Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | |||||
| 0222 | 02/04/2002 | 630628 | Some vehicles may exhibit an intake manifold crossover (first runner) coolant seepage condition. *tt | 04/19/2002 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE | |||||
| 07212 | 10/01/2007 | 10023943 | Some 1997-2008 vehicles equipped with a 4.6l 2v, 5.4l 2v, or 6.8l 2v engine--spark plug thread repair procedure--not covered under new vehicle limited warranty. *nj this includes f-53 motorhome chassis. updated 2/23/10. *pe | 02/20/2008 | |
| 9816 | 01/19/1998 | 605565 | Some vehicles may stall during deceleration and / or turning with no diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) store in continuous memory. *tt | 07/09/1999 | |
| 9874 | 04/13/1998 | 601343 | A new silicone gasket and sealant. *yc | 07/24/1998 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE | |||||
| 01246 | 12/10/2001 | 630515 | Engine oil system priming procedures, service tips for reports of premature engine failure. *tt | 04/18/2002 | |
| 0214 | 01/21/2002 | 630001 | Some engine assemblies with aluminum cylinder heads repaired in-vehile have been found to leak coolant and/or oil from the cylinder head gasket area. *tt | 04/11/2002 | |
| 01205 | 10/15/2001 | 627927 | Some vehicles may exhibit vacuum or air leaks in the intake manifold and / or engine system causing diagnostic trouble codes p0171 and or p0174. *tt | 02/26/2002 | |
| 15158 | 08/01/2001 | 624571 | Some vehicles may exhibit a fead belt jump-off toss. *yh | 11/07/2001 | |
| 0147 | 03/05/2001 | 619424 | Subject regarding engine oil recommendations for use in 2001 vehicles - sae 5w-20 motor oil. *tt | 05/30/2001 | |
| 12174 | 11/01/1998 | 613224 | Some vehicles may exhibit a hard start/long crank, cold start stall, cold rough idle concern. *mjs | 06/19/2000 | |
| 983220 | 02/12/1998 | 607432 | Some vehicles may experience an intermittent stall when stopped within the first mile following a cold start. *tt | 09/23/1999 | |
| 983107 | 02/25/1998 | 607401 | Brief information regarding engines being added to the fqr (ford quality renewal) assembly program. *tt | 09/22/1999 | |
| 99816 | 05/03/1999 | 606420 | Ford motor company now recommends sae 5w-30 viscosity grade for servicing any ford gasoline-powered vehicle regardless of model year. *tt | 08/19/1999 | |
| 9947 | 03/08/1999 | 604763 | Engine experiencing roughness at idle due to exhaust system resonance. *tt | 05/12/1999 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE - BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | |||||
| BC3288970206 | 02/06/1997 | 51884 | Vehicles may exhibit a cold start engine fead belt chirp noise. *tw | 07/17/1997 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM | |||||
| 4715 | 08/01/1998 | 615254 | Some vehicles may exhibit a customer concern of loud ping / crackle from the exhaust system during cool down. *tt | 01/10/2001 | |
| 6728 | 08/01/1999 | 608448 | Some vehicles may exhibit a bang popping noise heard from the exhaust system during cool-down. *tt | 11/03/2000 | |
| 8300 | 04/01/2000 | 613634 | Some vehicles may exhibit a bang / popping noise heard from the exhaust system during cool-down. **mr | 07/26/2000 | |
| 985090 | 11/01/1998 | 613219 | Some vehicles may exhibit a customer concern of loud ping / crackle from exhaust system during cool down. *tt | 06/19/2000 | |
| 8300 | 03/01/2000 | 612724 | Some vehicles may exibit a bang popping noise heard from the exhaust system during cool-down. *tt | 06/12/2000 | |
| 13025 | 07/01/1999 | 610768 | Some vehicles may exhibit a bang popping noise heard from the exhaust system during cool-down. *tt | 05/12/2000 | |
| 982010 | 10/12/1998 | 603695 | Experiencing a buzzing or rattling noise from the exhaust system. *yc | 03/02/1999 | |
| 982676 | 04/01/1998 | 603574 | Some vehicles may exhibit a customer concern of loud ping / crackle from exhaust system during cool down. *yc | 02/25/1999 | |
| 9864 | 03/30/1998 | 601312 | Information on a buzzing or rattle noise from the exhaust system. *tt | 07/21/1998 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL - CATALYTIC CONVERTOR | |||||
| 03245 | 12/08/2003 | 10008275 | Malfunction indicator lamp (mil) on with diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) p0420 and/or p0430. *tt | 07/26/2004 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | |||||
| 05N04 | 12/14/2005 | 10018959 | Extended coverage program 05n04 - extended coverage for composite intake manifold. this program is being provided as a settlement to a class action lawsuit. the terms of the settlement extend the coverage of the all-composite intake manif | 01/25/2006 | |
Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | ||||||
| DP05005 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 09/22/2005 | 01/04/2006 | SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD | ||
| On september 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 ford vehicles with triton v-8 and v-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or the dealer repairing the vehicle, reported that a spark plug detached from the cylinder and/or ejected from the engine.as of december 8, 2005, odi is not aware of any allegations where the alleged defect resulted in a loss of vehicle control, a crash, an injury, or a fatality in any of the 10,319,810 subject vehicles.in addition, odi is aware of only two incidents where the vehicle stalled without restart.information contained in the odi consumer complaints and obtained from 72 telephone interviews with complainants showed the following:(1) 99% of the complaints were on my 1997 to 2002 subject vehicles.(2) most the complainants reported hearing a loud pop while driving or upon starting up the vehicle followed by a loud, repetitive clicking or popping sound.(3) many of the complainants reported that the popping sound was accompanied by some loss of vehicle power; however, in 99% of the incidents reported, the vehicle did not stall.in the very few incidents where the vehicle did stall, most vehicles could be restarted.(4) only a small percentage of the complainants cited that they smelled gas or a slight burning smell when the incident occurred.(5) in all but a very few incidents, vehicle damage was limited to the engine.in one incident, the complaint reported that the fuel rail was damaged and replaced after one of the spark plugs ejected from the engine; however, the complainant reported that the damage did not result in any type of fuel leak or fire.in another incident, the only incident where a fire was alleged, the complainant reported that no fluid leak was observed, but that a fire resulted after the spark plug had ejected from the engine and he had restarted the vehicle and driven to another location.none of the complainants reported any damage to the vehicle hood.(6) only two complainants reported that they observed what appeared to be some drops of fuel coming from the cylinder where the spark plug had failed or on the spark plug itself; however, each of these complainants reported that there was no smoke or flames as a result of his incident.as the petitioner noted, and odi | ||||||
| EA02025 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 09/06/2002 | 06/30/2004 | SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH FIRES | ||
| Based on the low rate of fire incidents (2.5 incidents per 100,000 vehicles sold) where failure of the scds is involved and the age of the vehicles | ||||||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE | ||||||
| DP05005 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 09/22/2005 | 01/04/2006 | SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD | ||
| On september 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 ford vehicles with triton v-8 and v-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or the dealer repairing the vehicle, reported that a spark plug detached from the cylinder and/or ejected from the engine.as of december 8, 2005, odi is not aware of any allegations where the alleged defect resulted in a loss of vehicle control, a crash, an injury, or a fatality in any of the 10,319,810 subject vehicles.in addition, odi is aware of only two incidents where the vehicle stalled without restart.information contained in the odi consumer complaints and obtained from 72 telephone interviews with complainants showed the following:(1) 99% of the complaints were on my 1997 to 2002 subject vehicles.(2) most the complainants reported hearing a loud pop while driving or upon starting up the vehicle followed by a loud, repetitive clicking or popping sound.(3) many of the complainants reported that the popping sound was accompanied by some loss of vehicle power; however, in 99% of the incidents reported, the vehicle did not stall.in the very few incidents where the vehicle did stall, most vehicles could be restarted.(4) only a small percentage of the complainants cited that they smelled gas or a slight burning smell when the incident occurred.(5) in all but a very few incidents, vehicle damage was limited to the engine.in one incident, the complaint reported that the fuel rail was damaged and replaced after one of the spark plugs ejected from the engine; however, the complainant reported that the damage did not result in any type of fuel leak or fire.in another incident, the only incident where a fire was alleged, the complainant reported that no fluid leak was observed, but that a fire resulted after the spark plug had ejected from the engine and he had restarted the vehicle and driven to another location.none of the complainants reported any damage to the vehicle hood.(6) only two complainants reported that they observed what appeared to be some drops of fuel coming from the cylinder where the spark plug had failed or on the spark plug itself; however, each of these complainants reported that there was no smoke or flames as a result of his incident.as the petitioner noted, and odi | ||||||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE | ||||||
| DP05005 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 09/22/2005 | 01/04/2006 | SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD | ||
| On september 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 ford vehicles with triton v-8 and v-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or the dealer repairing the vehicle, reported that a spark plug detached from the cylinder and/or ejected from the engine.as of december 8, 2005, odi is not aware of any allegations where the alleged defect resulted in a loss of vehicle control, a crash, an injury, or a fatality in any of the 10,319,810 subject vehicles.in addition, odi is aware of only two incidents where the vehicle stalled without restart.information contained in the odi consumer complaints and obtained from 72 telephone interviews with complainants showed the following:(1) 99% of the complaints were on my 1997 to 2002 subject vehicles.(2) most the complainants reported hearing a loud pop while driving or upon starting up the vehicle followed by a loud, repetitive clicking or popping sound.(3) many of the complainants reported that the popping sound was accompanied by some loss of vehicle power; however, in 99% of the incidents reported, the vehicle did not stall.in the very few incidents where the vehicle did stall, most vehicles could be restarted.(4) only a small percentage of the complainants cited that they smelled gas or a slight burning smell when the incident occurred.(5) in all but a very few incidents, vehicle damage was limited to the engine.in one incident, the complaint reported that the fuel rail was damaged and replaced after one of the spark plugs ejected from the engine; however, the complainant reported that the damage did not result in any type of fuel leak or fire.in another incident, the only incident where a fire was alleged, the complainant reported that no fluid leak was observed, but that a fire resulted after the spark plug had ejected from the engine and he had restarted the vehicle and driven to another location.none of the complainants reported any damage to the vehicle hood.(6) only two complainants reported that they observed what appeared to be some drops of fuel coming from the cylinder where the spark plug had failed or on the spark plug itself; however, each of these complainants reported that there was no smoke or flames as a result of his incident.as the petitioner noted, and odi | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | |||
| 09/21/2011 | |||
| The oil pan rusted through and caused all the oil to leak out onto the ground. the cruse control computer keeps causing the car to take off or not even work at all when u set it, when the car takes off after setting it the gas peddle goes all the way to the floor and it will not deactivate unless you shut the car off while driving. | |||
| 02/10/2010 | 137000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 1997 lincoln town car. while driving approximately 20 mph, the engine began to misfire. the check engine warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel until the engine was turned off. the failure recurred whenever the vehicle was in operation. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where they informed that the engine manifold would need to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. also, on a separate occasion the front lower control arm fractured and collapsed onto the front driver side wheel. the vehicle was repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 137,000. | |||
| 02/10/2010 | 137000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 1997 lincoln town car. while driving approximately 20 mph, the engine began to misfire. the check engine warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel until the engine was turned off. the failure occurred whenever the vehicle was in operation. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where they informed that the engine manifold would need to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. also, on a separate occasion the front lower control arm fractured and collapsed onto the front driver side wheel. the vehicle was repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 137,000. js | |||
| 07/14/2008 | 105000 | 1 | |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1997 lincoln town car. while driving approximately 65 mph, the engine overheated and a large amount of white smoke expelled from the exhaust. the warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. the contact pulled over to the side of the road and inspected under the hood. he noticed that the coolant was extremely low and allowed the engine to cool completely. he then added water to the radiator reservoir. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and he stated that the failure was related to a blown head gasket. the vehicle was repaired. the failure mileage was 105,000 and current mileage was 107,000. updated 10-29-08 *bf updated 10/30/08. *jb | |||
| 03/07/2008 | 107950 | 1 | 10/01/1997 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1997 lincoln town car. while driving 55 mph, the contact depressed the accelerator pedal and the intake manifold suddenly cracked. the vehicle was towed to the mechanic and they stated that the failure was normal for vehicles that exceeded 100,000 miles. the dealer replaced the manifold, but they believed this should have been recalled years ago. the current mileage is 108,387 and failure mileage was 107,950. updated 05/27/08 *bf | |||
| 10/03/2004 | 95042 | 1 | 02/01/2003 |
| Engine began to run very rough took vehicle to dealer dealer replaced intake manifold and spark plug wires. *nm | |||
| 06/15/2005 | 113100 | 1 | 04/08/1999 |
| Car began to show steam under hood. temperature indicator was maximum. after checking under the hood,the anti-freeze over-flow was empty. i filled with water and continued home. i called my mechanic and he sent a wrecker to tow the car. after inspection, he notified that the intake manifold had split. he indicated there might be a recall on the manifold as the replacement was metal instead of plastic. i called the dealer and he said no recall. *jb | |||
| 06/20/2005 | 81790 | 2 | 09/12/1997 |
| Dt: consumer states that three years ago the engine started smoking, with no warning. they had the vehicle to the dealership and were told the engine had blown. they had an extended warranty but the company that provided the warranty wouldn't cover it. the company did eventually fix the problem. on june 20, 2005 the vehicle started jerking and the consumer pulled over on i-10 at which point the vehicle died. the vehicle was towed to the dealership and they were told the engine needed to be replaced. dealership said they heard a lot of noise in the engine and to break it down it would cost more than replacing it. *jb the consumer stated the first problem was the manifold. | |||
| 02/15/2005 | 117952 | 1 | 12/23/1998 |
| I have 1997 lincoln town car, 4.6l. the plastic intake cracked, causing the engine to overheat and shutdown. towed the vehicle costs 180.00. engine is clattering and moisture coming from the tailpipe. possible cracked cyclinders heads at mininumum. cost to replace is $2000 t0 2500. total engine may be as much as $5,000. from what i can determine this is a major problem with this engine. ford issued a notification to dealers (97m91). i was never notified during the warraty period or since. ford should have recalled this part. as an engineer my self i would have never purchased such an expensive vehicle with such a poor design. plastic and heat don't go together. i have searched the internet and there are hundreds if not thousand of such cases.*ak | |||
| 02/20/2005 | 91000 | 1 | 03/01/1999 |
| During start-up yesterday morning, the engine made a loud knocking sound and there was steam coming out of the passenger side tail pipe. suspecting a blown head gasket, i removed the plugs on the right bank and found the spark plug in the #1 cylinder wet with coolant. i suspect that there was a leak that filled the cylinder with coolant and created a hydraulic lock that bent a connecting rod, thereby causing the knocking sound. on investigating this situation this morning, i found that ford has issued three recalls (97m91, 99m01 & 01m02) regarding this situation but only covers vehicles in fleet applications. i would like to know before i tear the engine down whether this should be covered by ford warranty. i have contacted their customer service line and they say that they will not cover it but i cannot get them one of their supervisors to return my calls. | |||
| 02/04/2005 | 80500 | 1 | 07/20/1998 |
| Coolant leakage, then plastic intake manifold broke, causing engine to overheat. had manifold replaced by repair shop who notified me that ford recalled the manifolds for gov. and corporate vehicles, but not consumer vehicles, and release a service bulletin advising of problem to dealers and to replace with new aluminum manifold that won't crack, a $1,100 repair! if ford admits the defect, why are they allowed to get away with fixing only the cars of the government and corporations. what about the consumer's rights? i am thinking of filing a class action lawsuit to get our rights back. *jb | |||
| 01/20/2005 | 113000 | 1 | 03/19/1997 |
| Coolant leakage, then plastic intake manifold broke, causing engine to stall. had manifold replaced by repair shop who notified me that ford recalled the manifolds for gov. and corporate vehicles, but not consumer vehicles, and release a service bulletin advising of problem to dealers and to replace with new aluminum manifold that won't crack, a $700 repair! if ford admits the defect, why are they allowed to get away with fixing only the cars of the government and corporations. what about the consumer's rights? *jb | |||
| 01/07/2002 | 102372 | 1 | 02/15/2001 |
| The manifold crack while driving, the condition caused a coolant leak and over heating. please provide any further information. *jb | |||
| 07/21/2004 | 80000 | 1 | |
| I had been driving some 20 miles @ 50mph on a rural highway when the overheat warning sounded. stopping and raising the hood revealed that coolant was spraying from the front of the engine. i had the vehicle towed to the place of a certified technician who advised me that the intake manifold was cracked and that it was a common occurence on my type vehicle and that ford motor company would cover the repairs. the local ford dealer denied the coverage and a call to ford customer service confirmed their decision. i learned from other sources that they would warrant this repair on vehicles in police or taxi service but no others. this is a clear admission that the produce is defective and blatant discrimination against a vast group of owners. i was able to purchase genuine parts and get the repairs made at one half the cost quoted by my local ford agency. i am aware that thousands of customers have expirenced the same treatment as i have. it would be very possible for this failure to be responsible for accidents and personal injury.*ak | |||
| 11/15/2003 | 82500 | ||
| 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 nhtsa 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. | |||
| 04/15/2002 | 110000 | ||
| The intake manifold failed. the part is made of plastic and split right along the seam, leaking coolant all over the engine. | |||
| 08/21/2003 | 98000 | 1 | 09/09/1999 |
| Plastic intake manifold on my 1997 lincoln towncar cracked leaving my wife and children stranded over 40 miles from home*ak | |||
| 10/28/2003 | 124500 | 9 | 01/01/2002 |
| The intake manifold on a 97 lincoln town car was originally made of plastic. this manifold has cracked in a large number of cars that use this manifold. these cars include the crown victoria, the mustang and the town car. when purchasing a new manifold, it has been redesigned and a cast iron section has replaced the front plastic section. keep in mind that the rest is still plastic. the manifold supposedly cracks under the pressure of the alternator, which is attached to the front of the manifold. a recall was issued only for fleet and police vehicles. i believe this is unfair to the consumer. ford's engineers made a mistake and they are not claiming responsibility unless the vehicles are part of a fleet. the cost of replacement of the manifold is $975. it's not pocket change even for a lincoln owner. and even if it were just pocket change the owner shouldn't have to pay for an engineering mistake that could have injured someone. the crack in the manifold causes the coolant to leak out of the engine, which could cause other serious repercussions. i, along with many other consumers, feel that ford (lincoln) should take responsibility for this defect.*ak | |||
| 02/04/2003 | 56000 | 03/01/1997 | |
| Intake manifold failure...part made out of plastic. dealer states manufacture had issued a campaign to replace at no charge because they knew part was faulty...but only if vehicle was in taxi or limo service. i am outraged that manufacture acknowledges that part is faulty but does not replace with adequate replacement. vehicle has only 56000 miles. cost to me to repair almost $900.00. call to ford customer service representative has yet to be returned. | |||
| 02/06/2002 | 1 | 04/01/1998 | |
| I was driving down a remote highway with the car on cruise control going 60mph. the high temperature alarm sounded, so i immediately pulled over. i opened the hood and hot coolant was spraying out all over the engine. since the coolant reservoir was still over half full, i drove downhill going only 25mph, to a populated area approximately 1.5 miles away where i could receive assistance. i called a tow truck and had to be towed 75 miles to the lincoln dealership in las vegas, nv. i left the car, and was later informed that the intake manifold had failed and had to be replaced. i picked up the car the next day, only drove a few miles and realized something was still wrong, so i immediately returned the car to desert lincoln-mercury. they took it back into the shop to look it over...returning it after about 30 minutes. they said that coolant had leaked into the spark plug sockets and they had to remove them and blow out the fluid. the service manager told me that the intake manifolds on 97 lincolns failed quite often and he figured that eventually ford would have to recall them. i was sent off again with the assurance that my vehicle was repaired. two days later i tried to start the car and it wouldn't start without repeated efforts. i called lincoln and they told me to drive the car back to las vegas...approximately 35 miles away. they kept the car for three days and then informed me that the cylinders were warped from the coolant and that i needed a new engine. i am furious that ford motor company knowingly leaves parts on their vehicles that are obviously faulty. the intake manifolds on some 97 lincoln town cars have been recalled, but apparently not on those with our particular vin number. the defective intake manifold was plastic and the new ones are metal. which again shows that ford knows the part is the defective and will cause problems. now i'm stuck with paying a fortune for a new engine. ford shouldn't be allowed to get away with this. | |||
| 09/08/1997 | 3 | 07/16/1997 | |
| Check engine light comes on. | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM | |||
| 10/16/2006 | 99000 | 1 | 09/01/2004 |
| I am the owner of a 1997 lincoln town car. my wife was driving the car today with her mother and 2 children, ages 2 1/2 yrs & 4 wks. the engine suddenly began to loose coolant fluid rapidly and overheated. this left all of them stranded. after having the vehicle towed into a repair shop, we were notified it had a cracked intake manifold. it only has 99k miles. then i was informed that this was normal considering it had a plastic manifold. after researching this issue, i have found thousands with the same problem, but of course ford is willing to handle the big guys (i.e.; government fleets and taxis services) and get their problems fixed. of course us little guys must spend the money to replace some guys project with plastic. they would loose money if they didn't take care of their money bag, the big guys. so tell me why i have to pay $1000 to fix their screw up. i think their needs to be another class action to make ford pay for their mistake. i am paying for mine, buying a ford. *nm | |||
| 03/30/2006 | 96500 | 1 | 06/15/2004 |
| I am not covered by the recent settlement on my 1997 town car both because of it's age is just outside the covered range, and because the manifold only failed yesterday. the manifold cracked on interstate 293 in manchester, nh. when the car shifted into overdrive after accelerating slightly steam came from under the car due to coolant loss. the engine did not overheat, because i was able to stop and call for help quickly. i am the second owner of the car. it has 96,000 miles on it, has been well maintained, and otherwise has never had a mechanical problem. i have been quoted $900 to repair this problem. the intake manifold should be considered a lifetime part, mine cracked without being abused. *nm | |||
| 08/24/2004 | 109550 | 1 | 03/20/2002 |
| Upper plastic manifold broke and leaked out coolant while traveling. repair was made by replacing manifold at a cost of $812.89. reported this to ford dealer after settlement date and was told that the repair was made after 7 year warranty period had expired. *jb | |||
| 05/23/2005 | 151020 | 1 | 11/12/2001 |
| Manifold developed a engine coolent crack. repair was $1150. car had to be towed to dealer for repair. manifold was replaced. manifold is made from plastic. internet research shows that this is very common defect. | |||
| 06/01/2004 | 1 | ||
| Complaint concerning plastic intake manifold on 1997 lincoln town car.*mr the vehicle's manifold cracked without warning and caused coolant to leak from the vehicle. the consume requested reimbursement but was refused. *nm | |||
| 04/06/2004 | 144000 | 1 | 04/14/2003 |
| 1997 lincol towncar-intake manifold cracked and spewed out antifreeze causing a blanket of whit smoke endagering the vehicles behind me. the manufacturer knew in advance that this plastic manifold was defective. i had to get a wrtecker and the repair cost me $1,100.00. ford should be held liable | |||
| 10/28/2003 | 124500 | 9 | 01/01/2002 |
| The intake manifold on a 97 lincoln town car was originally made of plastic. this manifold has cracked in a large number of cars that use this manifold. these cars include the crown victoria, the mustang and the town car. when purchasing a new manifold, it has been redesigned and a cast iron section has replaced the front plastic section. keep in mind that the rest is still plastic. the manifold supposedly cracks under the pressure of the alternator, which is attached to the front of the manifold. a recall was issued only for fleet and police vehicles. i believe this is unfair to the consumer. ford's engineers made a mistake and they are not claiming responsibility unless the vehicles are part of a fleet. the cost of replacement of the manifold is $975. it's not pocket change even for a lincoln owner. and even if it were just pocket change the owner shouldn't have to pay for an engineering mistake that could have injured someone. the crack in the manifold causes the coolant to leak out of the engine, which could cause other serious repercussions. i, along with many other consumers, feel that ford (lincoln) should take responsibility for this defect.*ak | |||
| 11/04/2003 | 68018 | 1 | 07/13/2000 |
| Lincoln towncar 1997- intake manifold;cross over made of plastic cracked while driving on interstate hwy in ga, causing the antifreeze to leak out and endanger the driver of stalling . vehicle w/o antifreeze started to overheat was close to an exit and got off interstate in time. there are numereous customers that have this same problem. manufacturer knew that plastic was not the appropriate material for a cooling system cross-over device in a vehicles engine such as the lincoln.... this is a high end car..... such inferior materials should not be used. ford should replace this part at no cost to consumer when it fails..this is a dangerous flaw.. could cost serious accidents and injury when vehicle overheats and stops on a interstate high speed. consumer should not have to pay for manufacturers poor judgement and mistakes. *ak | |||
| 06/26/2003 | 99323 | 1 | 09/18/2001 |
| 1997 lincoln town car intake manifold: cross-over channel coolant seepage (the intake manifold is made of plastic and prone to cracks) coolant runs through part of the cross-over channel of the intake manifold. | |||
| 11/01/2000 | 1 | 05/01/2000 | |
| Part is plastic. similar vehicles have been recalled. failure of this part in turn caused the heads to warp. we have lost approximately 2 weeks of revenue from this vehicle. *ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE | |||
| 10/22/2009 | 65000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 1997 lincoln town car . the contact stated that when driving at low speeds the vehicle will stall. the vehicle has to be shifted into neutral so that the vehicle can be turned back on. this has occurred multiple times. the dealer was informed about the failure and they stated that there is no recall . the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 65000 and the current mileage was 77000.cv | |||
| 02/15/2005 | 117952 | 1 | 12/23/1998 |
| I have 1997 lincoln town car, 4.6l. the plastic intake cracked, causing the engine to overheat and shutdown. towed the vehicle costs 180.00. engine is clattering and moisture coming from the tailpipe. possible cracked cyclinders heads at mininumum. cost to replace is $2000 t0 2500. total engine may be as much as $5,000. from what i can determine this is a major problem with this engine. ford issued a notification to dealers (97m91). i was never notified during the warraty period or since. ford should have recalled this part. as an engineer my self i would have never purchased such an expensive vehicle with such a poor design. plastic and heat don't go together. i have searched the internet and there are hundreds if not thousand of such cases.*ak | |||
| 06/08/2004 | 38249 | 1 | |
| The plastic intake manifold cracked and leaked coolant fluid all over the engine. as a result the vehicle stalled while driving. *bf the consumer request reimbursement fro the expenses he incurred as a result of the cracked intake manifold. *nm | |||
| 10/12/2004 | 90000 | 2 | 05/06/2000 |
| Upon starting the vehicle it sounded as if a rod was being thrown. the consumer took the vehicle to the repair shop and they tried starting the vehicle again, but the same thing occurred. the mechanic told the consumer to shut the vehicle off. suddenly the oil pressure dropped. *jb the engine spun the bearing and there was a rattle in the engine area. *sc | |||
| 08/15/2004 | 82000 | 1 | 06/11/2004 |
| 1997 lincoln town car - intake manifold cracked open loosing coolant and over heated. *jb | |||
| 05/18/2003 | 1 | ||
| Ltr fm w.o. rosendahl (tx) re defective manifold for a 1997 lincoln town car, wants ford to replace the manifold even though his vehicle was not part of ford's voluntary replacement program, reply attn. james aldredge@the austin, tx ofc. *ph while driving, the engine lost coolant, the vehicle was towed to a ford dealership and the consumer was informed the vehicle had a cracked intake manifold. *jb | |||
| 08/28/2003 | 92650 | 1 | 11/09/1997 |
| Intake manifold blew on interstate highway, endangering me and pickup truck behind me. *jb | |||
| 05/01/2003 | 1 | ||
| Ltr fr william rosendahl (tx) owner of a 1997 lincoln tow car oppose ford motor company using defective plastic intake manifolds on vehicle suggest nhtsa investigate reply to the dallas tx district ofc. *ph *mr *jb | |||
| 10/28/2003 | 124500 | 9 | 01/01/2002 |
| The intake manifold on a 97 lincoln town car was originally made of plastic. this manifold has cracked in a large number of cars that use this manifold. these cars include the crown victoria, the mustang and the town car. when purchasing a new manifold, it has been redesigned and a cast iron section has replaced the front plastic section. keep in mind that the rest is still plastic. the manifold supposedly cracks under the pressure of the alternator, which is attached to the front of the manifold. a recall was issued only for fleet and police vehicles. i believe this is unfair to the consumer. ford's engineers made a mistake and they are not claiming responsibility unless the vehicles are part of a fleet. the cost of replacement of the manifold is $975. it's not pocket change even for a lincoln owner. and even if it were just pocket change the owner shouldn't have to pay for an engineering mistake that could have injured someone. the crack in the manifold causes the coolant to leak out of the engine, which could cause other serious repercussions. i, along with many other consumers, feel that ford (lincoln) should take responsibility for this defect.*ak | |||
| 02/04/2003 | 56000 | 03/01/1997 | |
| Intake manifold failure...part made out of plastic. dealer states manufacture had issued a campaign to replace at no charge because they knew part was faulty...but only if vehicle was in taxi or limo service. i am outraged that manufacture acknowledges that part is faulty but does not replace with adequate replacement. vehicle has only 56000 miles. cost to me to repair almost $900.00. call to ford customer service representative has yet to be returned. | |||
| 05/30/1998 | 4 | 10/01/1997 | |
| While driving the vehicle will cut off at any time below 30mph in reverse/ braking. dealer contacted more than four times and cannot duplicate the problem. *ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE | |||
| 02/17/2005 | 69103 | 1 | 12/22/1999 |
| *driving in heavy traffic on i-680 in omaha. below freezing temps. *intake manifold failed...resulting in sprying coolent on windshilds of vehicals *behind me and a large cloud of steam. resulting in panic braking and close calls. *taken to dealer for part replacement. *recalls for this same part are on the ford crown victoria's and limo's including lincoln limo. not on lincoln sedans or the mercury with same problem. * i was very lucky that this did not happen just 2 week prior, where i had my family in the car traveling in s. dakota at -25 degree temps late in the evening. | |||
| 06/24/2004 | 65000 | 1 | 03/10/2001 |
| Driving from a surface street onto a major arterial, a 1997 lincoln towncar original plastic intake manifold cracked, spewing coolant and engine oil from motor, when the vehicle accelerated to and attained 55 mph. motor requires replacement. if ford has a better idea, i sure wish they'd share it with their customers. i feel lucky to have steered from the major arterial upon which i was driving, without any additional negative consequence to myself or another person or vehicle. it is not a fun experience to have your engine blow at 55 miles an hour! fomoco should have a major recall to repair this item before more persons and property are imperiled.*ak | |||
| 07/17/2002 | 1 | ||
| While in motion, the palstic intake manifold suffered a fatigue crack. there are three recall programs and a seven year extended warranty issued but none covered this vehicle. consumer requests reimbursement for monies paid for repairs to this vehicle and that this vehicle be added under the recall program. *jg (steven swann attorney at law on behalf of mr. and mrs. fabrikant.) | |||
| 07/01/1997 | 2 | ||
| Consumer stated this vehicle also experienced stalling while driving, dealer could not remedy problem, consumer no longer owns this vehicle. *jb | |||
| 08/06/2001 | |||
| Vehicle would stall out at slow to moderate speeds of 25-30mph, and when making turns. dealer could not find cause. *ak | |||
| 09/15/1999 | 1 | 06/30/1997 | |
| Vehicle has died several times. the consumer took vehicle to the dealership, and still is having a problem. *ak | |||
| While driving engine cut off. also, electrical instrument panel failed. dealer has vehicle. *ak | |||
| When driving under 10mph or when coming to a stop vehicle cuts completely off. dealer has seen vehicle 3 times, but no solution was found. *ak | |||
| 1 | 11/01/1996 | ||
| Engine does not shut off completely. mjs | |||
| While driving the vehicle engine shuts down, causing vehicle to stall. please provide details. *ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM | |||
| 07/30/2005 | 79158 | 1 | 06/30/1997 |
| Intake manifold failure. *jb | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL | |||
| While driving vehicle stalled out at least 3-4 times a week. has taken vehicle to dealership & mechanic placed vehicle on diagnostic machine. no code came up. mechanic did replace fuel filter/ idler/ neck in fuel tank & a canister. but, problem still exists. *ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | |||
| 03/07/2008 | 107950 | 1 | 10/01/1997 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1997 lincoln town car. while driving 55 mph, the contact depressed the accelerator pedal and the intake manifold suddenly cracked. the vehicle was towed to the mechanic and they stated that the failure was normal for vehicles that exceeded 100,000 miles. the dealer replaced the manifold, but they believed this should have been recalled years ago. the current mileage is 108,387 and failure mileage was 107,950. updated 05/27/08 *bf | |||
| 09/07/2004 | 80000 | 12 | 07/01/2004 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1997 lincoln town car. while driving 10 mph, the vehicle stalled when the accelerator pedal was depressed. the power brakes and steering lost power and the check engine warning indicator light illuminated. the vehicle was able to be restarted. the dealer stated that the intake manifold had a leak. the vin was unknown. the failure mileage was 80,000 and current mileage was 130,000. | |||
| 06/08/2004 | 56000 | 1 | 09/04/1999 |
| While surfing the web my husband came across an article about ford intake manifolds we have a 1997 lincoln town car that this cracked on in 2004 which resulted in replacing the engine. when i called ford this had already been settled as it was not a recall but class action suit & not done in a dealer shop sorry about my luck. *jb | |||
| 03/22/2007 | 90000 | 1 | 07/11/2000 |
| Intake manifold cracked and started leaking coolant due to manufacturing defect, causing lots of steam and the inability to see ,almost resulting an accident. also, where the crack always occurred it allowed water to pour onto the electrical system, creating the potential for a fire. the intake manifold was replaced with one of a new design with an aluminum sleeve built in to the polymer composite intake manifold. a law suite settled on this matter. *ak | |||
| 01/01/1901 | 1 | ||
| Consumer was not sent a recall notice for his vehicle . recall expired april 2006. *ts the consumer was inquiring about a recall related to the engine manifold. *jb | |||
| 01/01/2004 | 120000 | 1 | 12/01/2001 |
| Dt*: the contact stated the intake manifold cracked and had to be replaced. the vehicle was taken into an independent mechanic for service. a letter was received by the manufacturer regarding reimbursement for those who had to replace the manifold in their vehicle. the contact notified the manufacturer and was informed that the reimbursement had expired. the contact never received reimbursement. updated 12/15/06. *jb | |||
| 06/30/2006 | 1 | 06/30/2006 | |
| I recently purchased a 1997 lincoln town car in june 2006. a few weeks ago, i learned of the class action suit against ford automobiles regarding faulty plastic intake manifolds used in several of their cars. i also learned that my car model and year fall under the class of cars that are mentioned in the suit, but the settlement period has since expired. when i purchased the car, i was not notified of the faulty intake manifolds nor did i have knowledge of a past lawsuit that was settled. my car still has the old intake manifold that is prone to cracking and there appears that there is nothing i can do about it except hope it doesn't crack. even though it hasn't cracked yet, i am upset that i was not warned or notified about this. i also feel it is unfair to recall fleet versions of my vehicle but not civilian vehicles like mine. is there anything i can do? is ford going to recall vehicles with the plastic intake manifold anytime soon? *jb | |||
| 11/30/2005 | 117000 | 1 | 09/12/1997 |
| Dt: contact stated the vehicle stalled at low speeds and the engine light was on. he was told by an independent mechanic it was a manifold leak. the dealer has not been contacted. the manufacturer offered no free remedy. due to the excessive expense no repairs have been made. *ak | |||
| 08/01/2005 | 65000 | 1 | 06/10/2002 |
| Dt: the consumer stated the plastic intake manifold cracked. the consumer had to replace the manifold at a cost $1600.00. the owner was hoping that there may be a recall on the manifold. the car was fine before this. the car was running well and a metal intake manifold was put on. the dealer could not help because of the age of the car.*ak *jb | |||
| 03/10/2002 | 2 | ||
| Driver noticed that both frontal seat belts do not retract back. while driving driver noticed fluid leaking from underneath the vehicle. driver took vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the intake manifold needed to be replaced. *ak updated 12-12-07. *kb the consumer stated while driving, coolant leaked from the vehicle. the consumer was informed the vehicle had a defective intake manifold. the ball joints were defective and one of them had already failed. updated *jb | |||
| 02/09/2005 | 69000 | 1 | 12/28/1998 |
| While driving 55-60 mph vehicle lost coolant. vehicle was towed to the dealer, who informed consumer that the intake manfold cracked, causing loss of coolant. *ak | |||
| 11/02/2004 | 72240 | 1 | 05/29/2000 |
| While on i-84 in waterbury,ct large amounts of smoke were emitting from rear of vehicle. stopped and raised hood to find anti-freeze covering engine. had my 1997 lincoln town car towed to ford/lincoln/mercury repair shop. i was informed that the plastic intake manifold had cracked and that this is a common occurance. private passenger vehicles are not covered under the recall, however commercial vehicles are covered. other ford mo co vehicles are also having same problem. called customer assistance and was told that my vehicle is not covered and to proceed with the $1100 repair and save this bill in the event of a future recall which will entitle a refund. ($750 parts,labor $350 plus taxes). car is currently in repair shop.*ak | |||
| 09/29/2004 | 150000 | 1 | |
| The radiator leaked. dealer stated that manifold was cracked because it was modified with metal instead of plastic manufacturer stated there was nothing they could do. *ak | |||
| 09/01/2004 | 1 | ||
| Problems with intake manifold on 1997 lincoln towncars.*mr *jb | |||
| 06/14/2004 | 1 | 06/15/1999 | |
| Driving car car over heating due to a cracked intake manifold ( made of plastic ?) in shop now for repairs approxmate cost $ 1000.00 or more plus $200.00 towing. | |||
| 06/03/2004 | 98694 | 1 | 02/08/1999 |
| Vehicle would stalled intermittently without warning while driving. vehicle was taken to the dealer who determined that the intake manifold was cracked and caused coolant to leak and flood the alternator. *nm *nm | |||
| 05/14/2004 | 59138 | 1 | |
| While on a trip from florida to illinois in mid may 2004, in a rural area about 50 miles west of chattanooga,tn, the over temp. warning sounded. i investigated and found the whole engine compartment was covered with coolant. by allowing the engine to cool and adding water several times, i was able to limp to a repair shop. they found the intake manifold crossover had failed and the part was not available and would have to be ordered from out of state. this was friday afternoon and the expensive lincoln town car could not be repaired until the following monday (if the part arrived by then) monday evening we were on our way again - back to florida. we had missed our commitments in illinois due to the delay and had to cancel our trip. as a couple in their late 70's, i feel we were exposed to a potentially dangerous situation and unnecessary expense because of a known defect and poor design on the part of the ford motor co. *la | |||
| 05/19/2004 | 56000 | 1 | 09/19/1997 |
| While driving 25 mph the driver noticed smoke coming from underneath the hood. the driver was able to maintain control of the vehicle and drove it to a body shop. the mechanic informed the driver that the intake manifold needed to be replaced due to a blow out. *nm *nm | |||
| 04/19/2004 | 82169 | 1 | 02/05/2002 |
| While driving at 65 mph vehicle overheated. vehicle was taken to an independent shop, and mechanic determined that intake manifold cracked. and coolant spilled inside the engine. *ak the manufacturer was contacted but refused to provide and financial assistance (intake manifold #1l2z9439aa). *nm | |||
| 04/17/2004 | 1 | ||
| While driving consumer noticed black smoke coming from the engine. consumer drove the vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that intake manifold failed, and replaced intake manifold, *ak *la | |||
| 04/13/2004 | 1 | ||
| Plastic intake manifold cracked, causing the water to run out. consumer had it repaired. the plastic piece was replaced with a metal piece. he searched on the internet, but there were no recalls. *ak | |||
| 03/15/2004 | 1 | ||
| While approaching an intersection temperature gauge registered hot on the dashboard panel, and steam was coming from underneath the hood. driver was able pull over, and filled the vehicle up with water. then, drove it to a gas station for repair. the mechanic replaced the intake manifold valve. *ak | |||
| 1 | 05/01/2000 | ||
| The vehicle's upper intake manifold cracked. *ph *nm | |||
| 02/06/2004 | 90000 | 1 | 09/15/1997 |
| While driving 45-50 mph vehicle overheated. the consumer pulled to the side, raised the hood, and saw water coming from the intake manifold. the consumer left the vehicle by the side of the road and called a tow truck. at the dealer mechanic determined that the intake manifold busted and water was leaking. *ak *sc | |||
| 01/25/2004 | 62982 | 1 | |
| While driving intake manifold would failed. this caused anti freeze to leak, and smoke started to come from under the hood.*ak | |||
| 01/04/2004 | 56217 | 1 | 05/17/2002 |
| Defective plastic part in the manifold that blew out causing car to lose power. car was just sucking in air. | |||
| 12/13/2003 | 9900 | 1 | |
| While driving steam came out from under the hood, and blocked the driver's view. this was caused by the plastic intake manifold cracking, and antifreeze leaking into the engine compartment. tsb 95m71 bulletin was issued on this problem. *ak | |||
| 11/20/2003 | 93000 | 1 | |
| While driving the vehicle at an undetermined speed the vehicle stalled, causing the consumer to pull off the road. the consumer took the vehicle to a mechanic, who informed the owner that the intake manifold had failed. please add any additional information. *ph | |||
| 11/28/2003 | 90150 | 1 | 09/15/1997 |
| Failure of intake manifold - crack in upper front of manifold. lose of coolant fluids. i contacted lincoln customer service at 800/392-3673 and was told that lincoln is well aware of this problem but will do nothing about it. their recall is for commercial vehicles only - they will not address private vehicles. i was told they have a standard answer for this common problem and no one in management will talk with me concerning it. i checked on the internet and found that this is a very common problem with town cars from 1995 through 2001, as well as crown voctorias and mercury marquis. repair runs about $900.00. lincoln has redesigned this plastic manifold to a combination plastic/metal one with the metal being at the point of most stress. *nlm | |||
| 11/12/2003 | 10/24/2003 | ||
| Lincoln town car 1997 model 4.6l has defective air intake manifold that is covered in 1998-2000 models by way of recall. the 1997 model has the same defective part but is not covered by the recall. not fair. | |||
| 10/28/2003 | 124500 | 9 | 01/01/2002 |
| The intake manifold on a 97 lincoln town car was originally made of plastic. this manifold has cracked in a large number of cars that use this manifold. these cars include the crown victoria, the mustang and the town car. when purchasing a new manifold, it has been redesigned and a cast iron section has replaced the front plastic section. keep in mind that the rest is still plastic. the manifold supposedly cracks under the pressure of the alternator, which is attached to the front of the manifold. a recall was issued only for fleet and police vehicles. i believe this is unfair to the consumer. ford's engineers made a mistake and they are not claiming responsibility unless the vehicles are part of a fleet. the cost of replacement of the manifold is $975. it's not pocket change even for a lincoln owner. and even if it were just pocket change the owner shouldn't have to pay for an engineering mistake that could have injured someone. the crack in the manifold causes the coolant to leak out of the engine, which could cause other serious repercussions. i, along with many other consumers, feel that ford (lincoln) should take responsibility for this defect.*ak | |||
| 08/31/2003 | 79098 | 1 | 09/27/1997 |
| While on a trip our plastic intake manifold ruptured and cracked leaving us stranded. we were told this exact part was covered by warranty on the mercury marquise and the crown victoria. we own a 1997 lincoln town car which costs more than the mercury and feel since this is the exact same part it should also be covered, since evidently there was a flaw with this part. this cost us 839.00 dollars to repair. when calling ford they said it was covered on some makes but not on ours. our big question is why!!!!!?*ak | |||
| 08/19/2003 | 83500 | 1 | 09/05/1997 |
| Dealer replaced the plastic intake manifold. the vehicle had a coolant leaked. *ak *ph *jb | |||
| 05/18/2003 | 115075 | 1 | 02/01/1999 |
| The consumer stated that while driving and without warning the plastic intake manifold blew out and caused coolant to leak. the manufacturer issued a recall but only for certain vehicles. the consumer requested reimbursement for the repairs. *ak *cb *nlm | |||
| 08/01/2002 | 58213 | 1 | 01/01/1999 |
| Consumer called had problems with the intake manifold. dealer was contacted and stated that if there is a recall they wil get back with him. ts intake manifold split and had to be replaced. *tt | |||
| 12/22/2002 | 05/14/1998 | ||
| While driving and without warning intake manifold cracked causing coolant fluid to leak. dealer notified. ts. *ak | |||
| 05/10/2002 | 1 | 03/01/1997 | |
| At 65-70 mph steam came from under the hood, enough to fog up the windshield. dealer determined that plastic manifold had cracked, flooding engine with coolant.*ak consumer feels that lincoln knew of a problem with the original manifold because when the manifold was replaced, it was replaced with an aluminum made manifold. consumer has the original molding in possession available for inspection. *jg | |||
| 05/28/2002 | |||
| While driving consumer noticed steam coming from under the hood. vehicle was taken to dealer, who determined there was a split in manifold, causing coolant to leak.*ak | |||
| 11/27/2001 | 1 | 07/01/2001 | |
| Engine manifold failed spraying coolant on windshield while at high speed on road, manifold recalled on many similar vehicles. *ak | |||