1997 Lincoln Town Car problems
Owners have filed 395 complaints about the 1997 Lincoln Town Car with NHTSA. Engine and engine cooling accounts for 23.5% of them — the clear leader, ahead of suspension at 14.9%.
Complaints395
Crashes14
Fires6
Injuries14
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Engine and engine cooling 23.5% · 93
Suspension 14.9% · 59
Vehicle speed control 11.1% · 44
Service brakes, hydraulic 10.9% · 43
Steering 5.6% · 22
Exterior lighting 5.6% · 22
Fuel system, gasoline 4.6% · 18
Visibility 4.3% · 17
Severity
Of those complaints, 14 describe a crash, 6 describe a fire and 14 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 16 model years of the Lincoln Town Car in this data, 1997 draws the most complaints of any of them.
Filings have fallen off, 5 in the last three years against 10 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 91,000 miles.
In owners' own words
The contact owns a 1997 Lincoln Town Car. While driving 10 mph, the vehicle stalled when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The power brakes and steering lost power and the check engine warning indicator light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The dealer stated that the intake manifold had a leak. The vin was unknown. The failure mileage was 80,000 and current mileage was 130,000. Engine and engine cooling · reported at 80,000 miles
At 65-70 mph steam came from under the hood, enough to fog up the windshield. Dealer determined that plastic manifold had cracked, flooding engine with coolant.*Ak consumer feels that Lincoln knew of a problem with the original manifold because when the manifold was replaced, it was replaced with an aluminum made manifold. Consumer has the original molding in possession available for inspection. Engine and engine cooling
Ltr fm w.O. Rosendahl (TX) re defective manifold for a 1997 Lincoln Town Car, wants ford to replace the manifold even though his vehicle was not part of ford's voluntary replacement program, reply attn. James aldredge@the austin, tx ofc. *Ph while driving, the engine lost coolant, the vehicle was towed to a ford dealership and the consumer was informed the vehicle had a cracked intake manifold. Engine and engine cooling
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…