1997 Lincoln Town Car complaints

HEADLIGHT WENT OUT WHEN CONSUMER TRIED TO PUT THE HIGH BEAMS ON CAUSING HIM TO SCRAP VEHICLE ON GUARDRAIL WHEN PULLING OF THE STREET DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY. NLM

FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT TIRES WORE OUT DUE TO ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS. YH

BRAKES PAD MAKE NOISE, THE ROTOR CAUSE THE VIBRATION. YH

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CUT OFF. ALSO, ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. DEALER HAS VEHICLE. *AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED. MJS

WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN WHILE TRAVELING 15 MPH STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE LEFT. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

IF THE LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON DURING THE DAY, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CANNOT BE READ.

WHEN DRIVING UNDER 10MPH OR WHEN COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE CUTS COMPLETELY OFF. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE 3 TIMES, BUT NO SOLUTION WAS FOUND. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT INTERSTATE SPEED AND OVER BUMPS VEHICLE MOVED TO RIGHT AND LEFT WHICH COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL AND CRASH. BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. A NEW STEERING DESIGN FOR 1997. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

I HAVE RECEIVED AUTHORIZATION FROM NHTSA TO HAVE AN ON-OFF SWITCH FOR THE DRIVER AIR BAG ON 03-02-98. BOB RIDINGS LINCOLN DEALER IN TAYLORVILLE, IL HAS ORDRED THIS SWITCH AND AS OF 06-07-99 HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED. I AM A 64 YEAR OLD FEMALE DRIVER, 4'8" TALL AND AM IN VERY HIGH RISK OF LIFE-THREATENING INJURY SHOULD THIS AIR BAG BE DEPLOYED. I HAVE INVESTIGATED THIS SITUATION AND FOUND THAT FORD MOTOR CO WILL NOT RELEASE THIS SWITCH TO BE SHIPPED BY THEIR PACKAGING COMPANY PACK-RITE , PHONE 313-388-6400. THE PART NO. IS F8DZ14B385KC. A HUGH BAKER OF PACK-RITE ADVISED ME THAT FORD WOULD NOT RELEASE THIS SWITCH. I HAVE HAD MY CONGRESSMAN WRITE, AS OF APRIL 30, 199, AND TO DATE BOB RIDINGS IN TAYLORVILLE HAS NOT RECEIVED THIS SWITCH. (WORDEN-MARTIN WILL NOT INSTALL THESE SWITCHES) I AM VERY DESPERATE TO OBTAIN THIS SWITCH AND HAVE INSTALLED AND I SINCERELY HOPE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ASSIST ME AND EXPEDITE THE SHIPMENT OF SAME. THANK YOUFOR YOUR ASSISTIANCE.

ANT-THEFT DEVICE GOES OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON, CAUSING HORN TO BLOW AND LIGHTS TO FLASH. CONSUMER HAS EXPEIREINCED THIS PROBLEM OVER 100 TIMES SINCE APRIL OF 1998. THE DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT CAUSES THIS PROBLEM. *AK

LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE, DROPPING VEHICLE TO THE GROUND, AND CONSUMER LOST POWER STEERING. ALSO, WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, BRAKES FAILED DUE TO A BROKEN BRAKE LINE. *AK CONSUMER STATED CARBURETOR IS STUCK CAUSING ENGINE TO RACE AT HIGH RPM, INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED CAUSING ENGINE DAMAGE. *JB

STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION DURING HARD BRAKING. THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS HAVE ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES: INCLUDING TURNING ROTORS, REPLACING ALL ROTORS AND ALL PADS. *AK

THE HIGH BEAMS NEVER COME ON ANYMORE. DEALER CAN'T FIND THE REASON FOR IT. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT STAY ACTIVATED. MUST HOLD CONTROL LEVER FOR HIGH BEAM, WHEN CONTROL LEVEL IS RELEASED HEADLIGHTS RETURN TO LOW BEAM. CANNOT SEE DISTANT OBJECTS AT NIGHT. *AK

HOOD MATERIALS WEAK RESUTLING IN CONSUMER LEAVING FINGER INDENTATIONS IN THE HOOD WHEN CLOSING IT.

THE WATER LEAK IS COMING IN FROM THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ASSEMBLY. I HAVE TALKED WITH OTHER 1997 LINCOLN TOWNCAR OWNERS AND THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE WATER ENTERS THE CAR UNDER THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AND RUNS DOWN THE FIREWALL UNDERNETH THE CARPET AND FORMS A POOL OF WATER UNDERNETH THE CARPET IN THE REAR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER TRIES TO SELL YOU AN UNDERCOATING AND DOES NOT GUARATNEE THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM

MIRROR SETTINGS CHANGE EVERY TIME FRONT DOORS ARE CLOSED.

REAR LEFT TIRE BLOWOUT - MICHELIN 225/60 R16. *YC

ENGINE DOES NOT SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. MJS

SUN VISOR DESIGN DOES NOT ADEQUATELY DEFLECT SUN FROM CONSUMERS VISION, POOR VISIBILITY. MJS

LEFT REAR WEATHERSTRIP DEFECTIVE WHICH WAS REPLACED, ALSO PAINT ON EACH SIDE OF FRONT GRILL CHIPPING OFF, WHICH WAS REPAIRED. *YC

WINDSHIELD FAILED. YH

ANTILOCK BRAKES MAKES MINOR NOISE. YH

CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. YH

ABS SYSTEM FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT AND TIRE BLOWOUT, LOSS OF CONTROL RESULTING IN ACCIDENT ( NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS DURING COLLISION AND SEAT BELTS DID NOT RESTRAINT PROPERLY), INJURIES DUE TO DEFECTS. YH

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ALL LIGHTS ON AND IN THE VEHICLE WENT OUT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SWITCH WHICH WORKED FOR TWO MONTHS WHEN THE SAMETING HAPPENED. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BOTH TIME BEFORE RUNNING OFF THE ROAD.

THE BRAKING SYSTEM HAS GIVEN PROBLEMS FOR APPROXIMATELY THE LAST 1000 MILES OR SO. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR 3 TIMES, AND HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE SERVICE PERSONNEL THAT I HAVE TO STAND ON THE PEDAL TO STOP. WHEN THE BRAKES ARE USED FOR A WHILE THEY TEND TO NOT STOP THE CAR, BUT RATHER LET THE CAR GLIDE TO A STOP, AND THUS MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO KNOW HOW MUCH DISTANCE TO LEAVE BETWEEN MYSELF AND OTHER VEHICLES, AND PEDESTRIANS. I HAVE COME CLOSE ON AT LEAST 5 OCCASSIONS TO EITHER HITTING OTHER CARS OR PEDESTRIANS. THE SERVICE PERSONNEL FIRST SAID THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS, AND THAT THE ROTORS WERE WARPED. I THEN TOOK IT IN AGAIN, AND THEY REPLACED AN ABS SENSOR, NEXT TIME THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, AND THUS UNPREDICTABLE, AND POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING. THE SERVICE TECHNICIANS FIND PROBLEMS PART OF THE TIME, AND AT OTHERS THEY DON'T. THE PEDAL WILL PUSH COMPLETELY UPWARD AT TIMES, AND IN ESSENCE THE VEHICLE COASTS TO A STOP, AND IS DANGEROUS.

REAR SUSPENSION DOES NOT TURN AS THE FRONT END DOES CAUSING POOR DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND WELL AS POOR STABILITY.

WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES THE PEDAL GOES 1 INCH TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY ANY PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE GOING AROUND A CORNER THE FRONT OF THE CAR GOES WITH THE TURN, BUT THE REAR OF THE CAR DOES NOT. *AK

RADIO CIRCUIT WIRE WAS FRIED, AND THE RADIO HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FUSE NEVER FAILED.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF AT ANY TIME BELOW 30MPH IN REVERSE/ BRAKING. DEALER CONTACTED MORE THAN FOUR TIMES AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES BADLY. THIS CONDITION IS WORSE WHEN IT IS RAINING. THE DEALER NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

SUN ROOF SWITCH IS VERY POORLY DESIGNED. THE PLASTIC ROCKER SWITCH THAT CONTROLS THE SUN ROOF BROKE TWICE.

SEVERAL AIR SPRING FAILURES. (QC-AW)

BRAKES FAIL CONTINUALLY.

WHENEVER DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE SPEEDOMETER SHOWED LESS SPEED THAN VEHICLE WAS ACTUALLY DOING. IT WAS GOING GO 70MPH, BUT SPEEDOMETER SHOWED 50MPH. TOOK TO DEALER AT LEAST TWICE. MECHANIC SAID SPEEDOMETER MEETS ALL FACTORY SPECS. MANUFACTURER AGREED W/DEALERSHIP. HAD VEHICLE TESTED BY OUTSIDE MECHANIC. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE EXPERIENCES FRONT END SHIMMY. TOOK TO DEALER 4 DIFFERENT TIMES. HAD TIRES/BRAKES CHANGED. *AK

WENT TO CHANGE TIRE WITH SPARE BY USING JACK THAT CAME EQUIPPED WITH VEHICLE ON FLAT SURFACE. JACK WAS HOLDING VEHICLE UP FOR ABOUT 2-3 MIN BEFORE IT CAME CRASHING DOWN, COLLAPSING, ,ALMOST CAUSING INJURIES TO CONSUMER. *AK

STEERING IS POOR, VIBRATION AND LOSS OF CONTROL.

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 1-2 HOURS HEADLIGHTS WILL BECOME INOPERATIVE, CAUSING LOSS VISIBILITY. CONSUMER HAS TO WAIT OVERNIGHT IN ORDER FOR HEADLIGHTS TO BECOME OPERATIVE.DEALER CANNOT FIND PROBLEM, HAS ALREADY REPLACED HEADLIGHT SWITCH TWICE/LIGHT CONTROL MODULE/KEYPAD ,AND CIRCUIT BREAKER, DEFECT STILL OCCURRING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

WHEN CONSUMER IS DRIVING AT ANY SPEED BELOW 45MPH THERE IS A HIGH PITCH SQUEALING SOUND COMING FROM BRAKES WHENEVER APPLIED. IF DRIFTING BACKWARDS, TAPPING BRAKES VERY LIGHTLY THE NOISE STARTS, AND SOMETIMES IT WON'T. CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM SINCE DAY OF PURCHASE. CALLED DEALER AND THEY LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE , BUT NO REPAIRS.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, AFFECTING VISIBILITY.

SUDDEN ACCELERATION DUE TO FAILURE OF THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL UNIT/MOTOR.

OUTSIDE MIRROR WAS BENT.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING POOR STABILITY AND FISHTAILING OF THE REAR END, VERY HARD TO CONTROL.

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON.