RoadVitals

1998 Lincoln Town Car Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting 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.
12
Latest May 14, 2009
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.
8%
of 154 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 headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Lincoln Town Car submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 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 exterior lighting

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

Exterior lightingOther / unspecifiedSeat belts
Filed May 14, 2009

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
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 18, 2006

USE OF THE HAZARD LIGHTS RESULTED IN FAILURE OF THE CONTROL MODULE AND ULTIMATE FAILURE OF BOTH THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND THE TURN SIGNALS. THIS OCCURRED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2005 AND AGAIN IN DECEMBER 2006. THE TURN SIGNAL/ HAZARD LIGHT CONTROL HAD TO BE REPLACE IN BOTH INCIDENTS. *NM

NHTSA ID
10176479
Incident
Dec 15, 2006
Mileage
130,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 7, 2004

CONSUMER NOTICED WHEN BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED TAIL LIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10075760
Incident
Jun 7, 2004
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 22, 2003

UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS AT NIGHT DUE TO EXCESS CONDENSATION BUILD-UP IN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. THIS IS PREVALENT ON MANY VEHICLES BEING MANUFACTURED IN THE U.S.A DUE FAULTY ASSEMBLY AND IMPROPER SEALANT. *LA

NHTSA ID
10043350
Incident
Oct 21, 2003
Mileage
84,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed May 24, 2002

HEADLIGHT LENSES ARE DISCOLORED, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8010469
Incident
Apr 15, 2002
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 12, 2001

MORE AND MORE CARS ARE APPEARING ON THE ROAD WITH "DISCHARGE" BLUE HEADLAMPS. I'M 67 AND FIND DRIVING AT NIGHT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT WHEN BLUE HEADLAMPS ARE COMING TOWARD ME. OTHER ELDERLY PEOPLE TELL ME THAT THESE HEADLAMPS ON OTHER CARS ARE MUCH MORE DAZZELING. I HATE TO THINK WHAT NIGHT DRIVING WILL BE LIKE WHEN THE MAJORITY OF CARS HAVE THE SUPER-BRIGHT "DISCHARGE" LAMPS. HAS AND STUDY BEEN DONE TO DETERMINE WHAT LIMITS SHOULD BE PLACED ON THE "DAZZLE POWER" OF HEADLAMPS. THANKS.*AK

NHTSA ID
754452
Exterior lightingSuspension
Filed Jan 23, 2001

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE WANDERING ACROSS ROAD, AND IT BECAME MORE SEVERE AT 70 MPH OR MORE. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. *AK THE LIGHTS AIMED TOO HIGH DIE TO HEAD LAMPS MISALIGNMENT. *YH

NHTSA ID
878806
Incident
Sep 30, 1998
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 8, 2000

THE LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLIGHT GASKETS ARE PREMATURELY DETACHING FROM THE HEADLIGHT FRAME. THE MANUFACTURE OR DEALER WILL NOT COVER THIS EXPENSE.

NHTSA ID
733725
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 23, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH TO BE SEEN IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE LIGHT IS VERY DIM, IT SHINES TO THE SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND MADE ADJUSTMENTS, BUT IT HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. ALSO, MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND THEY ARE SAYING THIS IS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF DESIGN. *AK

NHTSA ID
848495
Incident
Sep 17, 1999
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 13, 1999

BECAUSE OF THE HEADLIGHT DESIGN HEADLIGHTS DO NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH LIGHTING OF ROAD FROM THE SIDE. WHEN USED ON LOW/HIGH BEAM. THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN WHEN GOING AROUND A SHARP CURVE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
847562
Incident
May 23, 1998
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 7, 1999

WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS BLINK ON AND OFF FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. THE HEADLIGHTS WILL STAY ON FOR ANOTHER 5 MILES OR SO AND START BLINKING AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
847050
Incident
Aug 7, 1999
Body & structureExterior lighting
Filed Aug 20, 1998

VEHICLE DESIGN FLAW, THE BOTTOM OF THE DASH IS ONLY 9 1/2 INCHES FROM THE FLOOR, WHEN MOVING TO APPLY BRAKES IT IS EASY TO HIT DASH.

NHTSA ID
539135

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 .