1998 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 #00V356000December 12, 200010,000 vehicles affected

  tires

  Vehicle description: certain limousines stretched over 60 inches fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 109, "new pneumatic tires," and no. 110, "tire selection and rims."

  The vehicle weight could exceed the maximum load rating for the tire, increasing the risk of premature tire wear or blowout.

  Remedy

  Dealers will replace all 5 tires (including the spare tire) with michelin tires (225/70R16 107T reinforced white sidewall) with a sufficiently higher load rating. Owner notification began january 10, 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 1-800-248-0186.

• NHTSA recall #00V200000July 18, 2000875,000 vehicles affected

  equipment: mechanical: integrated jack/leveler/stabilizer

  Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles have jacking instructions which, if followed, could cause the vehicle operator to place the jack on a frame weld when attempting to raise a rear wheel. If the vehicle is jacked up with the jack placed on the frame weld and if the vehicle is free to roll (wheels not blocked or chocked), the jack could yield and the vehicle may drop suddenly.

  If this occurs and any portion of the operator's body is under the vehicle, the potential for personal injury exists.

  Remedy

  Owners will be provided with a revised jack instruction and stowage card and jack warning label, as well as a supplement to the owner guide.

• 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 #98V028000February 10, 1998571,800 vehicles affected

  exterior lighting: headlights

  Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The text and/or graphics for the vehicle headlamp aiming instructions provided in the owner guides are not sufficiently clear. This does not meet the requirements of FMVSS no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."

  If the headlamp assemblies are replaced, customers may be confused by the aiming instructions provided in the owner guides causing the headlamps to be improperly aimed.

  Remedy

  Owner guides containing revised aiming instructions will be mailed to owners of these vehicles.

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 314
• 1998
• 1999 148
• 2000 108
• 2001 161
• 2002 65
• 2003 201
• 2004 83
• 2005 119
• 2006 143
• 2007 84