Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
97601111/01/1997605804Experiencing difficulty diagnosing vehicles with evaporative fuel system diagnostic trouble codes. *tt07/26/1999
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - CARBURETOR SYSTEM
9622510/21/199650944Mass air flow sensor - replacement as an assembly - service tip. *tw06/17/1997
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - STORAGE - TANK ASSEMBLY
CSP 08B0405/15/200810026401Ford/lincoln mercury: certain 1992-2001 model year crown victoria, grand marquis, and town car vehicles registered in the states of wisconsin and connecticut upgrade modifications for high speed rear impacts. *pe10/24/2008
01211410/29/2001627791Parts and procedure to reduce the potential of fuel tank punctures during rare and extremely high-speed rear impacts. *tt02/25/2002
1486204/01/2001619299Information on replacing fuel tank strap bolts. *tt05/23/2001
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
039805/12/200310002780Malfunction indicator lamp (mil) illumination with diagnostic trouble codes p0442, p0455, p0456, p0457, p1442 or check fuel cap lamp illuminated with diagnostic trouble code p0457. *tt09/17/2003
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER - STORAGE - TANK ASSEMBLY
CSP 08B0405/15/200810026401Ford/lincoln mercury: certain 1992-2001 model year crown victoria, grand marquis, and town car vehicles registered in the states of wisconsin and connecticut upgrade modifications for high speed rear impacts. *pe10/24/2008

Investigations


NHTSA IDManufacturerDate openDate closeSubjectRecall campaign
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - STORAGE
SQ01014FORD MOTOR COMPANY11/27/200110/03/2002POST REAR END COLLISION FIRES02I003000
 Allege fuel tank can rupture following a high-energy rear collision resulting in severe fires.

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
05/28/19991811/29/1997
 An extremely strong mildew odor is coming from the air conditioning unit, causing passengers to become ill. dealer states odor is due to coil which is too tight around air conditioner, preventing water to escape, and causing mildew odor. *ak emergency brake shoes were replaced. brakes squeal, dealer has replaced front brake pads, resurfaced rotors, lubed caliper slides, replaced rear brake pads, machined rear rotors, however brakes still squeal. both rear wheels were covered with gear lube. drivers shoulder belt would not retract at times, dealer replaced seat belt. noise and thimping felt in steering when making turns, dealer lubed stops. left front window inoperable, dealer replaced window regulater. front roof welt loose and broken, dealer replaced. front door pull trim missing. blend doors inoperable, will not blow air through defrost vent. ash tray will not close. ac/heater emits a musty/moldy odor, the odor not only permeates the passenger, but is also in the trunk,there is no condensation being released by the ac, many things along with the moisture purge module have been replaced and problem still persists, system has been sanitized several times, ac max button does not work. motor goes on 45 minutes after vehicle is turned off, this blows through the front defroster and steams up the front windshield. door handle is inoperable. vinyl trim at top of console is loose. engine stalled at stops when cold, dealer replaced maf and fuel pump. *slc
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - CARBURETOR SYSTEM
07/17/20021
 While driving engine overheated and died. vehicle was towed to dealer, dealer indicated that intake manifold cracked . consumer stateed that manifold should be metal. *ak the consumer was requesting reimbursement of intake manifold repair cost. *yh
06/29/20021
 While driving, vehicle started to overheat, intake manifold broke.*ak *slc
06/14/2002104/28/1999
 While driving 65-70 mph, there was steam coming from under the hood, vehicle lost all cooling fluid. dealer determined that intake manifold had a 3 inch fatigue crack.*ak consumer had received recall 97m91 regarding this problem and is requesting reimbursement. *slc
06/11/20021
 Consumer was informed of water leaking, vehicle taken to a repair shop and informed of a cracked intake manifold. manufacturer was notified. *ak consumer states that the intake manifold failed in a forward area that was made of plastic, consumer is requesting reimbursement. *slc
05/09/2002101/01/1999
 While driving, steam came from the bottom of vehicle. consumer took vehicle to dealer. dealer stated that intake manifold hose had melted which was made out of plastic. *ak
11/26/2001112/01/2000
 A bulletin (# 97m91, & 97m91-s1 dated may 1996) was issued by ford motor co informing owners of 1997 lincoln towncar, that this vehicle may develop fatigue cracks in some of the composite intake manifolds used on the 4.6 l sohc engines installed in the effected cars. this condition happened to my auto and i broke down in the calif desert and had to be towed to the nearest town where i had to have it fixed in order to return home. the dealer in the town in calif said that there is a recall on this problem. when i returned home i contacted the dealer and they said that my engine was not covered. i would like to know why?? i have written ford motor co but they do not answer any of my letters. please help me. thank you
02/06/2002104/01/1998
 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.
11/26/20011
 Ford published owner notification 97m91 # & #2 . notification says that my 1997 lincoln with engine 4.6l sohc built in wixom plant has some vehicles have defective intake manafolds. my intake manafold failed (bursted) on 11-26-2001 in the middle of th calif desert and was towed to the nearst town where i was told by the repair garage that my intake manafold cracked. i had to have it repaired at that time and place. when i returned home i contacted my dealer and they said my car was not under the so called recall. i have contacted the ford customer service and they reply sorry. if they have a problem with the intake manafold on 1997 lincoln towncar with the same engine i have and built the same year and at the same plant, then why ismine not covered. please help. *ak
01/03/2002
 While driving smoke and steam came from vehicle due to intake manifold malfunctioning. please give any further details.*ak
12/15/2001
 Intake manifold has a 4 inch crack, behind alternator.*ak
07/24/2001107/01/1999
 A failure/fatigue crack developed in the composite intake manifold, causing loss of engine coolant, steaming/covering vehicle windshield, obscuring vision, also on windshields of other following vehicles. this is a defect/failure known to ford motor company, and a no charge service bulletin # 01m02 has been issued on certian other vehicles, the service propgram provides additional coverage for the intake manifold. this should apply to all vehicles with this defective part, not just selected vehicles. the failure of this part while operating at highway speeds presents a safety hazard to the driver and other following vehicles. it can also result in overheating & complete engine failure. ford has extended a no charge coverage on this part for the selected vehicles for seven years and no milage limitation, and is is also extented automatically to subsequent owners. this should be extended to owners of all vehicles woth this defective part. ford motor company coustomer service has rejected / denied/ refused any calaim for refund when contacted by telephone. they have not replied to two request by mail. thank you for your attention to this matter.*ak
07/06/2001108/01/1997
 While driving at 25 mph, vehicle commenced to overheat and leaked coolant. tow truck arrived and informed consumer that problem was a cracked intake manifold. dealer and manufacturer were notified, and unwilling to assist in this matter. *ak *yd
11/14/2000110/01/1998
 Intake manifold is made of plastic and ford recalled the police cars and replaced them early on in 1997 according to service personnel at ford dealership, also as soon as i can get the information on my dad's lincoln town a 97 also, his intake failed on his one week after mine, his had 80,000+ miles. this is not supposed to happen to an integral part of the engine as this. he had his replaced at the dealership and i saved a $125.00 by having mine replaced at my local garage. his costs was around $550. it was replaced with another plastic intake and the ford parts personnel said it was a stronger one. my bet is, that it will not hold up to the intense heat and vibration any better. this is a very poor use of plastic, everyone knows any kind of plastic degrades under heat and becomes brittle over time. i suspect there are many failures out there or soon will be, especially since ford called the police cars back in and changed them out. they would incur the most mileage and show the problems the quickest,just by their normal use. i realize that the police use crown victorias but they had the same 4.6 engine and intake setup. like i have written, i will follow up with my dad's information as soon as i can get him to retreive it, he lives in w.v and has talked to the corporate headquarters and the local dealership there, but still had to pay for it himself. please let me know if there is anything that will be done and if there are other failures of this type out there. thanks in advance. *ak
09/04/19991
 Intake manifold failed. mjs
1
 Lower control arm broke, dropping vehicle to the ground, and consumer lost power steering. also, while applying the brakes, brakes failed due to a broken brake line. *ak consumer stated carburetor is stuck causing engine to race at high rpm, intake manifold failed causing engine damage. *jb
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - DELIVERY - HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
 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
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - STORAGE - TANK ASSEMBLY - FILLER PIPE AND CAP
 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