2002 Lincoln Town Car

ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VERY FEW INCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE.IN ONE INCIDENT, THE COMPLAINT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF FUEL LEAK OR FIRE.IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT WHERE A FIRE WAS ALLEGED, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT NO FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED, BUT THAT A FIRE RESULTED AFTER THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND HE HAD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HOOD.(6) ONLY TWO COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOME DROPS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE CYLINDER WHERE THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED OR ON THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF; HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FLAMES AS A RESULT OF HIS INCIDENT.AS THE PETITIONER NOTED, AND ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.

THIS INVESTIGATION IDENTIFIED A TOTAL OF 182 REPORTS ALLEGING INADVERTENT OR NON-CRASH DEPLOYMENT OF THE SIDE AIR BAGS.THE DATA EXAMINED DURING THE INVESTIGATION SUGGEST THAT THE SIDE AIR BAG CRASH SENSING SYSTEM'S ALGORITHM MAY RECOGNIZE CERTAIN NON-CRASH INCIDENTS AS DEPLOYABLE EVENTS.ODI HAS NOT, HOWEVER, IDENTIFIED ANY FAILED COMPONENT THAT RELATES TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ALSO, ODI HAS NOT IDENTIFIED ANY TREND IN THE MANUFACTURE DATES OF COMPLAINT VEHICLES THAT MAY INDICATE A COMPONENT OR VEHICLE-MANUFACTURING PROBLEM.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE ATTACHED SUMMARY REPORT.

ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 173 COMPLAINTS ALLEGING INADVERTENT OR NON-CRASH DEPLOYMENT OF SIDE AIR BAGS ON MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999-2003 LINCOLN TOWN CARS.MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT ONE OF THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY IMPACT.ANALYSIS SHOWED THAT MY 2001 THROUGH EARLY MY 2003 TOWN CARS HAVE MUCH HIGHER COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIM RATES (138 COMPLAINTS AND 120 WARRANTY CLAIMS) THAN THE REMAINING VEHICLES (35 COMPLAINTS AND 32 WARRANTY CLAIMS).FORD CHANGED ITS SUPPLIER OF THE SIDE CRASH SENSORS FOR THE MY 2001 TOWN CARS.FORD STATES THAT THE ALGORITHM IN THE MY 2001 TOWN CARS IS DIFFERENT FROM THE PREVIOUS MODEL YEAR'S DESIGN, AND THAT IT IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE IMPROVED OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN MODERATE SPEED SIDE POLE IMPACTS.IN DECEMBER 2002 (I.E., EARLY MY 2003 VEHICLE PRODUCTION), THE CRASH SENSORS WERE MOVED FROM THE FLOOR OF VEHICLE TO NEAR THE BASE OF B-PILLARS IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE INCIDENTS OF INADVERTENT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS.THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA03-014) FOR MY 2001-2003 TOWN CARS BUILT BEFORE DECEMBER 2002.

Last week I blow a back tire . They said the belt broke separated. GOT a knot. This week Im having the same problem with one of my front tires. On way ro work had to pull over. Tire has a knot. I used Firestone but have had nothing but issues. Didn't tighten down my tires wore tire another store replaced the. Piedmont stoe . First store was powtersprings.

NHTSA ID

11737907

Incident

May 14, 2026

ON 01/12/2019 I WAS TRAVELING STRAIGHT DOWN A LEVEL COUNTRY ROAD WITH 1 PASSENGER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AT ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN FOR NO REASON THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. AFTER REGAINING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TOOK A FEW MINUTES TO CALM DOWN AND FIGURE OUT WHAT JUST HAPPENED AND CLEAR ALL THE SMOKE FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE AIR BAG. MY FRIEND IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS SORE BUT NOT INJURED AND BOTH OUR EARS WERE RINGING. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN FIRED IN THE CAR. I CALL LINCOLN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOT ANY RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND DUE TO ITS AGE THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE TO GET IT REPAIRED. THE SIDE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT IS ALL TORE APART.

NHTSA ID

11166790

Incident

Jan 12, 2019

Mileage

140,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL I'VE CHANGE THE BRAKE SWITCH ON MY CAR OVER FOUR TIMES AND IT WENT OUT AGAIN. MT CAR WILL NOT CHAGE GIER WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL WITH THIS PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENS AFTER THE VEHICLE IS PARK.

NHTSA ID

11092770

Incident

May 9, 2018

Mileage

76,000 mi

INTAKE MANFIOLD

NHTSA ID

11063677

Incident

Jan 19, 2018

Mileage

123,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL ? MY WIFE AND FRIEND DRIVING 30 MPH IN NO TRAFFIC, AND THE DRIVERS SEAT AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. SHE SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT AND THE YELLOW BAG CAME OUT OF THE DRIVERS SEAT. DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD ON A COUNTRY ROAD.

NHTSA ID

10873106

Incident

May 6, 2016

Mileage

117,750 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000. UPDATED 12/30/14*LJ UPDATED 05/27/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID

10653873

Incident

Nov 4, 2014

Mileage

159,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME LOOSE AS THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE ALSO WENT AIRBORNE, ROLLED OVER AND SPUN THREE TIMES BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS FRACTURED AND THE REAR WINDSHIELD BECAME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THREE OCCUPANTS AND A PET DOG WERE SEVERELY INJURED AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND WAS INSPECTED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE STEERING OR AIR BAG FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000. UPDATED 08/06/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY HERNDON AND ASSOCIATES EGINEERING FIRM. THE REPORT WAS SENT TO FORD, WHICH FORD DISSMISSED IN FOUR (4) DAYS. UPDATED 08/5/2013 *JS

NHTSA ID

10484668

Incident

Aug 2, 2012

Mileage

129,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING EXCESSIVELY AND EXHIBITING LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISES FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE CYLINDERS MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RUN ON SEVEN CYLINDERS INSTEAD OF EIGHT. HE ALSO DISCOVERED THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO THEN REPLACED THE MANIFOLD AND THE PLUG WIRE FOR THE CYLINDER. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING REIMBURSEMENT AND THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, IT COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY LED TO A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ID

10365775

Incident

Nov 1, 2010

Mileage

98,000 mi

This article supersedes TSB 19-2026 to update the vehicle model years affected. Some 2000 and newer Ford/Lincoln/Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended.

Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended. Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition

Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended. Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition

SOME 1997-2008 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4.6L 2V, 5.4L 2V, OR 6.8L 2V ENGINE--SPARK PLUG THREAD REPAIR PROCEDURE--NOT COVERED UNDER NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY. *NJ THIS INCLUDES F-53 MOTORHOME CHASSIS. UPDATED 2/23/10. *PE

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 05B31 - INFORMATION ONLY. A POSSIBILITY THAT DURING A HIGH SPEED / HIGH ENERGY REAR COLLISION, CERTAIN COMPONENTS HAVE AN INCREASED RISK OF PUNCTURING THE FUEL TANK ON VEHICLES WITH LIMO PREP PACKAGE LIMO PACKAGE UPGRADE KIT OFFERING. *TT SUPPLEMENT #1. *TT UPDATED SUPPLEMENT #2. *TT

LIMITED SLIP AXLE CHATTER, SHUDDER, BINDING SENSATION, OR VIBRATION DURING LOW SPEED TURNING MANEUVERS. *TT