1990 Lincoln Town Car Owner Complaints

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE HOOD WAS RAISED. SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE SPOTTED COMING FROM THE PLUG ON THE ALTERNATOR. THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED AND THE PLUG REMOVED. THE FIRE SMOTHERED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY UNDER GOING INSPECTION AND REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

10150925

Incident

Feb 21, 2006

Mileage

118,000 mi

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED:ON 5-19-04 HIS 1990 LINCOLN TOWN CAR BURNED WHILE IT WAS PARKED. WITHIN A HALF OF AN HOUR THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THERE WERE 3 DIFFERENT INVESTIGATIONS DONE;. AN ELECTRICAL AND AND ENGINEERING INVESTIGATION, AND ONE DONE BY THE TAMPA FIRE DEPARTMENT AND FOUND NO EXACT FAULT. . HE SAID THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 3 OTHER CARS TOTALED, AND 4 OTHERS DAMAGED DURING THE FIRE. THE HOOD MELTED AWAY. THE CAR HAD ONLY 76,000 MILES ON IT AND HAD BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. HE DID SUBMIT MAINTENANCE REPORTS TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY, AND WAS NOT LIABLE FOR THE FIRE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10127122

Incident

May 19, 2004

Mileage

76,000 mi

DT: CONSUMER HAD A 1990 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WHICH CAUGHT ON FIRE. WHEN CONSUMER CAME HOME HE PARKED THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE, WENT INSIDE AND ATE, THEN A NEIGHBOR POUNDED AT DOOR TO LET HIM KNOW HIS HOUSE WAS ON FIRE. THE POLICE, FIRE DEPARTMENT, FIRE MARSHAL AND INSURANCE ADJUSTERS CAME OUT AND COULDN'T FIND THE REASON THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE BURNED WITH SUCH INTENSITY THAT PIECES LEFT WERE CHARRED AND NOTHING REMAINED. A FEW FIREMEN WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL DUE TO THE FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10125859

Incident

Mar 13, 2004

Mileage

40,000 mi

CONSUMER REPORTED THAT ALL FOUR DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. ONE OF THE VEHICLE WINDOWS HAD TO BE LEFT OPEN TO GAIN ENTRANCE INTO THE VEHICLE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMERTHAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10111467

Incident

Aug 5, 1997

Mileage

100,000 mi

CONSUMER PARKED THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE, AND IN MINUTES WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE BURNED COMPLETELY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT NOTED THAT THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. *AK......... CONSUME RCLAIMED FIRE APPEARED TO BE DUE TO MECHANICAL FAILURE IN CAR , POSSIBLY BRAKES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10104990

Incident

Jan 20, 2004

Mileage

101,000 mi

THIS CAR IS ABOUT A PIECE OF JUNK. PAINT IS ALMOST GONE, 3 OF 4 POWER WINDOWS DONT WORK, WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR HAS QUIT TWICE, REAR SUSPENSION FAILED, RADIO NON-FUNCTIONAL, MESSAGE CENTER SAYS THAT IT IS -76 DEGREES AT MOST TIMES WITH 400 MILES UNTIL EMPTY (NOT TRUE). *AK

NHTSA ID

10028622

Incident

Jul 17, 1990

VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING ON HOT DAYS WHILE DRIVING.AND WHEN DRIVEN ON HOT DAYS AND IS PARKED WILL NOT START AGAIN , UNLESS IT COOLS DOWN. REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE , WHICH I WAS TOLD WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION IN CALIFORNIA. *AK

NHTSA ID

10025463

Incident

Jun 30, 2003

ON MAY 9TH MY CAR ENGINE BURST IN TO FLAMES WHILE PARKED AND OFF.

NHTSA ID

10019186

Incident

May 9, 2003

ON FEBRUARY 1, 2003, KIMBERLY LOVE WAS DRIVING A 1990 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WITH FAYE LOVE(PASSENGER). WHILE DRIVING EAST ON INTERSTATE 26 IN COLUMBIA, SC AT 60 MILES PER HOUR, THE HOOD FLEW UP, SHATTERING THE WINDSHIELD. THE HOOD WAS BENT AND THE FRONT WINDOW SHATTERED. THE LATCH IS BROKEN ALSO. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE SHAKEN BUT ABLE TO PULL TO SAFETY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10005139

Incident

Feb 1, 2003

Mileage

160,000 mi

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 1/2 HOUR, AND THEN PARKED. 1 AND 1/2 HOURS LATER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND BURNED COMPLETE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE IS TOTALED, POSSIBLY ENGINE RELATED. *YH

NHTSA ID

8018013

Incident

Sep 5, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH HOOD FLEW UP WHICH IMMEDIATELY DISFIGURED/ DENTED, AND STRUCK THE ROOF. ONCE THE HOOD BENT BACK, IT STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD, SHATTERING IT. OWNER HAD TO PULL OVER, AND TIE HOOD DOWN BEFORE DRIVING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP RIGHT AFTER THAT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

8017808

Incident

Jul 18, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HOOD SUDDENLY FLEW OPEN. MECHANIC INDICATED LATCH PLATE WAS CORRODED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8017454

Incident

Jul 18, 2002

INTRUMENTAL PANEL IS NOT VISIBLE WHEN DRIVING IN DAYTIME. UNABLE TO CHECK SPEED/ GAS,ETC.*AK

NHTSA ID

8012505

Incident

Jan 25, 2001

INSTRUMENTAL PANEL IS NOT LEGIBLE IN THE DAY TIME. UNABLE TO SEE HOW FAST VEHICLE IS GOING, AND HOW FULL GAS TANK IS. *AK *YH

NHTSA ID

8011654

Incident

Jun 12, 2000

VEHICLE WAS GOING 40-45MPH IN THE DARK AND RAIN, AND VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. CONSUMER SUSTAINED SPINAL INJURIES. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK PHOTOS ATTACHED. *TT

NHTSA ID

8007406

Incident

Oct 4, 2001

LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD DOESN'T APPEAR AT DAY, BUT AT NIGHT THERE IS LIGHT. DASHBOARD IS DIGITAL. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASE DATE OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

8005920

Incident

Mar 1, 2002

STEERING GEAR BOX FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING,CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO OFF ROAD. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK THE DEALER STATED THAT BOLTS SECURING STEERING BOX PULLED THROUGH RUSTY FRAME CAUSING STEERING FAILURE. *YH

NHTSA ID

897666

Incident

Sep 22, 2001

THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. EVERYTIME YOU WOULD TURN THE CAR OFF IT WAS VERY HAD TO RESTART.

NHTSA ID

9004582

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH CONSUMER SAW SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SHE PULLED OVER, AND FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT FIRE WAS CAUSED BY WIRING OR THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT . VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

896629

Incident

Sep 11, 2001

DASHLIGHTS WERE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH TO SEE SPEEDOMETER. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE YEARS. DEALER ADMITTED THERE WAS A PROBLEM, COULD NOT REMEDY IT. *AK

NHTSA ID

893291

Incident

Oct 1, 1991

SHIFT LEVER DOES NOT SHIFT TO PARK. GEAR SHIFT WAS SLOPPY AND WOULD WOULD UP AND DOWN. STEERING COLUMN WAS TAKEN APART AND THE HOUSING TUBE THAT HOLDS THE STEERING LEVER INSIDE COLUMN HAD BROKEN IN HALF. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED.

NHTSA ID

9003269

HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY - ON CHRISTMAS DAY HOOD FLEW UP INTO THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO GET SMASHED, THE HOOD WAS COMPLETELY BENT IN HALF, AND DAMAGED WAS DONE TO THE ROOF. MY FAMILY AND I WERE TERRIFIED AND I WAS VERY HAPPY THAT MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING. IF HE DIDN'T DRIVE I AM SURE THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL CAR ACCIDENT. AS THIS HAPPENED, CAR SWERVED INTO LANE TO LEFT AND WE WERE SIDE-SWIPED BY A VAN. THE VAN DID NOT STOP, NO ONE STOPPED. WE WERE THERE FOR QUITE AWHILE BUT NO POLICE CAME. WE JUST WANTED TO GET HOME. OTHER OBVIOUS DAMAGE WAS THE DRIVERS FRONT END. TOOK TO SALVAGE YARD BECAUSE WE WERE NOT AWARE OF THE SAFETY RECALL AND THAT IT WAS NOT DONE ON THIS CAR. THIS CAR HAD NO COLLISION ON IT BECAUSE IT WAS "OLDER" DID FINALLY REPORT TO INSURANCE JUST TO HAVE ON RECORD. IF WE KNEW ABOUT THE RECALL ON THIS I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY 2 & 4 YEAR OLD SONS IN THIS "SAFE" CAR. I WOULD HAVE DONE DIRECTLY TO DEALER IF I KNEW ABOUT RECALL. HAVE TRIED GOING THROUGH DEALER RECENTLY AND CALLING LINCOLN'S 800# TO SPEAK WITH THEIR CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT. NO ONE IS CLAIMING ANY KIND OF RESPONSIBILITY AND YET IN MY MIND WE WERE ALMOST KILLED. I NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER ABOUT THE RECALL. ONLY THE PREVIOUS OWNERS APPARANTLY RECEIVED ONE. I'M SURE LINCOLN WOULD PAY ATTENTION IF SOMEONE WAS KILLED DUE TO A SAFETY RECALL. HOW CAN I GET LINCOLN TO MAKE MY CAR SAFE AND REIMBURSE ME FOR MONEY I DID PAY OUT DUE TO THIS OCCURRENCE -- THEY WON'T EVEN LOOK AT THE PART OF THE CAR THAT WAS RECALLED BECAUSE I HAD GONE TO A SALVAGE YARD TO HAVE HOOD REPLACED, WINDSHIELD REPLACED AND FRONT END DRIVERS HEADLIGHT REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

748689

SHIFT ROD HOUSING BROKE IN HALF,INSIDE OF STEERING COLUMN. *AK

NHTSA ID

747760

ON APRIL 23, 2001 OUR LINCOLN TOWN CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FRO ABOUT TEN MINUTES IN AN ENCLOSED PARKING STRUCTURE AT SUPERMARKET WHEN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT SELF-IGNITED. A MAJOR FIRE ENSUED BUT A PASSERBY HAD CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE TOTAL LOSS OF OUR CAR. I HAVE EMAILED LINCOLN HQ REPEATEDLY SINCE THEN TO ASK IF THEY HAD ANY RECORD OF THIS UNUSUAL AND POTENTIALLY LETHAL PROBLEM. EACH TIME THEY REPLIED SAYING THAT THEY COULD NOT ANSWER TECHNICAL QUESTIONS. THEY REFERRED ME TO THE LOCAL DEALER, WHOSE SERVICE MANAGER I HAD ALREADY SPOKEN TO, AND WHO HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT THERE MAY BE MORE TO THIS?*AK

NHTSA ID

745988

Incident

Apr 23, 2001

WHILE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT THE SPARE TIRE T125/80R16, DOT FNTA2XHX150 LOCATED IN TRUNK OF 1990, LINCOLN, TOWN CAR EXPLODED. THIS EXPLOSION OF SPARE TIRE RESULTED IN TRUNK OF VEHICLE, RAISING 1 1/2 INCHES ABOVE NORMAL LEVEL AND A CHUNK OF GLASS AND REAR VIEW MIRROR, TO FALL FROM FRONT WINDSHIELD. *AK CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY A MICHELIN REPRESENTATIVE THAT AGE AND TEMPERATURE WOULD CAUSE A SPARE TIRE TO FAIL, THAT THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED PERIODICALLY, ONE PERSON WAS INJURED DUE TO FAILURE. *SLC

NHTSA ID

886515

Incident

Apr 18, 2001