2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND HEARD A ROARING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS, WHEELS, AND AXLE SHAFTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS GIVEN A COPY OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V328000 (SUSPENSION:REAR), WHICH HE TOOK TO THE FORD DEALER, BUT WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,700 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,600.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL BEARING MAKES A STRANGE NOISE AND THE AXLE IS DAMAGED. HE STATED THAT HE PLACED A NEW SET OF MICHELIN TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE SPEED AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,600. UPDATED 01-15-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL AXLE BEARING. UPDATED *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC AND THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS LABELED AS THE REAR AXLE. FORD STATED THAT NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 04V328000 (SUSPENSION:REAR) ONLY APPLIES TO FLEET VEHICLES, HOWEVER, THE CONTACT FEELS THAT HIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 48,077. UPDATED 09/25/07. *JB

MY LINCOLN TOWN CAR IS IN FOR SERVICE RIGHT NOW. THE SERVICEMAN SAID 2 AXLES, 2 WHEEL BEARINGS AND 2 SEALS HAVE TO BE REPLACED. HE SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON THESE. I CALLED THE DEALER AND HE SAID IT WAS ONLY FOR LINCOLN TOWN CARS THAT WERE LIMOS. THE SERVICE MAN SAID IT WOULD BE THE SAME THING. THEREFORE THE DEALER WOULD NOT STAND BY IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 15-70 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD HUMMING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE REAR BEARINGS AND THE REAR AXLE SHAFTS WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL # 04V328000 (SUSPENSION:REAR). THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 49,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000. UPDATED 02-04-08. *KB UPDATED 02/04/08 *TR

SEVERE NOISE IN REAR AXLE ON 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR . TOOK VEHICLE TO SELLING DEALER TO FIX IT, WHO CHARGED HIM $707.63 INCLUDING TAXES TO FIX IT BY REPLACING REAR AXLES AND BEARINGS WITH KIT 3W1Z*4A109*AA. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE PART OF NHTSA RECALL 04V328000 DATED JUL 6, 2004. FORD RECALL NUMBER 04S16. HOWEVER FORD DENIED WHEN I CALLED THEM AT 800-392-3673 SAYING THE CAR WAS NOT A FLEET SALE AND WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVE REPAIR RECEIPT. *AK

2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE BACK WHEELS LOCKED WHILE DRIVING**CC THE CONSUMERS WIFE WAS MAKING A SLOW LEFT TURN WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY JERKED TO A STOP RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN. WHEN SHE PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE AND THEN INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE DIDN'T MOVE FORWARD. SHE HAD TO PLAY WITH THE GEARS UNTIL THE VEHICLE FINALLY WENT FORWARD. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. AFTER THE FOURTH OCCURRENCE, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THEY FOUND A BROKEN PARKING BRAKE LINKAGE. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REAR AXLES, THE WHEEL BEARINGS, AXLE SEALS, AND BRAKE PADS ALL NEED REPLACING. THE MECHANIC MADE THE REPAIR AND NO OTHER FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 135,300 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,223. UPDATED 07/06/07. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHEN THE KEY WAS PLACED INTO THE IGNITION IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT LOCK. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 73000. *AK

RE: 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR CRUISE CONTROL RUNAWAY ISSUE ON 3/16/07 I WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT DURING A SNOWSTORM ON A TWO LANE NARROW ROAD. I HAD PREVIOUSLY DISENGAGED THE OVERDRIVE AND MANUALLY SHIFTED INTO 2ND GEAR AT 20-25 MPH FOR BETTER CONTROL. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY OVER STEERED TO THE RIGHT. TRYING TO CORRECT, IT OVER STEERED TO THE LEFT, SLID SIDEWAYS IN THE DEEP SHOULDER ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR ABOUT 25 FEET. THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL HIT A LARGE OAK TREE, BOUNCED OFF AND THE VEHICLE WENT DOWN A STEEP 70 FOOT DRIVEWAY AND JUMPED A FROZEN PILE OF SNOW. I DID HAVE THE CAR UNDER CONTROL GOING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. IT WAS A VERY BUSY TEN SECONDS. THE INITIAL ESTIMATE FROM GEICO IS $5100, CLAIM 023442150101027. I CALL THE FORD 800 NUMBER AND DIDN'T GET ANY HELP THERE, WHICH IS NO SURPRISE. I AM WELL AWARE OF MANUFACTURERS NOT ADDRESSING VEHICLE PROBLEMS UNTIL THEY HAVE TO BECAUSE OF MONETARY ISSUES OR LEGAL REQUIREMENTS. I AM A FORMER GM DEALER AND HAVE DRIVEN LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES IN VARIOUS CONDITIONS OF DIRE REPAIR. I ALSO ATTENDED BONDURANT HIGH SPEED DRIVING SCHOOL, HAVE AN EXPIRED SCCA RACING LICENSE AND HOLD AMA EXPERT COMPETITION MOTORCYCLE LICENSE. EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS 35 TO 40 YEARS AGO THE COMPETITION EXPERIENCE TOOK OVER. ONE CAUSE COULD BE THE LOCKING DOG FOR THE STEERING HAS SHORTED THE CRUISE CONTROL RIBBON WIRES AND CAUSED THE PROBLEM. THERE COULD ALSO BE ISSUES WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL CIRCUITRY AND/OR MODULES. SINCE THE ACCIDENT I HAVE HEARD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT CRUISE ENGAGEMENT PROBLEMS. THERE ALSO MAY BE AN ISSUE WITH THE AUTO TRACTION CONTROL WHICH MIGHT EXPLAIN WHY THE CAR WENT SO VIOLENTLY OUT OF CONTROL. THIS DEVICE IS RATHER USELESS AND IMPEDES DRIVABILITY RATHER THAN HELPS. ON THE DRIVE BACK TO MY HOUSE I HAD TO DISENGAGE IT TO DRIVE UP SMALL HILLS, AND HAVE DONE SO BEFORE IN BAD WEATHER AS THIS TYPE OF TRACTION CONTROL IMPEDES ACCELERATION. *JB