1990 Lincoln Town Car Problems

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.

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

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

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

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

AFTER PARKING VEHICLE FOR 20 MINUTES IN DRIVEWAY CONUSMER NOTICED A POPPING NOISE. VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE DEPARTMENT. FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT FIRE OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

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

STALLING ON INTERSTATE AND CITY DRIVING WHEN TEMP GETS VERY HOT, LOSING THE POWER IN BRAKES AND THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE'S STEERING. THE CAR CAN BE STARTED AGAIN WHEN IT HAS COOLED DOWN. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS.*AK

THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARKING LOT IN PARK, TURNED THE KEY TO START SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, AND IT JUST REVVED UP. VEHICLE WAS OUT OF CONTROL, UNABLE TO STOP ON TIME. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

WHEN DRIVING IN LOW SPEED AND MAKING A SLOW TURN VEHICLE WILL STALL. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. ALSO, REPLACED THROTTLE BODY AND POWER STEERING PRESSURE SPRING. *AK

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

VEHICLE ISN'T ACCELERATING PROPERLY WHEN CONSUMER IS DRIVING. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AS ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS COMING STRAIGHT AT THE CONSUMER VEHICLE. IN ORDER TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT VEHICLE RAN OVER SOMETHING, AND THE AIR BAGS ON BOTH SIDES DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

FUEL LINE LEAK, CAUSING FIRE.

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

THE PAINT SHOULD NOT BE PEELING, I KNOW THIS IS NOT A SAFETY BUT FORD NEEDS TO KNOW.MY LEVEL RIDE IS A SAFETY PROBLEM.I WILL BE DRIVING AT 65 AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE REAR WILL START BOUNCING AROUND.I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN THAN THE REAR LOWERS ITSELF AFTER AWHILE IT WILL GO BACK ON. PLEASE HELP BEFORE SOMETHING GOES ON. *AK

WHENEVER DRIVER USES THE SHOULDER BELT, IT WOULD FAIL TO LATCH PROPERLY. NEED TO PLAY WITH IT A WHILE BEFORE IT CLICKS/CATCHES. SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT STAY LATCHED AFTER THAT. TOOK TO DEALER & SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM, BUT NOT A RECALL & DID NOT KNOW IF ABLE TO REPAIR. *AK

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SAFETY BELTRECESSED UNDER THE SEAT, CREATING SN INOPERATIVE SEAT BELT. ALSO, THE HOOD LATCH DOESN'T FUNCTION PROPERLY AND CREATES A PROBLEM OPENING THE HOOD. *AK

WHILE DRIVING TRSANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO FAULTY BUSHINGS WITHIN TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY. *AK THE TRANSMISSION WAS DETERMINED TO HAD BEEN DAMAGED DUE TO FAILURE OF PLASTIC BUSHING. *YH

PURCHASE CAR NEW THE TRANSMISSION BLEW OUT . TT

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL UNIT HAS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY. ALSO, THE ODOMETER MILEAGE IN INCORRECT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCED SWAY BAR BRACKET FAILURE WHEN FRACTURED AXEL ON REAR RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE DUE TO INADEQUATE THICKNESS OF METAL. *AK

SCISSOR JACK BENT WHEN DRIVER TRIED TO RAISE VEHICLE TO CHANGE FLAT TIRE. *DSH

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

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

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