1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
395
Owner Complaints
8
Recalls
7
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR
The 1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR has received a total of 395 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 8 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with STEERING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. 7 technical service bulletins have been issued by Ford Motor Company for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systemmanifoldheadermufflertail Pipe (39 complaints), Vehicle Speed Control (33 complaints), and Suspensionfrontcontrol Armlower Ball Joint (23 complaints).
Recalls for the 1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR
NHTSA has recorded 8 recalls for the 1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR, potentially affecting up to 3,948,458 vehicles.
Recall 15E082000 — STEERING
| 1,767 vehicles affected
Defect: Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain model Dorman Steering Shafts, part number 425-359, Solutions Steering Shafts, part number 7-0359, and OE Solutions Steering Shafts, part number 425-359, manufactured April 17, 2014, to September 28, 2015. These aftermarket replacement steering shafts are sold for use in 1995-2002 Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Car vehicles. These steering...
Consequence: If the shafts separate during vehicle operation, a loss of steering control would result, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Dorman will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering shaft, free of charge. The recall began on October 28, 2015. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492, option 5.
View full details →Recall 07V336000 — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
| 3,600,000 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON...
View full details →Recall 01V318000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
| 911 vehicles affected
Defect: EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MODULE REPLACED AFTER APRIL 5, 2000. THE REPLACEMENT DRIVER'S AIR BAG MODULE INFLATOR MAY HAVE INSUFFICIENT WELDS THAT COULD PREVENT PROPER INFLATION OF THE AIR BAG.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MAY NOT PROPERLY DEPLOY WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN LESS THAN THE INTENDED LEVEL OF OCCUPANT PROTECTION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 5, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY...
View full details →Recall 00V157001 — SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
| 1,167 vehicles affected
Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES USING AFTERMARKET DRIVER'S SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES THAT WERE SOLD BY FORD PARTS DEPARTMENTS FROM JANUARY 1, THROUGH JUNE 13, 2000. THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." THE EQUIPMENT INVOLVED IS SERVICE STOCK SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES, MODEL NOS. H 9977, H 9979, T 9063, AND T...
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THESE SEAT BELTS MAY NOT RESTRAIN AN OCCUPANT INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES AND REPLACE THE SERVICE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES THAT WERE INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES FROM JANUARY 1 THROUGH JUNE 13, 2000.
View full details →Recall 00V157002 — SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
| 1,129 vehicles affected
Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES USING AFTERMARKET FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES THAT WERE SOLD BY FORD PARTS DEPARTMENTS FROM JANUARY 1, THROUGH JUNE 13, 2000. THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." THE EQUIPMENT INVOLVED IS SERVICE STOCK SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES, MODEL NOS. H 9977, H 9979, T 9063,...
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THESE SEAT BELTS MAY NOT RESTRAIN AN OCCUPANT INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES AND REPLACE THE SERVICE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES THAT WERE INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES FROM JANUARY 1 THROUGH JUNE 13, 2000.
View full details →Recall 98V322000 — SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
| 175,000 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
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).
View full details →Recall 98I001000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
| 167,742 vehicles affected
Defect: THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATION 573. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. FORD IS INITIATING AN OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR OWNERS OF CERTAIN 1995-1997 CROWN VICTORIA MODEL VEHICLES WITH POLICE, TAXI, AND COMMERCIAL FLEET PACKAGES AND TOWN CAR VEHICLES WITH THE LIVERY PACKAGE. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE...
Consequence: THIS COULD LEAD TO BRAKE FLUID LOSS FOR THE REAR BRAKES AND, POTENTIALLY, INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE LINES FOR WEAR, INSTALL TWO NEW TUBE BUNDLE CLIPS, AND CHECK THE BRAKE LINES FOR PROPER CLEARANCES. IF THE BRAKE LINES ARE WORN, THE DAMAGED SECTION OF THE BRAKE LINE WILL BE REPLACED.
View full details →Recall 96V231000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
| 742 vehicles affected
Defect: TWO BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE DRIVER AIR BAG TO THE STEERING WHEEL WERE NOT INSTALLED DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL COLLISION, THE AIR BAG MODULE WOULD STAY IN POSITION DURING DEPLOYMENT. HOWEVER, THE MODULE COULD LEAVE THE STEERING WHEEL CAVITY FOLLOWING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES AND INSTALL ANY BOLTS THAT ARE MISSING.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR
395 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
This has happened to me 3 times in the past 3 months. While driving interstate highway at night and traveling 65 to 70 miles per hr., without any warning or symptoms, the headlights turn off. They then turn on and off a few times and then seem to correct themselves and stay on. This happens on trips after 1 hour or more. Has never occurred on shorter trips under 1 hour. Very dangerous and scary when it is so dark you can't see to pull over off the highway and also worried about vehicles approaching from behind not being able to see you in time. I replaced the headlight switch last week thinking that was the problem, but it happened again last night on my trip back from N.Y.
The contact owns a 1997 Lincoln Town Car. The contact stated while driving at 40 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the front passenger side of the vehicle. The vehicle that crashed into the contact was driving at approximately 55 MPH. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no injuries reported. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The contact had a second accident, and the air bags did not deploy during that incident. The dealer stated that the air bags could not be replaced because the vehicle was an older model, and the VIN was not under a recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 154,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE STEERING ABILITY BECAME LOOSE AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BY THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE REPAIRED THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY WITH AFTERMARKET PARTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING AT 30 MPH, STEAM EMITTED FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN AFTER MARKET INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
View all Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systemmanifoldheadermufflertail Pipe complaints →
Safety Rating for the 1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR
Ford Motor Company has issued 7 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
03245 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) P0420 AND/OR P0430. *TT
6728 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A BANG POPPING NOISE HEARD FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM DURING COOL-DOWN. *TT
12226 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FOR ALL VEHICLES WITH REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY CONCERNS THAT REQUIRE A MODULE AND / OR TRANSMITTER (KEYFOB) REPLACEMENT, THE TECHNICIAN MUST CALL FOR APPROVAL BEFORE REMOVING AND / OR REPLACING THE MODULE OR KEYFOB. *TT
9846 — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SOME VEHICLES MAY STALL WHEN DECELERATING OR WHEN TURNING WITH NO DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES ( DTCS) STORED IN CONTINUOUS MEMORY. *YC
983107 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
BRIEF INFORMATION REGARDING ENGINES BEING ADDED TO THE FQR (FORD QUALITY RENEWAL) ASSEMBLY PROGRAM. *TT
97090297185 — STEERING
A VIBRATION/"BUZZING" NOISE MAY BE HEARD OR FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL ON RIGHT TURNS. *YC
BC3091970225 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
INSTRUCTIONS FOR DIAGNOSING DTC P0446. *TW
NHTSA Investigations for the 1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the LINCOLN TOWN CAR
- 1992 LINCOLN TOWN CAR — 312 complaints
- 1993 LINCOLN TOWN CAR — 226 complaints
- 1994 LINCOLN TOWN CAR — 212 complaints
- 1995 LINCOLN TOWN CAR — 241 complaints
- 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR — 316 complaints
- 1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR (current)
- 1998 LINCOLN TOWN CAR — 194 complaints
- 1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR — 203 complaints
- 2000 LINCOLN TOWN CAR — 147 complaints
- 2001 LINCOLN TOWN CAR — 207 complaints
- 2002 LINCOLN TOWN CAR — 70 complaints
Other LINCOLN Models
- LINCOLN CONTINENTAL — 2,542 total complaints
- LINCOLN MKZ — 1,957 total complaints
- LINCOLN NAVIGATOR — 1,711 total complaints
- LINCOLN MKX — 1,702 total complaints
- LINCOLN LS — 1,366 total complaints
- LINCOLN MARK VIII — 984 total complaints
- LINCOLN AVIATOR — 650 total complaints
- LINCOLN MKC — 644 total complaints