RoadVitals

1997 Lincoln Town Car Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
Latest Dec 6, 2006
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 314 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. 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. 16 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.

Owner reports naming visibility

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Visibility
Filed Dec 6, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED NO HEAT WAS PRESENT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO USE THE HEATER. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE BLEND DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
10175284
Incident
Dec 6, 2006
Mileage
170,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jan 6, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING UNDER THE DASH, THE WINDOWS FOGGED UP, AND COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM THE MANIFOLDS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. THEY DISCOVERED THE HEATER CORE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AK

NHTSA ID
10147103
Incident
Apr 30, 2005
Mileage
96,068 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 7, 2004

WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AND WENT OFF ON THEIR OWN. CONSUMER HEARD A BUZZING SOUND COMING FROM UNDERNEATH DASHBOARD. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT A RECALL WAS NOT ISSUED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10066778
Incident
Apr 7, 2004
Visibility
Filed Oct 9, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE REAR GLASS WINDOW SHATTERED THROWING PIECES OF GLASS ALL OVER THE CONSUMER. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. MR

NHTSA ID
8020483
Incident
Oct 8, 2002
Visibility
Filed Aug 7, 2002

MOLDING AROUNG THE FRONT AND REAR WINDOWS ARE DETERIORATING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND THEY INFORMED CONSUMER THAT BOTH WINDOWS NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE MOLDING ARE MADE ONTO THE WINDOWS. ASKING NHTSA TO ASSIST IN THIS MATTER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8015708
Incident
Mar 30, 2001
Visibility
Filed Aug 7, 2002

POWER WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED TO ROLL BACK UP. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED POWER WINDOW REGULATOR. CURRENTLY, PROBLEM IS REOCCURRING ON THE SAME WINDOW. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8015707
Incident
Mar 30, 2001
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Aug 22, 2001

WHILE TRAVELING IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED OPERATING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. *AK WIPERS STOPPED WHEN CONSUMER SELECTED THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL, DEALER REPLACED THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AT NO CHARGE TO THE CONSUMER. *SLC

NHTSA ID
894919
Incident
Aug 3, 2001
Body & structureBrakesVisibility
Filed Aug 16, 2001

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 10 AND 15 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT AND MAKING A TURN, VEHICLE MADE A "CLUNKING" NOISE, AND ABS SYSTEM LOCKED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AND GO OFF THE ROAD. THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THIS INCIDENT, AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND STATED THAT ABS SYSTEM HAD NO PROBLEMS, AND THIS WAS CONSIDERED TO BE NORMAL OPERATION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK THE WINDSHIELD GASKET IS SPLITTING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE GLASS, THE FRONT DOOR WONT OPEN AT TIMES WITH THE REMOTE, THE FRONT EDGE OF THE VINYL TOP IS COMING LOOSE. NLM

NHTSA ID
894509
Incident
Aug 11, 2001
Body & structureBrakesHeating & air conditioning+5 more
Filed Jun 29, 2001

AN EXTREMELY STRONG MILDEW ODOR IS COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT, CAUSING PASSENGERS TO BECOME ILL. DEALER STATES ODOR IS DUE TO COIL WHICH IS TOO TIGHT AROUND AIR CONDITIONER, PREVENTING WATER TO ESCAPE, AND CAUSING MILDEW ODOR. *AK EMERGENCY BRAKE SHOES WERE REPLACED. BRAKES SQUEAL, DEALER HAS REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS, RESURFACED ROTORS, LUBED CALIPER SLIDES, REPLACED REAR BRAKE PADS, MACHINED REAR ROTORS, HOWEVER BRAKES STILL SQUEAL. BOTH REAR WHEELS WERE COVERED WITH GEAR LUBE. DRIVERS SHOULDER BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT AT TIMES, DEALER REPLACED SEAT BELT. NOISE AND THIMPING FELT IN STEERING WHEN MAKING TURNS, DEALER LUBED STOPS. LEFT FRONT WINDOW INOPERABLE, DEALER REPLACED WINDOW REGULATER. FRONT ROOF WELT LOOSE AND BROKEN, DEALER REPLACED. FRONT DOOR PULL TRIM MISSING. BLEND DOORS INOPERABLE, WILL NOT BLOW AIR THROUGH DEFROST VENT. ASH TRAY WILL NOT CLOSE. AC/HEATER EMITS A MUSTY/MOLDY ODOR, THE ODOR NOT ONLY PERMEATES THE PASSENGER, BUT IS ALSO IN THE TRUNK,THERE IS NO CONDENSATION BEING RELEASED BY THE AC, MANY THINGS ALONG WITH THE MOISTURE PURGE MODULE HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS, SYSTEM HAS BEEN SANITIZED SEVERAL TIMES, AC MAX BUTTON DOES NOT WORK. MOTOR GOES ON 45 MINUTES AFTER VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF, THIS BLOWS THROUGH THE FRONT DEFROSTER AND STEAMS UP THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. DOOR HANDLE IS INOPERABLE. VINYL TRIM AT TOP OF CONSOLE IS LOOSE. ENGINE STALLED AT STOPS WHEN COLD, DEALER REPLACED MAF AND FUEL PUMP. *SLC

NHTSA ID
891648
Incident
May 28, 1999
Body & structureSuspensionVisibility
Filed Mar 2, 1999

THE WATER LEAK IS COMING IN FROM THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ASSEMBLY. I HAVE TALKED WITH OTHER 1997 LINCOLN TOWNCAR OWNERS AND THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE WATER ENTERS THE CAR UNDER THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AND RUNS DOWN THE FIREWALL UNDERNETH THE CARPET AND FORMS A POOL OF WATER UNDERNETH THE CARPET IN THE REAR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER TRIES TO SELL YOU AN UNDERCOATING AND DOES NOT GUARATNEE THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM

NHTSA ID
703948
Incident
Feb 28, 1999
Visibility
Filed Feb 1, 1999

MIRROR SETTINGS CHANGE EVERY TIME FRONT DOORS ARE CLOSED.

NHTSA ID
607629
Visibility
Filed Feb 1, 1999

WINDSHIELD FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID
606717
Incident
Aug 1, 1997
Visibility
Filed Aug 14, 1998

SUN ROOF SWITCH IS VERY POORLY DESIGNED. THE PLASTIC ROCKER SWITCH THAT CONTROLS THE SUN ROOF BROKE TWICE.

NHTSA ID
539852
Incident
Jul 1, 1998
Visibility
Filed Apr 25, 1998

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, AFFECTING VISIBILITY.

NHTSA ID
534793
Incident
Apr 24, 1997
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Feb 11, 1998

OUTSIDE MIRROR WAS BENT.

NHTSA ID
530299
Incident
Jun 27, 1997
Visibility
Filed Oct 14, 1997

REAR SIDE WINDOWS ARE SMALL IN DESIGN CREATING A VISIBILITY PROBLEM. MJS

NHTSA ID
604284

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .