1994 LINCOLN TOWN CAR Complaints

WHILE DRIVING MY 1994 LINCOLN TOWN CAR AT 20-25 MPH IN HOPEWELL NJ MY DRIVERS SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATED,CAUSING THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO FALL TO THE GROUND AND THE WHEEL WELL TO FALL ON THE TOP SIDE OF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE,RENDERING THE VEHICLE IMMOVABLE. THE CAR WAS THEN TOWED 42 MILES TO MY HOME ON A FLATBED TRUCK AT THE COST OF $192.00. WITH THE AID OF A NEIGHBOR (A PROFESSIONAL MECHANIC) THE BALL JOINT WAS REPLACED WITH AN AFTERMARKET PART,COST $52.00(NO LABOR COST-SELF INSTALLED).THE BROKEN BALL JOINT( I HAVE RETAINED THE BROKEN PART IN MY POSSESSION) DID NOT HAVE ANY FITTINGS FOR LUBRICATION,BUT ACCORDING TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE DIVISION IN DEARBORN MI( MR.PAUL LAFFIN ) MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF ANY SAFETY RECALL(98S37 FORD'S # ) OR 98V322000.I WAS ADVISED THAT I SHOULD TAKE MY CAR TO THE NEAREST LINCOLN DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND OR SERVICE OF THE OTHER (RIGHT SIDE) BALL JOINT. MY DRIVING TO AND FROM WORK INVOLVES 15 MILES ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY,I GUESS I WAS JUST LUCKY TO HAVE THIS FAILURE OCCUR ON A CITY STREET AT 20 MPH. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH FORD,LINCOLN FOR THEIR RESPONSE TO MY ISSUE WHICH I BELIEVE IS A DEFECTIVE PART THAT THEY REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR AND CORRECT. EVEN IF MY CAR WAS NOT IN THE ORIGINAL RECALL, I FEEL IT IS A SIMILAR ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IN A LIKE MANNER WHEN IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION. AS FOR NHSTA I WOULD LIKE YOUR OFFICE TO LOOK INTO THE ASSEMBLY SPECS FOR ALL 1994 LINCOLN TOWN CARS TO SEE IF ALL WERE EQUIPPED WITH THIS TYPE OF (UNGREASEABLE) BALL JOINT. THANK YOU. *NM

MY CAR, A 1994 LINCOLN TOWN CAR, CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED SITTING IN MY DRIVE WITH THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. I HAD PARKED IT AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF 5 1/2 HOURS EARLIER BEFORE THE INCIDENT. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION( I SUPPOSE IT WAS DUE TO ONE OF THE TIRES BLOWING OUT) THAT THREW SOME DEBRIS FROM ONE OF THE PARTS THAT BURNED INTO THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE CAUSING A HOLE IN THE SIDING ON MY HOUSE AND THE HEAT FROM THE FIRE ALSO BUCKLED THE VINYL SIDING ON MY HOUSE.. I HAVE REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY, BUT THEY DO NOT SEEM TOO INTERESTED IN INVESTIGATING TO SEE WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE TO START. I AM INCLUDING PICTURES OF THE BURNED CAR AND A COPY OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S REPORT. *NM

OWNER HAD TROUBLE WITH REAR AIR-RIDE SUSPENSION FOR ABOUT A WEEK. WARNING LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ACTIVATED AFTER REPAIRS. VEHICLE WAS PARKED ABOUT 13 HRS WHEN FIRE STARTED IN LEFT FRONT ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE SUFFERED MAJOR DAMAGE. ADJACENT RESIDENCE SUFFERED MODERATE DAMAGE

WHILE PARKED IN A GARAGE THE CONSUMER'S 1994 LINCOLN TOWN CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. *NM *SC *JB

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED OUT BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

DRIVER GOT INSIDE THE VEHICLE, TURNED ON THE IGNITION, AND THE VEHICLE BURSTED INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED, AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. *AK

THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY TURNED OFF WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON WHEN THE MANUAL SWITCH WAS ON. *SC WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE LIGHTS WENT OUT. THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON BY USE OF THE ON SWITCH. DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TC *JB

THE FUEL FROM THE TANK AND THE RETURN LINE WERE BURNED. THE VEHICLE LEAKED GAS RIGHT ABOVE THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND RECEIVED NO ASSISTANCE. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

DEFECTIVE BRAKE LINES ON 1994 LINCOLN TOWN CAR.*MR BOTH BRAKES LINES BURST LEAVING THE CONSUMER WITH NO BRAKES. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE METAL LINES HAD CORRODED, POSSIBLY FROM ROAD SALT. *NM

THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE INSUFFICIENT DUE TO THE DULLING OF INTERNAL COMPONENTS AS THE RESULT OF AN APPARENT DESIGN DEFECT. THE MFG. USED A 9005 BULB WITH A DIFFUSER. THE BULB AND DIFFUSER GENERATE EXCESSIVE HEAT AND HAVE DULLED THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL INSIDE THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. THE 9005 BULB IS A HIGH BEAM BULB USED, IN THIS CASE, IN A LOW BEAM ASSEMBLY. I URGE THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER AS IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT COUPLED WITH A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. *LA