1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR Complaints

WE PURCHASED TWO NEW TOWNCARS FROM GERMAIN LINC.-MERC., NAPLES, FL, IN 1999 AND 2000 MY CAR'S,VIN [XXX], 1999 TOWN CAR, AND MY WIFE'S 2000 TOWN CAR, VIN [XXX]. MY FIRST COMPLAINT IS REGARDING MY CAR THAT DEVELOPED ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS RIGHT AFTER IT RAN OUT OF WARRANTY, AND NEEDED A $500 REPAIR. A WEEK LATER, IT DEVELOPED A LEAK, AND WAS REPAIRED AT $1000. IS THIS PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE? THIS WAS AT 56,000 MILES OF USE. SHOULDN'T THE DEALER CHECK BASIC SYSTEMS AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE WELL MAINTAINED? MY WIFE'S TOWNCAR HAS A FAR MORE SERIOUS AND HAZARDOUS HISTORY. SHE, ALONG WITH OUR GRANDSONS, EXPERIENCED A TIRE BLOWOUT AT 33,000 MILES. AFTER THE TIRE WAS CHANGED TO THE SPARE, SHE DROVE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT BOTH REAR TIRES SHOULD BE REPLACED FOR SAFETY. SHE AGREED. WHEN SHE PICKED UP THE CAR, ALL 4 TIRES (!)HAD BEEN REPLACED AT THE COST OF $548. THERE WAS NO PRICE ADJUSTMENT FOR ANY OF THE 4 TIRES REMOVED. ON 12-23-02 (3 DAYS LATER) SHE REPORTED TO THE DEALER THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOISY (SQUEAKED). WHEN SHE GOT THE CAR, THE BILL FOR THE BRAKES WAS $420. WHEN DRIVING OUR 2 DAUGHTERS AND 2 GRANDSONS THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE BRAKES DID NOT HOLD, AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT, NEARLY HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER. ONLY BY FORCED PUMPING WITH BOTH FEET, AND SWERVING INTO THE TURN LANE, DID SHE AVOID A CRASH. HAD CARS BEEN COMING IN THAT TURN LANE, ANY NUMBER OF PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY IN OUR FAMILY, COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. SHOULDN'T THE CUSTOMER "ADVISOR" ADVISE A MINOR BRAKE-PAD REPLACEMENT RATHER THAN WAIT FOR A MAJOR EXPENSIVE/DANGEROUS PROBLEM? WE STRONGLY DOUBT THAT WE WOULD CONSIDER ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT. THIS IS A SHORT HISTORY OF 2 REGULARLY-DEALER-MAINTAINED LUXURY CARS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

CAR HAS A PROBLEN IN THE STEERING BOX. TOOK IT TO A SPECIALIST AND FORD DISCOUNTED IT. THEY SENT A LINCOLN REP DOWN AND HE JUST LIED TO ME ABOUT THE PROBLEM SAID IT WAS A FACTORY FLAW AND COULD NOT FIX , THEN I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER FOR A PINGING AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T HEAR IT (NOTHING WAS DONE)THEN LATER ON A TRIP IT WENT HAYWIRE SOUNDED LIKE A BIG DIESEL TRUCK ON THE HIGHWAY AND RAN LIKE CRAP , SUCKING GAS ALSO, THEN CHANGED DEALERS AND THEY SAID THEY COULDEN'T FIND A PING . I GRABED ME A MECHANIC AND WE TOOK A LITTLE RIDE AND BEFORE I COULD GET IT BACK IT WAS PINGING (TOOK THEM 3 WEEKS TO FIX WITH ME COMING UP ALMOST DAILY TO TEST IT, AND NOBODY CAN ADJUST THE HEAD LIGHTS ON THE CAR THAT IS BAD ITS IDIOT PROOF

THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT ON A SLIGHT ANGLE HEAD ON WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CROSSED THE DIVIDER INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE CAME TO REST IN A DITCH. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED A BROKEN ANKLE IN 3 PLACES AND A HAIRLINE CRACK ON THE RIGHT KNEE. ALSO, A CUT ON THE LEFT LEG. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS KILLED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. *PH *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. THE CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF A PRIOR INCIDENT OF UNNECESSARY AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. SEE ODI# 8015319 AND 8013707. *PH *SCC *JB

WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, CAUSING ANTI FREEZE TO LEAK OUT. *AK

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT ALL FOUR MICHELIN TIRE WORE PREMATURELY. THE DEALER AND MICHELIN STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARRANTY BUT THEY OFFERED A 20% DISCOUNT FOR THE TIRE WHICH WERE HALF WORN (MICHELIN SYMMETRY P22560-R16, DOT# B93Y 239X 248 ). *AK *CB *NLM

CONSUMER INFORMATION FORM INVOLVING INCIDENT WITH 1994 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. *MR PH

THE FUEL PUMP ON MY 1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASE INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: FUEL PUMP, DIGITAL DISPLAY (SPEEDOMETER, MILEAGE, COMPASS, TEMPERATURE), PASSENGER WINDOW POWER MECHANISM (WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP COMPLETELY IF LOWERED) AND SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. CURRENT ISSUE REGARDS FUEL PUMP. TOTAL COST TO REPAIR INCLUDE $403.00 LABOR, $257.49 PARTS (FUEL PUMP), $25.00 MISC FEES, $16.72 TAX, $215.00 TOWING. *NLM

THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE WAS A DESIGN DEFECT WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FUSE BOX WAS POSITIONED UNDER THE HOOD DIRECTLY ABOVE THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WELL. THE FUSE BOX STARTED TO MELT DUE TO WATER FROM THE ROAD CONTACTING IT, WHICH CAUSED THE AIR SHOCKS AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO FAIL. *JB

WHEN DRIVING THROUGH A PUDDLE, OR EVEN WHEN PARKED IN THE RAIN, THERE IS A WATER LEAK ON FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR THAT SEEMS TO COME FROM UP UNDERNEATH AND BEHIND THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER 3 YEARS. AND SOAKING THE CARPET MORE QUICKLY THAN BEFORE. WHILE WE HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING, SUSPECT THE LEAK WAS THERE WHEN WE PURCHASED. HOW DO WE FIND IT? *NLM