FaultScore

1998 Lincoln Town CAR suspension problems

21 of the 194 complaints about the 1998 Lincoln Town CAR are about the suspension — 11% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 110,000 miles.

B

21

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Lower Ball Joint 7 33.3%
Front 4 19.0%
Suspension 3 14.3%
Control ARM 2 9.5%
Shock Absorber 2 9.5%
Upper Ball Joint 2 9.5%
Wheel Bearing 1 4.8%

Suspension across every Lincoln Town CAR year

1992 12 4.0%
1993 12 4.0%
1994 15 5.0%
1995 26 8.6%
1996 30 9.9%
1997 59 19.5%
1998 21 6.9%
1999 24 7.9%
2000 10 3.3%
2001 11 3.6%
2003 83 27.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 110,000 miles Victoria, TX

SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE COMPLETING A TURN, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROL ARM FAILED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V322000 (SUSPENSION: LOWER BALL JOINT), BUT THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA complaint #10509556 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 168,000 miles Lula, GA

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 1998 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARS A SQUEAKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DUST COVER ON THE LOWER BALL JOINT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WAS WORN, AND THE BALL JOINT WAS CRACKED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V322000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000. UPDATED 10/14/08. *LJ UPDATED 10/16/08.

NHTSA complaint #10242276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Youngstown, NY

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

1998 LINCOLN TOWN CAR MADE A GRINDING SOUND UNDERNEATH. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALER. HE STATED THAT HE SAW A FRONT BALL JOINT DRAGGING ON THE GROUND. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE BALL JOINTS DID NOT HAVE ANY GREASE FITTINGS. THE CONSUMER HAD ALL OF THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED A RECALL REGARDING THE BALL JOINTS. HOWEVER, NO ONE INFORMED HIM THERE WAS A PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10213910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Youngstown, NY

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT

1998 LINCOLN TOWN CAR MADE A GRINDING SOUND UNDERNEATH. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALER. HE STATED THAT HE SAW A FRONT BALL JOINT DRAGGING ON THE GROUND. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE BALL JOINTS DID NOT HAVE ANY GREASE FITTINGS. THE CONSUMER HAD ALL OF THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED A RECALL REGARDING THE BALL JOINTS. HOWEVER, NO ONE INFORMED HIM THERE WAS A PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10213910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Winston-Salem, NC

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE ACCELERATING AT 15 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM DETACHED FROM THE BALL JOINT. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BALL JOINT. THE DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT FAILED SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,447 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA complaint #10203358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 139,871 miles Burley, ID

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A SQUEEKING SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL. THE CONTACT TREATED THE WHEEL WITH WD-40 AND THE SOUND WENT AWAY. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH IN A PARKING LOT, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD FAILED AND WERE REPLACED AS WELL AS STEERING GEAR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED. UPDATED 12/18/06.

NHTSA complaint #10172954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 139,871 miles Burley, ID

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A SQUEEKING SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL. THE CONTACT TREATED THE WHEEL WITH WD-40 AND THE SOUND WENT AWAY. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH IN A PARKING LOT, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD FAILED AND WERE REPLACED AS WELL AS STEERING GEAR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED. UPDATED 12/18/06.

NHTSA complaint #10172954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 173,000 miles Westfield, NJ

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE DOES NOT REACT CORRECTLY WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. THERE WAS A RECALL, #98V322000, CONCERNING THE LOWER BALL JOINT. THE RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED PRIOR TO PURCHASE, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A MECHANIC.

NHTSA complaint #10151976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 58,478 miles Scottville, MI Crash

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE BALL JOINT SNAPPED. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO GO INTO A DITCH, WHICH AVOIDED A SEVERE COLLISION. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, WHO DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10056121 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 397,000 miles Mchenry, IL

SUSPENSION

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A SNAPPING SOUND, AND FELT THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE SWAY FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER. AFTER A THOROUGH INSPECTION IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE TRAILER ARM BRACKETS BROKE. THIS TRAILER ARM BREAKING HAD A LOT TO DO WITH THE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10048325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 45,000 miles Aberdeen, MD

SUSPENSION

WHILE PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AT 2-3 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE, STOPPED VEHICLE, AND NOTICED TIE ROD END WERE DRAGGING ON THE GROUND ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE. DEALER STATED TIE RODS HAD DISCONNECTED. ALSO, THE BALL JOINTS WERE NOT LUBRICATED AND RUSTED. BOTH TIE RODS WERE REPLACED.*AK *JB *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10041826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 23,000 miles Lake George, NY

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

WHEN BRAKING , THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD PULL HARD TO THE RIGHT. THIS MADE IT HARD FOR THE DRIVER TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE WARPED. *PH ALSO THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE DEALER FOUND THE EVAP CANISTER SOLENOID VALVE LEAKING.

NHTSA complaint #10038255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 84,000 miles Naples, FL

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HEARD THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE SQUEAKING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FRONT CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB *TS

NHTSA complaint #10019433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lawon, OK

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE AND HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD VEHICLE HITS BUMP VERY HARD. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT SHOCK ABSORBERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8002820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fort Meyer, FL

SUSPENSION:FRONT

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE WANDERING ACROSS ROAD, AND IT BECAME MORE SEVERE AT 70 MPH OR MORE. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. *AK THE LIGHTS AIMED TOO HIGH DIE TO HEAD LAMPS MISALIGNMENT.

NHTSA complaint #878806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

South Holland, IL

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM

LOWER CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT BROKE WHILE DRIVING. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE'S MAKE AND MODEL ; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #869715 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Spartan, NJ

SUSPENSION:FRONT

VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT IN BAD WET WEATHER CONDITIONS. WHEN THE PADS WERE REPLACED VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE LEFT AT ANYTIME. DEALER RESOLVED THE PROBLEM . VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 8 DIFFERENT TIMES. *AK CONSUMER ALSO STATES VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER WHEEL AND WHEN AKING TURNS THERE WOULD BE A NOISE FROM THE FRONT END. ALSO WHEN PRESSING BRAKES RADIO MAKES A STATIC SOUND, AND WHEN PLAYING TAPES THERE IS ALSO A SQUEALING NOISE POWRE MIRROR SWITCH STICKS IN THE DOWN POSITION.

NHTSA complaint #862563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Niagara FA, NY

SUSPENSION:FRONT

WHILE BRAKING VEHICLE PULLS FORCEFULLY TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. NLM

NHTSA complaint #545948 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Newport BE, CA

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER

SHOCK ABSORBERS FAILED. NLM

NHTSA complaint #608151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Prospect Park, PA

SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING

CONSUMER HAS A BAD WHEEL BEARING THAT CAUSES LOSS OF CONTROL, A LOUD GROWLING NOISE, AND SHAKING OF THE FRONT LEFT TIRE WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #837278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Diego, CA

SUSPENSION:FRONT

FRONT END OUT OF ALIGNMENT CAUSING DAMAGE TO ALL 4 TIRES.

NHTSA complaint #607741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1998 Lincoln Town CAR problems

← Full 1998 Lincoln Town CAR report