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2002 Lincoln Town Car

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Lincoln Town Car do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 86.5.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

36 reports with mileage · 29 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

14 crash reports1 fire reports10 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

20 reports
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76,000 miles · Mar 13, 2006
Air Bags

(1) 2002 LINCOLN TOWN CAR, VIN# [XXX] WITH APPROXIMATELY 76,000 MILES AND OUT ORIGINAL WARRANTY. NO PREVIOUS WARNINGS WERE GIVEN. (2) PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT BEING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT OR IMPACT. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON A GRAVEL COUNTY ROAD IN COTTON COUN…

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(1) 2002 LINCOLN TOWN CAR, VIN# [XXX] WITH APPROXIMATELY 76,000 MILES AND OUT ORIGINAL WARRANTY. NO PREVIOUS WARNINGS WERE GIVEN. (2) PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT BEING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT OR IMPACT. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON A GRAVEL COUNTY ROAD IN COTTON COUNTY, OKLAHOMA. WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, IT FRIED THE SENSOR ASSEMBLY CONTROL AND THE SAB SENSOR. IT ALSO RIPPED THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BACK AND SIDE OF SEAT. ESTIMATE AT BODY SHOP CAME UP WITH $1,506.00 DAMAGES AND I HAD TO PAY THEM $ 73.98 TO RUN TEST ON AIR BAG SYSTEM. AT PRESENT, NONE OF THE OTHER AIR BAGS ARE WORKING NOW BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE. THIS ACCORDING TO FORD DEALER SERVICE AND BODY SHOPS. (3) EXTENDED WARRANTY WITH DIFFERENT COMPANY THAN FORD. EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY SAID IT WOULD REPLACE IF FORD DEALER WOULD RUN TEST ON CAR AND FOUND FAULT WITH AIR BAG SYSTEM. BILLINGSLEY FORD OF LAWTON, OKLAHOMA RAN TEST ON THIS CAR AND CAME UP WITH CONCLUSION THAT AIR BAG WAS WORKING PROPERLY. EXTENDED WARRANTY ADVISED ME TO CALL MY CAR INSURANCE CARRIER. I HAVE DONE THIS AND I AM WAITING ON THEIR DECISION. CAR HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. *JB UPDATED 07/16/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #10152642

40,000 miles · Mar 1, 2006
Air BagsCrashInjury

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM THE REAR CAUSING IT TO HIT A METAL FENCE. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED THE CONTACT TO NOTIFY FORD MOTOR COMPANY, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN DONE. THE VEHICLE HAD EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE, HOWEVER INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED AND THE…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM THE REAR CAUSING IT TO HIT A METAL FENCE. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED THE CONTACT TO NOTIFY FORD MOTOR COMPANY, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN DONE. THE VEHICLE HAD EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE, HOWEVER INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED AND THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED.

NHTSA ODI #10151562

Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2005
Air Bags

CONTACT STATES VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING DOWN A DIRT ROAD AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALER.*AK THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE AIR BAG REPAIR WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10126799

9,650 miles · Oct 25, 2004
Air Bags

AT APPROX. 8 PM ON SAT. OCT.9 MY WIFE AND I WERE RETURNING HOME, TRAVELING ON RT. 95 NORTHBOUND IN THE CENTER LANE OF 3, GOING AT THE SPEED LIMIT OF 70 MPH. WITHOUT WARNING THE SIDE AIR BAG ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DEPLOYED.LUCKILY THERE WERE NO CARS ON EITHER SIDE OF US,AND WE MANAGED TO GET THE CAR UNDER CONTROL AND OFF THE HIGHWA…

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AT APPROX. 8 PM ON SAT. OCT.9 MY WIFE AND I WERE RETURNING HOME, TRAVELING ON RT. 95 NORTHBOUND IN THE CENTER LANE OF 3, GOING AT THE SPEED LIMIT OF 70 MPH. WITHOUT WARNING THE SIDE AIR BAG ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DEPLOYED.LUCKILY THERE WERE NO CARS ON EITHER SIDE OF US,AND WE MANAGED TO GET THE CAR UNDER CONTROL AND OFF THE HIGHWAY.WE INSPECTED THE CAR AND COULD NOT FIND ANY DAMAGE.ALTHOUGH WE WERE PRETTY SHOOK UP,WE WERE NOT INJURED(DUE TO THE LACK OF TRAFFIC).AFTER SEVERAL CALMING MINUTES WE CONTINUED TO OUR HOME.OUR CAR IS A 2002 LINCOLN TOWN CAR.WE TOOK THE CAR TO WHERE WE PURCHASED AND SERVICED THE CAR(WALLACE LINCOLN/MERCURY/VOLVO-3801 SE FEDERAL HIGHWAY,STUART FL 34997,772-283-6000)ON MONDAY(WE HAVE AN ORIGINAL AND EXTENDED WARRANTY CONTRACT).WALLACE GAVE US A RENTAL CAR AND SAID THEY WOULD CHECK IT OUT.THE NEXT DAY WALLACE SERVICE MGR.(RUSS ELLIS)REPORTED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR EXCEPT FOR THE UNEXPLAINED DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG.SINCE THE WARRANTY WAS WITH FORD,A FORD ENGINEER HAD TO COME TO INSPECT THE CAR.FINALLY ON OCT. 20 HE CAME AND REPORTED A SMALL DENT ON THE CAR UNDERSIDE WAS THE RESULT OF RUNNING OVER SOMETHING WHICH CAUSED THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG.WALLACE THEREFORE STATED THEY WOULD NOT COVER REPAIRS BECAUSE OF FORD REPORT.WE VISITED WALLACE TO INSPECT "DENT",AND COULD NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS COULD RESULT IN DEPLOYMENT.COMPLAINED TO GM AND SERVICE ADVISOR WHO EXPRESSED SYMPATHY AND AGREED TO CONTACT FORD UPPER-LEVEL.NO REPLY AS YET,BUT WE BELIEVE IT WILL BE NEGATIVE.THIS IS CERTAINLY A SAFETY PROBLEM-DEPLOYMENT OF SIDE AIRBAGS WITHOUT A SIDE IMPACT IS DANGEROUS.UNDER CAR IMPACTS COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS-EVEN DEATHS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10096396

35,424 miles · Mar 14, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury

FRONTAL COLLISION 50MPH, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON MY 2002 LINCOLN TOWNCAR. MY INSURANCE CO. SAID CAR IS TOTAL LOSS ACCIDENT & NOT REPAIRABLE, WHEN I CONTACTED TO MY LOCAL FORD/LINCOLN DEALER & THE COMPANY ITSELF, I ASK MY CAR IS TOTAL LOSS & NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, THEY SAID SOMEONE WILL GET BACK TO YOU SOON, AFTE…

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FRONTAL COLLISION 50MPH, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON MY 2002 LINCOLN TOWNCAR. MY INSURANCE CO. SAID CAR IS TOTAL LOSS ACCIDENT & NOT REPAIRABLE, WHEN I CONTACTED TO MY LOCAL FORD/LINCOLN DEALER & THE COMPANY ITSELF, I ASK MY CAR IS TOTAL LOSS & NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, THEY SAID SOMEONE WILL GET BACK TO YOU SOON, AFTER 6 MONTHS NO ONE GET BACK TO ME, BUT INSURANCE CO PAID THE CAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10062157

70,000 miles · Sep 26, 2003
Air Bags

DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED WITHOUT VEHICLE BEING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10040707

6,295 miles · Aug 15, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. THE FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND AS A RESULT THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A PAINFUL BRUISE OVER THE LEFT ANTERIOR RIB CAGE. THERE WAS SUFFICIENT FRONTAL IMPACT BUT THE DRIVER BELIEVES THE AIR BAG FAILURE MAY BE DUE TO THE POSITIONING OF THE AIR BAG SEN…

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WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. THE FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND AS A RESULT THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A PAINFUL BRUISE OVER THE LEFT ANTERIOR RIB CAGE. THERE WAS SUFFICIENT FRONTAL IMPACT BUT THE DRIVER BELIEVES THE AIR BAG FAILURE MAY BE DUE TO THE POSITIONING OF THE AIR BAG SENSOR. *AK *SCC *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10024817

22,000 miles · Dec 18, 2002
Air Bags

WHILE DRIVING THE PASSENGER SIDE, SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT VEHICLE BEING IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS *DT

NHTSA ODI #10001156

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury

IN A FRONTAL COLLISON, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON IMPACT. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT FORD DID SEND SOMEONE TO CHECK OUT THE SYSTEM, AND THEY SAID THAT ALL THE SENSORS WERE WORKING. THERE'S OVER $10K WORTH OF DAMAGE IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE SAID IT WAS NOT HIT WITHIN 27 PERCENT RADIUS OF…

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IN A FRONTAL COLLISON, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON IMPACT. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT FORD DID SEND SOMEONE TO CHECK OUT THE SYSTEM, AND THEY SAID THAT ALL THE SENSORS WERE WORKING. THERE'S OVER $10K WORTH OF DAMAGE IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE SAID IT WAS NOT HIT WITHIN 27 PERCENT RADIUS OF THE CENTER. BUT WITH THE IMPACT, THEY SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. *SCC

NHTSA ODI #8016974

Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 2002
Air BagsCrash

WHILE DRIVING 30MPH INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8014480

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

3

DP05005 · Spark Plug Ejection From Cylinder Head

Opened Sep 22, 2005 · Closed Jan 4, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline

ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VERY FEW INCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE.IN ONE INCIDENT, THE COMPLAINT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF FUEL LEAK OR FIRE.IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT WHERE A FIRE WAS ALLEGED, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT NO FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED, BUT THAT A FIRE RESULTED AFTER THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND HE HAD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HOOD.(6) ONLY TWO COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOME DROPS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE CYLINDER WHERE THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED OR ON THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF; HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FLAMES AS A RESULT OF HIS INCIDENT.AS THE PETITIONER NOTED, AND ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VERY FEW INCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE.IN ONE INCIDENT, THE COMPLAINT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF FUEL LEAK OR FIRE.IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT WHERE A FIRE WAS ALLEGED, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT NO FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED, BUT THAT A FIRE RESULTED AFTER THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND HE HAD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HOOD.(6) ONLY TWO COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOME DROPS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE CYLINDER WHERE THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED OR ON THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF; HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FLAMES AS A RESULT OF HIS INCIDENT.AS THE PETITIONER NOTED, AND ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline

ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VERY FEW INCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE.IN ONE INCIDENT, THE COMPLAINT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF FUEL LEAK OR FIRE.IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT WHERE A FIRE WAS ALLEGED, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT NO FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED, BUT THAT A FIRE RESULTED AFTER THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND HE HAD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HOOD.(6) ONLY TWO COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOME DROPS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE CYLINDER WHERE THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED OR ON THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF; HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FLAMES AS A RESULT OF HIS INCIDENT.AS THE PETITIONER NOTED, AND ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.

Engine And Engine Cooling

ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VERY FEW INCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE.IN ONE INCIDENT, THE COMPLAINT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF FUEL LEAK OR FIRE.IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT WHERE A FIRE WAS ALLEGED, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT NO FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED, BUT THAT A FIRE RESULTED AFTER THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND HE HAD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HOOD.(6) ONLY TWO COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOME DROPS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE CYLINDER WHERE THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED OR ON THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF; HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FLAMES AS A RESULT OF HIS INCIDENT.AS THE PETITIONER NOTED, AND ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.

EA03014 · Inadvertent Side Air Bag Deployment

Opened Aug 22, 2003 · Closed Aug 12, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window

THIS INVESTIGATION IDENTIFIED A TOTAL OF 182 REPORTS ALLEGING INADVERTENT OR NON-CRASH DEPLOYMENT OF THE SIDE AIR BAGS.THE DATA EXAMINED DURING THE INVESTIGATION SUGGEST THAT THE SIDE AIR BAG CRASH SENSING SYSTEM'S ALGORITHM MAY RECOGNIZE CERTAIN NON-CRASH INCIDENTS AS DEPLOYABLE EVENTS.ODI HAS NOT, HOWEVER, IDENTIFIED ANY FAILED COMPONENT THAT RELATES TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ALSO, ODI HAS NOT IDENTIFIED ANY TREND IN THE MANUFACTURE DATES OF COMPLAINT VEHICLES THAT MAY INDICATE A COMPONENT OR VEHICLE-MANUFACTURING PROBLEM.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE ATTACHED SUMMARY REPORT.

PE03011 · Inadvertent Side Air Bag Deployment

Opened Mar 14, 2003 · Closed Aug 22, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window

ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 173 COMPLAINTS ALLEGING INADVERTENT OR NON-CRASH DEPLOYMENT OF SIDE AIR BAGS ON MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999-2003 LINCOLN TOWN CARS.MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT ONE OF THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY IMPACT.ANALYSIS SHOWED THAT MY 2001 THROUGH EARLY MY 2003 TOWN CARS HAVE MUCH HIGHER COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIM RATES (138 COMPLAINTS AND 120 WARRANTY CLAIMS) THAN THE REMAINING VEHICLES (35 COMPLAINTS AND 32 WARRANTY CLAIMS).FORD CHANGED ITS SUPPLIER OF THE SIDE CRASH SENSORS FOR THE MY 2001 TOWN CARS.FORD STATES THAT THE ALGORITHM IN THE MY 2001 TOWN CARS IS DIFFERENT FROM THE PREVIOUS MODEL YEAR'S DESIGN, AND THAT IT IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE IMPROVED OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN MODERATE SPEED SIDE POLE IMPACTS.IN DECEMBER 2002 (I.E., EARLY MY 2003 VEHICLE PRODUCTION), THE CRASH SENSORS WERE MOVED FROM THE FLOOR OF VEHICLE TO NEAR THE BASE OF B-PILLARS IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE INCIDENTS OF INADVERTENT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS.THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA03-014) FOR MY 2001-2003 TOWN CARS BUILT BEFORE DECEMBER 2002.