1996 Lincoln Town Car Engine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THERE WAS SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT ANTI-FREEZE WAS COVERING THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND WOULD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000. UPDATED 10/24/2014*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEFECTIVE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS COVERED IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT EVEN THOUGH THE DATE OF THE COVERAGE EXPIRED THE VEHICLE SHOULD STILL BE COVERED. UPDATED 04/16/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID

10620937

Incident

Aug 6, 2014

Mileage

101,000 mi

I'VE OWNED A 96 LINCOLN TOWN CAR FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS NOW AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED RECENTLY WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THAT CAUSE I'VE JUST RECENTLY HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL AND I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT CONSTANTLY HAPPENING, IS THERE ANY THING I CAN DO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10393892

Incident

Mar 30, 2011

Mileage

90,000 mi

MY VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING OUT OF THE EXHAUST. ANTI FREEZE LOSS AND SMOKE, ANYTIME IT IS RUNNING. CAR HAS BEEN IN A GARAGE, AWAITING NEW, IMPROVED INTAKE MANIFOLD TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE ORIGINAL ONE. I HAVE PURCHASED THE PARTS. HAS NOT BEEN INSTALLED YET; BIG JOB, I AM TOLD BY DEALER. FORD APPARENTLY ADMITTED ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE PART IN COURT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10264431

Incident

Mar 15, 2008

Mileage

106,000 mi

SMALL PIECE OF PLASTIC FROM INTAKE WENT INTO THE CYLINDER #4 AND RAPPED AROUND ONE OF THE VALUES CAUSING THIS VALUE TO STAY OPEN SO CYLINDER #4 HAS NO COMPRESSION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10226954

Incident

Aug 30, 2007

Mileage

122,421 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE TIE ROD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND HE STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURS FREQUENTLY FOR THAT YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO LUBRICATION IN THE ZERKS ON THE TIE RODS FOR THAT YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING $229 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND ALL OF THE WATER LEFT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING $900 FOR THAT REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 02/15/08. *LJ

NHTSA ID

10217173

Incident

Nov 20, 2007

Mileage

94,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, SHE SMELLED STEAM COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 114,000. UPDATED 01-29-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS OF PLASTIC. UPDATED

NHTSA ID

10213411

Incident

Dec 15, 2007

Mileage

114,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT NOTICED ANTI-FREEZE LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MANIFOLD INTAKE FAILED AND THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE SILENT RECALL ON THE MANIFOLD INTAKE WAS NOT HONORED BECAUSE IT EXPIRED IN 2006. UPDATED 12/12/07.

NHTSA ID

10202534

Incident

Sep 6, 2007

Mileage

125,603 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE CRUISE CONTROL. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP OR MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE ON FOUR OR FIVE OCCASIONS, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE DEALER ALSO DROVE THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRESENT AND THE FAILURE PERSISTED INTERMITTENTLY. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

NHTSA ID

10202395

Incident

Aug 15, 2007

Mileage

45,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED ANTIFREEZE ON THE ENGINE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THEY MADE THE REPLACEMENT. THERE HAD BEEN NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,895 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,082.

NHTSA ID

10202045

Incident

Mar 15, 2007

Mileage

106,895 mi

MANIFOLD DEVELOPED 4" CRACK WHILE ON MASS PIKE. LOST COOLANT IN SHORT TIME AND OVERHEATED. REMOVED ALTERNATOR AFTER COOL DOWN AND COVERED WITH DUCT TAPE AND FILLED WITH WATER. MADE 3 MORE FILL STOPS ON RIDE HOME WITHOUT OVERHEAT (80MI). REPLACED MANIFOLD, BUT STARTED USING ANTI-FREEZE. REPLACED ENGINE A MONTH LATER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10199449

Incident

Jul 24, 2005

Mileage

107,000 mi

CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10199322

Incident

Aug 9, 2007

Mileage

114,103 mi

CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10198545

Incident

Jul 18, 2007

Mileage

113 mi

PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED ON 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WITH 4.6L ENGINE AT APPROXIMATELY 101,000 MILES. ANTI-FREEZE LEAKED OVER ENGINE AND INTERIOR HAD TOXIC SMELL. MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED THIS ($900) INDICATED THAT THIS WAS VERY COMMON AND A DEFAULT IN THE DESIGN BY THE MANUFACTURER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10173940

Incident

Nov 8, 2006

Mileage

101,000 mi

PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED ON 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WITH 4.6L ENGINE AT APPROXIMATELY 102,000 MILES. *NM

NHTSA ID

10165255

Incident

Aug 9, 2006

1996 LINCOLN TOWNCAR DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *KB THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10164771

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

ON 3/20/04, I NOTICED AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF AN ENGINE FLUID DRIPPING FROM MY 1996 TOWN CAR AS I BACKED OUT OF MY GARAGE, SO I TOOK IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP THAT HAS DONE THE MAJORITY OF THE MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE. THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY TOLD ME THAT "THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM" WITH THIS ENGINE AND THAT THEY HAD REPAIRED QUITE A LOT OF THEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10161310

Incident

Mar 20, 2004

Mileage

79,349 mi

I WOULD LIKE TO INFORM YOU ABOUT A SAFETY PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN LINCOLN TOWN CAR MODELS. I AM THE OWNER OF A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR (SIGNATURE SERIES). ON JUNE 16, 2006, WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING ON, I SAW SMOKE POURING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND ANTIFREEZE LEAKING FROM UNDER THE CAR. AFTER OPENING THE HOOD I SAW ANTIFREEZE ALL OVER THE ENGINE BLOCK. I MANAGED TO DRIVE THE CAR TO A NEARBY JIFFY LUBE. THE TECHNICIAN THERE COULD NOT FIND ANY LEAKS IN THE HOSES OR THE RADIATOR. AFTER ALLOWING THE CAR TO COOL FOR ABOUT THIRTY MINUTES, THE TECHNICIAN FILLED THE RADIATOR WITH A 50-50 ANTIFREEZE-WATER MIXTURE. I STARTED DRIVING HOME, ABOUT FIVE MILES AWAY. BEFORE I ARRIVED, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE REACHED THE MAXIMUM POINT, AND THE HIGH-TEMPERATURE ALARM SOUNDED. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE CAR AND OPENED THE HOOD. AGAIN, I SAW ANTIFREEZE ALL OVER THE ENGINE. WHEN THE CAR HAD COOLED, I CHECKED THE COOLANT LEVEL: IT WAS COMPLETELY DRY! I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE, WHERE THE MECHANIC FOUND A TWO-INCH CRACK AT THE REAR OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD! THIS MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF FORD VEHICLES HAD EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH INTAKE MANIFOLDS, WHICH WERE FABRICATED FROM PLASTIC, RATHER THAN METAL. HE SAID THAT DOZENS OF NORTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY PATROL CARS (CROWN VICTORIAS EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME 4.6-LITER ENGINE THAT'S IN MY LINCOLN) HAD BEEN RECALLED BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLDS. THIS KIND OF PROBLEM WARRANTS A SAFETY RECALL. IMAGINE WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF A CAR BEING DRIVEN ON AN INTERSTATE WERE TO SUDDENLY LOSE ALL OF ITS COOLANT FROM A LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD! IN VIEW OF THE SAFETY HAZARDS A LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD CAN (AND DOES) CREATE, I BELIEVE THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COSTS I INCURRED FOR A NEW MANIFOLD AND THE LABOR TO INSTALL IT. (I KEPT THE DEFECTIVE MANIFOLD, IN CASE YOU WANT TO INSPECT IT.) *NM

NHTSA ID

10160878

Incident

Jun 16, 2006

Mileage

84,602 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AT 60 MPH STEAM CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED, WAS PULLED OVER, AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10159107

Incident

Jun 6, 2006

Mileage

76,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DESCENDING A MOUNTAIN AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, STEAM WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED. THE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. THE CONTACT FELT THAT IT WASN'T RIGHT THAT FORD KNOWING ABOUT A SERIOUS FLAW IN AN ENGINE COMPONENT, SUCH AS FUEL/AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD, SHOULD CONTINUE PRODUCING THESE FLAWED COMPONENTS AND NOT HAVE TO ISSUE A RECALL. FOR FORD TO PAY ONLY FOR THESE COMPONENT FAILURES FOR THE FIRST SEVEN YEARS AFTER ORIGINAL PURCHASE IS UNFAIR TO MANY OWNERS OF LINCOLN/ MERCURY VEHICLES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10152026

Incident

Oct 26, 2005

Mileage

97,511 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE WAS LEAKING RADIATOR FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY FOUND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND IT WAS REPLACED. *AK UPDATED 1/4/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10142906

Incident

Nov 9, 2005

Mileage

93,000 mi

MELTED INTAKE MANIFOLD. *JB

NHTSA ID

10142262

Incident

Nov 5, 2005

Mileage

75,000 mi

I'VE JUST BEEN NOTIFIED BY MY FATHER THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKS ARE GOING TO BE TAKEN CARE OF BY FORD MOTOR CO. BY MEANS OF A FREE INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACEMENT. PLEASE TELL ME HOW I NEED TO PROCEED TO GET THIS DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS MY 1996 LINCOLN TOWNCAR IS DEFINITELY LOSING WATER THROUGH THAT PORT. THANKS VERY MUCH. *NM

NHTSA ID

10137491

Incident

Jul 9, 2005

Mileage

158,000 mi

PLASTIC MANIFOLD CRACK, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM BLEW UP ON A BUSY PARKWAY. SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR THIS BIG ENGINEERING PROBLEM ON IT CARS. I BROUGHT THIS CAR NEW AND TO GET IT FIXED IT CAUSE A LOT OF MONEY . WAS NEVER NOTIFY OF THIS CONDITION . *NM

NHTSA ID

10134763

Incident

Jul 23, 2005

Mileage

80,000 mi

I OWN A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR V-8 4.6 ENGINE, WHICH HAS A PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD, TERRIBLE MISTAKE BY FORD ENGINEERS, I MADE A TEMPORARY REPAIR TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE MIDDLE OF NO WERE, IT WORKED UNTIL I INSTALL THE THERMOSTAT AGAIN TO MAKE THE SMOG INSPECTION TO THE CAR, THE MANIFOLD CRACK AGAIN, LEAKING THE ANTI-FREEZE, I GET THIS CAR FROM A USED CAR LOT DEALER, IT ONLY HAS AROUND 85,000 MILES, I CHECK THAT THERE IS A RECALL IN THIS FAILURE FOR THE KIND OF ENGINE, BUT NOT EVERY OWNER QUALIFIES FOR THE REPAIR, WHY? I ALL READY RUN MY VIN NUMBER IN THE FORD WEBSITE AND DO NOT SHOW ANYTHING. FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS LIABLE FOR THIS ENGINEERING MISTAKE, EVERY BODY IN THIS WORLD THAT IS MECHANIC ORIENTED KNOWS THAT PLASTIC DO NOT HOLD FOR TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE. MY CAR VIN [XXX]. THIS IS A EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND THIS IS NOT PART OF NORMAL WEAR OR MISSED USE, SO I, IN USE OF A TORT LAW, AWARD THE SAME OF OTHERS IN SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES, I WANT TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

10128396

Incident

Jul 11, 2005

Mileage

84,900 mi

DEFECTIVE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD-FORD REFUSED TO REPLACE ON 1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS AND 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. *BF FORD AND MERCURY REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE BEGAN TO RUN HOT AND WHITE SMOKE POURED OUT OF THE HOODS OF BOTH VEHICLES EMITTING THE SMELL OF THE ENGINE COOLANT. *TC

NHTSA ID

10103335

Incident

Jul 20, 2004