1991 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. THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MAY NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE HOOD IS CLOSED.

Risk. IN THE EVENT THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH RELEASES OR IS NOT PROPERLY LATCHED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE HOOD COULD FLY UP OBSTRUCTING THE OPERATOR'S VISION, AND INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY.

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. THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MAY NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE HOOD IS CLOSED.

Risk. IN THE EVENT THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH RELEASES WHEN THEVEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE HOOD COULD FLY UP, OBSTRUCTING THE OPERATOR'S VISION,AND INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy. INSTALL A NEW HOOD LATCHING ASSEMBLY.

Defect. DISTORTED FUEL LINES IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT MAY CONTACT THE STEERING COLUMN UNIVERSAL JOINT AND CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE FUEL LINE.

Risk. FUEL LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR FROM THE DAMAGED FLUID LINE AND,IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy. REPOSITION FUEL LINE TO PREVENT CONTACT WITH UNIVERSAL JOINT; IF FUEL LINES ARE ALREADY DAMAGED, REPAIR OR REPLACE FUEL LINES.

DRIVERS SEAT BELT BUCKLE INOP....WILL NOT HOLD THE BELT IN TH E LOCKED POSITION, THEREFORE, SEAT BELT ENABLED IN CASE OF ACCIDENT.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE HOOD LATCH FRACTURED. AS A RESULT, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE FORCE OF THE HOOD AND A BUNGEE CORD WAS USED IN ORDER TO KEEP THE HOOD SECURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 95V151000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES) WAS PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 174,600.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DUE TO A BRAKE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,682.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

WHILE DRIVING EASTBOUND US INTERSTATE 40 IN OKLAHOMA CITY,OK MY 1991 LINCOLN TOWNCAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AND STOPPED RUNNING, AFTER I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND PUT THE FIRE OUT, THE CAR WOULD NOT START BACK UP. THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA, LOOKING AS IF IT WAS UNDERNEATH THE CAR SOMEWHERE. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROX. 35 MILES PER HOUR ON A LOCAL BRIDGE, MY RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. I DROVE A DISTANCE OF SEVERAL YARDS TO THE END OF THE BRIDGE WHERE I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER AND STOP. WHEN A VERY KIND POLICE OFFICER TRIED TO REMOVE THE DAMAGED TIRE, HE HAD TO STOP BECAUSE THE TIRE HAD SEPARATED LIKE A RECAPPED TIRE AND WOUND THE TORN PART AROUND THE BRAKE LINES AND AXLE. THE DAMAGES AND SERVICE CHARGES ARE ESTIMATED TO BE MORE THAN SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS. INITIALLY, THE SERVICE REPAIRMAN AT THE TIRE STORE (WHERE ALL OF THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED AND MOUNTED) INDICATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY SHOWED SIGNS OF "DRY-ROT." A SHORT TIME LATER, ANOTHER WORKER SAID ONLY THE DAMAGED TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME PROBLEMS WITH MICHELIN TIRES SOLD WITHIN THE LAST FEW YEARS. *TR

DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY @ 55 MPH ( WINDY WITH 30 MPH GUSTS ) HOOD OPENED AND FOLDED UP OVER THE ROOF BOTH HOOD LATCHES WERE STILL LOCKED TO THE STRIKE PLATE FROM HOOD LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE REPLACED HOOD AND STRUTS WITH USED ONES ( FROM A 1993 / SAFER? ) STILL HAVE OLD HOOD AND PLATE AVAILABLE. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED 1991 LINCOLN TOWN CAR HAD ONLY 17,000 MILES ON IT. ON 8-25-05 HE FELT LIKE HIS BRAKES WERE LOW. HE WENT TO HAVE THEM INSPECTED AND THE CAR PASSED THE INSPECTION, BUT HE HAD THE BRAKES CHANGED ANYWAY. HE SMELLED THE BRAKES BURNING THAT DAY AS HE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE GARAGE. HE PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE ,AND DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL ABOUT A MONTH LATER WHEN HE SMELLED WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS THE BRAKES BURNING AGAIN. WHEN HE GOT IN TO DRIVEWAY, HE SAW FIRE UNDER THE WHEELS. HE PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. HAD HE NOT HAD THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER THE CAR WOULD HAVE BLOWN UP. THE GARAGE THAT FIXED THE BRAKES SAID THE CALIPER HUNG UP AND THAT WAS WHY THE FIRE HAPPENED. ALSO, THE CONSUMER THOUGHT THIS MAY BE A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKES THAT WOULD CAUSE THE CAR TO CATCH ON FIRE OR DID NOT FIX THE BRAKES PROPERLY. HE CALLED FORD, AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT WITHOUT A WARRANTY THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT THEY COULD DO, AND THEN THEY TOLD HIM THEY WOULD SUBMIT HIS COMPLAINT TO THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE IF THE CAR HAD ABS BRAKES BECAUSE THE CAR WAS A 1991 MODEL. HE THOUGHT IT DID BUT WAS NOT SURE. HE WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR. *AK

DT: 1991 FORD LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR TURNED ON THE AIR CONDITIONING AND ABOUT 15 TO 20 MINUTES LATER SAW FIRE COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, SURROUNDING THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. PULLED OFF THE ROAD, BY THAT TIME THE CAR HAD A LARGE FIRE. THE CONSUMER PUT THE FIRE OUT BY THROWING WATER ON IT. AFTER LOOKING AT THE CAR SAW THAT ALL THE WIRES WERE MELTED AROUND WHERE THE WHEEL WAS, AND ALSO THERE WAS A MELTED RUBBER. A FRIEND INSPECTED THE CAR. HE CUT A WIRE THAT LET THE CONSUMER DRIVE THE CAR HOME. WHERE IT WAS PARKED. THERE WAS A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE WIRING SYSTEM. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH GETTING THIS CAR (1991 LINCOLN TOWN CAR) THROUGH INSPECTION OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS, DUE TO SMOKING BECAUSE OF EMISSIONS PROBLEMS. THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 100,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS PROBLEM STARTED, AND NOW HAS APPROXIMATELY 119,000 MILES ON IT. THIS YEAR, I HAVE MADE 4 ATTEMPTS TO GET THE CAR TO PASS THE INSPECTION, HOWEVER IT HAS FAILED DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM EACH TIME. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO MECHANICS, AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS' DEFECT WITH THESE PARTICULAR CARS. THEY STATE THAT THE VALVE SEALS GET HARD BECAUSE OF A FACTORY DEFECT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. HARDENED VALVE SEALS ALLOW OIL TO BY-PASS THE VALVE SEALS AND CAUSE THE CARS TO SMOKE. I FEEL THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPLACE THE VALVE SEALS IN MY CAR, AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THIS CAR, IF YOU CAN PLEASE STOP THE SMOKING, IT IS A GOOD CAR! THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WHILE TURNING LEFT VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. UPON IMPACT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS BROKE. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. THIS CAUSED LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES. CONSUMER FOUND IN THE NHTSA WEB 28 COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

PAINT IS PEELING FROM CAR IN VARIOUS AREAS INCLUDING HOOD, ROOF, DOOR PANELS, AND TRUNK LID.

WHILE DRIVING, THE TIRE BLEW OUT. *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ALL THREE REGULATORS THE TWO IN THE FRONT AND THE LEFT BACK ONE. CONTACTED DEALER

CONSUMER FOUND A CONSTANT LEAK UNDER VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR, AND DEALER FOUND OUT THAT FUEL LINE WAS CORRODED/ RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AS WELL AS THE BRAKE LINE. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO TO FAIL TO START, AFTER REPAIRS WERE FINISHED THE PROBLEM WITH STARTING THE CAR WAS REMEDIED. *JG *AK

WHILE DRIVING, TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT, CONSUMER LOST PARTIAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, HIT A CURB, DAMAGED ANOTHER TIRE AND BOTH RIMS, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED TO GO TO THE LOCAL GOODYEAR DEALER AND HAVE THEM TO SHIP THE DAMAGED TIRES IN ORDER TO BE REIMBURSED, THE CLAIM WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DENIED BECAUSE GOODYEAR STATED THEY ONLY RECEIVED ONE OF THE DAMAGED TIRES.(GOODYEAR REGATTA P21570R15 TIRES)*JB

CAR WOULD NOT START ON NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS, BATTERY FINE, NEW STARTER. WHEN STARTED BY REPAIRMAN FROM UNDER HOOD, CAR IMMEDIATELY STARTED MOVING DOWN THE STREET IN REVERSE WITH NO DRIVER, NEARLY HITTING TELEPHONE POLE. SOMEHOW SLIPPED INTO REVERSE ON ITS OWN, YET KEY COULD BE REMOVED WITH EACH PREVIOUS ATTEMPT TO START IT. *AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND OFF ALL THE TIME, I BOUGHT THE CAR LAST YEAR AROUND OCTOBER 2001, THE OWNER TOLD ME HE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERS SEVERAL TIMES AND NOTHING THEY TOLD HIM NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR, I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM THAT PERSON AND ABOUT 4 MONTHS LATER THERE IS WATER INSIDE THE MOTOR, IT WAS RUNNING PERFECTLY FINE. ABOUT THE BRAKES, THERE IS A WIERD NOISE, IT'S NOT SQUEAKING, BUT WHEN YOU'RE AT A STOP SIGN AND YOU LET GO OF THE BREAK A LITTLE THERE IS AN UNUSUAL NOISE. I HAD THE CAR REPAIRED IN OCTOBER FOR THE HOOD LATCH RECALL, MOST OF THE PLACES WERE REALLY BAD ABOUT HELPING ME WITH THE RECALL, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CAR WAS TOO OLD. I FINALLY GOT IT FIXED, BUT CAN THE OTHER PLACES ACTUALLY REJECT MY CAR FOR BEING TO OLD? I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE ARE OTHER RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERS AND THEY SAID THAT THE OTHER RECALLS DON'T APPLY TO MY CAR. IS THAT CORRECT?

CONSUMER SHIFTED VEHICLE INTO PARK FROM DRIVE, WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCLERATED TO A HIGH SPEED, CONSUMER PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, HOWEVER VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A BANK, BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES, THE DRIVER SUSTAINED FACIAL INJURIES DUE TO THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG. *SLC