1998 Lincoln TOWN CAR: complaints, problems and recalls

I HAVE A 1998 LINCOLN TOWNCAR. ON JANUARY 11TH, MY CAR WAS BEING SERVICED FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THE MECHANIC NOTIFIED ME THAT THE HEADGASKET WAS LEAKING AT THE 4TH CYLANDER AND ADVISED ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CHARGED ME $300.00 AND STATED IN WRITING THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE HEAD GASKET. ON JANUARY 19, MY CAR STOPPED RUNNING AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE NEXT DAY I WAS NOTIFIED THAT IT WAS MY HEADGASKET AND THEY OVERLOOKED THE LEAK AT THE EXACT LOCATION I TOLD THEM BASED ON MY MECHANICS ADVISE. NOW THEY …

Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003294 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE TRAVELING 10 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION BRAKES FAILED, RESULTING IN VEHICLE HITTING CURVE TO STOP. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004744 at NHTSA ↗

MY 1998 LINCOLN TOWN CAR (APPROX 35,000 MILES) DRAMATICALLY PULLS TO THE RIGHT DURING BRAKING WHEN ROAD CONDITIONS ARE WET AND THE CAR IS TRAVELLING IN EXCESS OF 40 MILES PER HOUR. THIS PROBLEM IS ADDRESSED IN FORDMOTOR COMPANY'S REPAIR BULLITEN 98-13-4 DTD 07/06/98. NOTWITHSTANDING HAVING THE CAR REPAIRED BY AN ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC (NAPA APPROVED) IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SERVICE BULLITEN THE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURED AFTER 3,000 MILES. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION WHICH COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, PARTICULARLY SINCE THE PR…

Owner-reported narrative. 30,920 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005269 at NHTSA ↗

HEATER CORE IN MY 1998 LINCLON T.C. HAS BEEN REPLACED SIX TIMES IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS. LAST MAY 2002 I HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED AGAIN, YESTERDAY I HAD TO HAVE IT OR WAS GOING TO HAVE IT REPLACED AGAIN BUT THE FORD DEALER IN ONTARIO SAID IT IS NOT COVERED ANY MORE EVEN THO IT HAS A ONE YEAR OR 12,000 MILE WARRANTY THEY WILL NOT HONER IT.I AM THE SECOND OWNER AND THIS WILL BE MY SECOND HEATER CORE.THE SAME FORD DEALER REPLACED IT MY FIRST ONE.ITS BEEN 8 MONTHS SINCE THEY REPLACED IT.FORD DEALER SAID IT HAD BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES ALREADY WH…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005426 at NHTSA ↗

WATER LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE, THE CAUSE WAS UNKNOWN. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014907 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017212 at NHTSA ↗

TWO BOLTS IN THE STEERING BOX HAD BECOME COMPLETELY BROKEN. THEY APPEARED TO HAVE NOT BEEN TIGHTENED PROPERLY BY THE FACTORY, THE LOCK TIGHTS WERE VISIBLE ON THE THREAD, AND PORTIONS OF THE BROKEN BOLTS WERE EXTRACTED FROM THE GEAR BOX. *NLM *SCC

Owner-reported narrative. 66,545 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017457 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HEARD THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE SQUEAKING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FRONT CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB *TS *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019433 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: 2000-07-18 (July 18, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES HAVE JACKING INSTRUCTIONS WHICH, IF FOLLOWED, COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE OPERATOR TO PLACE THE JACK ON A FRAME WELD WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RAISE A REAR WHEEL. IF THE VEHICLE IS JACKED UP WITH THE JACK PLACED ON THE FRAME WELD AND IF THE VEHICLE IS FREE TO ROLL (WHEELS NOT BLOCKED OR CHOCKED), THE JACK COULD YIELD AND THE VEHICLE MAY DROP SUDDENLY.

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS AND ANY PORTION OF THE OPERATOR'S BODY IS UNDER THE VEHICLE, THE POTENTIAL FOR PERSONAL INJURY EXISTS.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A REVISED JACK INSTRUCTION AND STOWAGE CARD AND JACK WARNING LABEL, AS WELL AS A SUPPLEMENT TO THE OWNER GUIDE.

Reported: 2000-12-12 (December 12, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN LIMOUSINES STRETCHED OVER 60 INCHES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 109, "NEW PNEUMATIC TIRES," AND NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS."

Consequence: THE VEHICLE WEIGHT COULD EXCEED THE MAXIMUM LOAD RATING FOR THE TIRE, INCREASING THE RISK OF PREMATURE TIRE WEAR OR BLOWOUT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL 5 TIRES (INCLUDING THE SPARE TIRE) WITH MICHELIN TIRES (225/70R16 107T REINFORCED WHITE SIDEWALL) WITH A SUFFICIENTLY HIGHER LOAD RATING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 10, 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 1-800-248-0186.

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: 1998-02-10 (February 10, 1998)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TEXT AND/OR GRAPHICS FOR THE VEHICLE HEADLAMP AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Consequence: IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY BE CONFUSED BY THE AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES CAUSING THE HEADLAMPS TO BE IMPROPERLY AIMED.

Remedy: OWNER GUIDES CONTAINING REVISED AIMING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES.

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).