1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR Electrical System Problems

TAKATA RECALL: STEERING WHEEL HAS SMOKED BEFORE LIGHTLY, INTERIOR LIGHTS HAVE STAYED ON,STEERING WHEEL HAS DONE A 360 TURN,CORROSION ON THE SIDE PANEL AND PANEL(CHROME) HAS FALLEN OFF. I'M NOT SURE HOW LATE A RECALL TIME FRAME IS BUT MY CAR HAPPENS TO BE VERY OLD NOW SO I'M WONDERING IF THIS IS THE CASE I HAVE PICTURES FROM WHAT THE CAR LOOKED LIKE AND UP TO NOW ALSO MY CAR IS NOW AT 366.'- MILES SO THIS MAY NOT EVEN BE SOMETHING TO BE TURNED IN, THIS STATE HAS ALSO DONE SO MUCH DAMAGE FROM THE POTHOLES..

Mileage: 200

1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WITH 71,932 MILES SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING CAUGHT FIRE TEN MINUTES AFTER BEING PARKED IN AN ATTACHED GARAGE. THIS INCIDENT CAUSED THE HOME TO BECOME STRUCTURALLY DAMAGED DUE TO FIRE. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS SECOND OWNER IN 2003 UNTIL PRESENT TIME. NO RECALLS NOTICES WERE EVER RECEIVED. *TR

Mileage: 71,932

I WAS DRIVING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL WHEN I NOTICED THE INSIDE OF MY CAR STARTED SPARKING NEAR THE DASHBOARD THEN A FEW MINS LATER MY WHEEL LOCKED UP I COULDN'T TURN AND ALMOST CRASHED. I PUT POWER STEERING FLUID IN BUT THAT DIDN'T HELP . ALSO HAD SOMEONE LOOK AT IT AND THEY SAID ITS A PROBLEM WITH THE BEARING UNDERNEATH THE HOOD IS ALSO SPARKING WHEN I START THE CAR. *JS

Mileage: 220

2 OCCASIONS WHERE BALL JOINT SNAPPED AND VEHICLE WAS MOVING AND FELL TO GROUND .WHILE MY CHILD WAS INSIDE . MAJOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES SUCH AS: ODOMETER FLASHES CONSTANTLY AND GAS GAGE WACKED OUT EVER SINCE VEHICLE FELL TO GROUND EVERY THING WAS WORKING PROPERLY BEFORE AND ON THE FIRST INCIDENT IS WHEN IT STARTED AND CONTINUES TO GET WORSE. SUSPENSION AND STEERING : ALSO SINCE CAR FELL TO GROUND HAS CAUSE STEERING AND SUSPENSION TO BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE . I HAVE HAD SEVERAL MECHANICS RIP ME OFF AND HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS ON TRYING TO GET VEHICLE BACK TO THE WAY A LINCOLN SHOULD DRIVE . AND STILL THE RESULTS ARE NOT GOOD. I CANT DRIVE ON EXPRESS WAYS BECAUSE VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY HARD TO CONTROL AND STAY IN LANES .AS WELL ON SIDE STREETS/MAIN ROADS . IT ALSO HAS A VERY HIGH TENDENCY TO LOOSE CONTROL WHEN DRIVING OVER A SMALL , MEDIUM OR LARGE BUMP, DIV-IT OR CRACK IN ROAD WHICH COULD OR WILL EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A CRASH. BY ALL MEANS I LOVE MY 1999 LINCOLN BUT CERTAINLY DOES NOT DRIVE OR OPERATE PROPERLY LIKE ONE SHOULD .I DO ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT ITS A 13 YEAR OLD CAR AND THINGS WILL GO WRONG BUT AFTER DO MY RESEARCH AND BEING THAT I AM NAIVE AND VERY UNEDUCATED WITH MECHANICS ON A VEHICLE I SIMPLY LET THIS PASS FOR SOMETIME NOW TO REALIZE THESE RE OCCURRING INCIDENTS ARE NOT NORMAL AND HERE I AM NOW MY RESULTS ARE A DAMAGED CAR WITH RECALL SUPPORTED AND THOUSANDS OF MY HARD INCOME TO REPLACE PARTS ON CAR TO GET BACK TO PROPER WORKING ORDER . SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE OR IF POSSIBLE BE SETTLED IN THE MIDDLE/HALFWAY WHICH WOULD BE FAIR. I HOPE I CAN BE A TRUE FORD LINCOLN SUPPORTER/BUYER FOR EVER AND DON'T WANT TO BE DISAPPOINTED. *TR

Mileage: 161,000

COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ON LINCOLN TOWNCAR 1999, HAD TO BE TOWED FROM HIGHWAY.

Mileage: 55,000

1. I ENTERED THE VEHICLE WHICH HAD BEEN PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 90 MINUTES. I TURNED THE IGNITION KEY TO START THE VEHICLE AND AT THE MOMENT I TURNED THE KEY THE DRIVER SIDE, SEAT/WINDOW SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION, NOT IN DRIVE GEAR AND WAS NOT STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. ALSO, THERE HAD BEEN NO WARNING LIGHTS STAYING ON INDICATING A POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. 2. THE SIDE AIR BAG STRUCK MY LEFT SHOULDER AND UPPER BACK. IT WAS PAINFUL, BUT DID NOT INJURE ME. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTHING ELSE HAPPENED SO I DROVE A SHORT DISTANCE TO MY HOME WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. 3. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL LINCOLN MERCURY DEALER AND THEY DETERMINED THAT FOUR WIRES IN THE MAIN WARNING HARNESS UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT WERE DAMAGED, HAD SHORTED OUT AND CAUSED THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE IS A 1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WITH 74,000 MILES ON IT. THEY SAID ALL WARRANTIES WERE EXPIRED AND THERE WERE NO EXTENDED WARRANTIES ON THE VEHICLE AND IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. ADDITIONALLY, THE WARNING HARNESS( PART # XW1Z14A005AA) IS NO LONGER MADE AND NOT IN STOCK AND MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE. THE ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR IS $3,500.00 PARTS AND LABOR. IF THEY REPAIRED THE WIRING HARNESS, I WOULD HAVE TO SIGN A RELEASE OF LIABILITY STATING IF THE REPAIRED AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILED TO DEPLOY OR DEPLOYED WHEN IT SHOULD NOT BECAUSE THE WIRING HARNESS WAS NOT REPLACED THE DEALER WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE. I CONTACTED THE FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS CENTER AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NO HISTORY OF THIS PROBLEM OR RECALLS OF THIS NATURE FOR THIS VEHICLE AND THAT REPAIR WOULD BY AT MY EXPENSE. *JB

Mileage: 74,045

1. I ENTERED THE VEHICLE WHICH HAD BEEN PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 90 MINUTES. I TURNED THE IGNITION KEY TO START THE VEHICLE AND AT THE MOMENT I TURNED THE KEY THE DRIVER SIDE, SEAT/WINDOW SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION, NOT IN DRIVE GEAR AND WAS NOT STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. ALSO, THERE HAD BEEN NO WARNING LIGHTS STAYING ON INDICATING A POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. 2. THE SIDE AIR BAG STRUCK MY LEFT SHOULDER AND UPPER BACK. IT WAS PAINFUL, BUT DID NOT INJURE ME. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTHING ELSE HAPPENED SO I DROVE A SHORT DISTANCE TO MY HOME WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. 3. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL LINCOLN MERCURY DEALER AND THEY DETERMINED THAT FOUR WIRES IN THE MAIN WARNING HARNESS UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT WERE DAMAGED, HAD SHORTED OUT AND CAUSED THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE IS A 1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WITH 74,000 MILES ON IT. THEY SAID ALL WARRANTIES WERE EXPIRED AND THERE WERE NO EXTENDED WARRANTIES ON THE VEHICLE AND IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. ADDITIONALLY, THE WARNING HARNESS( PART # XW1Z14A005AA) IS NO LONGER MADE AND NOT IN STOCK AND MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE. THE ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR IS $3,500.00 PARTS AND LABOR. IF THEY REPAIRED THE WIRING HARNESS, I WOULD HAVE TO SIGN A RELEASE OF LIABILITY STATING IF THE REPAIRED AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILED TO DEPLOY OR DEPLOYED WHEN IT SHOULD NOT BECAUSE THE WIRING HARNESS WAS NOT REPLACED THE DEALER WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE. I CONTACTED THE FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS CENTER AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NO HISTORY OF THIS PROBLEM OR RECALLS OF THIS NATURE FOR THIS VEHICLE AND THAT REPAIR WOULD BY AT MY EXPENSE. *JB

Mileage: 74,045

AS THE CAR NEARED THE END OF ITS WARRANTY, I HAD SEVERAL FAILURES. THE AIR CONDITIONING FAILED AT 45000 MI., TWO COIL PACKS FAILED UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE THE FINAL FAILURE AND IT JUST LOST ALL POWER. I BARELY GOT IT TO PULL BY HOLDING IT IN LOW GEAR. IT WOULD BARELY MOVE BUT I GOT IT TO A PARKING LOT AND LEFT IT FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. WHEN I RETURNED IT STARTED UP AND DROVE JUST FINE. I TOOK IT TO THE LINCOLN MERCURY DEALER AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. ABOUT A WEEK LATER MY WIFE STARTED TO DRIVE THE CAR (COLD) AND ALMOST GOT RUN OVER TRYING TO LEAVE THE DRIVEWAY. I WAS WALKING ONE BLOCK UP THE STREET AND SHE PULLED IN AND ASKED ME TO LOOK AT THE CAR. IT WAS RUNNING VERY ROUGH JUST AS BEFORE SO I TOLD HER TO TAKE IT BACK HOME AND PARK IT AND TAKE THE OTHER CAR. SHE DID THIS, LOCKED IT AND LEFT. IT HAD ONLY RUN ABOUT 4 OR 5 MINUTES. AS I WALKED AROUND THE BLOCK I HEARD A CAR ALARM GOING OFF AND AS I APPROACHED MY HOUSE I SAW THE CAR ON FIRE SITTING JUST OUTSIDE THE GARAGE, LUCKILY I CALLED THE FIRE DEPT AND THEY CAME AND PUT IT OUT BUT IT WAS DESTROYED. THE CAR WAS MAYBE ONE MONTH OUT OF WARRANTY SO I CALLED THE DEALER, THE REGIONAL FORD REP AND A RETIRED FORD REP I KNOW. AND NONE OF THEM WOULD TALK TO ME, RETURN PHONE CALLS( IN THE CASE OF THE REGIONAL FORD REP) I CALLED DETROIT TO THE EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF FORD AND A LAWYER TOLD ME IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM AND TO FILE A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY. HE WOULD NOT EVEN SEND SOMEONE TO INSPECT IT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY PAID OFF AND I TRIED TO GET THEM TO INVESTIGATE TO FIND THE PROBLEM BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY DID. THE FIRE WAS OBVIOUSLY ELECTRICAL BUT I DON'T KNOW MORE. THE CAR WAS A 1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR SO THE PRESENT RECALL DOESN'T COVER ENOUGH CARS. *JB

Mileage: 49,500

CONSUMER HAS A LIMOUSINE WHICH IS EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE CIRCUIT BOARD THAT CONTROLLED ALL THE LIGHTING AND AIR CONDITIONING IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE CIRCUIT BOARD WAS UPGRADED. THE CONNECTOR HEATED UP WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A POTENTIAL FIRE. *AK *JB

Mileage: 125,000

HEATER WASN'T BLOWING HEAT. *PH THE DEALER REPLACED THE EATC MODULE AND THE BLOWER MOTOR SPEED CONTROLLER. *NM

Mileage: 121,737

THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE WAS A DESIGN DEFECT WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FUSE BOX WAS POSITIONED UNDER THE HOOD DIRECTLY ABOVE THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WELL. THE FUSE BOX STARTED TO MELT DUE TO WATER FROM THE ROAD CONTACTING IT, WHICH CAUSED THE AIR SHOCKS AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO FAIL. *JB

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL LOSE ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS DUE TO A SHORT. DEALER HAD VEHICLE 3-4 MONTHS, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE .*AK VEHICLE HAS HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. OUT SIDE DOOR PANEL CAME OFF. BRAKES ARE SPONGY. WINDSHIELD FAILED. SEAT MALFUNCTIONS. DASH LITHTS AND STEREO FAILED AT DIFFEERENT TIMES. *YH

INTERMITTENT DIFFICULY IN STARTING CAR WILL NOT TURN OVER RIGHT AWAY. DEALER HAS CAR FOR THIRD TIME. SO FAR HAS BE UNABLE TO ISOLATE PROBLEM. AS HAD CAR SINCE 3/10/99

VEHICLE PARKED FOR 2 DAYS WHEN SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM VEHICLE. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE THAT BURNED 2 FT HOLE IN HOOD AND MELTED ALL WIRES UNDER HOOD. FIRE DEPARTMENT CLAIMS FUEL PUMP WAS RUNNING WITHOUT KEY IN IGNITION.