Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING - COLUMN LOCKING - ANTI-THEFT DEVICE | |||||
| 17297 | 10/01/2003 | 10004939 | Passive anti-theft system (pats) do not come with a steering wheel lock. *tt | 01/20/2004 | |
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - PUMP | |||||
| 16802 | 04/01/2003 | 10002672 | Excessive power steering pump noise at cold start. *tt | 09/10/2003 | |
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | |||||
| 16663 | 02/01/2003 | 10002513 | Power steering lower assist at low speeds / steering light feel at higher speeds. *tt | 09/04/2003 | |
| STEERING - WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR | |||||
| 15920 | 05/01/2002 | 637820 | Some vehicles equipped with a passive anti-theft system (pats) may exhibit steering wheel lock and transmission shift selector that will not move out of park. *tt | 12/06/2002 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | |||
| 12/05/2010 | 25000 | ||
| Lower steering shaft is binding at 25,000 miles i find this to be a defect ford should be required to pay for. this defect makes sterring very hard, like having limited power steering, and it grabs and binds as you turn the wheel. i replaced the part at my own expense, part #5w1z-3b676-aa and installed it myself. it cost 168.00 usd, with a discount. this is the second town car i have had to do this repair to. | |||
| 07/12/2008 | 29000 | 1 | 12/12/2005 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 lincoln town car. the contact has had two alternators installed in her vehicle within the last six months. this does not include the one that came with the vehicle at the time of purchase. while driving 30 and 60 mph, the vehicle will lose power and the engine shuts off. in addition, the power steering and brakes fail. all of the instrument panel indicators flash on and off at the time of the failure. occasionally, the vehicle will take a minute before restarting. the vehicle is currently at the dealer, but they could find no failures. the contact would have to pay $90 per hour for a diagnostic. the failure mileage was 29,000. updated 03/09/09. *lj the alternator was replaced due to it overcharging. the battery was replaced as well. the trunk would not close properly. updated 03/10/09. *jb | |||
| STEERING - COLUMN | |||
| 06/23/2009 | 68000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2003 lincoln town car. the metal piece that secures the steering column came apart. this part was also responsible for allowing the column to rotate in a circular motion. the vehicle was taken to the dealer twice and the metal piece was replaced. the repairs did not remedy the failure. he then purchased parts and modified the steering column. the failure mileage was 68,000. | |||
| STEERING - ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | |||
| 05/02/2005 | 153600 | 25 | 02/02/2005 |
| When vehicle engine is running and turn signals are actuated, the digital dash, turn signals, and air conditioner cuts off. additionally, steering effort increases substantially, abs cycles off and back on when the power is restored. the duration may be momentary (less than 5 seconds) or last for a minute or longer. frequency is 80+ percent of the time when the turn signals are engaged (left or right). i have had another ford vehicle which gave problems with this multi-function switch also. ford has a poorly designed turn signal-windshield wiper-washer switch compounded by the fact power is shunted through this switch all the time, causing overheating and premature failures. this lincoln is not an incomplete vehicle. the last line of the vehicle detaill form needs a 2nd alternative or webmaster needs to provide for the default choice (--). | |||