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 SIN…
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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
NHTSA ODI #745988
Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 2001
Electrical SystemFire
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #742478
Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 2000
Electrical System
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
NHTSA ODI #557420
Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 2000
Electrical SystemCrash
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
NHTSA ODI #873714
Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2000
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic
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.
NHTSA ODI #734325
Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2000
Electrical SystemFire
PULLED INTO GARAGE. SAW FIRE UNDER HOOD. CALLED FIRE DEPT. CAR BURNED. TOTAL LOSS PER INSURANCE ADJUSTER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #724248
Mileage unknown · Jun 14, 2000
Electrical System
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
NHTSA ODI #863588
Mileage unknown · May 4, 2000
Electrical SystemFire
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER JUST SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE TOTALLED. DEALER CONTACTED, BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. *AK *ML
NHTSA ODI #861413
Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 2000
Electrical System
THE DIGITAL DASH ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN REPLACED TWO TIMES DUE TO DIFFICULTY IN READING IN THE DAYTIME. *MJS
NHTSA ODI #551748
Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2000
Electrical SystemFire
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
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 EVENTUALLY CRACK. THIS COULD RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE BALL AND CAP OF THE JOINT, ALLOWING THE CONTROL ARM TO DROP TO THE GROUND.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, REDUCED STEERING CONTROL COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS (2).
CORROSION OF THE HOOD LATCH STRIKER PLATE CAUSES DETACHMENT OF THE PLATE FROM THE HOOD ASSEMBLY RESULTING IN AN UNEXPECTED OPENING OF THE HOOD WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN REDUCE THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROAD INCREASING THE POTENTIAL OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HOOD INNER PANEL REINFORCEMENT AND A NEW, GALVANIZED HOOD LATCH STRIKER PLATE.
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