Steering Column problems of the 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis

My wife was driving and turning left at a slow speed when she heard a loud popping sound. It looks like a chunk of one of the steering column bearings fell out of the steering column.

Vehicle serviced at framingham Ford 12/19/13 inv 331045 3/17/14 inv 333649 regarding Ford safety recall 13s08/NHTSA recall 13v385 steering column shaft. In may 2016 I experienced occasional but unusual steering stiffness when making a right turn. Contacted framingham Ford and fmc to express my concern for steering safety as related to the safety recall repairs. Framingham Ford responded the recall & repair warrantyy had expired and instructed me to contact fmc for authorization to inspect/repair the steering assembly. Cas 104 76461 d4y3v8 documents my 2 phone contacts dated 9/ 2 & 11/ 23,16 with fmc customer relationship center to express my steering safety concerns regarding the recall 13s08 repairs. Each time the customer service representative stated 1) repair warranty for recall 13s08 had expired 2))Ford motor CO unable to offer any assistance for current steering inspection/repairs 3) there are no active recalls on my vehicle 4) I should save "out of pocket repair expenses" in the event that new recall is issued Nov 22, 2016 vehicle was stopped at the intersection of cemetery st & pond st natick, MA 01760. I turn right onto pond st travel 25 yards @20mph when I lost complete steering control the steering wheel spun freely in both directions with no response to change vehicle direction. I applied brakes to stop vehicle, placed it into park, turned on the hazard lights, and called natick police department npg log document 16-2154 marbady gulf service called by npd to tow the disabled vehicle loss of steering was due to upper steering shaft completely separating from the steering wheel. I reported the incident to Ford motor CO (see above nov23,16). Who continues not to accept my safety concern or take responsibility for the steering safety defect.

Vehicle was coming off of a highway exit ramp doing around 40-45 mph and in the middle of this turn the driver lost his control of his steering causing the vehicle to veer into oncoming traffic almost causing a head on collision. Upon inspection of vehicle found that a sterring column shaft wich is only held in place by a plastic retainer and consist of 4 clips, 2 of the clips were broken causing the column shaft to slide apart and have loss of steering. So far the only fix from Ford is to sell you a new sterring column 7w1z-3c529-a this part is designed the same way as the old part was. This issue could cause a fatal accident, I am a mechanic with a goverment agency with many of these vehicles in our fleet. I urge you to please look into this issue and ask for a recall with these vehicles before a life is lost!.

The lower retainer slipped out (retainer tabs are cracked)of the column disconnecting the steering wheel from the lower steering shaft. Obviously could not control direction of automobile - was able to stop without an event. The new assembly 'Ford part number 7w1z-3c529-a' looks to be made as the one currently in my automobile. This will allow the same scenario to happen again! I might not be so lucky the next time! I hope the replacement assembly ?Ford part number 7w1z-3c529-b? corrects this problem for our law enforcement safety. Please correct this defect for the standard models. I am requesting a review and resolve by Ford motor corporation paying to correct this serious defect. Thanks for attention to this matter. [xxx] p. S. My automobile is in the service department of team Ford of navasota, texas. There phone number is 936-825-2225 information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).