2000 Lincoln Continental Electrical Problems

The contact owns a 1979 Lincoln Continental. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked and turned off, there was smoke coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the rear end near the driver's side of the vehicle had caught on fire. The vehicle was extinguished by the Fire Department. A fire report was filed, and a fire report number was provided; however, the cause for the failure was not yet determined. A Police report was not filed. No injuries were sustained. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 137,070. The VIN was invalid.

NHTSA ID

11617441

Incident

Oct 1, 2024

Mileage

137,070 mi

A NEIGHBOR POINTED OUT THAT THE AUTOMOBILE WAS SITTING SEVERAL INCHES LOWER THAN NORMAL CLOSER TO GROUND WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. I BEGAN TO CHECK ON THIS EVERY TIME I WENT TO USE THE CAR. SOMETIMES VEHICLE WAS NORMAL HEIGHT, SOMETIMES LOWER. I NOTICED THAT, SOMETIMES, WHEN I TURNED THE IGNITION KEY THERE WAS SOUND HEARD LIKE A FAN OPERATING. I ASKED QUESTIONS OF PEOPLE WHO HAD OWNED SIMILAR MODELS AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL SHOWING UP 4 TO 8 YEARS AFTER MANUFACTURE. THIS MODEL HAS A RIDE CONTROL WHICH INVOLVES THREE "RIDE CONTROL" SETTINGS. AS CARS AGE THERE ARE AIR BAGS UNDER THE CAR WHICH CONTROL THE FEEL OF CAR (PLUSH, NORMAL, FIRM) AND THEY ADJUST ACCORDINGLY. BEFORE I START THE CAR, IF IT SITS LOW, TURNING THE IGNITION KEY CAUSES THE RIDE MECHANISM TO RAISE THE CAR FRAME A FEW INCHES ABOVE THE TIRES. SOMETIMES IN COLD WEATHER THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO OPERATE AND A MESSAGE SHOWS "CHECK RIDE CONTROL". THE STORE THAT DOES ROUTINE SERVICE REGULARLY TELLS ME THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM IN LINCOLN/FORDS AND THAT REPAIRS OFTEN COST $2000 OR MORE. THE CAR NOW HAS ABOUT 114,000 MILES ON IT AND THIS PROBLEM OCCURS MORE OFTEN. I BELIEVE THIS HAS BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE, AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER HAVING THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM ANOTHER OWNER, WHOM I KNOW, IN ABOUT 2008. HE HAD PURCHASED IT FROM A FORD DEALER AS A "PROGRAM CAR" I BELIEVE IN 2001. *TR

NHTSA ID

10576042

Incident

Sep 5, 2012

Mileage

105,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE POWER DOOR LOCKS ENGAGE AND UNLOCK ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE DOORS NORMALLY LOCK AUTOMATICALLY WHEN SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ALSO ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, WHICH PREVENTED THE ALARM SYSTEM FROM ENGAGING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FEBRUARY 5, 2008. THE DOOR IS AJAR WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT INDICATED HAD ILLUMINATED; HOWEVER, THE DOOR WAS SECURE. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED THE WEEK OF JANUARY 28, 2008 WHEN THERE WAS SNOW PRESENT AND DIMMED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CONTACT REACHED HIS DESTINATION. THE DEALER HAD NOT YET DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 93,000.

NHTSA ID

10218317

Incident

Feb 5, 2008

Mileage

93,000 mi

COMPLETED A TURN USING THE SIGNAL LIGHT(UNKNOWN IF RELATED) AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. A ODOR OF BURNING WIRING INSULATION WAS DETECTED AT THE SAME TIME. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE AND NO CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10146079

Incident

Dec 24, 2005

Mileage

59,500 mi

DT: CONTACT STATES THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DEALER REPAIRED THE PROBLEM NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME BACK ON. *AK SMOKE EMMITTED FORM THE VEHICLE'S STEERING COLUMN AT THE FLASHER SWITCH. *NM

NHTSA ID

10125334

Incident

Jun 6, 2005

THE MOON ROOF WAS REPLACED BECAUSE THE MOTOR DID NOT WORK, THE AIR BAGS WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER, THE HORN DID NOT WORK, THERE WAS A CHIMING NOISE EVERY 30 MINUTES, AND ALSO THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED TWICE, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WAS OFF TRACK, THE SPEAKERS DID NOT WORK, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED WHEN A STOP WAS MADE. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

10011433

CONSUMER COMPLAINS OF AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE CAUSING THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT, AIR BAG LIGHT,CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT, AND PARKING BRAKE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. DEALER REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH AND SENSOR, BUT CONDITIONS STILL EXIST INTERMITTENTLY. *TT

NHTSA ID

563874

Incident

Oct 14, 2001

WHILE STARTING VEHICLE DASHBOARD INDICATION LIGHTS/ AIR CONDITIONER/ RADIO, AND POWER WINDOWS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING, ALL FUNCTION RETURNED TO NORMAL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK THERE WAS NO LIGHTS AT DASHBOARD AND NO AUTO LAMP. THE POWER WINDOW AND A/C FAILED. AM RADIO WAS INOPERATIVE. THE POWER STEERING WAS VERY HARD TO TURN. *YH

NHTSA ID

890866

Incident

May 7, 2001

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE REAR VIEW MIRROR, AFTER REPAIR THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS NOT OPERATION PROPERLY AGAIN. *MJS

NHTSA ID

560752

GLARE OFF THE WINDSHIELD MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE SPEEDOMETER, ALSO HORN IS TOO HARD TO PUSH. *AK

NHTSA ID

885433

Incident

Nov 1, 2000