft and steering column lower bearing for corrosion damage, then repair or replace those parts as needed. If the steering column lower bearing has separated, the dealer will install a retainer clip. Parts and labor will be covered under the recall.

Timeline

August 29, 2013 NHTSA published the recall
October 23, 2013 Owner notification mailed

Frequently asked questions

What is recall 13V385?

Recall 13V385 covers 355,000 2005-2011 Grand Marquis, Crown Victoria, and Town Car vehicles with steering shaft corrosion in listed states. The lower intermediate shaft can seize, which can collapse the upper shaft and separate the steering column lower bearing. Mercury dealers replace the lower intermediate shaft for free.

What should I do if my 2005-2011 Mercury Grand Marquis, Crown Victoria, or Town Car is on this recall?

Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 13V385. If it is, contact a franchised Mercury dealer and ask for recall repair 13S08. The dealer replaces the lower intermediate shaft and inspects related steering parts for damage at no cost.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to fix the safety defect at no cost. For recall 13V385, the dealer replaces the lower intermediate shaft for free, then inspects the upper intermediate shaft and steering column lower bearing and repairs related damage as needed.

What is the safety risk?

The safety risk is loss of steering. NHTSA campaign 13V385 says severe corrosion can seize the lower intermediate shaft. If the steering column lower bearing separates, the driver can lose steering control, increasing crash risk. The repair path is a free dealer replacement and inspection.

What if I bought this vehicle used?

The free recall repair still applies. Ownership history does not cancel a federal safety recall. Check your VIN because the year, model, and state history are not enough to confirm inclusion. If your VIN is included, reference recall 13V385 or Mercury recall 13S08 when you call the dealer.

More information

NHTSA campaign pagenhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/13V385000
Mercury customer service1-866-436-7332
NHTSA recall #13V385
NHTSA recall # (full)13V385000

Source documents

This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →