11 of the 194 complaints about the 1998 Lincoln Town CAR are about the transmission — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 44,000 miles.
11
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
POWER TRAIN
MAKES LOUD POPPING NOISE WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED TO THE EXTREME RIGHT OR LEFT WHETHER THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN OR STANDING STILL. OCCASIONALLY, THE IGNITION WON'T TURN ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED, CLOSING THE ENTIRE SYSTEM.
NHTSA complaint #11084191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS, THE VEHICLE WILL START, BUT NOT GO ANYWHERE WHEN PUT IN GEAR. THE VEHICLE WILL THEN STALL; IT WILL RESTART AND GO AFTER WAITING 20 MINUTES. THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM. ALSO, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10149655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWY 84 EAST THE RIGHT REAR TIRE AND WHEEL IN MY LINCOLN FELL OFF AND CONSEQUENTLY CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE WHILE TRYING TO GET IT OFF THE HIGHWAY. RESULTING IN A CRASH. UPON RECOVERY OF THE WHEEL AND TIRE IT SHOWS WHERE THE AXLE BROKE OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10082919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
GOING UP HILL IN 2 INCHES OF SNOW, VEHICLE STARTED SLIPPING, TRACTION CONTROL MOTOR MADE NOISE. CONSUMER APPLIED GAS PEDAL AND ENGINE WOULD NOT REV UP. AS STATED IN OWNERS MANUAL. ENGINE STALLED. *AK WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL CAME ON, THE VEHICLE COULD ONLY GO 32 MPH, AND WHEN ACCELERATOR WAS LET OFF, THE ENGINE CUT OFF.
NHTSA complaint #875976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
IN INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS TRACTION CONTROL DOES NOT FUNCTION. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #857332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
WHILE DRIVING UP AN INCLINE WHEELS STARTED SPINNING AND THE ENGINE DIED DUE TO TRACTION CONTROL MALFUNCTIONING. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE, AND SAID IT WAS NORMAL. *AK
NHTSA complaint #856369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1. THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM BLOWS OUT 150+ DEGREE HOT AIR AT ALL TIMES. THIS HOT AIR BOUNCES OFF THE SIDE GLASS AND INTO THE DRIVER'S FACE. THE RESULT IS BLURRED VISION, DROUSINESS, AND FATIGUE. THE PROBLEM IS ESPECIALLY ONEROUS IN THE SOUTH AND GULF COAST STATES. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. FORD REFERS THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALER; THE DEALER SAYS THE PROBLEM IS AN ENGINEERING DEFECT FOR WHICH THER IS NO CURE. THE DEALER SAID THE CHIEF OF CLIMATE CONTROL FOR THE LINCOLN-MERCURY DIVISION SAYS NO "FIX" WILL BE FORTH COMING UNTIL THE COMPLAINT LEVEL BEGINS TO AFFECT SALES. THE FOMOCO/DEALER PASS-THE-BUCK SCAM IS WELL REHEARSED AND BEAUTIFULLY EXECUTED. DO WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THERE ARE DEATHS TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM? 2. THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO UPSHIFT UNDER FULL-THROTTLE ACCELERATION. THE PROBLEM IS LIFE- THREATENING WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE ONTO THE FREEWAY AND UP THE ON-RAMP. I HAVE BEEN NEARLY HIT BY ON-COMING TRAFFIC SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION'S FAILURE TO UPSHIFT TO ALLOW ME TO GAIN SUFFICIENT SPEED TO SAFELY ENTER THE FREEWAY. THE TRANSMISSION GIVES NO FOREWARNING THAT IT IS NOT GOING TO SHIFT. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO FORD. THEY REFER TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER SAYS THE COMPUTER SHOWS ALL SYSTEMS NORMAL. THE RUNAROUND, AGAIN. PLEASE HELP ME CORRECT THIS BEFORE IT COSTS A LIFE. I CAN SEND YOU COPIES OF THE CORRESPONDENCE TO FORD, IF YOU NEED THEM.
NHTSA complaint #705370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM CAUSING VEHICLE TO ALMOST STALL CONTINUALLY.
NHTSA complaint #531209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
EXCESSIVE VIBRATION BEGINS AT 47 MPH. FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY VARY WITH SPEED. AT SOME SPEEDS IT IS BARELY NOTICABLE. AT OTHER SPEEDS THE SOUND CAN LULL YOU TO SLEEP. PARTICURALLY AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS. VIBRATION WILL STRESS U-JOINTS AND CAUSE FATIGUE AND FAILURE. FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL RESULTING IN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #704157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
THE TRACTION CONTROL UNIT COMES ON AND NEVER CUTS OFF. VEHICLE HAS TO BE CUT OFF IN ORDER TO MAKE IT STOP.
NHTSA complaint #833795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
THE DRIVER CANNOT SEE THE SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER ARROW BECAUSE OF POOR LIGHTING AND COLOR OF THE ARROW. WHEN LOOKING OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD ,THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD REFLECTS AT EYE LEVEL.
NHTSA complaint #821759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.