Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Lincoln Town Car submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 43 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 43, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL WERE INOPERATIVE. A LOCAL MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE HORN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
THE OIL PAN RUSTED THROUGH AND CAUSED ALL THE OIL TO LEAK OUT ONTO THE GROUND. THE CRUISE CONTROL COMPUTER KEEPS CAUSING THE CAR TO TAKE OFF OR NOT EVEN WORK AT ALL WHEN U SET IT, WHEN THE CAR TAKES OFF AFTER SETTING IT THE GAS PEDDLE GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND IT WILL NOT DEACTIVATE UNLESS YOU SHUT THE CAR OFF WHILE DRIVING. *TR
THE CAR WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY UNATTENDED WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION WHEN THE FIRE STARTED. IT HAD BEEN DRIVEN ABOUT 3 HOURS BEFORE WITH NO PROBLEMS. THE FIRE INSPECTOR SAID THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD ON THE LEFT SIDE BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO SAY EXACTLY WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. AFTER CHECKING ON LINE IT WAS DISCOVERED THE CAR WAS ON A RECALL LIST FOR THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE LEFT SIDE.
OUR 1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR THAT WAS PART OF THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH RECALL BEGAN HONKING AS THE ALARM TRIGGERED ON THE EVENING OF AUGUST 24, 2010 IN OUR GARAGE. AFTER CLEARING THE ALARM SEVERAL TIMES, I INVESTIGATED THE BATTERY VOLTAGE AND ALL WAS WELL. THE ALARM TRIGGERED AGAIN AND I CLEARED IT. AS I CLOSED THE HOOD SMOKE BEGAN TO ESCAPE NEAR THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE CORNER OF THE HOOD. I OPENED THE HOOD AS THE SMOKE SLOWED DOWN. THE CONNECTOR TO THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH WAS VERY WARM AND THE SWITCH HAD BRAKE FLUID ON IT. THE RECALL INSTALLED 20 AMP FUSE HAD NOT OPENED. UPON INVESTIGATION I FOUND THAT THE FUSE IN THE RECALL INSTALLED HARNESS WAS IN THE CIRCUIT BETWEEN THE SWITCH AND THE CRUISE CONTROL INSTEAD OF BETWEEN THE BATTERY AND THE SWITCH. HENCE THE FUSE PROVIDED NO PROTECTION AGAINST THE POTENTIAL FIRE. THANKFULLY I WAS STANDING THERE WHEN IT HAPPENED AND COULD DISCONNECT THE CABLE FROM THE SWITCH. OTHERWISE WE WERE AT RISK OF FIRE THAT COULD HAVE SPREAD TO OUR HOUSE. *TR
1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR- CRUISE CONTROL DEFECT CAUSING ENGINE FIRES. AFTER FIRST HEARING OF THE RECALL I TOOK MY LINCOLN TO SUBURBAN FORD OF WATERFORD,MI. I WAS TOLD THEY HAD NOT YET RECEIVED THE REPLACEMENT PARTS YET, 2 WEEKS LATER I AGAIN WENT BACK AND WAS TOLD THE VERY SAME THING. I WAITED ANOTHER 2 WEEKS, WENT BACK TO SUBURBAN FORD AND WAS TOLD THIS TIME THAT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THE RECALL WERE BEING RECALLED AND I WOULD AGAIN HAVE TO COME BACK. I FEEL "THIS FORD DEALER JUST DOES NOT WANT TO COMPLY WITH THE RECALL. IT HAS NOW BEEN ABOUT 9 MONTHS SINCE THE FIRST VISIT AND STILL MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. CAN YOU HELP? *TR
APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR AGO I RECEIVED A LETTER PERTAINING TO THE RECALL OF MY LINCOLN # CONCERNING THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH ( SCDS) UPON RECEIVING THE LETTER I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED COOPER FORD IN CLINTON S.C TO SCHEDULE THE REPAIR, I WAS TOLD BY KATIE , A SERVICE MANAGER "THEY WOULD PUT ME ON THE LIST" THIS WAS THE LAST QUARTER OF LAST YEAR OCT NOV TIME FRAME. UPON NOT HEARING ANYTHING FROM THE DEALERSHIP IN MAR 08 I CALLED AGAIN, A SERVICE MANAGER BRIAN, TOLD ME I WAS STILL ON THE LIST. I HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY THE DEALERSHIP SINCE. *TR
1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WITH SPEED CONTROL RECALL. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER FAILED TO MENTION THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR AND HE LEFT THE VEHICLE THERE ALL DAY. WHEN HE CAME TO PICK IT THEY INFORMED HIM ABOUT THE PARTS. *KB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A FORD RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CRUISE CONTROL IN AUGUST OF 2007. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT DISCONNECTED BECAUSE HE WAS NOT INFORMED OF THAT OPTION. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FORD RECALL PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL JUNE OF 2008. THE CONTACT FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,791.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. UPON LEAVING THE DEALER, SHE ATTEMPTED TO ACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. SHE RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL MOTOR BURNED OUT AND A NEW ONE WAS NEEDED AT THE COST OF $300. INITIALLY, THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD PAY HALF; HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 72,014.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL RECALL NOTICE STATED THAT PARTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO YOUR VEHICLE. ON 3/14/08 AND 3/17/08 THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. THE DEALER DID NOT DISCONNECT THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH. THERE ARE NO FAILURES AT THIS TIME. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000. RK UPDATED04/03/08. *LJ
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A FORD RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CRUISE CONTROL IN AUGUST OF 2007. HE IMMEDIATELY SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE AND DID NOT ADVISE THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE COMPONENT DISCONNECTED. HE RECEIVED A SECOND NOTICE IN FEBRUARY OF 2008 STATING THAT THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. THE NOTICE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD CATCH FIRE WHILE IDLING. THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL MARCH OF 2008. HE IS CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE RECALL REPAIRED. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE POWERTRAIN AND RECALL NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE IN AUGUST OF 2007 FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE DEALER DISCONNECTED THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH. IN MARCH OF 2008, HE RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THAT THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. WHEN HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE ONLY COMING IN FIVE AT A TIME PER WEEK, AND THE VEHICLES WOULD BE SERVICED ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS. HE WAS INFORMED TO CALL EACH MONDAY MORNING TO FIND OUT IF THEY HAVE THE PARTS. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NOT HAVING THE CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE IS CAUSING HIS GAS MILEAGE TO REDUCE. THE FEATURE WAS DISCONNECTED AS A RESULT OF THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL RECALL. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 03/26/08. *LJ
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FORD HAS FAILED TO PROVIDE A TIMELY RECALL REPAIR ON HIS VEHICLE REGARDING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CRUISE CONTROL. THE FIRST RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED IN JUNE OF 2007. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
FAILURE TO REPAIR OR REPLACE CRUISE CONTROL AS PER RECALL. FIRST IT WAS TO BE DONE BY THE END OF DEC 07, BEEN BACK TO FORD DEALER THREE TIMES AND STILL NO PROGRESS AS TO WHEN IT WILL BE REPAIRED. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?? *TR
FORD RECALL #05S28 ON OUR 1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR EXECUTIVE WAS ISSUED OVER 5 MONTHS AGO. WE COMPLIED WITH THE REQUEST TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL MODIFIED, AND WAS TOLD WE WOULD BE NOTIFIED WHEN PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. WE HAVE CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES AND STILL THEY ARE NOT IN STOCK. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AS A RESPONSE FROM A REPUTABLE US MANUFACTURER. FORD SEEMS TO BE DRAGGING THEIR FEET ON THIS SAFETY ISSUE [IS THIS A REASON BUYERS ARE RELUCTANT TO BUY AND OWN US MADE PRODUCTS] ???. WE ARE FAST LOSING FAITH IN THE QUALITY AND CONCERN DISPLAYED BY FORD. *TR
1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WITH RECALL PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR AND THE RECALL WAS RECEIVED 5 MONTHS AGO. HE STATES THERE IS A FIRE RISK FOR THIS RECALL. *KB VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL RECALL # 07V336000. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A FORD RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE SPEED CONTROL WAS DISCONNECTED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2007. HE CALLED FORD FIVE OR SIX TIMES AND THEY PLACED HIM ON HOLD AND NEVER RETURNED. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE PURCHASE DATE AND RECALL NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,300. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE NUMBER 05S28 FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CRUISE CONTROL IN AUGUST OF 2007. THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIR ARE STILL UNAVAILABLE AS OF JANUARY 28, 2008. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000. UPDATED 02-14-08 *BF UPDATED 02/14/08 *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. HE HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL DISABLED IN AUGUST OF 2007 AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE AT THE END OF 2007. HE WAS THEN INFORMED THAT NONE OF THE REPAIRS WOULD BE PERFORMED UNTIL ALL OF THE DEALERS RECEIVE THE PARTS. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 02/14/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL NUMBER FOR HIS VEHICLE IS 05S28. UPDATED 02/14/08 *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE IN AUGUST OF 2007 FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. AS OF JANUARY 2008, FORD DOES NOT KNOW WHEN THE PART WILL BE AVAILABLE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,300.
1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WITH SPEED CONTROL RECALL. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER TOLD HIM THAT THE PARTS WILL PROBABLY NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL APRIL OF 2008. *KB
1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WITH MULTIPLE SAFETY ISSUES. SPEED CONTROL SWITCH WAS DEACTIVATED AND BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED DUE TO BAD BRAKE SWITCH. INCIDENTALLY, WHEN THE BRAKE SWITCH WENT BAD, THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN GEAR. ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL SINCE IT WAS DISCONNECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP IN SEPTEMBER 2007. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THEY MAY NEVER GET THE PARTS FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO USE THE HIGH BEAMS FOR OVER 4 YEARS. IF SHE USED THEM FOR A COUPLE MINUTES, ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH AND IN THE VEHICLE WOULD GO OUT. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A FORD SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL IN AUGUST OF 2007. THE CONTACT HAD THE SWITCH DISCONNECTED AT THAT TIME. HE HAS BEEN INFORMED EVERY MONTH THEREAFTER THAT THE PART WOULD BE AVAILABLE THE FOLLOWING MONTH. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE PURCHASE DATE AND RECALL NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH IN AUGUST OF 2007 AND HE IMMEDIATELY SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE DEALER DISCONNECTED THE SWITCH AND INFORMED HIM THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL DECEMBER OF 2007. HE CALLED BACK AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 169,000. UPDATED 3/5/08 *CN UPDATED 03/05/08 *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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