1990 Lincoln Town Car

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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).

Defect. CORROSION OF THE HOOD LATCH STRIKER PLATE CAUSES DETACHMENT OF THE PLATE FROM THE HOOD ASSEMBLY RESULTING IN AN UNEXPECTED OPENING OF THE HOOD WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN.

Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN REDUCE THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROAD INCREASING THE POTENTIAL OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HOOD INNER PANEL REINFORCEMENT AND A NEW, GALVANIZED HOOD LATCH STRIKER PLATE.

Defect. TIRE PLACARD MAY CONTAIN INCORRECT GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATINGS AND TIRE INFORMATION.

Risk. LIMOUSINES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 110 AND CONSUMERMIGHT UNKNOWINGLY OVERLOAD THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF PLACARD MISINFORMATION.

Remedy. INSTALL REVISED TIRE PLACARDS.

Defect. GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATINGS AND TIRE INFORMATION MAY BE INCORRECT ON LABELS.

Risk. VEHICLES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH 49 CFR PART 567.

Remedy. INSTALL REVISED CERTIFICATION LABELS.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE HOOD WAS RAISED. SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE SPOTTED COMING FROM THE PLUG ON THE ALTERNATOR. THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED AND THE PLUG REMOVED. THE FIRE SMOTHERED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY UNDER GOING INSPECTION AND REPAIR.

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED:ON 5-19-04 HIS 1990 LINCOLN TOWN CAR BURNED WHILE IT WAS PARKED. WITHIN A HALF OF AN HOUR THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THERE WERE 3 DIFFERENT INVESTIGATIONS DONE;. AN ELECTRICAL AND AND ENGINEERING INVESTIGATION, AND ONE DONE BY THE TAMPA FIRE DEPARTMENT AND FOUND NO EXACT FAULT. . HE SAID THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 3 OTHER CARS TOTALED, AND 4 OTHERS DAMAGED DURING THE FIRE. THE HOOD MELTED AWAY. THE CAR HAD ONLY 76,000 MILES ON IT AND HAD BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. HE DID SUBMIT MAINTENANCE REPORTS TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY, AND WAS NOT LIABLE FOR THE FIRE.*AK

DT: CONSUMER HAD A 1990 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WHICH CAUGHT ON FIRE. WHEN CONSUMER CAME HOME HE PARKED THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE, WENT INSIDE AND ATE, THEN A NEIGHBOR POUNDED AT DOOR TO LET HIM KNOW HIS HOUSE WAS ON FIRE. THE POLICE, FIRE DEPARTMENT, FIRE MARSHAL AND INSURANCE ADJUSTERS CAME OUT AND COULDN'T FIND THE REASON THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE BURNED WITH SUCH INTENSITY THAT PIECES LEFT WERE CHARRED AND NOTHING REMAINED. A FEW FIREMEN WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL DUE TO THE FIRE. *AK

CONSUMER REPORTED THAT ALL FOUR DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. ONE OF THE VEHICLE WINDOWS HAD TO BE LEFT OPEN TO GAIN ENTRANCE INTO THE VEHICLE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMERTHAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *AK

CONSUMER PARKED THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE, AND IN MINUTES WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE BURNED COMPLETELY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT NOTED THAT THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. *AK......... CONSUME RCLAIMED FIRE APPEARED TO BE DUE TO MECHANICAL FAILURE IN CAR , POSSIBLY BRAKES. *AK

THIS CAR IS ABOUT A PIECE OF JUNK. PAINT IS ALMOST GONE, 3 OF 4 POWER WINDOWS DONT WORK, WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR HAS QUIT TWICE, REAR SUSPENSION FAILED, RADIO NON-FUNCTIONAL, MESSAGE CENTER SAYS THAT IT IS -76 DEGREES AT MOST TIMES WITH 400 MILES UNTIL EMPTY (NOT TRUE). *AK

VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING ON HOT DAYS WHILE DRIVING.AND WHEN DRIVEN ON HOT DAYS AND IS PARKED WILL NOT START AGAIN , UNLESS IT COOLS DOWN. REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE , WHICH I WAS TOLD WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION IN CALIFORNIA. *AK

ON MAY 9TH MY CAR ENGINE BURST IN TO FLAMES WHILE PARKED AND OFF.

ON FEBRUARY 1, 2003, KIMBERLY LOVE WAS DRIVING A 1990 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WITH FAYE LOVE(PASSENGER). WHILE DRIVING EAST ON INTERSTATE 26 IN COLUMBIA, SC AT 60 MILES PER HOUR, THE HOOD FLEW UP, SHATTERING THE WINDSHIELD. THE HOOD WAS BENT AND THE FRONT WINDOW SHATTERED. THE LATCH IS BROKEN ALSO. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE SHAKEN BUT ABLE TO PULL TO SAFETY. *JB

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 1/2 HOUR, AND THEN PARKED. 1 AND 1/2 HOURS LATER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND BURNED COMPLETE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE IS TOTALED, POSSIBLY ENGINE RELATED. *YH

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH HOOD FLEW UP WHICH IMMEDIATELY DISFIGURED/ DENTED, AND STRUCK THE ROOF. ONCE THE HOOD BENT BACK, IT STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD, SHATTERING IT. OWNER HAD TO PULL OVER, AND TIE HOOD DOWN BEFORE DRIVING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP RIGHT AFTER THAT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HOOD SUDDENLY FLEW OPEN. MECHANIC INDICATED LATCH PLATE WAS CORRODED.*AK

INTRUMENTAL PANEL IS NOT VISIBLE WHEN DRIVING IN DAYTIME. UNABLE TO CHECK SPEED/ GAS,ETC.*AK

INSTRUMENTAL PANEL IS NOT LEGIBLE IN THE DAY TIME. UNABLE TO SEE HOW FAST VEHICLE IS GOING, AND HOW FULL GAS TANK IS. *AK *YH

VEHICLE WAS GOING 40-45MPH IN THE DARK AND RAIN, AND VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. CONSUMER SUSTAINED SPINAL INJURIES. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK PHOTOS ATTACHED. *TT

LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD DOESN'T APPEAR AT DAY, BUT AT NIGHT THERE IS LIGHT. DASHBOARD IS DIGITAL. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASE DATE OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

STEERING GEAR BOX FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING,CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO OFF ROAD. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK THE DEALER STATED THAT BOLTS SECURING STEERING BOX PULLED THROUGH RUSTY FRAME CAUSING STEERING FAILURE. *YH

THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. EVERYTIME YOU WOULD TURN THE CAR OFF IT WAS VERY HAD TO RESTART.

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH CONSUMER SAW SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SHE PULLED OVER, AND FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT FIRE WAS CAUSED BY WIRING OR THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT . VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK *SLC

DASHLIGHTS WERE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH TO SEE SPEEDOMETER. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE YEARS. DEALER ADMITTED THERE WAS A PROBLEM, COULD NOT REMEDY IT. *AK