1996 Lincoln Town Car: brake failure

Filed Aug 1, 2011 · Brakes · 309,000 miles · TN

I own a 1996 lincoln towncar VIN [xxx]. On saturday 7/9/2011 my brake lines broke and my brakes failed in rockwood, tn. Fortunately I was able to safely drive the car to a safe place where I had a friend patch the lines with rubber hoses and was able to again use my brakes. I discovered that ford has issued a recall for certain towncars #79493 4/7/1998 for brake line replacement. I went to 2 ford dealerships and was told this recall didn't cover my car. I feel this recall should cover my car because the same defects on the towncars covered are present on my towncar and caused the brake lines to break. I am asking ford to authorize me to receive the same protection afforded the owners of the covered towncars and cover my repairs at one of my local ford dealerships. I called the customer relations center on 7/12/2011 and was given a case number [xxx]. I called again on 7/13/2011 and was told the recall didn't cover my car. I am only asking for the same treatment afforded many other covered 1996 towncar owners under this recall! Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)

Filed Jul 13, 2011 · Brakes · 101,242 miles · SC

Brakes failed - due to severe corrosion on brake lines (right front). Second occurrence different brake line(rear). Also occurred on my neighbors 1996 lincoln town car (rear brake line) both cars are available for inspection. Serious accident avoided by using emergency brake.

Filed Mar 6, 2008 · Acceleration · 22,000 miles · MI

Tl*the contact owns a 1996 lincoln town car. The contact had his vehicle speed control switch disconnected on 09/20/2007 by one ford dealer, and on 03/06/2008 by another ford dealer. The dealer returned the vehicle to him and stated that they made the final repair. Meanwhile, the brakes failed. The mechanic loosened the brake line and all of the fluid came out of the vehicle. They repaired the brakes, but the vehicle speed control still does not work. The dealer wants a $85.00 for a diagnostic to find out the cause of the failure. The dealer stated the repair was made to the vehicle speed control, but did not last. The contact stated that something had to be wrong with the vehicle speed control before the repair was made. The current and failure mileages were 22,000. Updated 03-25-08 *bf updated 03/25/08

Filed Oct 11, 2005 · Brakes · 104,000 miles · TN

Total sudden brake failure on lincoln town car due to rust/corrosion of brake lines. Own two other lincoln town cars whose brake lines are also severely rusted. Fortunately, failure occurred on my driveway and wreck was avoided. Personally replaced worst sections of rear brake lines via bypassing factory installed lines leaving original lines in place.

Filed Apr 5, 2005 · Airbags, Brakes · 81,000 miles · VA · crash

On four separate occasions the consumer experienced a loss of braking due to four different sections of the metal brake line due to exterior corrosion. Each time the vehicle was taken to a repair shop to have the brake line replaced. The dealer was notified. *ak the vehicle struck the rear of a utility truck due to the brake failure. The air bag did not deploy. The first failure occurred in 2001. The brake pedal had gone to the floor upon application with no braking effect on either axle. Each failure occurred by ruptured steel brake line due to external rust. *sc

Filed Oct 17, 2004 · Brakes · 87,110 miles · NJ

A cell phone using driver cut into my lane and I had to hit the brakes hard. There was a sudden loss of braking power but I was able to steer around the SUV. My rear steel brake line failed in the area located just in front of the left rear tire. These brake lines are a problem! Last summer the same thing happened to my wife's 95 mercury grand marquis. I will have to replace all steel lines as all are rusted. When will fomoco do something about these failures? How many people must get hurt or die?

Filed Dec 17, 2003 · Brakes · 160,000 miles · MD

While driving at 10 MPH the consumer applied the brakes and brake pedal went to the floor, brakes failed completely. This resulted in extended stopping distance. Consumer had to use the emergency brake to stop. Dealer indicated the hose connected to the master cylinder needed to be replaced.

Filed Sep 2, 2003 · Brakes · 69,196 miles · NJ

The vehicle experienced sudden brake failure due to significant corrosion of the brake line across the rear. The consumer still has the corroded line in his possession. *ph *nlm

Filed Aug 25, 2003 · Brakes · 61,920 miles · NJ

Ltr fm edward f. Harrigan (nj) asking the federal safety agency to look into a brake line corrosion problem on his 1996 lincoln town car. *mr refer to recall #02v101000. The vehicle experienced sudden brake failure while entering a major interstate. Brake fluid was found over the rear housing as a result of pin holes that were in the crossover line from the left to the right wheel cylinders. The brake pedal had gone to the floor very suddenly. (the manufacturer may use a low-carbon steel which was cheaper or alloy or coatings which were readily available but are corrosion proof.) *scc

Filed Feb 10, 2003 · Brakes · 69,000 miles · NJ

Sudden loss of brakes, pedal went to the floor. I pulled into a midas brake shop and they put the car in the lift and found that he entire brake line from the left rearwheel crossing over to the rt.rear wheel was corroded and full of pin holes.thiscar was well maintained but this is a problem that would not appear referenced in rq03-004

Filed Jan 11, 2001 · Brakes, Steering · TX · crash

Consumer was traveling on highway and was coming towards and intersection, went to apply brakes and there were no brakes. Also, there was no steering, forcing him into a guardrail. There were no injuries.

Filed Nov 23, 1999 · Brakes · DE

The brake lines rusted trhough, causing brake failure. Dealer has inspected and repaired vehicle. *ak referenced in rq03-004