1997 Lincoln TOWN CAR: complaints, problems and recalls

CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT FOR THE CONSUMER TO UNLOCK. *TT *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001736 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED CAUSING COOLANT FLUID TO LEAK. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001838 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATES UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND SPLIT PROVIDING NO PROTECTION, CAUSING INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITION INFORMATION. TS *DT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002248 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARS A "SQUEAKING" NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT SIDE. CONSUMER SUSPECTS THAT BUSHING AND/OR BALL JOINT IS DEFECTIVE AND POSES A SAFETY HAZARD. RELATED RECALL 98V322000, CONSUMER'S V.I.N. IS NOT INCLUDED.TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003724 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER CALLED HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT IF THERE IS A RECALL THEY WIL GET BACK WITH HIM. TS INTAKE MANIFOLD SPLIT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT

Owner-reported narrative. 58,213 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004327 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN DRIVING UNDER 10 MILES PER HOUR THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF. THERE IS SOMETIMES A WARNING THAT THIS IS ABOUT TO OCCUR BECAUSE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL FAIL. I EXPERIENCED THIS LAST YEAR AND UPON REPLACING THE BATTERY (WHICH WAS LESS THAN 1 YEAR OLD) THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY UNTIL NOW. THIS BATTERY IS A 60 MONTH BATTERY AND IS ONLY 10 MONTHS OLD.

Owner-reported narrative. 127,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007862 at NHTSA ↗

INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE...PART MADE OUT OF PLASTIC. DEALER STATES MANUFACTURE HAD ISSUED A "CAMPAIGN" TO REPLACE AT NO CHARGE BECAUSE THEY KNEW PART WAS FAULTY...BUT ONLY IF VEHICLE WAS IN "TAXI OR LIMO" SERVICE. I AM OUTRAGED THAT MANUFACTURE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT PART IS FAULTY BUT DOES NOT REPLACE WITH ADEQUATE REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 56000 MILES. COST TO ME TO REPAIR ALMOST $900.00. CALL TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE HAS YET TO BE RETURNED.

Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007976 at NHTSA ↗

RECALL#98V322000 WAS NOT VALID. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. *JB SCC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009109 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2000-06-12 (June 12, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES USING AFTERMARKET DRIVER'S SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES THAT WERE SOLD BY FORD PARTS DEPARTMENTS FROM JANUARY 1, THROUGH JUNE 13, 2000. THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." THE EQUIPMENT INVOLVED IS SERVICE STOCK SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES, MODEL NOS. H 9977, H 9979, T 9063, AND T 9217, BUILT BY TRW VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC. (TRW) MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 1, 1998 THROUGH MAY 21, 2000. SOME OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED AS SERVICE REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT ON THE VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THE RECALL.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THESE SEAT BELTS MAY NOT RESTRAIN AN OCCUPANT INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES AND REPLACE THE SERVICE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES THAT WERE INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES FROM JANUARY 1 THROUGH JUNE 13, 2000.

Reported: 2000-06-12 (June 12, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES USING AFTERMARKET FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES THAT WERE SOLD BY FORD PARTS DEPARTMENTS FROM JANUARY 1, THROUGH JUNE 13, 2000. THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." THE EQUIPMENT INVOLVED IS SERVICE STOCK SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES, MODEL NOS. H 9977, H 9979, T 9063, AND T 9217, BUILT BY TRW VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC. (TRW) MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 1, 1998 THROUGH MAY 21, 2000. SOME OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED AS SERVICE REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT ON THE VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THE RECALL.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THESE SEAT BELTS MAY NOT RESTRAIN AN OCCUPANT INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES AND REPLACE THE SERVICE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES THAT WERE INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES FROM JANUARY 1 THROUGH JUNE 13, 2000.

Reported: 2001-10-03 (October 3, 2001)

EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MODULE REPLACED AFTER APRIL 5, 2000. THE REPLACEMENT DRIVER'S AIR BAG MODULE INFLATOR MAY HAVE INSUFFICIENT WELDS THAT COULD PREVENT PROPER INFLATION OF THE AIR BAG.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MAY NOT PROPERLY DEPLOY WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN LESS THAN THE INTENDED LEVEL OF OCCUPANT PROTECTION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 5, 2001. 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 1-866-436-7332.

Reported: 2007-08-03 (August 3, 2007)

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

Reported: 1996-11-12 (November 12, 1996)

TWO BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE DRIVER AIR BAG TO THE STEERING WHEEL WERE NOT INSTALLED DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL COLLISION, THE AIR BAG MODULE WOULD STAY IN POSITION DURING DEPLOYMENT. HOWEVER, THE MODULE COULD LEAVE THE STEERING WHEEL CAVITY FOLLOWING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES AND INSTALL ANY BOLTS THAT ARE MISSING.

Reported: 1998-12-16 (December 16, 1998)

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).