Problems · by component

1996 Lincoln Town Car engine and engine cooling problems

92 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1996 Lincoln Town Car cite engine and engine cooling, 34% of all 269 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
92
34% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THERE WAS SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT ANTI-FREEZE WAS COVERING THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND WOULD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000. UPDATED 10/24/2014*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEFECTIVE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS COVERED IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT EVEN THOUGH THE DATE OF THE COVERAGE EXPIRED THE VEHICLE SHOULD STILL BE COVERED. UPDATED 04/16/2015 *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 8, 2014Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 10620937
“I'VE OWNED A 96 LINCOLN TOWN CAR FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS NOW AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED RECENTLY WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THAT CAUSE I'VE JUST RECENTLY HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL AND I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT CONSTANTLY HAPPENING, IS THERE ANY THING I CAN DO. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 31, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10393892
“MY VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING OUT OF THE EXHAUST. ANTI FREEZE LOSS AND SMOKE, ANYTIME IT IS RUNNING. CAR HAS BEEN IN A GARAGE, AWAITING NEW, IMPROVED INTAKE MANIFOLD TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE ORIGINAL ONE. I HAVE PURCHASED THE PARTS. HAS NOT BEEN INSTALLED YET; BIG JOB, I AM TOLD BY DEALER. FORD APPARENTLY ADMITTED ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE PART IN COURT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 7, 2009Engine and engine coolingODI 10264431
“SMALL PIECE OF PLASTIC FROM INTAKE WENT INTO THE CYLINDER #4 AND RAPPED AROUND ONE OF THE VALUES CAUSING THIS VALUE TO STAY OPEN SO CYLINDER #4 HAS NO COMPRESSION. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 7, 2008Engine and engine coolingODI 10226954
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE TIE ROD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND HE STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURS FREQUENTLY FOR THAT YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO LUBRICATION IN THE ZERKS ON THE TIE RODS FOR THAT YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING $229 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND ALL OF THE WATER LEFT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING $900 FOR THAT REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 02/15/08. *LJ”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 29, 2008Steering, Engine and engine coolingODI 10217173
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, SHE SMELLED STEAM COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 114,000. UPDATED 01-29-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS OF PLASTIC. UPDATED”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 2, 2008Engine and engine coolingODI 10213411

Showing 6 of 92 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.