The contact owns a 1999 Lincoln Town Car. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the steering wheel started pulling to the left with extreme force. The contact attempted to correct the over steering and the vehicle started pulling to the right and the left. The contact stated that an unknown warning was illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle back to his residence. The contact stated that he drove the vehicle several more times and the steering failure recurred while driving at various speeds. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the ball joints, upper and lower control arms, and the steering gear needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000. The dealer is requesting the consumer get a diagnostic for $168 eventhough the consumer presented them with a safety recall via carfax.
Lincoln Town Car pulling problems
35 of the 2,986 owner complaints about the Lincoln Town Car describe pulls to one side, most of them for the 1998 model year.
- owner complaints
- 35
- worst model year
- 1998
- typical mileage
- 73,938
By model year
Often reported together
What owners say
The car has developed poor return to center when turning. It also seems to be sticky in normal highway driving, that is, a minor correction seems to stay until corrected the other direction. This makes the car wander back and forth. I had one mechanic in town diagnose it as lower steering shaft and I have an appointment with my local ford dealer to evaluate the problem. I note there was a recall for this problem for 2005 and later model years. There have been accidents from steering failure reported.
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
Dt*: the contact stated the control arm fractured off of the ball joint while parking the vehicle. There was a the federal safety agency recall, # 98v322000, regarding the suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint. The vehicle's steering was erratic at times. The steering wheel pulled to the left and to the right even after the front end was aligned. There was a the federal safety agency recall # 96v135000, regarding the steering: linkages. After putting only a half of tank of gasoline in the fuel tank; after tightening the cap, the smell of gas fumes was very strong outside and inside the vehicle. There was a the federal safety agency recall # 95v063000, regarding the fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap. The vehicle was not included in any of the recalls due to the VIN.
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.
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.
When braking , the steering wheel would pull hard to the right. This made it hard for the driver to maintain control of vehicle. *ak the brake rotors were warped. *ph also the lower ball joints were replaced, the engine light illuminated, the dealer found the evap canister solenoid valve leaking.
While applying the brakes in inclement weather, and driving at any speed, vehicle will pull to right. Dealer notified.
My 1998 lincoln town car (approx 35,000 miles) dramatically pulls to the right during braking when road conditions are wet and the car is travelling in excess of 40 miles per hour. This problem is addressed in fordmotor company's repair bulliten 98-13-4 dtd 07/06/98. Notwithstanding having the car repaired by an ase certified mechanic (napa approved) in accordance with the service bulliten the problem has reoccured after 3,000 miles. This is an extremely dangerous condition which could result in a serious accident, particularly since the problem only occurs at highway speeds when traffic conditions are already dangerous because of wet conditions.
I took delivery of car 2/xx/2002. When driven the first time in the rain. The car pulled to the right when braking seems ok in dry weather. I live I nj where there was a drough this year so driving in the rain was rare. However, the car has been to the dealer 3 times and they now claim the car is ok. It still exhibits the right pull when braking in the rain. I have started the dispute process. Dt
Related recalls
Steering: rack and pinion: pinion shaft
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria, 2005-2011 Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles manufactured March 23, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and 2005-2011 Lincoln Town Car vehicles manufactured March 8, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and on which the upper intermediate shaft was serviced during the course of safety recall 13V‑385. The prior repairs may not have been correctly performed.
- Risk
- Improper servicing of the upper intermediate shaft could cause the shaft to separate, which can then result in a loss of steering control, and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify the owners of vehicles whose repair records reflect that the upper intermediate steering shaft was repaired during the course of the prior recall 13V‑385. Dealers will inspect and replace the upper immediate shaft if necessary free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S25.
Recall number 14V704000 · Recall details
Steering
- What is wrong
- Ford is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria (including Crown Victoria Police Interceptors), Mercury Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Car vehicles. The affected vehicles are currently registered or were originally sold in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Severe corrosion can seize the lower intermediate shaft which may cause the upper intermediate shaft to collapse and the steering column lower bearing to separate.
- Risk
- If the lower bearing separates, the vehicle may experience a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners and dealers will replace the lower intermediate shaft, free of charge. The upper intermediate shaft and steering column lower bearing will be inspected to identify any damage that may have occurred as a result of lower intermediate shaft corrosion, and repaired or replaced as necessary. If the steering column lower bearing has separated, a retainer clip will be installed. The recall began on October 23, 2013. Owners may contact Ford at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's recall number is 13S08.
Recall number 13V385000 · Recall details
Steering: linkages
- What is wrong
- The pitman arms were not fully lubricated at the assembly plant. The "ball joint" at the outer end of the pitman arm can become contaminated and corrode.
- Risk
- Such corrosion can result in abnormal wear of the joint, resulting in separation of the joint. Loss of steering control can occur increasing the risk of a vehicle accident.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the vehicles and if the joint is found to have significant wear, the arm will be replaced. Those pitman arms not replaced will have the "ball joint" fully greased.
Recall number 96V135000 · Recall details
Questions about the Lincoln Town Car pulling
Which Lincoln Town Car years have pulls to one side problems?
The model years with the most reports are 1998 (8 complaints), 1997 (7 complaints) and 1995 (4 complaints).
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