2001 Lincoln Town Car Suspension Problems

ON JULY 16, 2017, I WAS TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 70 EAST, NEAR WASHINGTON, PA. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY 2001 LINCOLN STARTED SHAKING VERY VIOLENTLY. I MANAGED TO PULL INTO A REST STOP A FEW MILES AWAY, AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR PORTION OF MY LINCOLN WAS VERY LOW TO THE GROUND. I MANAGED TO DRIVE INTO WASHINGTON, PA, AND A LOCAL MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HE SUSPECTED THAT THE AIR SUSPENSION COMPRESSOR, WHICH CONTROLS THE REAR AIR SUSPENSION BAGS, WAS DEFECTIVE. A FEW WEEKS EARLIER, THE "AIR BAGS" WARNING LIGHT RELATING TO THE REAR AIR SUSPENSION BAGS HAD COME ON; MY MECHANIC CHECKED THEM OUT AND STATED THAT THEY WERE FINE, AS HE HAD REPLACED BOTH OF THEM, IN 2013. HOWEVER, IN RETROSPECT, THE COMPUTER WAS REFERRING TO THE AIR SUSPENSION COMPRESSOR AND PROBABLY TO THE AIR SUSPENSION HEIGHT SENSOR. I HAD MY MECHANIC REPLACE BOTH OF THOSE PARTS. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE LINCOLN PERSONNEL SHOULD HAVE WARNED THE LINCOLN TOWN CAR OWNERS THAT THE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM, WHICH IS USED ON THE LINCOLN TOWN CARS, IS PRONE TO FAILURE; AND, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A WARNING BUILT INTO THE COMPUTER TO WARN DRIVERS OF AN IMPENDING LOSS TO THAT SYSTEM. A LIGHT COMING ON JUST STATING "AIR BAGS" IS NOT SUFFICIENT. PRIOR TO THAT PROBLEM, I HAD NO IDEA THAT THERE WAS AN AIR SUSPENSION COMPRESSOR, OR AN AIR SUSPENSION HEIGHT SENSOR TO CONTROL THE REAR AIR SUSPENSION BAGS. SINCE THERE ARE STILL THOUSANDS OF LINCOLN TOWN CARS ON THE ROAD, THE NHTSA SHOULD AT LEAST WARN OWNERS OF THOSE CARS, ABOUT THE POTENTIAL SUSPENSION PROBLEM, WHICH CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11104321

Incident

Jul 16, 2017

Mileage

131,500 mi

MY 2001 LINCOLN TOWNCAR SIGNATURE ,. GAS IN FUEL AND DROVE 3 MILES IN PARK. THE CAR LITTLE EXHAUST, I PROCEEDED TO THE LIGHT AND THERMOSTATS HEATING NEEDLE TO HOT. I MOVE TO NEXT, LIGHT, AIR CONDITION ON TO COOL DOWN. IMMEDIATELY LEFT TURN INTO CYPRESS RESTAURANT. PARKING, TURN OFF, COOL DOWN, AND NEXT OPEN BY FRIEND WHO NEEDED GO THE DOCTOR. CALLED AAA PULL TO THE SHOP. ESTIMATED , CAN NOT REPAIRED THIS...DAY. SO, IF IT WAS MANUFACTURED DEFECEITS. I LOOK UP ...

NHTSA ID

10938689

Incident

Dec 6, 2016

Mileage

146,999 mi

AIRBAGS HAD TO BE REPLACED, MILEAGE 102050.ALSO, WIPER MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED 3TIMES SO FAR.

NHTSA ID

10821800

Incident

Jun 21, 2008

Mileage

102,020 mi

I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR WHEN IT HIT ICE AT 9:20A- 1/25/2013 ON I-94 NEAR CHESTERTON, IN, SPUN AROUND AND CRASHED TWICE (FRONT/REAR) INTO THE LEFT CONCRETE BARRIER PARALLEL TO THE ROADWAY. NONE OF THE 4 AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I (AGE 77) AND MY PASSENGER (AGE 83) WORE SEAT BELTS THAT SAVED US. CAR FRONT SMASHED; CAR REAR LESS DAMAGED. SIDES ARE O.K.. ISP REPORT ID:201300021141. NEITHER OF US SOUGHT MEDICAL TREATMENT. MY CHEST STILL HURTS! AIR BAGS WOULD HAVE HELPED HAD THEY DEPLOYED. LAKE SHORE FORD, CHESTERTON, IN (219)787-8600 SAID CAR WAS "TOTALED." ISP OFFICER WEEMS REPORTED THAT I MAY RECEIVE A TICKET FOR "TOO FAST FOR CONDITIONS." TC FAILED THE ONLY AIR BAG TEST IT EVER HAD. SEAT BELTS DID NOT. NO OTHER CARS WERE INVOLVED ON BUSY I-94. WE WERE LUCKY! *TR

NHTSA ID

10494782

Incident

Jan 25, 2013

Mileage

177,800 mi

VEHICLE: 2001 LINCOLN TOWN CAR CARTIER WITH 45,000 ORIGINAL MILES. DATE PROBLEM REVEALED: 05/08/2008 AT 38,000 MILES. COMPONENT: POWERTRAIN: DRIVELINE; SUSPENSION: (REAR); SUSPENSION: (FRONT); STEERING. DEFECT SUMMARY: CERTAIN POLICE, COMMERCIAL, AND PASSENGER VEHICLES SOLD INPUT HIGHER LOADS INTO THE VEHICLE CHASSIS OVERLOADING THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND AXLES. FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT CHECK WAS PERFORMED. REAR WHEELS WAS NOT ALIGNED TO MANUFACTURE SPECIFICATIONS, FOR WHICH, THIS VEHICLE HAS A NON-ADJUSTABLE REAR END. FRONT-END ALIGNMENT WAS NOT IN MANUFACTURE SPECIFICATIONS AND COULD NOT BE CORRECTED DUE TO FAULTY REAR END COMPONENTS. CONSEQUENCE SUMMARY: THIS COULD LEAD TO EARLY BEARING FAILURE AND ULTIMATELY TO AXLE SHAFT FRACTURE. IN THE EVENT OF AXLE SHAFT FRACTURE, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE DRIVE FUNCTION AND WOULD COAST TO A STOP. LOSS OF DRIVE FUNCTION COULD LEAD TO A CRASH. SEVERELY UNSTABLE STEERING AT SPEED ABOVE 40 MPH AND WILL LEAD TO A CRASH AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10247821

Incident

May 8, 2008

Mileage

38,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WITHIN 1,000 MILES OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE SEATS FAILED AND COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. WHILE CHANGING THE OIL, THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION WAS FAILING AND THE STRUTS NEEDED REPLACING. IF THE VEHICLE WERE TO DRIVE OVER A POTHOLE, THE AXLE COULD FAIL. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE; HOWEVER, THE DEALER OFFERED TO REDUCE SOME OF THE $1,300 REPAIR COST. THE DEALER INFORMATION WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,180 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000.

NHTSA ID

10223623

Incident

Mar 1, 2006

Mileage

26,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN VIBRATING. THE TIRE DEALER STATED THAT THE BUSHINGS HAVE COME OFF OF THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS NEAR THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE FAILURE IS RELATED TO RECALL #00D159; HOWEVER, THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN IS NOT RELATED. THE BALL JOINT FRACTURES INCREASE RISK OF CRASH. THE BOLT WAS TIGHTENED AND THE MECHANIC ADVISED HIM TO HAVE THE DEALER DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR IT. THE CURRENT AND APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85000.

NHTSA ID

10221692

Incident

Mar 14, 2008

Mileage

85,000 mi

DT: 2001 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATES THE REAR SUSPENSION COLLAPSED. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 75 MPH WHEN THE REAR SUSPENSION GAVE WAY. THERE HAD BEEN NO PROBLEMS WITH THE SUSPENSION PRIOR TO THIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LINCOLN DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY IT IS NOT UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE DEALERSHIP STATES THERE IS AN AIR COMPRESSOR PUMP THAT OPERATES THE AIR SUSPENSION BAG AND THAT QUIT WORKING. WHEN IT DEFLATED, IT MADE THE SHOCKS LEAK ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE SUSPENSION IS SO BAD AT THIS POINT, ON THE WAY HOME WHEN DRIVING OVER A BRIDGE, THE CONTACT'S HEAD ALMOST HIT THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURRED ON OCTOBER 16, 2005. *AK

NHTSA ID

10140016

Incident

Oct 16, 2005

CONSUMER STATES WAS BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED REARWARD ACROSS THE STREET AND COLLIDED W/ANOTHER VEHICLE. NLM. CONSUMER STATES THE THE EXHAUST PIPE AND MUFFLER WERE REPLACED , THE FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION WAS ALIGNED.*JG

NHTSA ID

8020090

Incident

Jul 26, 2002

WHILE DRIVING PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND INJURED PASSENGER. CONSUMER STATED THAT IF IT HAD BEEN ON DRIVER'S SIDE, AND CONSUMER WAS ON HIGHWAY, CONSUMER WOULD HAVE BEEN KNOCKED FROM STEERING WHEEL.THAT MAY HAVE BEEN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT CONSUMER RAN OVER SOMETHING ON THE ROAD THAT TRIGGERED SENSORS FOR SIDE AIRBAG. VEHICLE HIT NOTHING. THIS WAS SECOND TOWN CAR THAT THAT CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. *AK VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT. TRUNK WOULD NOT CLOSE PROPERLY DUE TO IT BEING OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. *SLC

NHTSA ID

892999

Incident

Jun 23, 2001