1991 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL Complaints

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE CAR STARTS TO SHAKE. ALSO AFFECTS THE STEERING.DEALER ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM , BUT IT HAS REOCCURRED. *AK

1) D.C.L. LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING ALL DASHBOARD SYSTEMS TO TURN OFF. 2) WINDSHIELD WIPPERS RHEOSTAT OFTEN SHORTS OUT CAUSING WIPPERS NOT TO TURN-ON WHEN NEEDED. 3) PASSENGER MIRROR ONLY GOES DOWN &IN, NOT UP OR OUT.

TO:LINCOLN AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY ENGINEERS I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 1991 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL AND WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION A SAFETY ISSUE THAT EFFECTS MANY LARGE INDIVIDUALS THAT DRIVE AUTOMOBILES. AS AN INDIVIDUAL WITH TWO ACADEMIC DEGREES IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, I COULD NOT SIT BY WITHOUT EVALUATING THE CAUSE OF THIS ISSUE AND PASS ALONG SOME HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT. IT SEEMS THAT THE LENGTH OF THE SEATBELT IS INADEQUATE TO ALLOW ENGAGEMENT, LEAVING ME IN A VERY UNSAFE POSITION WHEN DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE. I HAVE OWNED NUMEROUS CARS AND TRUCKS AND HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE THE CASE IN ONLY TWO OF THEM. ONE IS MY PRESENT CAR, THE 1991 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL, AND THE OTHER WAS A 1997 FULL SIZE DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCK. THE BASIC PROBLEM IS LACK OF BELT LENGTH TO WRAP AROUND THE MID-DRIFT OF A LARGE PERSON. IT IS DISTURBING TO THINK THAT EVEN AN AVERAGE SIZED PREGNANT WOMAN MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY WITH THIS SAME ISSUE IN YOUR VEHICLE. IN MY CASE, THE SEAT IS IN THE FULL REAR POSITION AND I HAVE AMPLE ROOM BETWEEN MY MID-DRIFT AND THE STEERING WHEEL (ABOUT 2-3 INCHES). I DO CONSIDER MYSELF A LARGE MAN, BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT A SEATBELT SHOULD BE ABLE TO PERFORM FLAWLESSLY WITH ANY TYPE OF BODY STYLE THAT CAN COMFORTABLY OPERATE YOUR AUTOMOBILE. WHAT IS THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM? REDESIGN THE SEATBELTS WITH LONGER BELTS. AS AN ENGINEER, I WOULD SAY THAT ANOTHER 16" WOULD SUFFICE. I HOPE THAT THESE OBSERVATIONS MAY HELP YOU MAKE A BETTER PRODUCT FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS. A LINCOLN CONTINENTAL AND DODGE RAM TRUCK ARE BOTH LARGE VEHICLES DRIVEN BY LARGE PEOPLE, LETS MAKE THEM SAFE AS WELL. I WILL ALSO EMAIL COPIES OF THIS LETTER TO YOUR SALES AND MARKETING DEPARTMENT, AND VARIOUS SAFETY ORGANIZATIONS. HOPEFULLY YOUR ENGINEERS WILL FIND THIS INFORMATION USEFUL. I WOULD ALSO APPRECIATE IF YOUR ENGINEERS COULD MAKE UP A 12-16" SEATBELT EXTENSION THAT I COULD USE TO ENGAGE MY RESTRAINT SYSTEM. IT WOULD BE A FINE TOKEN OF FORD'S DEDICATION TO SAFETY.

DURING THE INITIAL WARRANTY PERIOD AT 45000 MILES THE HEADS ON THE VEHICLE WERE BLOWN DUE TO THE MANUFACTURE PROBLEM WHICH WAS FOUND OUT THROUGH THE DEALER. AND AFTER 40000 MILES THE PROBLEM IS OCURRING ONCE AGAIN. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS 84000 MILES, THE ENGINE SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS MUCH OF A PROBLEM. LINCOOLN HAS NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADS ON THESE 6 CYL VEHICLES. PLEASE HELP

RACK AND PINION STEERING WENT OUT, CAUSING THE FRONT TIRES TO GO IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS. DEALER HAS TO REPLACED RACK AND PINION STEERING. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT DEALER REPAIRED REAR SURFAME CORROSION, BUT REFUSED TO CORRECT THE SAME PROBLEM TO FRONT MOTOR MOUNTS. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER.*AK

THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED MY TRANSMISSION WHEN THE RECALL HAPPENED. HOWEVER, THE CAR DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AT TIMES AND WHEN I CALLED THEY INDICATED THAT THE NEW TRANSMISSION ONLY HAD A 12 MONTH WARRANTY? I KNOW THAT LINCOLN WARRANTS THEIR VEHICLES LONGER THEN 12 MONTHS ON REPLACEMENT WHEN IT WAS A RECALL / A DEFECT IN THE ORIGINAL PART? PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT THE WARRANTY SHOULD BE. THANK YOU. *AK

VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING A HIGH IDLE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE THROTTLE BODY STICKING. THE THROTTLE WAS REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. THROTTLE BODY PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY TRANSMISSION FAILURE. TRANSMISSION COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT NOT THE THROTTLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

DUE TO THE STRESS FROM SUBFRAME CORROSION , THE ENGINE LIFTED, RESULTING IN DIFFICULT STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED UNDER RECALL 98V323. THE DEALER WILL REPAIR VEHICLE . *AK

THE BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO, MECHANIC REPLACED ROTORS AND PADS TWICE. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK