1996 Lincoln Town Car: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Jan 26, 2023 · Acceleration · 140,000 miles · SD

The contact owns a 1996 Lincoln Town Car. The contact stated while the vehicle was turned on and he was shifting the vehicle from park(P) to drive(D), with his foot on the brake pedal, the vehicle lunged forward at high speed. The contact stated that the acceleration was extreme. The contact observed smoke coming from the rear tires as the vehicle accelerated. The contact was able to safely stop the vehicle after approximately 50 feet but had to depress the brake pedal with force. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was not turned off but was shifted to park(P). The contact had tested and shifted the vehicle from park (P), drive (D), neutral (N) and reverse (R) and the vehicle reacted normally to each gear change. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000. The contact stated that the vehicle was sold to the mechanic who repaired it.

Filed Dec 18, 2014 · Acceleration · OH · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 1996 lincoln town car. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, there was smoke coming from under the hood. As a result, the contact discovered that the battery wires were burned and brake fluid had spilled. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to switch gears. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the cruise control wire assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Mar 11, 2014 · Acceleration · 196,000 miles · NJ · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 1996 lincoln town car. The contact stated that smoke was seen coming from under the hood. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be repaired and was parked in the mechanic's repair shop when the vehicle caught on fire. The fire spread quickly and destroyed the repair shop building as well as several other businesses, resulting in over 7 million dollars worth of damage. The fire marshall informed the contact that the fire was caused by the parked vehicle being inside the building. The fire occurred prior to the announcement of the federal safety agency campaign number 07v336000 (vehicle speed control). The contact indicated that the vehicle exhibited the same defect that was listed in the recall campaign. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 196,000.

Filed Apr 19, 2012 · 124,758 miles · SC · fire

The vehicle was parked when we were informed that there was smoke coming from our vehicle, I went to investigate and found that the vehicle was smoking terribly, I raised the hood and there was fire, the fire department was called, we got a fire extinguisher and proceed to put the fire out. The fire dept. Arrived and finished up and wrote up some information. I had the vehicle towed home where it now sits.

Filed Jul 7, 2010 · Acceleration · 80,000 miles · NY · fire · 1 injury

Lincoln town car went on fire in garage from cruise control switch. Total house fire.

Filed Apr 30, 2007 · Acceleration · 150,000 miles · TN · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 1996 lincoln town car. The contact stated that the rear shocks were being replaced by a local mechanic. The dealer informed the contact that the repair was completed and the vehicle was ready. However, that same evening he informed the contact that the vehicle caught on fire and was totaled. The front of the vehicle was nothing but dust, and the rest has fire and smoke damage. The mechanic stated that a faulty cruise control switch caused the fire. The contact filed a civil law suit, and did not have access to a police or fire report. The current and failure mileages were 150,000.

Filed Aug 22, 2006 · Acceleration · 142,000 miles · CA · fire

Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle caught fire while parked. The fire department extinguished the flames, and a police report was taken. The speed control was the source of the fire due to overheat even though the ignition was off. There was a recall #05v017000. The vehicle was not included in the recall due to the VIN.

Filed Jun 27, 2006 · Engine · 84,602 miles · NC

I would like to inform you about a safety problem with certain lincoln town car models. I am the owner of a 1996 lincoln town car (signature series). On june 16, 2006, while driving in town with the air conditioning on, I saw smoke pouring from under the hood and antifreeze leaking from under the car. After opening the hood I saw antifreeze all over the engine block. I managed to drive the car to a nearby jiffy lube. The technician there could not find any leaks in the hoses or the radiator. After allowing the car to cool for about thirty minutes, the technician filled the radiator with a 50-50 antifreeze-water mixture. I started driving home, about five miles away. Before I arrived, the temperature gauge reached the maximum point, and the high-temperature alarm sounded. I immediately stopped the car and opened the hood. Again, I saw antifreeze all over the engine. When the car had cooled, I checked the coolant level: it was completely dry! I had the car towed to a local garage, where the mechanic found a two-inch crack at the rear of the intake manifold! This mechanic told me that a large number of ford vehicles had experienced a similar problem with intake manifolds, which were fabricated from plastic, rather than metal. He said that dozens of north carolina highway patrol cars (crown victorias equipped with the same 4.6-liter engine that's in my lincoln) had been recalled because of defective intake manifolds. This kind of problem warrants a safety recall. Imagine what could happen if a car being driven on an interstate were to suddenly lose all of its coolant from a leaking intake manifold! In view of the safety hazards a leaking intake manifold can (and does) create, I believe that ford motor company should reimburse me for the costs I incurred for a new manifold and the labor to install it. (I kept the defective manifold, in case you want to inspect it.)

Filed Aug 24, 2005 · Electrical · TN · fire

1996 lincoln town car caught on fire resulting in the consumer's home catching on fire.*mr

Filed Jan 21, 2003 · Engine · FL

Intake manifold has developed a crack and leaks over the engine. Consumer has experienced smoke and a burning smell. Please provide any further information. Ph.

Filed Nov 8, 1999 · Seats · VA · fire

While vehicle was parked in the driveway about 14 hours, horn started blowing. When owner went to examine the problem, flames were coming from the front windows. Fire was put out by the fire department. Fire marshall stated that the fire appeared to have started in the driver's seat. The vehicle was totalled. Please provide any further information. *ak referenced in ea02-025