1997 Lincoln Town Car: headlights failing or too dim

15 of the 312 complaints about the 1997 Lincoln Town Car describe headlights failing or too dim.

owner complaints: 15
of this car's complaints: 5%
typical mileage: 111,000
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 4 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Headlights failing or too dim by model year

2006
3
2005
2
2004
3
2003
2
2001
2
2000
2
1999
2
1998
10
1997
15
1996
13
1995
11
1994
7
1993
1
1992
2
1991
3
1990
2

What owners say

Filed Oct 2, 2022 · Electrical · OH

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 trips after 1 hour or more. Has never occurred on shorter trips under 1 hour. Very dangerous and scary when it is so dark you can't see to pull over off the highway and also worried about vehicles approaching from behind not being able to see you in time. I replaced the headlight switch last week thinking that was the problem, but it happened again last night on my trip back from N.Y.

Filed Jun 12, 2014 · Lights · 57,400 miles · SC

I was traveling at 9:30 pm when the headlights went out for about 45 seconds and then came back on. Traveled about a mile, when they went out again, can on, then started rapidly flashing. I pulled over and it about a minute before they returned to normal. This happened three times that night before I arrived home. These headlight problem has happened five times since the first occurrence. I rarely drive at night. ..updated 06/26/14

Filed Oct 22, 2008 · Electrical, Lights · 126,000 miles · NE

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 lincoln town car. Whenever the contact drives with the high beams activated, the lights flicker on and off continuously until they are turned off. The current mileage was 130,000 and failure mileage was 126,000. Updated 11/19/08. *lj the consumer stated a switch was replaced, but the problem continued. Updated 11/19/08.

Filed Jan 9, 2008 · Acceleration, Electrical · MN

1997 lincoln town car with multiple safety issues. Speed control switch was deactivated and brake lights failed due to bad brake switch. Incidentally, when the brake switch went bad, the consumer was unable to put the vehicle in gear. All interior lights failed to work properly. *kb the consumer stated she has not been able to use the cruise control since it was disconnected by the dealership in september 2007. The dealer informed the consumer, they may never get the parts for the cruise control. The consumer stated she has not been able to use the high beams for over 4 years. If she used them for a couple minutes, all of the lights on the dash and in the vehicle would go out.

Filed Dec 11, 2006 · Electrical, Lights · 127,000 miles · AL

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 70 MPH on the interstate at night, all exterior and interior lights failed without warning. The contact maneuvered the vehicle to the side of the road. After turning the headlight switch off and on several times, the exterior and interior lights resumed normal function. The dealer was alerted. Updated 2/12/2007 -

Filed Apr 29, 2004 · Lights · 111,000 miles · OH

While driving at 65 MPH headlights failed. Consumer used the hazard lights while stopping on the shoulder of the highway. After a few minutes the headlights began to work normally again. This problem occurred more than twice with this vehicle.

Filed Jul 30, 2003 · Lights · 45,000 miles · OK

Headlights continuously fail while driving. This is caused by the switch going out.

Filed Jul 24, 2002 · Lights · SC

While driving on a narrow curve in the mountains, consumer briefly flashed the headlights to high beams, upon releasing them to the normal position, the headlights went out completely leaving the consumer to drive at night without headlights, a few seconds later, the lights came back on, the mechanic removed the steering assembly and replaced a switch, however shortly thereafter the headlights went out again, consumer states the problem has recurred for the third time. *jb

Filed Jun 22, 2001 · Lights · CT

While driving the headlights suddenly went out and there was a clicking noise, about one minute later the headlights came on momentarily and then off again several time, eventually the low beams came on. Nlm

Filed May 1, 2001 · Lights · OK

Driver was traveling in rainy weather with high beam dimmers on, when driver attemped to switch to low beam dimmers, lights went out completely, leaving driver traveling in dark for at least 3 to 4 seconds until the lights came back on.

Filed Apr 6, 2000 · Lights · AL

Intermittently after driving about two hours headlights go out. Sometimes lights come back on right away, and sometimes driver has to turn vehicle off for a few moments before lights come back on. Headlight switch was replaced by the dealership. On march 21st of this year, the problem started again. Please provide any further information.

Filed Oct 29, 1999 · Lights · PA

Headlight went out when consumer tried to put the high beams on causing him to scrap vehicle on guardrail when pulling of the street due to poor visibility. Nlm