Ford Recall on Panthers

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SAFETY RECALL
04S16 Certain 2003 Model Year Ford Crown Victoria Police/Commercial and Lincoln Town Car Vehicles Sold to Fleets-Rear Axle Shaft Fracture

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Frank M. Ligon
Director
Service Engineering Operations
Ford Customer Service Division

Ford Motor Company
P.O. Box 1904
Dearborn, Michigan 48121

July 2004

TO: All U.S. Ford and Lincoln Mercury Dealers

SUBJECT: Safety Recall 04S16:
Certain 2003 Model Year Ford Crown Victoria Police/Commercial and Lincoln Town Car Vehicles Sold to Fleets
Rear Axle Shaft Fracture


AFFECTED VEHICLES


Certain 2003 model year Ford Crown Victoria Police/Commercial (Body codes P70, P71 and P72) vehicles built at the St. Thomas Assembly Plant from October 10, 2001 through December 4, 2002.
Certain 2003 model year Lincoln Town Car vehicles sold to fleets (Body codes M84 and M81 ordered with FIN code) built at the Wixom Assembly Plant from November 14, 2001 through December 3, 2002.
Affected vehicles are identified in OASIS. In addition, for a list of vehicles assigned to your dealership, visit https://web.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.com. This information will be available on July 8, 2004.

REASON FOR THIS SAFETY RECALL

Due to significant differences in vehicle design and customer usage, the affected vehicles typically input higher loads into the vehicle chassis during fleet usage, overloading the wheel bearings and axles. This may lead to early bearing failure and ultimately, axle shaft fracture. In the event of axle shaft fracture, the vehicle would lose drive function and would coast to a stop. Loss of drive function could lead to a vehicle crash.

SERVICE ACTION

At no charge to the vehicle owner, dealers are to install an axle repair kit consisting of new rear axle shafts, rear wheel bearings, and rear axle seals. This must be performed on all of the affected vehicles in your inventory as well as vehicles that have been delivered to customers.

Based on our records, vehicles that were previously repaired with axle repair kit 3W1Z-4A109-AA (introduced with Technical Service Bulletin #03-05-05) do not require any further repair and are not included in this program.

PLEASE NOTE:

Correct all vehicles in stock before delivery. Federal law requires dealers to complete any outstanding safety recall service before a new vehicle is delivered to the buyer or lessee. Violation of this requirement by a dealer could result in a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per vehicle.