NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
41 reportsClear category filter17,478 miles · Sep 30, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
DT: THE CONTACT STATED 1991 LINCOLN TOWN CAR HAD ONLY 17,000 MILES ON IT. ON 8-25-05 HE FELT LIKE HIS BRAKES WERE LOW. HE WENT TO HAVE THEM INSPECTED AND THE CAR PASSED THE INSPECTION, BUT HE HAD THE BRAKES CHANGED ANYWAY. HE SMELLED THE BRAKES BURNING THAT DAY AS HE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE GARAGE. HE PARKED THE CAR IN THE G…
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DT: THE CONTACT STATED 1991 LINCOLN TOWN CAR HAD ONLY 17,000 MILES ON IT. ON 8-25-05 HE FELT LIKE HIS BRAKES WERE LOW. HE WENT TO HAVE THEM INSPECTED AND THE CAR PASSED THE INSPECTION, BUT HE HAD THE BRAKES CHANGED ANYWAY. HE SMELLED THE BRAKES BURNING THAT DAY AS HE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE GARAGE. HE PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE ,AND DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL ABOUT A MONTH LATER WHEN HE SMELLED WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS THE BRAKES BURNING AGAIN. WHEN HE GOT IN TO DRIVEWAY, HE SAW FIRE UNDER THE WHEELS. HE PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. HAD HE NOT HAD THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER THE CAR WOULD HAVE BLOWN UP. THE GARAGE THAT FIXED THE BRAKES SAID THE CALIPER HUNG UP AND THAT WAS WHY THE FIRE HAPPENED. ALSO, THE CONSUMER THOUGHT THIS MAY BE A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKES THAT WOULD CAUSE THE CAR TO CATCH ON FIRE OR DID NOT FIX THE BRAKES PROPERLY. HE CALLED FORD, AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT WITHOUT A WARRANTY THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT THEY COULD DO, AND THEN THEY TOLD HIM THEY WOULD SUBMIT HIS COMPLAINT TO THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE IF THE CAR HAD ABS BRAKES BECAUSE THE CAR WAS A 1991 MODEL. HE THOUGHT IT DID BUT WAS NOT SURE. HE WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10138223
Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2002
Fuel System, GasolineService Brakes, Hydraulic
CONSUMER FOUND A CONSTANT LEAK UNDER VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR, AND DEALER FOUND OUT THAT FUEL LINE WAS CORRODED/ RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AS WELL AS THE BRAKE LINE. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO TO FAIL TO START, AFTER REPAIRS WERE FINISHED THE PROBLEM WITH STARTING THE CAR WAS REMEDIED. *JG *AK
NHTSA ODI #8006018
Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2001
Air BagsEquipmentExterior Lighting
THE A/C WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, IT DOES NOT COOL. A/C COMPRESSOR FAILED FOUR TIMES AND A/C CONDENSER FAILED. *YH
NHTSA ODI #562844
Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
MECHANIC SAID HE DID NOT KNOW WHY THEY CRACKED...AND THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN ALL FOUR CRACK AT ONCE....
NHTSA ODI #734862
Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE BRAKES OCCASIONALLY FAIL CAUSING THE CAR TO PULL TO THE LEFT WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. DEALER TRACED CAUSE TO COLLAPSED BRAKE LINES. NLM
NHTSA ODI #553551
Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 1999
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control
THE GROMET BROKE ON CABLES FOR TRANSMISSION. ONE CABLE FELL BEHIND THROTTLE BODY & CAUSED THROTTLE TO BECOME WIDE OPEN & VEHICLE ACCELERATED. ALSO, BRAKES FROZE. HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL. HAD CONTROL OF VEHICLE. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK *ML
NHTSA ODI #847287
Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES ON ITS OWN. WHEN TRYING TO STOP INTERRMITTENTLY STAY/LOCK UP/ DRAG AND DOES NOT MOVE. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #826604
Mileage unknown · May 20, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
FRONT BRAKE CALIPER FAILED (LOCKED UP) CAUSING DAMAGE TO ROTOR.
NHTSA ODI #535773
Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE VEHICLE PULLS VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT NEVER ILLUMINATES.
NHTSA ODI #528069
Mileage unknown · Dec 17, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ANTI LOCK BRAKES LOCK UP AND GRAB CONTINUOUSLY.
NHTSA ODI #526737
Official recalls
5Dec 16, 1998
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).
Aug 7, 1995
THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MAY NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE HOOD IS CLOSED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH RELEASES OR IS NOT PROPERLY LATCHED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE HOOD COULD FLY UP OBSTRUCTING THE OPERATOR'S VISION, AND INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY.
May 16, 1995
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.
Sep 10, 1991
THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MAY NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE HOOD IS CLOSED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH RELEASES WHEN THEVEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE HOOD COULD FLY UP, OBSTRUCTING THE OPERATOR'S VISION,AND INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: INSTALL A NEW HOOD LATCHING ASSEMBLY.
Jan 8, 1991
DISTORTED FUEL LINES IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT MAY CONTACT THE STEERING COLUMN UNIVERSAL JOINT AND CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE FUEL LINE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR FROM THE DAMAGED FLUID LINE AND,IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: REPOSITION FUEL LINE TO PREVENT CONTACT WITH UNIVERSAL JOINT; IF FUEL LINES ARE ALREADY DAMAGED, REPAIR OR REPLACE FUEL LINES.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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