1998 LINCOLN TOWN CAR Complaints

1. THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM BLOWS OUT 150+ DEGREE HOT AIR AT ALL TIMES. THIS HOT AIR BOUNCES OFF THE SIDE GLASS AND INTO THE DRIVER'S FACE. THE RESULT IS BLURRED VISION, DROUSINESS, AND FATIGUE. THE PROBLEM IS ESPECIALLY ONEROUS IN THE SOUTH AND GULF COAST STATES. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. FORD REFERS THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALER; THE DEALER SAYS THE PROBLEM IS AN ENGINEERING DEFECT FOR WHICH THER IS NO CURE. THE DEALER SAID THE CHIEF OF CLIMATE CONTROL FOR THE LINCOLN-MERCURY DIVISION SAYS NO "FIX" WILL BE FORTH COMING UNTIL THE COMPLAINT LEVEL BEGINS TO AFFECT SALES. THE FOMOCO/DEALER PASS-THE-BUCK SCAM IS WELL REHEARSED AND BEAUTIFULLY EXECUTED. DO WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THERE ARE DEATHS TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM? 2. THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO UPSHIFT UNDER FULL-THROTTLE ACCELERATION. THE PROBLEM IS LIFE- THREATENING WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE ONTO THE FREEWAY AND UP THE ON-RAMP. I HAVE BEEN NEARLY HIT BY ON-COMING TRAFFIC SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION'S FAILURE TO UPSHIFT TO ALLOW ME TO GAIN SUFFICIENT SPEED TO SAFELY ENTER THE FREEWAY. THE TRANSMISSION GIVES NO FOREWARNING THAT IT IS NOT GOING TO SHIFT. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO FORD. THEY REFER TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER SAYS THE COMPUTER SHOWS ALL SYSTEMS NORMAL. THE RUNAROUND, AGAIN. PLEASE HELP ME CORRECT THIS BEFORE IT COSTS A LIFE. I CAN SEND YOU COPIES OF THE CORRESPONDENCE TO FORD, IF YOU NEED THEM. *AK

EXCESSIVE VIBRATION BEGINS AT 47 MPH. FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY VARY WITH SPEED. AT SOME SPEEDS IT IS BARELY NOTICABLE. AT OTHER SPEEDS THE SOUND CAN LULL YOU TO SLEEP. PARTICURALLY AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS. VIBRATION WILL STRESS U-JOINTS AND CAUSE FATIGUE AND FAILURE. FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL RESULTING IN ACCIDENT.

WHILE DRIVING THE WINDSHIELD REFLECTS DEFROSTER VENT, CAUSING THE DRIVER'S VIEW TO BE OBSTRUCTED. DEALER CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML

PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN WHEN VEHICLE IS NEAR CURBS, DOOR DESIGNED TOO LOW TO GROUND. *YC

THE TRACTION CONTROL UNIT COMES ON AND NEVER CUTS OFF. VEHICLE HAS TO BE CUT OFF IN ORDER TO MAKE IT STOP. *AK

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGHT BACK, AND IT MAY BE A VIOLATION OF THE AIR BAG BECAUSE THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT GOES ONE INCH MORE, AND THERE SHOULDN'T BE A DIFFERENCE. DEALER CONTACTED, AND STATED NOT A PROBLEM, THE DIFFERENCE IS VISIBLE. *AK

REAR DOOR LOCK KEEPS GETTING STUCK, AND THEY COULD'NT GET THE VEHICLE DOOR OPEN. DEALER COUND'NT GET THE VEHICLE LOCKED UP EITHER, AND THE VEHICLE IS STILL IN THE SHOP. *AK

THE SPEEDOMOTER GAUGE/THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND THE GAS GAUGE DO NOT LIGHT UP UNLESS HIGH BEAMS ARE BEING USED. CONSUMER IS NOT ABLE TO READ THESE GAUGES IN THE DAYLIGHT. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER AND 2 DEALERSHIPS. THE MANUFACTURER OR DEALERSHIP IS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE RAINING THE RIGHT WIPER DEPOSITS RAIN IN LINE OF SIGHT AND WITH WIPERS ON FAST SPEED UNDER HEAVY RAIN IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE.

WHENEVER PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL, VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT OR DIE. TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED ANTI-SLIP WOULD DETHROTTLE ENGINE. WOULD HAPPEN IN TRAFFIC. TOOK TO ANOTHER DEALER & INFORMED THE SAME THING. ANTI-SLIP KEEPS WHEEL FROM SPINNING ON WET PAVEMENT. *AK