1997 Lincoln Town Car: pulls to one side

Filed Sep 25, 2007 · Suspension · 78,500 miles · MD

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 lincoln town car. While driving 55 MPH, the contact heard a clicking noise coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle began pulling to the right and became difficult to steer. She took the vehicle to the dealer and they performed a diagnostic test. The results indicated that the lower ball joints needed to be replaced. The lower ball joints were replaced three years ago. The current mileage was 80,000 and failure mileage was 78,500. The consumer provided a copy of the recall notice. Updated 10/24/07

Filed Apr 22, 2006 · Suspension · 73,938 miles · FL

Heard a popping in the front end of my 1997 lincoln towncar and it was pulling to the left when I would apply the brakes. I took it to the garage and had the tires rotated and the front brakes replaced and the rotors were replaced and brake pads, nothing was noticed at this time. The car was still pulling to the left when the brakes were applied. I was driving to my job which is about 10 miles from home and when I pulled in to the drive and went to back up I heard a loud pop, I called my husband and told him about it and when he looked underneath the car he found that the lower control arm bracket that was factory welded to the frame had come loose. The popping noise was obviously flexing of the bracket that was welded to the frame and when the brakes were applied the flexing of the bracket was causing the car to pull to the left. My husband call the local lincoln dealership and explained what had happened and was told that they had never heard of this happening before. I then went on line to carfax and researched the history of my car to see if it had ever been wrecked and the results were clean, no wrecks or service history of any problem. We have had several people look at the car and each and every one expressed that this was a first for them, that they had never heard of this happening before and that they feel like it was a factory default on the welding and that I must have had an angel on my shoulder because this could have been very dangerous. As it stands right now I am at awe as to what to do because I have been advised to not have anything done to the car till someone from ford/lincoln looks at. I feel that this could have been a life threatening situation and that ford/lincoln should take some responsibility for this problem. This vehicle is used on the road only and not used as an off road vehicle and it has not been abused in its use. I would very much appreciate some kind of response or help with this problem as soon as possible.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Engine, Steering · 82,500 miles · NJ

Excessive wear on the upper and lower control arm ball joints LED to vague steering and a wandering car path. The control arm ball joints that were replaced were rubber on metal without zerk lube fittings. They were designed to fail. The replacement control arm ball joints are metal-on-metal with zerk lube fittings. In 1999 there was a recall on lincoln town cars for replacement of the lower control arm ball joints. The recall numbers are the federal safety agency recall no. 98v322/ford recall no. 98s37. However, we had to pay the full amount of the repair. Developed a crack in the intake manifold coolant crossover pipe and lost all engine coolant. We had to have it towed 80 miles for repair. Several ford recalls were issued on the 4.6l v8 engine for replacement of this defective part; but they were for police cars, limo fleets, etc. I was told I am not covered. The little guy is left paying a thousand dollars for ford's engineering defect. Within a time period of 4 months, we have had to spend almost two thousand dollars to correct ford's design defects.

Filed Aug 16, 2001 · Body, Brakes · OK

While driving between 10 and 15 MPH on wet pavement and making a turn, vehicle made a "clunking" noise, and ABS system locked up, causing vehicle to pull to the right and go off the road. There were no other vehicles involved in this incident, and there were no injuries. Dealership examined vehicle, and stated that ABS system had no problems, and this was considered to be normal operation. Please provide any additional information/attachments. *ak the windshield gasket is splitting on the right side of the glass, the front door wont open at times with the remote, the front edge of the vinyl top is coming loose. Nlm

Filed May 29, 2001 · Suspension · MI

When driving at high speeds and hitting a small bump vehicle wanders over to next lane. Dealer has seen vehicle 4 or 5 times. But, problem still exists.

Filed Sep 10, 1999 · MO

When making a left hand turn while traveling 15 MPH steering wheel locked up, causing vehicle to pull to the left. Consumer contacted the dealer, dealer replaced the rack and pinion. Please provide any further details.

Filed Aug 15, 1997 · Suspension · NC

Welding broke loose from around lower control arm, causing vehicle to severely pull to right/left, driver lost control, nearly caused crash, vehicle at dealer's for repair.