1997 Lincoln Town CAR Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Town CAR years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 17 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 6 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 314 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Lincoln Town CAR. That is the most of any Town CAR model year in the database (17 years). The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (87 complaints, 28%), typically at around 90,000 miles. Complaints mention 10 crashes, 6 fires, 8 injuries. There are 6 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 7 defect investigations involving it.
- 314owner complaints
- 6safety recalls
- 7NHTSA investigations
- 10complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Lincoln Town CAR problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 87 | 28% | 90,000 | “intake manifold” (63%) | $1,750 |
| Suspension problems | 50 | 16% | 90,000 | “ball joint” (36%) | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 43 | 14% | 106,353 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 39 | 12% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 22 | 7% | 79,750 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 17 | 5% | 118,500 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 17 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Electrical System | 16 | 5% | 126,500 | — | — |
| Visibility | 16 | 5% | 133,034 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 9 | 3% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 9 | 3% | 62,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 8 | 3% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 5 | 2% | 98,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 5 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 4 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 4 | 1% | 120,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 3 | 1% | 105,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 3 | 1% | 111,500 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 1% | 67,000 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 0% | 127,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Lincoln Town CAR recalls (6)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Vehicle speed control
Problem: 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.
Risk: This could result in an underhood fire.
Fix: 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 as repair parts are available (expected october 2007), owners will be instructed to return to the dealers for installation of a fused wiring harness. The recall began on august 13, 2007, and mailing completed by september 19, 2007. Owners may contact ford at 1-888-222-2751.
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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 within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.
Seat belts:front:anchorage
Problem: 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.
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.
Seat belts:front:anchorage
Problem: 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.
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.
Suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint
Problem: 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 the one-piece bearing or a front lower control arm containing a ball joint with a one-piece bearing. The one-piece bearing within the lower control arm ball joint can weaken slowly during use and eventually crack. This could result in separation of the ball and cap of the joint, allowing the control arm to drop to the ground.
Risk: If this occurs while the vehicle is moving, reduced steering control could occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the lower control arm ball joints (2).
Air bags:frontal
Problem: Two bolts that attach the driver air bag to the steering wheel were not installed during vehicle assembly.
Risk: 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.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the vehicles and install any bolts that are missing.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Spark plug ejection from cylinder head (DP05005) — opened Sep 22, 2005, closed Jan 4, 2006.
- Rear brake line failure (EA03012) — opened Jul 25, 2003, closed Apr 11, 2005, led to recall 05V086000.
- Rear brake line failure (RQ03004) — opened Mar 11, 2003, closed Jul 25, 2003.
- Ball joint separation (RQ03002) — opened Jan 3, 2003, closed Jun 3, 2003.
- Speed control deactivation switch fires (EA02025) — opened Sep 6, 2002, closed Jun 30, 2004.
- Fuel-fed fires (DP02007) — opened Aug 22, 2002, closed Dec 4, 2002.
- Post rear end collision fires (SQ01014) — opened Nov 27, 2001, closed Oct 3, 2002, led to recall 02I003000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Other Lincoln Town CAR years
← 1996 Town CAR · 1998 Town CAR →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 Town CAR | 6 | 3 |
| 2010 Town CAR | 13 | 3 |
| 2009 Town CAR | 5 | 3 |
| 2008 Town CAR | 20 | 3 |
| 2007 Town CAR | 84 | 3 |
| 2006 Town CAR | 143 | 2 |
| 2005 Town CAR | 119 | 3 |
| 2004 Town CAR | 83 | 0 |
| 2003 Town CAR | 201 | 1 |
| 2002 Town CAR | 65 | 0 |
| 2001 Town CAR | 161 | 5 |
| 2000 Town CAR | 108 | 8 |
| 1999 Town CAR | 148 | 5 |
| 1998 Town CAR | 154 | 7 |
| 1997 | 314 | 6 |
| 1996 Town CAR | 259 | 8 |
| 1995 Town CAR | 165 | 6 |
See all Lincoln Town CAR problems by year, every Lincoln model, or the Lincoln VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Lincoln Town CAR?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, suspension, vehicle speed control problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 87 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Lincoln Town CAR?
Yes, 6 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 Lincoln Town CAR a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Town CAR model years, the 1997 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.