2000 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL Suspension Problems

A NEIGHBOR POINTED OUT THAT THE AUTOMOBILE WAS SITTING SEVERAL INCHES LOWER THAN NORMAL CLOSER TO GROUND WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. I BEGAN TO CHECK ON THIS EVERY TIME I WENT TO USE THE CAR. SOMETIMES VEHICLE WAS NORMAL HEIGHT, SOMETIMES LOWER. I NOTICED THAT, SOMETIMES, WHEN I TURNED THE IGNITION KEY THERE WAS SOUND HEARD LIKE A FAN OPERATING. I ASKED QUESTIONS OF PEOPLE WHO HAD OWNED SIMILAR MODELS AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL SHOWING UP 4 TO 8 YEARS AFTER MANUFACTURE. THIS MODEL HAS A RIDE CONTROL WHICH INVOLVES THREE "RIDE CONTROL" SETTINGS. AS CARS AGE THERE ARE AIR BAGS UNDER THE CAR WHICH CONTROL THE FEEL OF CAR (PLUSH, NORMAL, FIRM) AND THEY ADJUST ACCORDINGLY. BEFORE I START THE CAR, IF IT SITS LOW, TURNING THE IGNITION KEY CAUSES THE RIDE MECHANISM TO RAISE THE CAR FRAME A FEW INCHES ABOVE...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING NOISE. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND HAD PUNCTURED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE ON IT,S OWN AND WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THEY WOULDN'T WORK. I HAD TO GET OFF THE NEXT EXIT BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT ANYONE TO GET IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE IT WENT ALL THE WAY UP TO 90 MPH.ONCE I GOT OFF IT STILL WAS ACCELERATING SO I DROVE UP ON THE SIDEWALK TO KEEP FROM HITTING TRAFFIC AT THE LIGHT AND GOT INTO THE GRASS AND IT STILL WAS GOING FAST AND THE BRAKES STILL NOT WORKING I PRAYED AND PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL OR I WOULD HAVE WENT RIGHT BACK INTO THE TRAFFIC. ONCE I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL IT STOPPED AND THEN I PUT IT IN PARK AND TURNED IT OFF. I THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AND IT WAS IDLING SO HIGH AND LOUD I TURNED IT BACK OFF AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK....

WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME HARD, AND CONSEQUENTLY THE CONSUMER HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. *JB THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT WHICH HAPPENED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE ENGINE HAD RUN ROUGH, THE DRIVER WINDOW HAS BECOME INOPERATIVE, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS LEFT TOO MANY STREAKS, THE LEFT REAR WINDOW HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE, THE REAR BRAKES WOULD GRIND WHEN APPLIED AT 50 MPH, THE STEERING FELT LOOSE AT 30 MPH AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO CONSTANTLY ADJUST, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK AT TIMES(2 ACCIDENTS OCCURRED AS A RESULT), AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. *SCC

THE MOON ROOF WAS REPLACED BECAUSE THE MOTOR DID NOT WORK, THE AIR BAGS WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER, THE HORN DID NOT WORK, THERE WAS A CHIMING NOISE EVERY 30 MINUTES, AND ALSO THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED TWICE, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WAS OFF TRACK, THE SPEAKERS DID NOT WORK, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED WHEN A STOP WAS MADE. *AK *JB