1999 Lincoln Town Car Suspension Problems

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA ID

11617160

Incident

Nov 18, 2018

The contact owns a 1999 Lincoln Town Car. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the steering wheel started pulling to the left with extreme force. The contact attempted to correct the over steering and the vehicle started pulling to the right and the left. The contact stated that an unknown warning was illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle back to his residence. The contact stated that he drove the vehicle several more times and the steering failure recurred while driving at various speeds. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the ball joints, upper and lower control arms, and the steering gear needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000. The dealer is requesting the consumer get a diagnostic for $168 eventhough the consumer presented them with a safety recall via carfax.

NHTSA ID

11499152

Incident

Dec 13, 2020

Mileage

132,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED LAMARQUE FORD LOCATED AT 3101 WILLIAMS BLVD SUITE F, KENNER, LA 70065, (504) 443-2500, AND MADE THE DEALER AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.*DT *AS

NHTSA ID

11329554

Incident

Jun 16, 2020

Mileage

54,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE BALL JOINTS ON THE VEHICLE BECAME UNDONE. IN ADDITION, THE A FRAME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.

NHTSA ID

10916458

Incident

Oct 16, 2016

Mileage

175,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED AND MAKING A TURN, THE ROCKER ARM LOWERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE PASSENGER SIDE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND THE PASSENGER SIDE OUTER TIE ROD WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CLANKING NOISE WAS STILL PRESENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,228. UPDATED 02/26/16*LJ *TR

NHTSA ID

10789616

Incident

May 4, 2015

Mileage

109,228 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BALL JOINTS DETACHED FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10672229

Incident

Jan 6, 2015

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP SIGN, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THERE WAS A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE HAD COLLAPSED ON THE FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V322000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

NHTSA ID

10620965

Incident

Aug 7, 2014

Mileage

94,000 mi

2 OCCASIONS WHERE BALL JOINT SNAPPED AND VEHICLE WAS MOVING AND FELL TO GROUND .WHILE MY CHILD WAS INSIDE . MAJOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES SUCH AS: ODOMETER FLASHES CONSTANTLY AND GAS GAGE WACKED OUT EVER SINCE VEHICLE FELL TO GROUND EVERY THING WAS WORKING PROPERLY BEFORE AND ON THE FIRST INCIDENT IS WHEN IT STARTED AND CONTINUES TO GET WORSE. SUSPENSION AND STEERING : ALSO SINCE CAR FELL TO GROUND HAS CAUSE STEERING AND SUSPENSION TO BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE . I HAVE HAD SEVERAL MECHANICS RIP ME OFF AND HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS ON TRYING TO GET VEHICLE BACK TO THE WAY A LINCOLN SHOULD DRIVE . AND STILL THE RESULTS ARE NOT GOOD. I CANT DRIVE ON EXPRESS WAYS BECAUSE VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY HARD TO CONTROL AND STAY IN LANES .AS WELL ON SIDE STREETS/MAIN ROADS . IT ALSO HAS A VERY HIGH TENDENCY TO LOOSE CONTROL WHEN DRIVING OVER A SMALL , MEDIUM OR LARGE BUMP, DIV-IT OR CRACK IN ROAD WHICH COULD OR WILL EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A CRASH. BY ALL MEANS I LOVE MY 1999 LINCOLN BUT CERTAINLY DOES NOT DRIVE OR OPERATE PROPERLY LIKE ONE SHOULD .I DO ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT ITS A 13 YEAR OLD CAR AND THINGS WILL GO WRONG BUT AFTER DO MY RESEARCH AND BEING THAT I AM NAIVE AND VERY UNEDUCATED WITH MECHANICS ON A VEHICLE I SIMPLY LET THIS PASS FOR SOMETIME NOW TO REALIZE THESE RE OCCURRING INCIDENTS ARE NOT NORMAL AND HERE I AM NOW MY RESULTS ARE A DAMAGED CAR WITH RECALL SUPPORTED AND THOUSANDS OF MY HARD INCOME TO REPLACE PARTS ON CAR TO GET BACK TO PROPER WORKING ORDER . SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE OR IF POSSIBLE BE SETTLED IN THE MIDDLE/HALFWAY WHICH WOULD BE FAIR. I HOPE I CAN BE A TRUE FORD LINCOLN SUPPORTER/BUYER FOR EVER AND DON'T WANT TO BE DISAPPOINTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10523155

Incident

Sep 27, 2012

Mileage

161,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR CARTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 2 MPH, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED AS THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:98V322000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 173,000. UPDATED 11/23/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE PASSENGER LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED AS SHE WAS TRAVELING, BUT NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. IN FACT, THE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE PASSENGER LOWER CONTROL ARM AS WELL AS THE LOWER BALL JOINT. APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MONTHS AFTER THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED, AS SHE TRAVELED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SAME REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THEY REPLACED THE LOWER BALL JOINT. THREE MONTHS LATER, THE PASSENGER LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED.

NHTSA ID

10476967

Incident

Oct 15, 2011

Mileage

167,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 30 MPH WHEN AN ABNORMAL SQUEALING WAS HEARD FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE AS THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE FRONT END AND THE DRIVERS SIDE BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:98V322000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 275 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 276.

NHTSA ID

10469535

Incident

Jul 30, 2012

Mileage

275 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CRACK. HE PULLED OVER BUT DID NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRONT BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER IN REGARDS TO RECALL 98V322000 (SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT) BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND A MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 111,500.

NHTSA ID

10359462

Incident

Sep 29, 2010

Mileage

111,500 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH IN A PARKING LOT. THE LOWER BALL JOINTS DETACHED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. A RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 098V322000 (SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,397. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,412. UPDATED 6/1/10 *CN UPDATED 06/04/10*LJ UPDATED 09/02/10*JB

NHTSA ID

10325166

Incident

Apr 7, 2010

Mileage

75,397 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE CONTACT TURNED THE WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE JERKED AND STOPPED MOVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP TO HAVE THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROL ARM REPAIRED. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, HE DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V322000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT), WHICH WAS SIMILAR TO THE FAILURE HE EXPERIENCED. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000. UPDATED 6/16/08 *CN UPDATED

NHTSA ID

10229182

Incident

Apr 4, 2007

Mileage

101,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE FELL TO THE GROUND AND BENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HE WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 98V322000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT). THE PURCHASE DATE AND MILEAGE INFORMATION WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10199065

Incident

Aug 8, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A WHINY, SQUEAKY NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG, HOWEVER THE NOISE HAS INTENSIFIED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS FAILING, SIMILAR TO THE FAILURE NOTED IN RECALL # 98V322000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 90,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000. UPDATED 09/05/07. *JB

NHTSA ID

10192772

Incident

Apr 5, 2003

Mileage

27,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING THE ENGINE WITH THE VEHICLE IN PARK, THE LEFT FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 98V322000, REGARDING THE SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

NHTSA ID

10166735

Incident

Aug 28, 2006

Mileage

76,000 mi

THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HAS REQUIRED MULTIPLE REPAIRS TO INCLUDE BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT, TURNED ROTORS AND IDLER ARM REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 70000 MILES. *NM THE CRUISE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF WITHOUT A NEAR SKID AMOUNT OF BRAKING, THIS WOULD ALSO OCCUR BECAUSE THE SHIFTER WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10095270

Incident

Sep 1, 2004

Mileage

70,000 mi

UPON PUTTING THE GEAR INTO REVERSE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE AS IF SOMETHING WAS RUBBING TOGETHER. THE TIRE ROD BROKE, LEAVING THE WHEELS TURNED OUTWARD. VEHICLE NEVER LEFT THE GARAGE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10083600

Incident

Jul 1, 2004

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT 2 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIE ROD SNAPPED. *AK THE LEFT FRONT TIE ROD FELL TO THE GROUND. THE TIE HAD RUSTED AND PITTED. BOTH TIE RODS WERE REPLACED AND THE UPPER JOINT WAS FOUND BAD. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10059845

Incident

Feb 2, 2004

Mileage

60,500 mi

SQUEAK IN FRONT SUSPENSION WHILE TURNING AT LOW OR HIGH SPEEDS. AT TIMES NEEDS EXTRA TURNING OF STEERING WHEEL TO MAINTAIN LANE THROUGH TURNS OR CURVES.STABILIZER BAR ALSO SHOWS SIGNS OF EXCESS MOVEMENT IN MOUNTS.DEALER STATES THE PROBLEM IS THE TIE ROD BUSHINGS FLEXING UNDER PRESSURE. NLM

NHTSA ID

759897

THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF LINE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO DOWN THE ROAD SIDEWAYS. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

848886

Incident

Jul 7, 1999