1989 Lincoln Town Car Electrical Problems

LETTER ON BEHALF OF CONCERN ABOUT THE 1996 RECALL ON LINCOLN TOWN CARS, HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW IS HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH ON HIS 1989 LINCOLN TOWN CAR; SEND INCOMING LTR WITH REPLY TO ATTN: ALLISON JACKSON/FOLEY *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE KEY DID NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER LEARNED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THE PROBLEM, BUT THE PREVIOUS OWNERS WERE NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WHEN THEY SOLD THE VEHICLE TO THE CONSUMERS BROTHER-IN-LAW. *JB

NHTSA ID

10415676

Incident

Jul 1, 2011

AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE AND TURNING OFF THE IGNITION, THE CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING SOUND. A FEW SECONDS PASSED AND THE CONSUMER SAW THICK BLACK SMOKE AND A FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM MAY HAVE BEEN THE WIRING HARNESS. *JB *NLM

NHTSA ID

10044700

Incident

Oct 13, 2003

Mileage

76,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES THAT IT IS HARD TO START UP VEHICLE DUE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*JB

NHTSA ID

8013278

Incident

Mar 1, 2001

WHILE DRIVING, THE STARTER SOLENOID SELF ACTIVATED AND SLAMMED THE STARTER GEAR INTO THE FLYWHEEL IMMEDIATELY DISABLING THE CAR, THIS HAD CAUSED THE FLYWHEEL TO BREAK AND RUINED THE STARTER, CONSUMER WAS TOLD HE ALSO NEEDED TO REPLACE THE IGNITION AND WHEN TAKING OUT THE OLD SWITCH, THE PARTS FELL OUT INTO PIECES, NOW THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED THE AIR CONDITIONER WORKS WHEN IT HAD QUIT A COUPLE WEEKS PRIOR, CONSUMER IS NOW AWARE OF RECALL 96V071 AND FEELS THIS RECALL WAS THE CAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS. *SLC

NHTSA ID

562908

Incident

Sep 7, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

751112

Incident

Aug 22, 2001

PURCHASED CREAM PUFF TOWNCAR IN 1996. MID 1997, VEHICLE BEGAN STALLING AFTER THE ENGINE REACHED OPERATING TEMPERATURE. INDEPENDANT MECHANIC-NO HELP. FORD DEALER, SPENT ALMOST $1,000.00 TO REPLACE SEVERAL ITEMS. EACH TIME, I TOLD THEM TO CHECK THE IGNITION MODULE/COIL PICKUP. FORD DEALER SAID THAT WOULDN'T BE THE PROBLEM. ENROUTE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR EITHER THE 3D OR 4TH TIME AND TOTALLED THE AUTOMOBILE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO KEEP IT FROM STALLING. MY FAULT BUT I SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THE CAR AND GOING TO THE DEALER IN THE FIRST PLACE. MY FATHER HAS A 1985 CONTINENTAL WITH ONLY 30K MILES. SAME PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION MODULE WHICH HE JUST REPLACED. JUST HEARD THAT FORD KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THE WHOLE TIME. OF COURSE I CAN'T PROVE NOW THE MODULE WAS BAD SINCE THE CAR WAS TOTALLED GOING BACK TO THE DEALER. I JUST WANTED TO ADD MY 2 CENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

750296

Incident

Aug 1, 1997

VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK ENGINE CUTS OFF AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. THE MANUFACTURERS STATES IT IS BEING EVALUATED. *YH

NHTSA ID

872912

Incident

Sep 17, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

721009

Incident

Mar 24, 2000

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE NEAR STEERING WHEEL, UNDER THE DASH DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. DEALER HAS VEHICLE. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

857135

Incident

Feb 1, 2000

ALERNATOR IS NOT CHARGING THE BATTERY BECAUSE THE PLUG ON THE ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE. THERE IS NOT INDICATION THAT THE ALTERNATOR IS NOT WORKING UNTIL THE BATTERY DIES OR THE ALTERNATOR CATCHES FIRE. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

843997

Incident

Jul 30, 1999

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN INSIDE GARAGE & IGNITION SWITCH TURNED OFF. PROPERTY DAMAGE WAS DUE TO FIRE. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN MANUFACTURER'S. RECALL # 95S-28 / NHTSA # 96V-071000 PERTAINING TO AN INGITION SWITCH WHICH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT. DEALER/MFR WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID

831393

Incident

Jun 21, 1998

STARTED TO SMELL RUBBER BURNING WHILE DRIVING 30MPH. NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. PULLED INTO SHOPPING AREA & GOT OUT. SOON FLAMES SHOT OUT OF STEERING COLUMN. FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLED & ARRIVED TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES. WAS INFORMED IT WAS ELECTRICAL WIRING. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ID

828592

Incident

Aug 11, 1998

ELECTRICAL: IGNITION SWITCH RECALL#96V071000. HAVING SAME PROBLEM, BUT THIS CAR IS NOT IN THE RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

820603

Incident

Jan 2, 1997

WHILE PARKED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK CONSUMER LEARNED ABOUT RECALL 96V071, HOWEVER IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED FOR RECALL, VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE INSPECTED BY FORD AND IT HAD ALREADY BEEN TOWED. *SLC

NHTSA ID

816568

Incident

Nov 12, 1995

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A FEW MINUTES, THE VEHICLE SMELLED LIKE SMOKE. WHEN THE COMSUMER GOT CLOSER TO IT SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD; THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SHOP, AND THE MECHANIC SAID THE FIRE STARTED AT THE ALTERNATOR OR THE WIRES OF THE ALTERNATOR. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

815303

Incident

Jul 2, 1997

RECALL REPAIR ON IGNITION SWITCH FAILED, CAUSING SMOKE AND SPARKS.

NHTSA ID

517056

Incident

Apr 14, 1997

ELECTRICAL FIRE.

NHTSA ID

516750

Incident

Jan 20, 1997

VEHICLE STALLED 7 TIMES DUE TO WIRING HARNESS BURNING OUT, ONCE CAUSING ACCIDENT/INJURIES.

NHTSA ID

513919

Incident

Nov 1, 1990

ALTERNATOR FIRE.

NHTSA ID

511018

Incident

Oct 20, 1996

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.

NHTSA ID

510143

Incident

Apr 22, 1996

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.

NHTSA ID

510057

Incident

May 9, 1994

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL.

NHTSA ID

509501

Incident

Jun 14, 1996

RECALL REPAIRS ON IGNITION SWITCH NOT PERFORMED DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ID

508995

ELECTRICAL FIRE IN STEERING COLUMN.

NHTSA ID

507743

Incident

Oct 4, 1994

IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE.

NHTSA ID

507512

Incident

Sep 1, 1995