1997 Lincoln Town Car Electrical Problems

This has happened to me 3 times in the past 3 months. While driving interstate highway at night and traveling 65 to 70 miles per hr., without any warning or symptoms, the headlights turn off. They then turn on and off a few times and then seem to correct themselves and stay on. This happens on trips after 1 hour or more. Has never occurred on shorter trips under 1 hour. Very dangerous and scary when it is so dark you can't see to pull over off the highway and also worried about vehicles approaching from behind not being able to see you in time. I replaced the headlight switch last week thinking that was the problem, but it happened again last night on my trip back from N.Y.

NHTSA ID

11487465

Incident

Sep 2, 2022

MY 1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR SIGNATURE SERIES CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE. THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR APPROXIMATELY 48 HOURS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. ABOUT 02:00 HRS ON THE MORNING OF THE 29TH DECEMBER 2014 I WAS WAKENED BY A LOUD POPPING SOUND. WHEN I INVESTIGATED I FOUND MY GARAGE TOTALLY ENGULFED BY FIRE. IT TOOK THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OVER TWO HOURS TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE; FOR IT HAD SPREAD TO THE OTHER VEHICLE PARKED IN THE GARAGE - 2013 JEEP MOAB AND TO ALL OF THE TOOLS AND MATERIALS STORED IN THE GARAGE. THE FIRE MARSHALL AND THE ARSON INVESTIGATOR STATED THAT THE IGNITION POINT FOR THE FIRE WAS UNDER THE HOOD IN THE LINCOLN, ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND CLOSE TO THE FIRE WALL. IT RESULTED IN THE TOTAL LOSS OF BOTH CARS, THE GARAGE STRUCTURE AND ALL CONTENTS OF SAID STRUCTURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10669915

Incident

Dec 29, 2014

Mileage

189,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10445472

Incident

Jan 1, 2011

Mileage

58,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. WHEN THE HEATER UNIT MODE SELECTOR WAS ACTIVATED, THERE WAS NO POWER RESPONSE. IN ADDITION, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE PANIC ALARM SYSTEM SOUNDED WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WAS OPENED. THE ALARM WAS TURNED OFF WITH ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURES OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST OF THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES HAVE NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 48,000.

NHTSA ID

10260569

Incident

Feb 27, 2009

Mileage

48,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DRIVES WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ACTIVATED, THE LIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OFF CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL THEY ARE TURNED OFF. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000. UPDATED 11/19/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED A SWITCH WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. UPDATED 11/19/08. *JB

NHTSA ID

10246398

Incident

Jan 13, 2007

Mileage

126,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10214989

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE AT NIGHT, ALL EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER TURNING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND ON SEVERAL TIMES, THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTS RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTION. THE DEALER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 2/12/2007 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10175819

Incident

Dec 6, 2006

Mileage

127,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING UNDER 10 MILES PER HOUR THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF. THERE IS SOMETIMES A WARNING THAT THIS IS ABOUT TO OCCUR BECAUSE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL FAIL. I EXPERIENCED THIS LAST YEAR AND UPON REPLACING THE BATTERY (WHICH WAS LESS THAN 1 YEAR OLD) THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY UNTIL NOW. THIS BATTERY IS A 60 MONTH BATTERY AND IS ONLY 10 MONTHS OLD.

NHTSA ID

10007862

Incident

Feb 18, 2002

Mileage

127,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ID

566421

Incident

Sep 20, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

753777

Incident

Oct 6, 2001

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED OUT AT LEAST 3-4 TIMES A WEEK. HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC PLACED VEHICLE ON DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE. NO CODE CAME UP. MECHANIC DID REPLACE FUEL FILTER/ IDLER/ NECK IN FUEL TANK & A CANISTER. BUT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

876478

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

872956

CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID

609874

Incident

Nov 1, 1998

RADIO CIRCUIT WIRE WAS FRIED, AND THE RADIO HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FUSE NEVER FAILED.

NHTSA ID

540588

Incident

Aug 25, 1998

WHEN TAKING OFF, ENGINE WILL COMPLETELY SHUT OUT, HAS TO RESTART. DEALER RESETTING COMPUTER. *AK CONSUMER STATES ENGINE NOW LUNGES FORWARD WHEN COMING TO A STOP. BAD ODOR COMING FROM AIR CONDITIONER, HAPPENS MORE OFTEN IN HOT WEATHER. *SLC

NHTSA ID

819574

Incident

Nov 30, 1997