1998 Lincoln Town Car Owner Complaints

all body frame has rust.

NHTSA ID

11541626

Incident

Aug 30, 2023

MAKES LOUD POPPING NOISE WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED TO THE EXTREME RIGHT OR LEFT WHETHER THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN OR STANDING STILL. OCCASIONALLY, THE IGNITION WON'T TURN ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED, CLOSING THE ENTIRE SYSTEM.

NHTSA ID

11084191

Incident

May 15, 2017

Mileage

150,000 mi

THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE STOPPED WORKING ON MY VEHICLE AND NOW I'M TOLD IT CAN'T BE REPLACED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE RADIO & A/C STOPPED WORKING. THIS CRUISE CONTROL MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF IT'S ABILITY TO SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUST THE CAR IN FLAMES AS IT DID ON MY 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHY DOESN'T THE GOVERNMENT ENFORCE THE RECALL LAWS? *TR

NHTSA ID

10552317

Incident

Jun 10, 2013

Mileage

72,534 mi

VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVER HEAT.ONCE IT GOT HOT, THE POWER OF CAR IS,WAS LOST. AFTER HAPPENING A FEW TIMES,I FOUND A VERY SMALL [PIN SIZE] HOLE IN THE THERMASTATE RECIEVING UNIT.THIS IS A PART OF THE MANIFOLD IT SELF. ALL ATTEMPS TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM HAS FAILED.! TRYING TO FIX THIS PROVED IMPOSSIBLE.THIS PART IS IN FACT MADE OF SOME TYPE OF PLASTIC.AS IT HEATS UP THE PLASTIC EXSPANDS, AND RE-OPENS THE HOLE,WHICH HAS NOW BECOME A CRACK. ALL EFFORDS TO FIND A SEALENT TO STOP THE LEAK,HAS FAILED. TO HAVE THIS CRACK REPAIRED MEANS THAT THE ENTIRE TOP OF THE MOTOR [MANIFOLD] MUST BE RE-PLACED. FORD RE-PLACED THE TERMASTATE HOUSING UNIT IN 2000-2001, WITH AN ALUMINUM PIECE,PROBLEM SOLVED.THERE ARE NO RE-CALLS,NOR EVEN A NOTIFICATION,SENT OUT, TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL STORNLY THAT THIS IS IN FACT A KNOWN PROBLEM,WHICH FORD WAS AWARE OF,BUT DECIDED THAT IT DID NOT HAPPEN ENOUGH TO FIX IT.PLEASE NOTE::WHEN THE CAR OVRT HEATS IT SHUTS OFF THE POWER TO THE ENGINE!!! THIS COULD POTIENTIALLY BE AVERY DANGEROUS SITUATION,ESPECIALLY IN HIGH TRAFFIC,HIGH SPEED SITUATIONS!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10521255

Incident

Apr 17, 2013

Mileage

137,352 mi

I HAVE A 1998 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WITH LOW MILES (125,000). THE CHEAP PLASTIC THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS MADE OUT OF HAS CRACKED WERE THE HEATER HOSE CONNECTS IN THE BACK CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NOT BE DRIVE-ABLE DUE TO OVERHEATING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10514652

Incident

May 31, 2013

Mileage

125,734 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE COMPLETING A TURN, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROL ARM FAILED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V322000 (SUSPENSION: LOWER BALL JOINT), BUT THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10509556

Incident

May 8, 2012

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY JUMP START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT RAIN WOULD LEAK IN THROUGH THE WINDOWS DURING RAINY WEATHER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF EITHER FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10448962

Incident

Jan 15, 2012

Mileage

150,000 mi

THE FUEL FILLER WILL NOT ACCEPT GASOLINE AT A NORMAL RATE. EVEN AT MINIMUM SPEED IT WILL SHUT OFF AND/OR SPIT FUEL BACK. HAVE USED DIFFERENT PUMPS, DIFFERENT STATIONS, DIFFERENT POSITIONS HAPPENS ALMOST 100% OF THE TIME. ALSO MAJOR WATER LEAKAGE AROUND WINDSHIELD ON PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10435185

Incident

Jun 22, 2011

FAILURE OF THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD SYSTEM. LOSS OF COOLANT, ENGINE OVERHEATED, LOSS OF POWER AND CONTROL IN HEAVY TRAFFIC PRESENTED A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD SYSTEM IS A DESIGN FLAW AND SUBJECT OF AN EARLIER RECALL BY MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA ID

10376028

Incident

Dec 1, 2010

Mileage

73,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED AND THE MANIFOLD CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED THAT HE HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. HE REFERENCED AN UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED IN 2007. THE VEHICLE HAD CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT SINCE HE PURCHASED IT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

NHTSA ID

10366853

Incident

Nov 10, 2010

Mileage

90,000 mi

FUEL SPITS BACK OUT OF FUEL FILLER OPENING. MUST TURN FUEL NOZZLE TO 45 DEGREES TO FILL TANK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10294000

Incident

Jul 15, 2009

Mileage

77,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COATING ON THE RIMS WAS WEARING DOWN AND PREVENT AIR FROM REMAINING IN THE TIRES. AS A RESULT, SHE MUST CONSTANTLY PLACE AIR IN THE TIRES. THE TIRE DEALER STATED THAT THE RIMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE HEAD LAMPS HAVE TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME BECAUSE THEY HOLD CONDENSATION, WHICH SHORTS OUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. LASTLY, THE SEAT BELTS STICK AND ARE DIFFICULT TO USE PROPERLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

NHTSA ID

10268731

Incident

Feb 15, 2008

Mileage

90,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK BEGAN HEARING A CLICKING SOUND PULLED OVER CALLED MY HUSBAND HE CAME OUT DECIDED IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE HOME, STARTED THE CAR THE NEXT MORNING THE HEAT WAS BLOWING AT FULL SPEED COULD NOT TURN OFF HAD TO CLOSE ALL VENTS AND RIDE WITH ALL WINDOWS DOWN, TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALER THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE HEATING& AC HAD A BROKEN PEACE TOOK TO THE SHOP AND PAID A LITTLE OVER $1600 TO TAKE OUT MY DASH AND REPLACE IT THIS WAS 2004. LAST MONTH THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED AND I DON'T FEEL IT'S FAIR THAT I SHOULD KEEP REPLACING A FAULTY PART AT $1600 AN INCIDENT LINCOLN SHOULD PAY FOR THIS PART TO BE REPLACED SINCE IT DOES NOT COME FROM NORMAL WEAR BUT A CHEAP PART PUT ON A NOT SO CHEAP VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10266713

Incident

Feb 8, 2009

Mileage

52,000 mi

UNABLE TO PROPERLY PUMP FUEL INTO THE VEHICLE. CAN ONLY PUT IN ABOUT 1/2 GALLON BEFORE THE PUMP SHUTS OFF. SOMETIMES FUEL BLOWS BACK OUT THE FILLER NECK. CALL TO DEALERSHIP WAS TOLD CAR HAD DEVELOPED A FUEL VENTING PROBLEM. APPEARS THEY KNOW THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM AND YET NO ONE IS NOTIFIED. SAY THEY WILL TRACK DOWN THE PROBLEM FOR 89.00 BUT THEN I WILL HAVE TO PAY FIX THE PROBLEM SEPARATELY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10265917

Incident

Nov 27, 2007

Mileage

85,000 mi

LAST YEAR I FIRST NOTICED THAT AFTER A HARD RAIN THE REAR DRIVERS PASSENGER DOOR WOULD HAVE WATER SLOSHING AROUND IN IT. NOW THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD IS ALMOST CONSTANTLY WET. RAIN AND CARWASHES MAKE THE PROBLEM WORSE BUT EVEN A BIG PUDDLE CAN SOAK IT AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10265915

Incident

Apr 12, 2008

Mileage

89,000 mi

1998 LINCOLN TOWNCAR PLASTIC INTAKE LEAKAGE PROBLEMS FROM CRACKS THAT ORIGINATED FROM OEM FAULTY DESIGN. I WOULD LIKE TO STATE, "FORD AND/OR HIS LEGAL DISTRIBUTOR DID NOT DISCLOSE THAT THE DESIGN OF THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS DEFECTIVE AND DID NOT CONTACT ME THEREAFTER IN REGARD TO THIS MATTER WHEN AND AFTER I PURCHASED SAID VEHICLE". IF FORD'S LEGAL DISTRIBUTOR HAD DISCLOSED THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. THE COST FOR THE REPAIR AND THE POSSIBILITY OF ENGINE DAMAGE IS ENORMOUS. FORD SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR NEGLECT TO DISCLOSE THIS INFORMATION FOR BUYER'S OF THIS VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10262810

Incident

Mar 20, 2009

Mileage

102,783 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. SINCE EARLY FEBRUARY OF 2009, WATER BUILDS UP IN THE DOOR OF THE VEHICLE AFTER IT RAINS OR THE VEHICLE IS WASHED. IN ADDITION, THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE BECOMES WET EVERYTIME IT RAINS. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO LOOK INTO THE ISSUE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 117,000.

NHTSA ID

10262376

Incident

Feb 4, 2009

Mileage

117,000 mi

I TOOK MY 1998 LINCOLN TO A DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS OF ENGINE NOISE AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED CAUSING LOSS OF COOLANT AND COLLATERAL DAMAGE COSTING $1400.00. THE DEALER ADVISED THIS WAS A RECALL ITEM BUT EXPIRED IN 2005. CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR FORD WOULD NOT GRANT ANY CONCESSIONS AND BEING ON A FIXED INCOME, I'M LOOKING FOR SOME FINANCIAL RELIEF. I HAD BEEN TO THE DEALERS IN THE PAST FOR SERVICE AND NEVER ONCE DID THEY MENTION A RECALL, EVEN PRIOR THE EXPIRATION DATE. I NEVER RECALLED A NOTICE POSSIBLY BUYING THE CAR IN 2000 BUT YOU WOULD THINK THE DEALERSHIP COMPUTERS WOULD ALERT TO THE RECALL. YOUR ASSISTANCE WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10257021

Incident

Jan 12, 2009

Mileage

64,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 1998 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARS A SQUEAKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DUST COVER ON THE LOWER BALL JOINT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WAS WORN, AND THE BALL JOINT WAS CRACKED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V322000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000. UPDATED 10/14/08. *LJ UPDATED 10/16/08. *JB

NHTSA ID

10242276

Incident

Sep 15, 2008

Mileage

168,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM HER VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE THERMOSTAT FAILED. REPAIRS WERE MADE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER MECHANIC, BUT NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. SHE BEGAN LOOKING FOR ASSISTANCE WITH HAVING HER VEHICLE REPAIRED. UNFORTUNATELY, THE DEALER WAS ALSO UNABLE TO PROVIDE THE ASSISTANCE SHE NEEDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 7/3/08 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED. UPDATED 07/03/08.

NHTSA ID

10229083

Incident

Feb 27, 2008

Mileage

16,000 mi

PLASTIC MANIFOLD LEAKING AND OVER HEATING ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10225307

Incident

Apr 5, 2008

Mileage

137,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE ENGINE TURNED OVER, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACTUALLY START. A MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND A LOUD BOOM OCCURRED AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THERE WAS SMOKE AND LOUD NOISES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE POWERTRAIN AND MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10220023

Incident

Mar 2, 2008

1998 LINCOLN TOWN CAR CAUGHT FIRE. ELECTRICAL FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT DRIVERS SIDE. CAR BURNT TO GROUND, FIRE DEPT. PUT OUT FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10218218

Incident

Feb 15, 2008

Mileage

111,000 mi

1998 LINCOLN TOWN CAR MADE A GRINDING SOUND UNDERNEATH. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALER. HE STATED THAT HE SAW A FRONT BALL JOINT DRAGGING ON THE GROUND. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE BALL JOINTS DID NOT HAVE ANY GREASE FITTINGS. THE CONSUMER HAD ALL OF THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED A RECALL REGARDING THE BALL JOINTS. HOWEVER, NO ONE INFORMED HIM THERE WAS A PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10213910

Incident

Dec 7, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE ACCELERATING AT 15 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM DETACHED FROM THE BALL JOINT. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BALL JOINT. THE DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT FAILED SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,447 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ID

10203358

Incident

Aug 15, 2006

Mileage

75,000 mi