1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR Complaints

FORD PUBLISHED OWNER NOTIFICATION 97M91 # & #2 . NOTIFICATION SAYS THAT MY 1997 LINCOLN WITH ENGINE 4.6L SOHC BUILT IN WIXOM PLANT HAS SOME VEHICLES HAVE DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANAFOLDS. MY INTAKE MANAFOLD FAILED (BURSTED) ON 11-26-2001 IN THE MIDDLE OF TH CALIF DESERT AND WAS TOWED TO THE NEARST TOWN WHERE I WAS TOLD BY THE REPAIR GARAGE THAT MY INTAKE MANAFOLD CRACKED. I HAD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AT THAT TIME AND PLACE. WHEN I RETURNED HOME I CONTACTED MY DEALER AND THEY SAID MY CAR WAS NOT UNDER THE SO CALLED RECALL. I HAVE CONTACTED THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY REPLY SORRY. IF THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE INTAKE MANAFOLD ON 1997 LINCOLN TOWNCAR WITH THE SAME ENGINE I HAVE AND BUILT THE SAME YEAR AND AT THE SAME PLANT, THEN WHY ISMINE NOT COVERED. PLEASE HELP. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER WENT TO APPLY BRAKES TO STOP AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND WAS INFORMED BRAKE LINES HAD CORRODED AND NEEDED REPLACING.*AK. CONSUMER ASLO HAD THE FRONT BRAKES REPLACED.*SLC REFERENCED IN RQ03-004

WHILE DRIVING SMOKE AND STEAM CAME FROM VEHICLE DUE TO INTAKE MANIFOLD MALFUNCTIONING. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY LOOSE. STEERING WHEEL WAS FREE TO TURN IN BOTH DIRECTIONS WITH OUT STOPPING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT STEERING COLUMN ROD CAME OUT. DEALER REPLACED STEERING PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH FRONT/RIGHT OF VEHICLE CRASHED TO THE GROUND UNEXPECTEDLY. AN UNKNOWN COMPONENT OF FRONT SUSPENSION DISCONNECTED FROM VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED THIS VEHICLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK ADDITIONAL NOTE: THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE RIGHT-FRONT BALL JOINT BROKE AND SEPARATED FROM THE CONTROL ARM. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONSUMER HIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 98V322000.

ON DECEMBER 14, 2001, WHILE PARKING MY CAR WITH MY GRANDDAUGHTER BUCKLED IN HER CAR SEAT IN THE BACK, I SUDDENLY HEARD A LOUD CRASHING SOUND AND FELT THE JOLT OF THE ENTIRE RIGHT SIDE OF MY CAR COLLAPSING. I IMMEDIATELY REMOVED MYSELF AND MY GRANDDAUGHTER FROM THE CAR ONLY TO SEE THAT THE SUSPENSION ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR HAD SIMPLY FALLEN OFF. AS A MECHANIC IN MY YOUNGER YEARS IT WAS VERY OBVIOUS THAT MY GRAND DAUGHTER AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED-EVEN KILLED- HAD THIS OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS AT ALL. IN OVER 50 YEARS AS A SAFE DRIVER AND OPERATING A VARIETY OF TRUCKS AND AUTOMOBILES, I HAVE NEVER BEFORE ENCOUNTERED SUCH A DEFECT WITH SUCH HIGH POTENTIAL FOR LETHALITY. THE DEALER HAS ALREADY INSULTED MY INTELLIGENCE BY TRYING TO MINIMIZE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SUCH A DEFECT AND SUGGEST THAT I WOULD PAY FOR THE DAMAGE AND FEEL COMFORTABLE EVER DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AGAIN. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE LINCOLN TOWNCAR TENDS TO BE VERY POPULAR AMONGST OLDER/ELDERLY ADULTS WHO MAY NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO CONFRONT ANY ATTEMPTS TO COVERUP/CONCEAL THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE CALL ME ANY TIME FOR ANY FURTHER CLARIFICATIONS. THANK YOU

A FAILURE/FATIGUE CRACK DEVELOPED IN THE COMPOSITE INTAKE MANIFOLD, CAUSING LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT, STEAMING/COVERING VEHICLE WINDSHIELD, OBSCURING VISION, ALSO ON WINDSHIELDS OF OTHER FOLLOWING VEHICLES. THIS IS A DEFECT/FAILURE KNOWN TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY, AND A NO CHARGE SERVICE BULLETIN # 01M02 HAS BEEN ISSUED ON CERTIAN OTHER VEHICLES, THE SERVICE PROPGRAM PROVIDES ADDITIONAL COVERAGE FOR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS SHOULD APPLY TO ALL VEHICLES WITH THIS DEFECTIVE PART, NOT JUST SELECTED VEHICLES. THE FAILURE OF THIS PART WHILE OPERATING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD TO THE DRIVER AND OTHER FOLLOWING VEHICLES. IT CAN ALSO RESULT IN OVERHEATING & COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. FORD HAS EXTENDED A NO CHARGE COVERAGE ON THIS PART FOR THE SELECTED VEHICLES FOR SEVEN YEARS AND NO MILAGE LIMITATION, AND IS IS ALSO EXTENTED AUTOMATICALLY TO SUBSEQUENT OWNERS. THIS SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO OWNERS OF ALL VEHICLES WOTH THIS DEFECTIVE PART. FORD MOTOR COMPANY COUSTOMER SERVICE HAS REJECTED / DENIED/ REFUSED ANY CALAIM FOR REFUND WHEN CONTACTED BY TELEPHONE. THEY HAVE NOT REPLIED TO TWO REQUEST BY MAIL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.*AK

DURING INSPECTION, A REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THAT BRAKE LINE HAD BEEN RUBBING AGAINST CHASSIS, CAUSING BRAKE LINE TO RUPTURE. *AK CONSUMER WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL REGARDING THIS, HOWEVER IT IS FOR THE LIMOUSINE MODEL ONLY. *JB REFERENCED IN RQ03-004

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, MILEAGE WAS 154. DEALER COULD NOT FIND CAUSE. *AK *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, VEHICLE COMMENCED TO OVERHEAT AND LEAKED COOLANT. TOW TRUCK ARRIVED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM WAS A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, AND UNWILLING TO ASSIST IN THIS MATTER. *AK *YD