1996 Lincoln Town CAR engine problems

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I'VE OWNED A 96 LINCOLN TOWN CAR FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS NOW AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED RECENTLY WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THAT CAUSE I'VE JUST RECENTLY HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL AND I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT CONSTANTLY HAPPENING, IS THERE ANY THING I CAN DO.

NHTSA complaint #10393892 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

MY VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING OUT OF THE EXHAUST. ANTI FREEZE LOSS AND SMOKE, ANYTIME IT IS RUNNING. CAR HAS BEEN IN A GARAGE, AWAITING NEW, IMPROVED INTAKE MANIFOLD TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE ORIGINAL ONE. I HAVE PURCHASED THE PARTS. HAS NOT BEEN INSTALLED YET; BIG JOB, I AM TOLD BY DEALER. FORD APPARENTLY ADMITTED ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE PART IN COURT.

NHTSA complaint #10264431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

SMALL PIECE OF PLASTIC FROM INTAKE WENT INTO THE CYLINDER #4 AND RAPPED AROUND ONE OF THE VALUES CAUSING THIS VALUE TO STAY OPEN SO CYLINDER #4 HAS NO COMPRESSION.

NHTSA complaint #10226954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE TIE ROD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND HE STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURS FREQUENTLY FOR THAT YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO LUBRICATION IN THE ZERKS ON THE TIE RODS FOR THAT YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING $229 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND ALL OF THE WATER LEFT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING $900 FOR THAT REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 02/15/08.

NHTSA complaint #10217173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, SHE SMELLED STEAM COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 114,000. UPDATED 01-29-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS OF PLASTIC. UPDATED

NHTSA complaint #10213411 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT NOTICED ANTI-FREEZE LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MANIFOLD INTAKE FAILED AND THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE SILENT RECALL ON THE MANIFOLD INTAKE WAS NOT HONORED BECAUSE IT EXPIRED IN 2006. UPDATED 12/12/07.

NHTSA complaint #10202534 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE CRUISE CONTROL. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP OR MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE ON FOUR OR FIVE OCCASIONS, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE DEALER ALSO DROVE THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRESENT AND THE FAILURE PERSISTED INTERMITTENTLY. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

NHTSA complaint #10202395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED ANTIFREEZE ON THE ENGINE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THEY MADE THE REPLACEMENT. THERE HAD BEEN NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,895 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,082.

NHTSA complaint #10202045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

MANIFOLD DEVELOPED 4" CRACK WHILE ON MASS PIKE. LOST COOLANT IN SHORT TIME AND OVERHEATED. REMOVED ALTERNATOR AFTER COOL DOWN AND COVERED WITH DUCT TAPE AND FILLED WITH WATER. MADE 3 MORE FILL STOPS ON RIDE HOME WITHOUT OVERHEAT (80MI). REPLACED MANIFOLD, BUT STARTED USING ANTI-FREEZE. REPLACED ENGINE A MONTH LATER.

NHTSA complaint #10199449 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD.

NHTSA complaint #10199322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD.

NHTSA complaint #10198545 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED ON 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WITH 4.6L ENGINE AT APPROXIMATELY 101,000 MILES. ANTI-FREEZE LEAKED OVER ENGINE AND INTERIOR HAD TOXIC SMELL. MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED THIS ($900) INDICATED THAT THIS WAS VERY COMMON AND A DEFAULT IN THE DESIGN BY THE MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA complaint #10173940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED ON 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WITH 4.6L ENGINE AT APPROXIMATELY 102,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10165255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

1996 LINCOLN TOWNCAR DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *KB THE ENGINE OVERHEATED.

NHTSA complaint #10164771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

ON 3/20/04, I NOTICED AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF AN ENGINE FLUID DRIPPING FROM MY 1996 TOWN CAR AS I BACKED OUT OF MY GARAGE, SO I TOOK IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP THAT HAS DONE THE MAJORITY OF THE MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE. THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY TOLD ME THAT "THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM" WITH THIS ENGINE AND THAT THEY HAD REPAIRED QUITE A LOT OF THEM.

NHTSA complaint #10161310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

I WOULD LIKE TO INFORM YOU ABOUT A SAFETY PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN LINCOLN TOWN CAR MODELS. I AM THE OWNER OF A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR (SIGNATURE SERIES). ON JUNE 16, 2006, WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING ON, I SAW SMOKE POURING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND ANTIFREEZE LEAKING FROM UNDER THE CAR. AFTER OPENING THE HOOD I SAW ANTIFREEZE ALL OVER THE ENGINE BLOCK. I MANAGED TO DRIVE THE CAR TO A NEARBY JIFFY LUBE. THE TECHNICIAN THERE COULD NOT FIND ANY LEAKS IN THE HOSES OR THE RADIATOR. AFTER ALLOWING THE CAR TO COOL FOR ABOUT THIRTY MINUTES, THE TECHNICIAN FILLED THE RADIATOR WITH A 50-50 ANTIFREEZE-WATER MIXTURE. I STARTED DRIVING HOME, ABOUT FIVE MILES AWAY. BEFORE I ARRIVED, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE REACHED THE MAXIMUM POINT, AND THE HIGH-TEMPERATURE ALARM SOUNDED. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE CAR AND OPENED THE HOOD. AGAIN, I SAW ANTIFREEZE ALL OVER THE ENGINE. WHEN THE CAR HAD COOLED, I CHECKED THE COOLANT LEVEL: IT WAS COMPLETELY DRY! I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE, WHERE THE MECHANIC FOUND A TWO-INCH CRACK AT THE REAR OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD! THIS MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF FORD VEHICLES HAD EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH INTAKE MANIFOLDS, WHICH WERE FABRICATED FROM PLASTIC, RATHER THAN METAL. HE SAID THAT DOZENS OF NORTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY PATROL CARS (CROWN VICTORIAS EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME 4.6-LITER ENGINE THAT'S IN MY LINCOLN) HAD BEEN RECALLED BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLDS. THIS KIND OF PROBLEM WARRANTS A SAFETY RECALL. IMAGINE WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF A CAR BEING DRIVEN ON AN INTERSTATE WERE TO SUDDENLY LOSE ALL OF ITS COOLANT FROM A LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD! IN VIEW OF THE SAFETY HAZARDS A LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD CAN (AND DOES) CREATE, I BELIEVE THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COSTS I INCURRED FOR A NEW MANIFOLD AND THE LABOR TO INSTALL IT. (I KEPT THE DEFECTIVE MANIFOLD, IN CASE YOU WANT TO INSPECT IT.)

NHTSA complaint #10160878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AT 60 MPH STEAM CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED, WAS PULLED OVER, AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10159107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DESCENDING A MOUNTAIN AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, STEAM WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED. THE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. THE CONTACT FELT THAT IT WASN'T RIGHT THAT FORD KNOWING ABOUT A SERIOUS FLAW IN AN ENGINE COMPONENT, SUCH AS FUEL/AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD, SHOULD CONTINUE PRODUCING THESE FLAWED COMPONENTS AND NOT HAVE TO ISSUE A RECALL. FOR FORD TO PAY ONLY FOR THESE COMPONENT FAILURES FOR THE FIRST SEVEN YEARS AFTER ORIGINAL PURCHASE IS UNFAIR TO MANY OWNERS OF LINCOLN/ MERCURY VEHICLES.

NHTSA complaint #10152026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE WAS LEAKING RADIATOR FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY FOUND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND IT WAS REPLACED. *AK UPDATED 1/4/2006 -

NHTSA complaint #10142906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

MELTED INTAKE MANIFOLD.

NHTSA complaint #10142262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

I'VE JUST BEEN NOTIFIED BY MY FATHER THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKS ARE GOING TO BE TAKEN CARE OF BY FORD MOTOR CO. BY MEANS OF A FREE INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACEMENT. PLEASE TELL ME HOW I NEED TO PROCEED TO GET THIS DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS MY 1996 LINCOLN TOWNCAR IS DEFINITELY LOSING WATER THROUGH THAT PORT. THANKS VERY MUCH.

NHTSA complaint #10137491 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

PLASTIC MANIFOLD CRACK, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM BLEW UP ON A BUSY PARKWAY. SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR THIS BIG ENGINEERING PROBLEM ON IT CARS. I BROUGHT THIS CAR NEW AND TO GET IT FIXED IT CAUSE A LOT OF MONEY . WAS NEVER NOTIFY OF THIS CONDITION .

NHTSA complaint #10134763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I OWN A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR V-8 4.6 ENGINE, WHICH HAS A PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD, TERRIBLE MISTAKE BY FORD ENGINEERS, I MADE A TEMPORARY REPAIR TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE MIDDLE OF NO WERE, IT WORKED UNTIL I INSTALL THE THERMOSTAT AGAIN TO MAKE THE SMOG INSPECTION TO THE CAR, THE MANIFOLD CRACK AGAIN, LEAKING THE ANTI-FREEZE, I GET THIS CAR FROM A USED CAR LOT DEALER, IT ONLY HAS AROUND 85,000 MILES, I CHECK THAT THERE IS A RECALL IN THIS FAILURE FOR THE KIND OF ENGINE, BUT NOT EVERY OWNER QUALIFIES FOR THE REPAIR, WHY? I ALL READY RUN MY VIN NUMBER IN THE FORD WEBSITE AND DO NOT SHOW ANYTHING. FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS LIABLE FOR THIS ENGINEERING MISTAKE, EVERY BODY IN THIS WORLD THAT IS MECHANIC ORIENTED KNOWS THAT PLASTIC DO NOT HOLD FOR TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE. MY CAR VIN [XXX]. THIS IS A EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND THIS IS NOT PART OF NORMAL WEAR OR MISSED USE, SO I, IN USE OF A TORT LAW, AWARD THE SAME OF OTHERS IN SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES, I WANT TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #10128396 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

WHILE ACCELERATING THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATES THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND STALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #10109690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

DEFECTIVE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD-FORD REFUSED TO REPLACE ON 1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS AND 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. *BF FORD AND MERCURY REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE BEGAN TO RUN HOT AND WHITE SMOKE POURED OUT OF THE HOODS OF BOTH VEHICLES EMITTING THE SMELL OF THE ENGINE COOLANT.

NHTSA complaint #10103335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP FOR LEAKING COOLANT OUT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, AND A FEW WEEKS LATER IT WAS STILL LEAKING COOLANT. ONCE AGAIN IT WAS TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED GASKETS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. LEAK STILL EXIST. FORD WILL NOT PAY FOR REPAIRS BECAUSE WARRANTY EXPIRED.

NHTSA complaint #10101897 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD "BLEW" WHILE CHECKING ENGINE RPM , RESULTING IN LOSS OF COOLANT AND ENGINE FAILURE. FURTHER STATED THAT HIS FACILITY HAD REPLACED 30 DEFECTIVE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS SO FAR THIS YEAR , 16 SINCE APRIL. HE INDICATED THAT FORD MOTOR WILL REPLACE AT NO COST TO TAXICAB , POLICE,AND FORD THUNDERBIRD OWNERS , BUT NOT TO INDIVIDUAL OUT OF WARRANTY OWNERS. COST TO REPLACE BY THE DEALERS BOOK INCLUDING LABOR $1241.00 DESIGN DEFECT : INTAKE MANIFOLD IN REPLACEMENT PART CHANGES THE FRONT COOLANT TRANSFER SECTION WITH METAL SECTION INSTEAD OF PLASTIC. REAR SECTION THAT TRANSFERS COOLANT ALSO IS NOT CHANGED ,REMAINS PLASTIC. WHEN IS PROJECTED FAILURE OF REAR PLASTIC COOLANT PART AS THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAD 59,126 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. ? I HAVE RETAINED THE DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND HAVE DOCUMENTED WITH PHOTO GRAPHS THE DEFECTIVE SECTION WITH REPLACEMENT PART LABELS.

NHTSA complaint #10098365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

9/12/04 CRACKED "COOLANT CROSSOVER PASSAGE" OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD DRAINED ALL COOLANT FROM MY 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR, ON TO THE GARAGE FLOOR, WHILE SMOKING AND SMELLING. I WAS TOLD THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE 1996, FORD/LINCOLN HAS REPLACED THIS PART IN , CRUISERS, FLEET CAR, RENTALS ETC, WHAT ABOUT THE CONSUMER IN GENERAL. PLEASE SEE 97M91 RECALL BULLLETIN FOR FURTHER INFO.ALSO TSB 02-2-2 FEB 02 INTAKE MANIFOLD-CROSS OVER CHANNEL COOLANT SEEPAGE. I HAD TO HAVE THIS REPAIR DONE TO MY 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR MILEAGE OF 74675. THE COST WAS $535.00. THE MECHANIC AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THIS WAS AN ON GOING AND VERY PREVALENT PROBLEM. THEY HAVE DONE ALOT OF THESE REPLACEMENTS. THE NEW PART IS MADE OUT OF METAL, ?ALUMINUM OR STEEL.I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS MY PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT I HAVE BEEN TOTALLY IGNORED AND BASICALLY BLOWN OFF BY FORD MOTOR CO. THEY DEFINATELY ARE NOT VERY CUSTOMER ORIENTED AS FAS I AM CONCERNED. I AM A WIDOW, AND THEREFOR HAVE NO OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION, THIS WAS DEFINATELY A VERY COSTLY AND TOTALLY PREVENTABLE OCCURRENCE. I HAVE RETAINED THE DEFECTIVE PART.

NHTSA complaint #10091181 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.