1989 LINCOLN TOWN CAR

LETTER ON BEHALF OF CONCERN ABOUT THE 1996 RECALL ON LINCOLN TOWN CARS, HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW IS HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH ON HIS 1989 LINCOLN TOWN CAR; SEND INCOMING LTR WITH REPLY TO ATTN: ALLISON JACKSON/FOLEY *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE KEY DID NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER LEARNED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THE PROBLEM, BUT THE PREVIOUS OWNERS WERE NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WHEN THEY SOLD THE VEHICLE TO THE CONSUMERS BROTHER-IN-LAW. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SCREW INSIDE THE REFLECTIVE CONE OF THE BULB WAS LOOSE WHICH CAUSED THE BULB TO SHATTER AND FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO SELL THE CONTACT A NEW BULB INSTEAD OF REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 500,800.

Mileage: 500,800

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH REAR SUSPENSION FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE REAR END DROPPED AT LEAST ONE FOOT TO THE GROUND. *AK

Mileage: 102,000

WHILE DRIVING THE PLASTIC CAP ON THE TRANSMISSION CABLE THAT CONNECTED TO THE THROTTLE BODY BROKE. THIS MAD IT HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION GEARS. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK THE TRANSMISSION WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THE PLASTIC CLIP BREAKING. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS FAILURE IS A FACTORY DEFECT. THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THEY WERE REPLACING THE PLASTIC CAPS WITH BRASS CLIPS. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. *NM

Mileage: 96,951

AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE AND TURNING OFF THE IGNITION, THE CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING SOUND. A FEW SECONDS PASSED AND THE CONSUMER SAW THICK BLACK SMOKE AND A FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM MAY HAVE BEEN THE WIRING HARNESS. *JB *NLM

Mileage: 76,000

CONSUMER STATES THAT IT IS HARD TO START UP VEHICLE DUE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*JB

WHILE MAKING A TURN AT 10 MPH CONSUMER RAN THROUGH A MEDIUM AND SEAT BELTS NEVER LOCKED IN PLACE, PASSENGER ALMOST WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD.*AK *JG

VEHICLE HIT A 8-10 INCH HIGH CONCRETE DIVIDER, PASSENGER HIT HEAD ON WINDSHIELD. SEATBELT DID NOT RESTRAIN HER, SHE SUFFERED HEAD LACERATIONS/ NECK AND BACK INJURIES. DRIVER WAS NOT WEARING SEATBELT DUE TO MEDICAL REASON, HIT HEAD ON WINDSHIELD. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN.*AK JG

CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER HE HEARD A LOUD SOUND AND SAW A SMOKE, FIRE SHOT OUT FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, FIRE DEPARTMENT ARE SUGGESTING THAT THE TAIL SHIFT MALFUNCTION WHICH CAUSED FIRE (OHIO TRAFFIC POLICE REPORT# 10-91-158). *YD

POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTED IN FIRE UNDER THE HOOD (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). NLM

WHILE DRIVING, THE STARTER SOLENOID SELF ACTIVATED AND SLAMMED THE STARTER GEAR INTO THE FLYWHEEL IMMEDIATELY DISABLING THE CAR, THIS HAD CAUSED THE FLYWHEEL TO BREAK AND RUINED THE STARTER, CONSUMER WAS TOLD HE ALSO NEEDED TO REPLACE THE IGNITION AND WHEN TAKING OUT THE OLD SWITCH, THE PARTS FELL OUT INTO PIECES, NOW THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED THE AIR CONDITIONER WORKS WHEN IT HAD QUIT A COUPLE WEEKS PRIOR, CONSUMER IS NOW AWARE OF RECALL 96V071 AND FEELS THIS RECALL WAS THE CAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS. *SLC

CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS NO TETHER FOR CHILD CAR SEAT. *TT

REAR DRIVER SIDE AND FRONT PASSENGER WINDOWS FAILED. *TT

CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS NO TETHER FOR CHILD CAR SEAT. *TT

WHILE DRIVING, THE STARTER SOLENOID SELF ACTIVATED AND SLAMMED THE STARTER GEAR INTO THE FLYWHEEL IMMEDIATELY DISABLING THE CAR, THIS HAD CAUSED THE FLYWHEEL TO BREAK AND RUINED THE STARTER, CONSUMER WAS TOLD HE ALSO NEEDED TO REPLACE THE IGNITION AND WHEN TAKING OUT THE OLD SWITCH, THE PARTS FELL OUT INTO PIECES, NOW THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED THE AIR CONDITIONER WORKS WHEN IT HAD QUIT A COUPLE WEEKS PRIOR, CONSUMER IS NOW AWARE OF RECALL 96V071 AND FEELS THIS RECALL WAS THE CAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS. *SLC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

PURCHASED CREAM PUFF TOWNCAR IN 1996. MID 1997, VEHICLE BEGAN STALLING AFTER THE ENGINE REACHED OPERATING TEMPERATURE. INDEPENDANT MECHANIC-NO HELP. FORD DEALER, SPENT ALMOST $1,000.00 TO REPLACE SEVERAL ITEMS. EACH TIME, I TOLD THEM TO CHECK THE IGNITION MODULE/COIL PICKUP. FORD DEALER SAID THAT WOULDN'T BE THE PROBLEM. ENROUTE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR EITHER THE 3D OR 4TH TIME AND TOTALLED THE AUTOMOBILE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO KEEP IT FROM STALLING. MY FAULT BUT I SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THE CAR AND GOING TO THE DEALER IN THE FIRST PLACE. MY FATHER HAS A 1985 CONTINENTAL WITH ONLY 30K MILES. SAME PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION MODULE WHICH HE JUST REPLACED. JUST HEARD THAT FORD KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THE WHOLE TIME. OF COURSE I CAN'T PROVE NOW THE MODULE WAS BAD SINCE THE CAR WAS TOTALLED GOING BACK TO THE DEALER. I JUST WANTED TO ADD MY 2 CENTS.*AK

WITHIN A WEEK OF PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER THE FRONT SEAT BELTS WERE MALFUNCTIONING. THE MANAGER ASSURED ME THEY NEEDED TO FEEL THE BODY WEIGHT OF A PERSON BEFORE THEY "GRABBED." AFTER A RECENT ACCIDENT IN ANOTHER VEHICLE IN WHICH A SEAT BELT LITERALLY SAVED MY LIFE, I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON FEB. 8, 2001. AFTER A SERVICE MAN CHECKED BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS HE STATED THEY WERE BOTH MALFUNCTIONING. I SPOKE TO A PHIL LOWE WHO TOLD ME HE'D CONTACT ME LATER IN THE DAY. THAT AFTERNOON MR.LOWE CALLED ME AND SIMPLY STATED "THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO FOR ME." THEREFORE, BECAUSE I WAS LIED TO TEN YEARS EARLIER WHEN I WAS TOLD THE BELTS WERE FINE, I'VE BEEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF A SEAT BELT EVEN THOUGH I FAITHFULLY "BUCKLED UP."*AK

VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATES AND WILL NOT STOP UNTIL IS TURNED OFF.*AK

THE ODOMETER MILES ARE NOT ACCURATE, IT IS READING MORE MILEAGE THAN WHAT THE CONSUMER IS PUTTING ON THE VEHICLE. *SLC