1996 Lincoln Town Car complaints

MANIFOLD DEVELOPED 4" CRACK WHILE ON MASS PIKE. LOST COOLANT IN SHORT TIME AND OVERHEATED. REMOVED ALTERNATOR AFTER COOL DOWN AND COVERED WITH DUCT TAPE AND FILLED WITH WATER. MADE 3 MORE FILL STOPS ON RIDE HOME WITHOUT OVERHEAT (80MI). REPLACED MANIFOLD, BUT STARTED USING ANTI-FREEZE. REPLACED ENGINE A MONTH LATER. *JB

CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD. *TR

CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SHOCKS WERE BEING REPLACED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED AND THE VEHICLE WAS READY. HOWEVER, THAT SAME EVENING HE INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS TOTALED. THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS NOTHING BUT DUST, AND THE REST HAS FIRE AND SMOKE DAMAGE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT A FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH CAUSED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT FILED A CIVIL LAW SUIT, AND DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A POLICE OR FIRE REPORT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000. *AK

PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED ON 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WITH 4.6L ENGINE AT APPROXIMATELY 101,000 MILES. ANTI-FREEZE LEAKED OVER ENGINE AND INTERIOR HAD TOXIC SMELL. MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED THIS ($900) INDICATED THAT THIS WAS VERY COMMON AND A DEFAULT IN THE DESIGN BY THE MANUFACTURER. *JB

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A NARROW HIGHWAY, USING THE HIGH BEAMS, THE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM FAILED (NO DASH LIGHTS OR HEADLIGHTS). I WAS USING THE AUTOLAMP SYSTEM. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND TRIED TO MANUALLY TURN ON LIGHTS TO NO AVAIL. AFTER WAITING A MINUTE WITH THE CAR OFF, STARTED IT BACK UP AND HEADLIGHTS CAME BACK ON. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES AS I TRIED TO GET HOME. THE 18 AMP BREAKER FOR THE LIGHTING SYSTEM WAS VERY HOT. I TRADED THE 20 AMP CIRCUIT BREAKER FROM THE POWER LOCKS/WINDOWS SYSTEM WITH THE 18 AMP BREAKER ON THE LIGHTING SYSTEM, AND DROVE HOME. IT DID NOT ACT UP AGAIN. I WILL TRY REPLACING THE 18 AMP BREAKER AND CHECK THE LOAD ON THE SYSTEM WITH A MULTIMETER. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES, AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE SPEED CONTROL WAS THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE DUE TO OVERHEAT EVEN THOUGH THE IGNITION WAS OFF. THERE WAS A RECALL #05V017000. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.*AK

PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED ON 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WITH 4.6L ENGINE AT APPROXIMATELY 102,000 MILES. *NM

1996 LINCOLN TOWNCAR DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *KB THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. *JB

ON 3/20/04, I NOTICED AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF AN ENGINE FLUID DRIPPING FROM MY 1996 TOWN CAR AS I BACKED OUT OF MY GARAGE, SO I TOOK IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP THAT HAS DONE THE MAJORITY OF THE MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE. THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY TOLD ME THAT "THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM" WITH THIS ENGINE AND THAT THEY HAD REPAIRED QUITE A LOT OF THEM. *JB

I WOULD LIKE TO INFORM YOU ABOUT A SAFETY PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN LINCOLN TOWN CAR MODELS. I AM THE OWNER OF A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR (SIGNATURE SERIES). ON JUNE 16, 2006, WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING ON, I SAW SMOKE POURING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND ANTIFREEZE LEAKING FROM UNDER THE CAR. AFTER OPENING THE HOOD I SAW ANTIFREEZE ALL OVER THE ENGINE BLOCK. I MANAGED TO DRIVE THE CAR TO A NEARBY JIFFY LUBE. THE TECHNICIAN THERE COULD NOT FIND ANY LEAKS IN THE HOSES OR THE RADIATOR. AFTER ALLOWING THE CAR TO COOL FOR ABOUT THIRTY MINUTES, THE TECHNICIAN FILLED THE RADIATOR WITH A 50-50 ANTIFREEZE-WATER MIXTURE. I STARTED DRIVING HOME, ABOUT FIVE MILES AWAY. BEFORE I ARRIVED, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE REACHED THE MAXIMUM POINT, AND THE HIGH-TEMPERATURE ALARM SOUNDED. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE CAR AND OPENED THE HOOD. AGAIN, I SAW ANTIFREEZE ALL OVER THE ENGINE. WHEN THE CAR HAD COOLED, I CHECKED THE COOLANT LEVEL: IT WAS COMPLETELY DRY! I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE, WHERE THE MECHANIC FOUND A TWO-INCH CRACK AT THE REAR OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD! THIS MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF FORD VEHICLES HAD EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH INTAKE MANIFOLDS, WHICH WERE FABRICATED FROM PLASTIC, RATHER THAN METAL. HE SAID THAT DOZENS OF NORTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY PATROL CARS (CROWN VICTORIAS EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME 4.6-LITER ENGINE THAT'S IN MY LINCOLN) HAD BEEN RECALLED BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLDS. THIS KIND OF PROBLEM WARRANTS A SAFETY RECALL. IMAGINE WHAT COU

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AT 60 MPH STEAM CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED, WAS PULLED OVER, AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE RIGHT LOWER BALL JOINT FELL OUT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH CAUSING THE STEERING TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. THE CONTACT REPORTS HAVING NO PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL, # 98V322000, REGARDING THE SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DESCENDING A MOUNTAIN AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, STEAM WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED. THE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. THE CONTACT FELT THAT IT WASN'T RIGHT THAT FORD KNOWING ABOUT A SERIOUS FLAW IN AN ENGINE COMPONENT, SUCH AS FUEL/AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD, SHOULD CONTINUE PRODUCING THESE FLAWED COMPONENTS AND NOT HAVE TO ISSUE A RECALL. FOR FORD TO PAY ONLY FOR THESE COMPONENT FAILURES FOR THE FIRST SEVEN YEARS AFTER ORIGINAL PURCHASE IS UNFAIR TO MANY OWNERS OF LINCOLN/ MERCURY VEHICLES. *AK

DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE WAS LEAKING RADIATOR FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY FOUND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND IT WAS REPLACED. *AK UPDATED 1/4/2006 - *NM

MELTED INTAKE MANIFOLD. *JB

I HAVE A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR AND THERE IS 6 RECALL FROM 1996 TO 2001 AND I NEVER GOT 1 SINGLE NOTE ON ANY OF THIS RECALL I JUST CALL FORD DEALERS FOR HELP AND I WAS TOLD ALL RECALLS WERE EXPIRED. HERE IS MY VIN#1LNLM82WTY642484 PLEASE HELP ME ALL RECALLS WAS LISTED IS IN MY CAR I AM WILLING TO DRIVE IT AS IS AND ITS A COMPANY RESPONSEBELETY PLEASE E MAIL ME AND TILL ME WHAT TO DO THANK YOU AHMAD H. AHMAD. *NM

TOTAL SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE ON LINCOLN TOWN CAR DUE TO RUST/CORROSION OF BRAKE LINES. OWN TWO OTHER LINCOLN TOWN CARS WHOSE BRAKE LINES ARE ALSO SEVERELY RUSTED. FORTUNATELY, FAILURE OCCURRED ON MY DRIVEWAY AND WRECK WAS AVOIDED. PERSONALLY REPLACED WORST SECTIONS OF REAR BRAKE LINES VIA BYPASSING FACTORY INSTALLED LINES LEAVING ORIGINAL LINES IN PLACE. *JB

DT: 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHEN THE HORN WAS PUSHED IT WOULD STICK AND NOT TURN OFF QUICKLY. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE FUSE OUT. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE HORN AND THE AIR BAG BECAUSE IT WAS ATTACHED TO IT. THERE WERE NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK *JB

I'VE JUST BEEN NOTIFIED BY MY FATHER THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKS ARE GOING TO BE TAKEN CARE OF BY FORD MOTOR CO. BY MEANS OF A FREE INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACEMENT. PLEASE TELL ME HOW I NEED TO PROCEED TO GET THIS DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS MY 1996 LINCOLN TOWNCAR IS DEFINITELY LOSING WATER THROUGH THAT PORT. THANKS VERY MUCH. *NM

PLASTIC MANIFOLD CRACK, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM BLEW UP ON A BUSY PARKWAY. SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR THIS BIG ENGINEERING PROBLEM ON IT CARS. I BROUGHT THIS CAR NEW AND TO GET IT FIXED IT CAUSE A LOT OF MONEY . WAS NEVER NOTIFY OF THIS CONDITION . *NM

BRAKE LINE FAILURE DUE TO CORRODED BRAKE LINE.

1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE RESULTING IN THE CONSUMER'S HOME CATCHING ON FIRE.*MR *NM

I OWN A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR V-8 4.6 ENGINE, WHICH HAS A PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD, TERRIBLE MISTAKE BY FORD ENGINEERS, I MADE A TEMPORARY REPAIR TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE MIDDLE OF NO WERE, IT WORKED UNTIL I INSTALL THE THERMOSTAT AGAIN TO MAKE THE SMOG INSPECTION TO THE CAR, THE MANIFOLD CRACK AGAIN, LEAKING THE ANTI-FREEZE, I GET THIS CAR FROM A USED CAR LOT DEALER, IT ONLY HAS AROUND 85,000 MILES, I CHECK THAT THERE IS A RECALL IN THIS FAILURE FOR THE KIND OF ENGINE, BUT NOT EVERY OWNER QUALIFIES FOR THE REPAIR, WHY? I ALL READY RUN MY VIN NUMBER IN THE FORD WEBSITE AND DO NOT SHOW ANYTHING. FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS LIABLE FOR THIS ENGINEERING MISTAKE, EVERY BODY IN THIS WORLD THAT IS MECHANIC ORIENTED KNOWS THAT PLASTIC DO NOT HOLD FOR TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE. MY CAR VIN [XXX]. THIS IS A EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND THIS IS NOT PART OF NORMAL WEAR OR MISSED USE, SO I, IN USE OF A TORT LAW, AWARD THE SAME OF OTHERS IN SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES, I WANT TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

96 V 109 000/ INTERIOR SYSTEM: SEAT BELT: LAP: REAR: THE CONSUMER STATED HIS VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE THE AUTOMATIC LOCKING FEATURE AS STATES IN THIS RECALL. THE CONSUMER NOTIFIED THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL. *JB *NM CONSUMER FEELS THEIR VIN SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *BF

WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH STEERING BOLT DISENGAGED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. *AK

1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR STEERING WENT OUT CAUSING CONSUMER TO RUN INTO A FENCE.*MR THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN LEFT AND RIGHT BUT THE WHEEL DID NOT RESPOND. REAR AIR SPRING WERE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CRACKING. THE VEHICLE STEERING A SUSPENSION PERFORMED POORLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND THE INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS. THE RIGHT FRONT WINDOW REGULATOR BROKE. THE INTERIOR LIGHT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE DID NOT WORK. *NM

ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF BRAKING DUE TO FOUR DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF THE METAL BRAKE LINE DUE TO EXTERIOR CORROSION. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE BRAKE LINE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE REAR OF A UTILITY TRUCK DUE TO THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED IN 2001. THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD GONE TO THE FLOOR UPON APPLICATION WITH NO BRAKING EFFECT ON EITHER AXLE. EACH FAILURE OCCURRED BY RUPTURED STEEL BRAKE LINE DUE TO EXTERNAL RUST. *SC *JB

DEFECTIVE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD-FORD REFUSED TO REPLACE ON 1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS AND 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. *BF FORD AND MERCURY REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE BEGAN TO RUN HOT AND WHITE SMOKE POURED OUT OF THE HOODS OF BOTH VEHICLES EMITTING THE SMELL OF THE ENGINE COOLANT. *TC

WHILE ACCELERATING THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATES THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND STALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

THE TIE ROD FAILED AGAIN AFTER TWO PREVIOUS REPLACEMENTS. ALSO, THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED TWICE. WHILE GOING OVER A SPEED BUMP, ONE COULD HEAR THE TIE ROD TOUCHING THE GROUND. *AK

1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE SUSPENSION.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE MOVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE'S SUSPENSION HAD BEEN ADJUSTED BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS A STEERING PROBLEM. *NM

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP FOR LEAKING COOLANT OUT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, AND A FEW WEEKS LATER IT WAS STILL LEAKING COOLANT. ONCE AGAIN IT WAS TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED GASKETS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. LEAK STILL EXIST. FORD WILL NOT PAY FOR REPAIRS BECAUSE WARRANTY EXPIRED. *AK

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. THERE IS A WELD BREAK ON THE FRAME, LEFT FRONT WHICH, IN TURN, CAUSES TWO MORE BREAKS IN THE UNDER SIDE OF THE CAR, RESULTING IN A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. THIS IS A MAJOR STRUCTURAL MALFUNCTION . BUT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY SEEMS TO THINK IT IS NO BIG DEAL. THIS IS MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENT. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE CAR HAS 75,000 MILES, AND THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. IT WILL COST MORE TO REPAIR THE CAR THAN IT IS WORTH. *AK

SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD "BLEW" WHILE CHECKING ENGINE RPM , RESULTING IN LOSS OF COOLANT AND ENGINE FAILURE. FURTHER STATED THAT HIS FACILITY HAD REPLACED 30 DEFECTIVE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS SO FAR THIS YEAR , 16 SINCE APRIL. HE INDICATED THAT FORD MOTOR WILL REPLACE AT NO COST TO TAXICAB , POLICE,AND FORD THUNDERBIRD OWNERS , BUT NOT TO INDIVIDUAL OUT OF WARRANTY OWNERS. COST TO REPLACE BY THE DEALERS BOOK INCLUDING LABOR $1241.00 DESIGN DEFECT : INTAKE MANIFOLD IN REPLACEMENT PART CHANGES THE FRONT COOLANT TRANSFER SECTION WITH METAL SECTION INSTEAD OF PLASTIC. REAR SECTION THAT TRANSFERS COOLANT ALSO IS NOT CHANGED ,REMAINS PLASTIC. WHEN IS PROJECTED FAILURE OF REAR PLASTIC COOLANT PART AS THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAD 59,126 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. ? I HAVE RETAINED THE DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND HAVE DOCUMENTED WITH PHOTO GRAPHS THE DEFECTIVE SECTION WITH REPLACEMENT PART LABELS. *JB

A CELL PHONE USING DRIVER CUT INTO MY LANE AND I HAD TO HIT THE BRAKES HARD. THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF BRAKING POWER BUT I WAS ABLE TO STEER AROUND THE SUV. MY REAR STEEL BRAKE LINE FAILED IN THE AREA LOCATED JUST IN FRONT OF THE LEFT REAR TIRE. THESE BRAKE LINES ARE A PROBLEM! LAST SUMMER THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO MY WIFE'S 95 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE ALL STEEL LINES AS ALL ARE RUSTED. WHEN WILL FOMOCO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE FAILURES? HOW MANY PEOPLE MUST GET HURT OR DIE? *JB

BALL JOINTS CORRODED, RESULTING IN ABNORMAL WEAR. BECAUSE OF THE DEFECT DESCRIBED IN THE STEERING LINKAGE:ARM:PITMAN RECALL 96V135000, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED DUE TO VIN. THE BALLM JOINTS WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP.*AK

9/12/04 CRACKED "COOLANT CROSSOVER PASSAGE" OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD DRAINED ALL COOLANT FROM MY 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR, ON TO THE GARAGE FLOOR, WHILE SMOKING AND SMELLING. I WAS TOLD THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE 1996, FORD/LINCOLN HAS REPLACED THIS PART IN , CRUISERS, FLEET CAR, RENTALS ETC, WHAT ABOUT THE CONSUMER IN GENERAL. PLEASE SEE 97M91 RECALL BULLLETIN FOR FURTHER INFO.ALSO TSB 02-2-2 FEB 02 INTAKE MANIFOLD-CROSS OVER CHANNEL COOLANT SEEPAGE. I HAD TO HAVE THIS REPAIR DONE TO MY 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR MILEAGE OF 74675. THE COST WAS $535.00. THE MECHANIC AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THIS WAS AN ON GOING AND VERY PREVALENT PROBLEM. THEY HAVE DONE ALOT OF THESE REPLACEMENTS. THE NEW PART IS MADE OUT OF METAL, ?ALUMINUM OR STEEL.I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS MY PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT I HAVE BEEN TOTALLY IGNORED AND BASICALLY BLOWN OFF BY FORD MOTOR CO. THEY DEFINATELY ARE NOT VERY CUSTOMER ORIENTED AS FAS I AM CONCERNED. I AM A WIDOW, AND THEREFOR HAVE NO OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION, THIS WAS DEFINATELY A VERY COSTLY AND TOTALLY PREVENTABLE OCCURRENCE. I HAVE RETAINED THE DEFECTIVE PART.*AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD DEVELOPED A CRACK. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE OVERHEATED, AND ENGINE LEAKED ANTI-FREEZE. A RECALL WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

MY COMPLAINT IS ABOUT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON THE 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. I AM A AVIDE CAR PERSON AND I HAVE WORKED ON CAR ALL MY LIFE. I HAVE COME ACROSS A PROBLEM THAT I HAVE FOUND OUT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON THE 4.6 LITER ENGINE. THIS ENGINE IS COMMON IN THE BIG FORD CAR. MY CAR DEVELOPED THIS PROBLEM AFTER 136,000 MILES. SO WHEN I STARTED LOOKING FOR THE PART I HAD A PROBLEM FINDING IT. AFTER A LONG SEARCH I STARTED GETTING THE SAMETHING, WE ARE OUT OF THE PART, AND THE PEOPLE THAT HAD THE PART WANTED JUST AS MUCH OR MORE THAN THE PART COST NEW. THEN I WAS TOLD BY A PERSON AT THE JUNK YARD THAT I SHOULD CHECK TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL BECAUSE HE STATED THAT HE GETS A LOT OF CALLS ON THIS SAME PART. I CALLED FORD AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE PART, SEVEN YEARS. MY WARRANTY EXPIRED LAST YEAR. SO I STARTED DOING RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. SO I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WENT ON 8/18/2004 AND I ASKED ABOUT THIS AND A MECHANIC TOOK ME TO A WORK STATION AND ON THE FLOOR WAS 4 INTAKES ALL WITH THE SAME THINGS, CRACKED! I WROTE FORD AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANY THING FOR ME, MY TIME HAS EXPIRED. NOW I AM OUT OF A CAR WITH NO JOB AND NO MONEY AND FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING. I THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING FOR YOU TO LOOK INTO. FORD SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL! I HAVE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS MATTER. PLEASE CONTACT ME!

WHILE DRIVING THE TEMPERATURE SUDDENLY READ HOT. THEN, STEAM CAME FORM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, AND COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE. MANUFACTURER HAD A PARTIAL RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT IT ONLY APPLIED TO COMMERCIAL VEHICLES.*AK

THE CONSUMER BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE AN OIL CHANGE, AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, NUMBER 98V322000. *LA

MY 96 LINCOLN TOWNCAR BOGS DOWN, SPUTTERS, JERKS AND MISFIRES FROM A STANDING START. ALSO MISFIRES, SPUTTERS IN PASSING GEAR WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH CONFIDENCE. AT THIS TIME THE SOLUTION HAS NOT BEEN FOUND. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, STEAM EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, WHICH CAUSED WATER TO SPRAY OVER THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER CLAIMED THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT WOULD NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *AK THREE OF THE LOCAL DEALERS WERE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *SC *JB

INTAKE ON MOTOR WAS MADE OF PLASTIC AND IT CRACKED. THE REPLACEMENT WAS REDESIGNED WITH ALUMINUM FRONT IN PLACE OF PLASTIC. IF PART WAS DESIGNED RIGHT WHY WAS REPLACEMENT MADE WITH ALUMINUM. THE COST OF THE PART WAS OVER 550.00 PLUS LABOR AND OTHER PARTS. *NM

I HAVE A CRACKED PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT NEARLY CAUSED TO TO RECK MY CAR AND OR DESTROY THE ENGINE *AK

WHILE PULLING INSIDE OF A PARKING LOT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL COLLAPSED . CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED. AS A RESULT, COOLANT LEAKED ONTO THE ENGINE. *AK

THE CONSUMER NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO A BODY SHOP. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO AN ENGINE BLOW OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR - SERVICE TECH - CAR OVERHEATED - MECHANIC FOUND CRACKED IN THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. FORD DEALER STATED NO RECALL ISSUED. REPLACEMENT PART APPOX $625.00. DEALER STATED INTAKE MANIFOLD IS A DEFECTIVE PART THEY KEEP THIS PART IN STOCK. MAJOR PROBLEM FORD REPLACED ALL FLEET VEHICLES INTAKE MANIFOLD UNDER A AGREEMENT AT NO CHARGE POLICE VEHICLES SHOWED PROBLEMS QUICKLY DUE TO TYPE OF USE. ((FORD PUT UP A GOOD FRONT MAKING THESE VEHICLES LOOK AS IF THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WHY OFFERING TO FIX THEM AT NO COST BUT HIDING THE PROBLEM TO THE PUBLIC.))) VEHICLE REPARED $650.00 (OLD PART AVAILABLE) MILEAGE 86000. *AK