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2000 Lincoln Town Car Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 108 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Lincoln Town Car, most often about the electrical (17% of complaints, typically around 72,000 miles). It is 5th of 12 Town Car model years by number of complaints and has 8 recalls.
Most common 2000 Lincoln Town Car problems
Electrical
18 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 72,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, horn, ignition, starter assembly.
While after driving for one hour and parking consumer noticed a burning rubber smell coming from under the hood. As a result the engine started smoking. No fire reported.
Known defect by ford concerning 2000 Lincoln Town Car electrical problem with wiring harness and transmission wiring. This defects creates an environment and condition of hazard and danger to assigned operator of vehicle. Known defect by ford manufacturer is documented by service by service alerts. Ford is negligent…
Air bags
17 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 30,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
The air bag warning light continuously blinked while driving. Dealership performed a diagnostic test which indicated that the failure was the air bag harness. The air bag harness was replaced, but the problem recurred twice.
Side air bag failed to deploy on drivers side during a side collision. My car is a Lincoln Town Car 2000 model cartier. I was traveling less than 5 miles an hour when I was broadsided by a pickup truck traveling more than 40 miles per hour. Both vehicles were totaled. I sustained injuries that should not have occurred…
Engine
14 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 115,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system, exhaust system.
A puddle appeared under pass.side of vehicle,took it to dealer ,they found the plastic intake had cracked where the heater hose connects to the intake,was told :"no warranty on plastic intakes ", vehicle is 10 yrs old,2000 Lincoln Town Car,never received any information about a class action lawsuit,replacement cost is…
I recently went to a mechanic and was told that my intake manifold on my 2000 Lincoln towncar was leaking. He also advised me about a recall about the leaking manifolds but when I contacted Lincoln they denied any recalls about it. I have yet not repaired my intake manifold and am still waiting for a response from…
Brakes
13 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 30,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, foundation components.
When it rains and I am stepping on the brakes while driving my wife's 2000 Lincoln Town Car, the car veers to the right. Ford has not published any technical service bulletins or recalled the brakes, however, the ford hotline advises is mechanics to put on ford premium brakes. I had on motorcraft brakes which are also…
2000 Lincoln Town Car. When pulling into a parking place, the car kept going forward, over the 4' retaining wall, and into an industrial building approximately 6' away. The car was totaled, and there was damage to the building. Fortunately, the building stopped the car. Part of the damage happened when the tow truck…
Suspension
10 complaints · 9%Parts named most often: front.
While driving at 35 MPH the consumer heard a sound. The rear end of the vehicle shimmied. After a thorough inspection and while repairing something else, it was discovered that the trailer arm brackets were cracked. The trailer arm cracking and or breaking had a lot to do with the control of the vehicle.
: the contact stated while traveling 3 MPH the front passenger side of the vehicle fell to the ground. The vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop where the lower ball joint was replaced. Updated 10/4/2006 -
Visibility and wipers
9 complaints · 8%Parts named most often: windshield wiper/washer, power window devices and controls, windshield, rearview mirrors/devices.
The dealership has refused to honor the recall for the windshield wiper motor 01 v 258 000. They indicated that although the VIN number is included the motor part number is not.
The windshield wipers went out in the middle of a snow storm. The consumer had to make it home without any wipers. The manufacturer made the repair to the windshield wipers sometime ago and stated there would be no second repair.
Speed control
9 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 55,000 miles. Parts named most often: cruise control, linkages.
The vehicle caught on fire while parked in the garage and burnt down the consumer home. The fire department indicated that the fire originated from the front underhood wiring. The fire may have been caused by a failure in the cruise control module. A fire report was filed.
Parked car evening of 30 may 2004 at about 7:00 p.m. Car bust into flames at approx. 11:10 31 may 2004. Investigators said it was the cruise control module.
Equipment
8 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: mechanical, other, electrical, appliance.
Jack collapsed when tire was being changed. The jack couldn't hold the weight of the vehicle. There was a recall to replace the jack with a stronger one, but consumer was never notified of it until the jack broke. Consumer spoke with three different dealers who agreed the jack should be replaced. One agreed to…
The stereo system has been replaced and the new system has the same failure. The stereo button lights do not come on at night and the stereo itself does not stay on for the required 10 minutes after vehicle shut-off (until doors are opened). The automatic door locks no longer lock after car is in drive. The horn no…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2000 Lincoln Town Car recalls
Visibility and wipers: motor
Risk: Loss of visibility while driving increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the date code on the wiper motor. Motors built with the suspect time frame will have the wiper motor gear case cover replaced. Owner notification began august 20, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, and light and medium duty pickup trucks. A switch located in the plastic cover of the wiper motor gear case could malfunction and overheat, potentially resulting in loss of intermittent wiper function, loss of wiper park function, complete loss of wiper function, or ignition of the plastic cover material. Switch malfunction is most likely to occur when the intermittent setting of the wipers is being used, or when snow or ice obstructs the blades from returning to the "parked" position at the bottom of the windshield. These vehicles were built at the following assembly plants: atlanta plant from 2/11/00 through 7/31/00; chicago plant from 2/14/00 through 8/4/00; kansas city plant from 2/26/00 to 9/4/00; kentucky truck plant from 2/18/00 to 8/31/00; michigan truck plant from 2/23/00 through 8/3/00; norfolk plant from 2/21/00 thro
Wheels and tires: tires
Risk: The vehicle weight could exceed the maximum load rating for the tire, increasing the risk of premature tire wear or blowout.
Fix: Dealers will replace all 5 tires (including the spare tire) with michelin tires (225/70r16 107t reinforced white sidewall) with a sufficiently higher load rating. Owner notification began january 10, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-800-248-0186.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: certain limousines stretched over 60 inches fail to comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 109, "new pneumatic tires," and no. 110, "tire selection and rims."
Seat belts: front
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant may not be properly restrained.
Fix: All suspect vehicles have had the seat belts inspected or replaced by ford.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles with medium graphite seat belts fail to comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 209, "seat belt assemblies." an incorrect front center seat belt and retractor assembly may have been installed.
Seat belts: rear/other
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant may not be properly restrained.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the seat belts and replace the affected seat belt and retractor assemblies.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles with midnight black or medium parchment seat belts manufactured on july 31, 2000, fail to comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 209, "seat belt assemblies." an incorrect driver's side rear seat belt and retractor assembly may have been installed.
Seat belts
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant may not be properly restrained.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the date code on certain seat belt buckles of your vehicle and replace all seat belt buckles that fall within the suspect date code range. Owner notification began october 26, 2000. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles, light duty trucks, sport utility vehicles, and mini vans equipped with trw seat belt buckle assemblies. The buckle base of these seat belt assemblies were not properly heat treated and therefore do not pass the load bearing requirement of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 209, "seat belt assemblies."
Equipment: integrated jack/leveler/stabilizer
Risk: If this occurs and any portion of the operator's body is under the vehicle, the potential for personal injury exists.
Fix: Owners will be provided with a revised jack instruction and stowage card and jack warning label, as well as a supplement to the owner guide.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles have jacking instructions which, if followed, could cause the vehicle operator to place the jack on a frame weld when attempting to raise a rear wheel. If the vehicle is jacked up with the jack placed on the frame weld and if the vehicle is free to roll (wheels not blocked or chocked), the jack could yield and the vehicle may drop suddenly.
Seat belts: anchorage
Risk: In the event of a collision, these seat belts may not restrain an occupant increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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 9217, built by trw vehicle safety systems, inc. (trw) manufactured from june 1, 1998 through may 21, 2000. Some of these seat belt assemblies may have been installed as service replacement equipment on the vehicles involved in the recall.
Seat belts: anchorage
Risk: In the event of a collision, these seat belts may not restrain an occupant increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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, and t 9217, built by trw vehicle safety systems, inc. (trw) manufactured from june 1, 1998 through may 21, 2000. Some of these seat belt assemblies may have been installed as service replacement equipment on the vehicles involved in the recall.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
Summary
On september 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 ford vehicles with triton v-8 and v-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or the dealer repairing the vehicle, reported that a spark plug detached from the cylinder and/or ejected from the engine.as of december 8, 2005, odi is not aware of any allegations where the alleged defect resulted in a loss of vehicle control, a crash, an injury, or a fatality in any of the 10,319,810 subject vehicles.in addition, odi is aware of only two incidents where the vehi
Inadvertent side air bag deployment
Summary
Odi has identified 173 complaints alleging inadvertent or non-crash deployment of side air bags on model year (my) 1999-2003 lincoln town cars.most of the complaints allege that one of the side air bags deployed while driving without any impact.analysis showed that my 2001 through early my 2003 town cars have much higher complaint and warranty claim rates (138 complaints and 120 warranty claims) than the remaining vehicles (35 complaints and 32 warranty claims).ford changed its supplier of the side crash sensors for the my 2001 town cars.ford states that the algorithm in the my 2001 town cars is different from the previous model year's design, and that it is designed to provide improved occu
Fuel-fed fires
Summary
The fars data shows that the risk of fire from impact in all directions in the subject vehicles is the same as all other sedans.the subject vehicles are not over represented with respect to the risk of fire in real-world high-energy crashes.a further discussion of issues related to post crash fires in the subject vehicles is set out in the closing report for sq 01-014 and that report is in the docket for this petition.after reviewing the petition and its supporting materials, as well as information furnished by ford and gm, and information within the agency's possession from previous investigations and other related actions,NHTSA has concluded that futher investigation concerning post-crash
Post rear end collision fires
Summary
There is no summary currently available
Questions about the 2000 Lincoln Town Car
- What are the most common problems with the 2000 Lincoln Town Car?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (18 complaints, typically around 72,000 miles); air bags (17 complaints, typically around 30,000 miles); engine (14 complaints, typically around 115,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2000 Lincoln Town Car have?
- 8 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from August 8, 2001 (visibility and wipers). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2000 a bad year for the Lincoln Town Car?
- It is 5th of 12 Town Car model years by number of complaints, with 108 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.