2000 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL Complaints

The contact owns a 1979 Lincoln Continental. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked and turned off, there was smoke coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the rear end near the driver's side of the vehicle had caught on fire. The vehicle was extinguished by the Fire Department. A fire report was filed, and a fire report number was provided; however, the cause for the failure was not yet determined. A Police report was not filed. No injuries were sustained. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 137,070. The VIN was invalid.

A NEIGHBOR POINTED OUT THAT THE AUTOMOBILE WAS SITTING SEVERAL INCHES LOWER THAN NORMAL CLOSER TO GROUND WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. I BEGAN TO CHECK ON THIS EVERY TIME I WENT TO USE THE CAR. SOMETIMES VEHICLE WAS NORMAL HEIGHT, SOMETIMES LOWER. I NOTICED THAT, SOMETIMES, WHEN I TURNED THE IGNITION KEY THERE WAS SOUND HEARD LIKE A FAN OPERATING. I ASKED QUESTIONS OF PEOPLE WHO HAD OWNED SIMILAR MODELS AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL SHOWING UP 4 TO 8 YEARS AFTER MANUFACTURE. THIS MODEL HAS A RIDE CONTROL WHICH INVOLVES THREE "RIDE CONTROL" SETTINGS. AS CARS AGE THERE ARE AIR BAGS UNDER THE CAR WHICH CONTROL THE FEEL OF CAR (PLUSH, NORMAL, FIRM) AND THEY ADJUST ACCORDINGLY. BEFORE I START THE CAR, IF IT SITS LOW, TURNING THE IGNITION KEY CAUSES THE RIDE MECHANISM TO RAISE THE CAR FRAME A FEW INCHES ABOVE THE TIRES. SOMETIMES IN COLD WEATHER THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO OPERATE AND A MESSAGE SHOWS "CHECK RIDE CONTROL". THE STORE THAT DOES ROUTINE SERVICE REGULARLY TELLS ME THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM IN LINCOLN/FORDS AND THAT REPAIRS OFTEN COST $2000 OR MORE. THE CAR NOW HAS ABOUT 114,000 MILES ON IT AND THIS PROBLEM OCCURS MORE OFTEN. I BELIEVE THIS HAS BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE, AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER HAVING THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM ANOTHER OWNER, WHOM I KNOW, IN ABOUT 2008. HE HAD PURCHASED IT FROM A FORD DEALER AS A "PROGRAM CAR" I BELIEVE IN 2001. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY AS THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTROL VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE HOOD TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO ASSIST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

I WAS ENTERING THE VEHICLE FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEN THE AIRBAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPOLOYED, STRIKING ME IN THE FACE & ARM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RAPIDLY ACCELERATE TO 90 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXIT A HIGHWAY OFF-RAMP BUT WAS UNABLE TO SLOW THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS UNRESPONSIVE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT DID NOT RECALL THE DETAILS OF THE CRASH. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK, BACK AND RECEIVED BURNS TO THE FACE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000. UPDATED 07/05/12*LJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING NOISE. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND HAD PUNCTURED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MIDDLE REAR SEAT BELT FAILED TO UNLOCK AND REMAINED IN THE LOCKED POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN DID NOT QUALIFY FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:99V250000 (SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 137,100. UPDATED 11/10/11*LJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND HE WAS UNABLE TO ADJUST THE TEMPERATURE WHEN THE BLOWER WAS SET TO HIGH. WHENEVER THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS TURNED OFF, HOT AIR WOULD BLOW FROM THE VENTS, MAKING IT UNBEARABLE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BLENDING GATE IN THE AIR CONDITIONER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE ON IT,S OWN AND WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THEY WOULDN'T WORK. I HAD TO GET OFF THE NEXT EXIT BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT ANYONE TO GET IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE IT WENT ALL THE WAY UP TO 90 MPH.ONCE I GOT OFF IT STILL WAS ACCELERATING SO I DROVE UP ON THE SIDEWALK TO KEEP FROM HITTING TRAFFIC AT THE LIGHT AND GOT INTO THE GRASS AND IT STILL WAS GOING FAST AND THE BRAKES STILL NOT WORKING I PRAYED AND PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL OR I WOULD HAVE WENT RIGHT BACK INTO THE TRAFFIC. ONCE I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL IT STOPPED AND THEN I PUT IT IN PARK AND TURNED IT OFF. I THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AND IT WAS IDLING SO HIGH AND LOUD I TURNED IT BACK OFF AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. ONCE THEY ARRIVED HE STATED THAT THE LINKAGE TO THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK AND THAT'S IS WHY THE BRAKES WEREN'T RESPONDING. HE THEN CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHO STATED HE WASN'T SURE IF THE COULD LOOK AT THE CAR OR IF HE DID WHEN HE WOULD BE ABLE TO WORK ON IT. SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN SITTING AND I FOUND OUT ABOUT ALL THESE OTHER RECALLS AND COMPLAINTS FOR THE VERY OTHER THINGS WE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ON THIS CAR. THE TOWER ALSO STATED THAT HE THOUGHT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ACCELERATION IF SO I NEED TO KNOW THIS BECAUSE THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE FIXED ON THE OTHER RECALLS. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT DID THE ACCELERATION BUT THE FOGGY WINSHIELD,THE SEATBELTS LOCKING UP ON USING THE FRONT SEATS, THE SUSPENSION AND BRAKES HAVE BEEN LIKE THIS FOR A WHILE AND WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT THESE RECALL SO WE COULD GET THEM CORRECTED. OTHERS AND MYSELF COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT ON THAT HIGHWAY IF I DIDN'T STAY CALM THROUGH OUT THE WHOLE ORDEAL. I WOULD LIKE SOME RESPONSE TO WHAT I NEED TO DO NEXT AND IF THIS IS A RECALL LIKE THE OTHERS CAN I TAKE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE IT CORRECTED. RIGHT NOW IT CAN BE DRIVEN AT ALL. *TR