What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

1998 Lincoln Town CAR

Typical pattern

14.3% of complaints about the 1998 Lincoln Town CAR came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 1998 vehicle — around the middle of the 180 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 6.1 yr in service. The most-reported system is engine cooling (28 complaints), typically at 8.4 yr or about 90,000 miles.

Complaints
147
Median age at failure
6.1 yr
Median mileage
84,000 n=75
Crash / fire / tow
8.8% of reports
Safety recalls
8

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Engine cooling
28 reports · 90,000 mi
8.4 yr
10.7%
Suspension
18 reports · 110,000 mi
6.3 yr
5.6%
Service brakes, hydraulic
16 reports · 30,920 mi
2.7 yr
6.2%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

15E082000 2015-10-06
Steering

Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain model Dorman Steering Shafts, part number 425-359, Solutions Steering Shafts, part number 7-0359, and OE Solutions Steering Shafts, part number 425-359, manufactured April 17, 2014, to September 28, 2015. These aftermarket replacement steering shafts are sold for use in 1995-2002 Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Car vehicles. These steering shafts may separate during operation if the integral fastener is loose or missing and if the interfacing vehicle shaft is compressed in length.

If the shafts separate during vehicle operation, a loss of steering control would result, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

07V336000 2007-08-03
Speed control

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

00V356000 2000-12-12
Tires

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN LIMOUSINES STRETCHED OVER 60 INCHES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 109, "NEW PNEUMATIC TIRES," AND NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS."

THE VEHICLE WEIGHT COULD EXCEED THE MAXIMUM LOAD RATING FOR THE TIRE, INCREASING THE RISK OF PREMATURE TIRE WEAR OR BLOWOUT.

00V200000 2000-07-18
Equipment:mechanical:integrated jack/leveler/stabilizer

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES HAVE JACKING INSTRUCTIONS WHICH, IF FOLLOWED, COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE OPERATOR TO PLACE THE JACK ON A FRAME WELD WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RAISE A REAR WHEEL. IF THE VEHICLE IS JACKED UP WITH THE JACK PLACED ON THE FRAME WELD AND IF THE VEHICLE IS FREE TO ROLL (WHEELS NOT BLOCKED OR CHOCKED), THE JACK COULD YIELD AND THE VEHICLE MAY DROP SUDDENLY.

IF THIS OCCURS AND ANY PORTION OF THE OPERATOR'S BODY IS UNDER THE VEHICLE, THE POTENTIAL FOR PERSONAL INJURY EXISTS.

00V157002 2000-06-12
Seat belts:front:anchorage

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES USING AFTERMARKET FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES THAT WERE SOLD BY FORD PARTS DEPARTMENTS FROM JANUARY 1, THROUGH JUNE 13, 2000. THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." THE EQUIPMENT INVOLVED IS SERVICE STOCK SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES, MODEL NOS. H 9977, H 9979, T 9063, AND T 9217, BUILT BY TRW VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC. (TRW) MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 1, 1998 THROUGH MAY 21, 2000. SOME OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED AS SERVICE REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT ON T

IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THESE SEAT BELTS MAY NOT RESTRAIN AN OCCUPANT INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

00V157001 2000-06-12
Seat belts:front:anchorage

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES USING AFTERMARKET DRIVER'S SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES THAT WERE SOLD BY FORD PARTS DEPARTMENTS FROM JANUARY 1, THROUGH JUNE 13, 2000. THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." THE EQUIPMENT INVOLVED IS SERVICE STOCK SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES, MODEL NOS. H 9977, H 9979, T 9063, AND T 9217, BUILT BY TRW VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC. (TRW) MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 1, 1998 THROUGH MAY 21, 2000. SOME OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED AS SERVICE REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT ON THE VEHICLES

IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THESE SEAT BELTS MAY NOT RESTRAIN AN OCCUPANT INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

98V322000 1998-12-16
Suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 1996-1999 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE, FLEET, NATURAL GAS, AND 1996-1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINE VEHICLES THAT WERE PRODUCED WITH A LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CONTAINING A ONE PIECE BEARING; AND 1990-1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE, FLEET, AND NGV VEHICLES AND 1990-1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINE VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN SERVICED WITH EITHER A BALL JOINT CONTAINING THE ONE-PIECE BEARING OR A FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM CONTAINING A BALL JOINT WITH A ONE-PIECE BEARING. THE ONE-PIECE BEARING WITHIN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CAN WEAKEN SLOWLY DURING USE AND EV

IF THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, REDUCED STEERING CONTROL COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

98V028000 1998-02-10
Exterior lighting:headlights

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TEXT AND/OR GRAPHICS FOR THE VEHICLE HEADLAMP AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY BE CONFUSED BY THE AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES CAUSING THE HEADLAMPS TO BE IMPROPERLY AIMED.

In owners’ own words

Service brakes, hydraulic mileage not reported 4 mo in service
ABS TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGES WHILE ACCELERATING AT HIGH SPEEDS, CAUSING INTERMITTENT LOSS OF CONTROL.
Service brakes, hydraulic mileage not reported 7 mo in service
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ABOUT 50 MPH IN THE RAIN, VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT SIDE WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. *AK
Service brakes, hydraulic mileage not reported 1.7 yr in service
BRAKE ROTORS EXPERIENCED FAILURE ON TWO OCCASIONS DUE TO VIBRATION. ON ONE OCCASIONS AT 10,000 MILES ROTORS WERE ROTATED, ROTORS FAILED AGAIN AT 20000 MILES. *YC
Engine cooling mileage not reported 6 mo in service
PARKED VEHICLE AT SHOPPING MALL, ABOT 30 MINUTES LATER VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START DRIVER DECIDED TO WAIT A FEW MINUTES TO ALLOW POSSIBLE CAREBURETOR FLOODINH TO RETURN TO NORMAL. WAITED FIVE MINUTES BEFORE ATTEMPRING TO START. THIS TIME VEHICLE STARTED. A FEW DAYS LATER WHILE DRIVING INTO PARKING AREA DISCOVERED STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT RESPOND TO TURNING. PUT GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART. VEHICLE RESTARTED. *AK

Other Town CAR model years

2007200620052004200320022001200019991998

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