1990 LINCOLN TOWN CAR Electrical System Problems

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE HOOD WAS RAISED. SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE SPOTTED COMING FROM THE PLUG ON THE ALTERNATOR. THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED AND THE PLUG REMOVED. THE FIRE SMOTHERED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY UNDER GOING INSPECTION AND REPAIR.

Mileage: 118,000

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED:ON 5-19-04 HIS 1990 LINCOLN TOWN CAR BURNED WHILE IT WAS PARKED. WITHIN A HALF OF AN HOUR THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THERE WERE 3 DIFFERENT INVESTIGATIONS DONE;. AN ELECTRICAL AND AND ENGINEERING INVESTIGATION, AND ONE DONE BY THE TAMPA FIRE DEPARTMENT AND FOUND NO EXACT FAULT. . HE SAID THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 3 OTHER CARS TOTALED, AND 4 OTHERS DAMAGED DURING THE FIRE. THE HOOD MELTED AWAY. THE CAR HAD ONLY 76,000 MILES ON IT AND HAD BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. HE DID SUBMIT MAINTENANCE REPORTS TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY, AND WAS NOT LIABLE FOR THE FIRE.*AK

Mileage: 76,000

DT: CONSUMER HAD A 1990 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WHICH CAUGHT ON FIRE. WHEN CONSUMER CAME HOME HE PARKED THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE, WENT INSIDE AND ATE, THEN A NEIGHBOR POUNDED AT DOOR TO LET HIM KNOW HIS HOUSE WAS ON FIRE. THE POLICE, FIRE DEPARTMENT, FIRE MARSHAL AND INSURANCE ADJUSTERS CAME OUT AND COULDN'T FIND THE REASON THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE BURNED WITH SUCH INTENSITY THAT PIECES LEFT WERE CHARRED AND NOTHING REMAINED. A FEW FIREMEN WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL DUE TO THE FIRE. *AK

Mileage: 40,000

CONSUMER PARKED THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE, AND IN MINUTES WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE BURNED COMPLETELY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT NOTED THAT THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. *AK......... CONSUME RCLAIMED FIRE APPEARED TO BE DUE TO MECHANICAL FAILURE IN CAR , POSSIBLY BRAKES. *AK

Mileage: 101,000

THIS CAR IS ABOUT A PIECE OF JUNK. PAINT IS ALMOST GONE, 3 OF 4 POWER WINDOWS DONT WORK, WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR HAS QUIT TWICE, REAR SUSPENSION FAILED, RADIO NON-FUNCTIONAL, MESSAGE CENTER SAYS THAT IT IS -76 DEGREES AT MOST TIMES WITH 400 MILES UNTIL EMPTY (NOT TRUE). *AK

VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING ON HOT DAYS WHILE DRIVING.AND WHEN DRIVEN ON HOT DAYS AND IS PARKED WILL NOT START AGAIN , UNLESS IT COOLS DOWN. REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE , WHICH I WAS TOLD WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION IN CALIFORNIA. *AK

ON MAY 9TH MY CAR ENGINE BURST IN TO FLAMES WHILE PARKED AND OFF.

ON MAY 9TH MY CAR ENGINE BURST IN TO FLAMES WHILE PARKED AND OFF.

LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD DOESN'T APPEAR AT DAY, BUT AT NIGHT THERE IS LIGHT. DASHBOARD IS DIGITAL. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASE DATE OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. EVERYTIME YOU WOULD TURN THE CAR OFF IT WAS VERY HAD TO RESTART.

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH CONSUMER SAW SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SHE PULLED OVER, AND FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT FIRE WAS CAUSED BY WIRING OR THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT . VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK *SLC

ON APRIL 23, 2001 OUR LINCOLN TOWN CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FRO ABOUT TEN MINUTES IN AN ENCLOSED PARKING STRUCTURE AT SUPERMARKET WHEN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT SELF-IGNITED. A MAJOR FIRE ENSUED BUT A PASSERBY HAD CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE TOTAL LOSS OF OUR CAR. I HAVE EMAILED LINCOLN HQ REPEATEDLY SINCE THEN TO ASK IF THEY HAD ANY RECORD OF THIS UNUSUAL AND POTENTIALLY LETHAL PROBLEM. EACH TIME THEY REPLIED SAYING THAT THEY COULD NOT ANSWER TECHNICAL QUESTIONS. THEY REFERRED ME TO THE LOCAL DEALER, WHOSE SERVICE MANAGER I HAD ALREADY SPOKEN TO, AND WHO HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT THERE MAY BE MORE TO THIS?*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING ON HOT DAYS WHILE DRIVING IN CRUISE CONTROL AS WELL AS IN THE CITY IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, CONSUMER BELIEVES PROBLEM IS LINKED TO FAULTY TFI MODULE WHICH WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION IN CALIFORNIA. NLM

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED UNDER 30MPH CAR WILL SHUT OFF WHETHER IN DRIVE/ PARK/ SWITCHING GEARS, OR IDLING. CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM.*AK

STALLING ON INTERSTATE AND CITY DRIVING WHEN TEMP GETS VERY HOT, LOOSING THE POWER IN BRAKES AND THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE'S STEERING. THE CAR CAN BE STARTED AGAIN WHEN IT HAS COOLED DOWN. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS.

STALLING ON INTERSTATE AND CITY DRIVING WHEN TEMP GETS VERY HOT, LOSING THE POWER IN BRAKES AND THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE'S STEERING. THE CAR CAN BE STARTED AGAIN WHEN IT HAS COOLED DOWN. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS.*AK

PULLED INTO GARAGE. SAW FIRE UNDER HOOD. CALLED FIRE DEPT. CAR BURNED. TOTAL LOSS PER INSURANCE ADJUSTER.*AK

CONSUMER HAD DRIVEN ABOUT 25 MILES, MADE A STOP AND REACHED DOWN TO TURN OFF IGNITION, AND SWITCH WAS OVERHEATED, ABOUT 140 DEGREES. THEN CONSUMER HAD TROUBLE ENGAGING THE STARTER. *AK

CONSUMER HAD DRIVEN ABOUT 25 MILES, MADE A STOP AND REACHED DOWN TO TURN OFF IGNITION, AND SWITCH WAS OVERHEATED, ABOUT 140 DEGREES. THEN CONSUMER HAD TROUBLE ENGAGING THE STARTER. *AK

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER JUST SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE TOTALLED. DEALER CONTACTED, BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. *AK *ML

THE DIGITAL DASH ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN REPLACED TWO TIMES DUE TO DIFFICULTY IN READING IN THE DAYTIME. *MJS

VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN PARKED IN GARAGE AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE, TOTALLY DESTROYING THE HOUSE AND CAR. FIRE IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY AAA. *AK *ML

THE DESIGN OF THE HORN MAKES IT HARD TO USE THE HORN NORMALLY, DUE TO SMALL BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT EASILY LOCATED WHEN NECESSARY. YH

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT YARD AND ELECTRICAL WIRING FROM THE ALTERNATOR MELTED, CAUSING A FIRE. CONSUMER VEHICLE HAD ALTERNATOR REPLACED THREE TIMES.*AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT YARD AND ELECTRICAL WIRING FROM THE ALTERNATOR MELTED, CAUSING A FIRE. CONSUMER VEHICLE HAD ALTERNATOR REPLACED THREE TIMES.*AK

THE CAR WAS PARKED WHEN A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD, CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED. THERE WAS NO INSURANCE TO COVER THE FIRE SO OWNER HAD TO PAY ABOUT $5,000 FOR REPAIRS. *AK

ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE IN THE ENGINE, RESULTED IN A VEHICLE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

DIGITAL INST.CLUSTER UNREADABLE ON BRIGHT SUNNY DAYS

AFTER ONE HOUR AND 10 MINUTES VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE INSIDE CONSUMER'S GARAGE WHICH SET THE HOUSE ON FIRE AND RESULTED IN TOTAL PROPERTY DAMAGE. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED UNDER THE HOOD, CAUSE UNKNOWN AT THIS THE TIME. *AK

WE HAVE HAD NO SUCCESS IN SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FROM DEALER OR MANUFACTURER DESPITE HAVING A VALID EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN COVERING THIS

ALTERNATOR FAILURE CAUSED ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS UNDER HOOD FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND A MINUTE AFTER PARKING CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 8 INCH FLAMES BURNING EVERYTHING IN SIGHT. DEALER OR MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED.

WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY SOMEONE CALLED OUT THAT FRONT WHEEL WAS SMOKING. GOT OUT AND LOOKED AT WHEEL AND THERE WAS A FLAME. THE WHEEL WAS BURNING. *AK

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE IGNITION OFF, IT STARTED SMOKING AND CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD ON THE LEFT SIDE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS NOT KNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK

WHILE PARKED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY DETAILS. *AK

THE WIRING HARNESS WITHIN THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY BECAME VERY HOT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CUT OFF WITHOUT NO PRIOR WARNING . ALSO POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD . CONSUMER HAS CALLED DEALER. *AK

ALTERNATOR FAILURES CAUSING TO VEHICLE FIRES; THE LAST ONE RESULTED IN TOTAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLE.

HAD PARKED VEHICLE & WENT INTO HOUSE; HEARD NOISE & LOOKED OUT & NOTICED VEHICLE ENGULFED IN FLAMES; CALLED FIRE DEPT. ; THEY ARRIVED & PUT FLAMES OUT. FIRE DEPT INFORMED OWNDER THAT IT WAS ALTERNATOR, BUT FOUND OUT LATER WAS CONNECTOR TO ALTERNATOR. *AK

WHILE PARKED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT UNDER THE HOOD CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. CAUSE NOT DETERMINED BY FIRE MARSHALL. *AK

VEHICLE HAD AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE WHICH CAUSED A FIRE AFTER BEING PARKED FOR 45 MIN. THE FIRE WAS AT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, AND MELTED THE HOOD AND TIRES WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. *AK

ELECTRICAL SHORT, VEHICLE FIRE , VEHICLE PARKED AND LOCKED. IN FOR REPAIRS. *AK

STARTER MOTOR DRIVE FAILED TWICE.

VEHICLE DRIVEN ALL MORNING, IN THE AFTERNOON WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. FLAMES APPEARED FROM UNDER THE HOOD, POSSIBLY CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK

UNDER THE HOOD ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN AND PARKED, ABOUT 10 MIN. LATER THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. WILL PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK

STARTER SOLENOID FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL.

BATTERY FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL.

VEHICLE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, HEARD VEHICLE CRANKING AND WENT OUTSIDE NO ONE WAS IN OR AROUND THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS CONTINUING TO CRANK, SAW SMOKE THEN FIRE, HOOD WAS SO HOT THAT IT TURNED TO VAPOR. *AK

SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, SMELLED ELECTRIAL WIRES BURNING, WINDOWS WOULD LOCK UP, AIR CONDITIONER WOULD STOP, ALSO THE KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION SWITCH, ELECTRICAL WIRES SEEMED TO SHORT OUT.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, A TERRIBLE NOISE WAS HEARD AND CONSUMER FEELS THIS WAS DUE TO THE SWITCH ENGAGED WHILE THE MOTOR WAS RUNNING. *SLC

SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, SMELLED ELECTRIAL WIRES BURNING, WINDOWS WOULD LOCK UP, AIR CONDITIONER WOULD STOP, ALSO THE KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION SWITCH, ELECTRICAL WIRES SEEMED TO SHORT OUT.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, A TERRIBLE NOISE WAS HEARD AND CONSUMER FEELS THIS WAS DUE TO THE SWITCH ENGAGED WHILE THE MOTOR WAS RUNNING. *SLC

IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM.

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, CAUSING RADIO/POWER WINDOWS/AIR CONDITIONER AND POWER LOCKS TO FAIL.

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE WIRING HARNESS TO MELT. *AK

VEHICLE HAD AN ENGINE FIRE DUE TO THE WIRING HARNESS. *AK

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE VEHICLE IS CAUSING THE ALTERNATOR TO CATCH ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *AK *JB

VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES WHILE IN TOYS'R'US PARKING LOT UNDER A HALF AN HOUR. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES WHILE IN TOYS'R'US PARKING LOT UNDER A HALF AN HOUR. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT 9 HOURS, PARKED IT, THEN NOTICED SMOKE AND FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE FRONT END. *AK

AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT 9 HOURS, PARKED IT, THEN NOTICED SMOKE AND FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE FRONT END. *AK

PARKED IN DRIVEWAY VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. BURNS WERE VISIBLE FROM THE FRONT TO THE FIREWAY. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED, UNDER THE HOOD, ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE WHICH MELTED THE INSIDE COMPARTMENT UNDER THE DASH AND INTERIOR. *AK

CAR WAS PARKED AND OFF THERE WAS ELECTRICAL FIRE FROM THE HOOD. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

INTERIOR VEHICLE FIRE CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL WIRING SHORTING OUT, ENTIRE VEHICLE'S INTERIOR WAS BURNED. *AK

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT)*SD

VEHICLE WAS PARKED, UNDER THE HOOD FIRE, ALTERNATOR OVERHEATED CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT BOTH PLUGS. TT

VEHICLE WAS PARKED, UNDER THE HOOD FIRE, ALTERNATOR OVERHEATED CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT BOTH PLUGS. TT

REPLACED STARTER 6 TIMES, ELECTRICAL SHORT. TT

STARTER WIRE PLUG FAILED, DIFFICULTY STARTING VEHICLE. TT

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE CAUSED BY ALTERNATOR SHORT. TT *JB

ALTERNATOR FAILED. *SD

BATTERY FAILED. *SD

DIGITAL DASH NOT VISIBLE DURING DAYTIME. ENTIRE DASH BOARD REPLACED TWICE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, UNKNOWN ORIGIN. TT