1997 Lincoln Town CAR

Complaint history

When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.

Problems owners report

Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.

AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.

Recalls

• NHTSA recall #07V336000August 3, 20073,600,000 vehicles affected

  vehicle speed control

  On certain pickup trucks, passenger vehicles, sport utility vehicles, and motor homes chassis, the speed control deactivation switch may, under certain conditions, leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.

  This could result in an underhood fire.

  Remedy

  Dealers will install a fused wiring harness. Owners of the passenger cars included in this campaign will be instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected as an interim repair. As soon as repair parts are available (expected october 2007), owners will be instructed to return to the dealers for installation of a fused wiring harness. The recall began on august 13, 2007, and mailing completed by september 19, 2007. Owners may contact Ford at 1-888-222-2751.

• NHTSA recall #01V318000October 3, 2001911 vehicles affected

  air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module

  Equipment description: passenger vehicles that have had the driver's air bag module replaced after april 5, 2000. The replacement driver's air bag module inflator may have insufficient welds that could prevent proper inflation of the air bag.

  In the event of a crash, the driver's air bag may not properly deploy which could potentially result in less than the intended level of occupant protection.

  Remedy

  Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the driver's air bag module. Owner notification began october 5, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.

• NHTSA recall #00V157001June 12, 20001,167 vehicles affected

  seat belts: front: anchorage

  Vehicle description: passenger vehicles using aftermarket driver's seat belt assemblies that were sold by Ford parts departments from january 1, through june 13, 2000. These seat belt assemblies fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 209, "seat belt assemblies." the equipment involved is service stock seat belt assemblies, model nos. H 9977, h 9979, t 9063, and t 9217, built by trw vehicle safety systems, inc. (trw) manufactured from june 1, 1998 through may 21, 2000. Some of these seat belt assemblies may have been installed as service replacement equipment on the vehicles involved in the recall.

  In the event of a collision, these seat belts may not restrain an occupant increasing the risk of injury.

  Remedy

  Dealers will inspect these vehicles and replace the service seat belt assemblies that were installed in these vehicles from january 1 through june 13, 2000.

• NHTSA recall #00V157002June 12, 20001,129 vehicles affected

  seat belts: front: anchorage

  Vehicle description: passenger vehicles using aftermarket front passenger side seat belt assemblies that were sold by Ford parts departments from january 1, through june 13, 2000. These seat belt assemblies fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 209, "seat belt assemblies." the equipment involved is service stock seat belt assemblies, model nos. H 9977, h 9979, t 9063, and t 9217, built by trw vehicle safety systems, inc. (trw) manufactured from june 1, 1998 through may 21, 2000. Some of these seat belt assemblies may have been installed as service replacement equipment on the vehicles involved in the recall.

  In the event of a collision, these seat belts may not restrain an occupant increasing the risk of injury.

  Remedy

  Dealers will inspect these vehicles and replace the service seat belt assemblies that were installed in these vehicles from january 1 through june 13, 2000.

• NHTSA recall #98V322000December 16, 1998175,000 vehicles affected

  suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint

  Vehicle description: certain 1996-1999 Ford crown victoria police, fleet, natural gas, and 1996-1999 Lincoln Town Car limousine vehicles that were produced with a lower control arm ball joint containing a one piece bearing; and 1990-1996 Ford crown victoria police, fleet, and ngv vehicles and 1990-1996 Lincoln Town Car limousine vehicles that have been serviced with either a ball joint containing the one-piece bearing or a front lower control arm containing a ball joint with a one-piece bearing. The one-piece bearing within the lower control arm ball joint Can weaken slowly during use and eventually crack. This could result in separation of the ball and cap of the joint, allowing the control arm to drop to the ground.

  If this occurs while the vehicle is moving, reduced steering control could occur, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Remedy

  Dealers will replace the lower control arm ball joints (2).

• NHTSA recall #96V231000November 12, 1996742 vehicles affected

  air bags: frontal

  Two bolts that attach the driver air bag to the steering wheel were not installed during vehicle assembly.

  In the event of a frontal collision, the air bag module would stay in position during deployment. However, the module could leave the steering wheel cavity following air bag deployment.

  Remedy

  Dealers will inspect the vehicles and install any bolts that are missing.

Other model years

• 1986 50
• 1987 32
• 1988 99
• 1989 89
• 1990 209
• 1991 155
• 1992 249
• 1993 176
• 1994 155
• 1995 165
• 1996 259
• 1997
• 1998 154
• 1999 148
• 2000 108
• 2001 161
• 2002 65
• 2003 201
• 2004 83
• 2005 119
• 2006 143
• 2007 84