1998 Lincoln Town Car: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 1998 Lincoln Town Car: 7 recalls, 154 owner complaints and up to 18 mpg combined.
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Recalls
7 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 1 equipment/tire recall that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #98V028000 · 1998 · 571,800 vehicles
What's wrong: The text and/or graphics for the vehicle headlamp aiming instructions provided in the owner guides are not sufficiently clear. This does not meet the requirements of fmvss no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Why it matters: If the headlamp assemblies are replaced, customers May be confused by the aiming instructions provided in the owner guides causing the headlamps to be improperly aimed.
The fix: Owner guides containing revised aiming instructions will be mailed to owners of these vehicles.
Suspension Vehicle recall #98V322000 · 1998 · 175,000 vehicles
What's wrong: The one-piece bearing within the lower control arm ball joint can weaken slowly during use and eventually crack. This could result in separation of the ball and cap of the joint, allowing the control arm to drop to the ground.
Why it matters: If this occurs while the vehicle is moving, reduced steering control could occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the lower control arm ball joints (2).
Seat belts Vehicle recall #00V157002 · 2000 · 1,129 vehicles
What's wrong: These seat belt assemblies fail to comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 209, "seat belt assemblies." the equipment involved is service stock seat belt assemblies, model nos. H 9977, h 9979, t 9063, and t 9217, built by trw vehicle safety systems, Inc. (trw) manufactured from June 1, 1998 through May 21, 2000. Some of these seat belt assemblies May have been installed as service replacement equipment on the…
Why it matters: In the event of a collision, these seat belts May not restrain an occupant increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect these vehicles and replace the service seat belt assemblies that were installed in these vehicles from January 1 through June 13, 2000.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #00V157001 · 2000 · 1,167 vehicles
What's wrong: These seat belt assemblies fail to comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 209, "seat belt assemblies." the equipment involved is service stock seat belt assemblies, model nos. H 9977, h 9979, t 9063, and t 9217, built by trw vehicle safety systems, Inc. (trw) manufactured from June 1, 1998 through May 21, 2000. Some of these seat belt assemblies May have been installed as service replacement equipment on the…
Why it matters: In the event of a collision, these seat belts May not restrain an occupant increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect these vehicles and replace the service seat belt assemblies that were installed in these vehicles from January 1 through June 13, 2000.
Equipment Vehicle recall #00V200000 · 2000 · 875,000 vehicles
What's wrong: These vehicles have jacking instructions which, if followed, could cause the vehicle operator to place the jack on a frame weld when attempting to raise a rear wheel. If the vehicle is jacked up with the jack placed on the frame weld and if the vehicle is free to roll (wheels not blocked or chocked), the jack could yield and the vehicle May drop suddenly.
Why it matters: If this occurs and any portion of the operator's body is under the vehicle, the potential for personal injury exists.
The fix: Owners will be provided with a revised jack instruction and stowage card and jack warning label, as well as a supplement to the owner guide.
Tires Vehicle recall #00V356000 · 2000 · 10,000 vehicles
What's wrong: 109, "new pneumatic tires," and no. 110, "tire selection and rims."
Why it matters: The vehicle weight could exceed the maximum load rating for the tire, increasing the risk of premature tire wear or blowout.
The fix: Dealers will replace all 5 tires (including the spare tire) with michelin tires (225/70r16 107t reinforced white sidewall) with a sufficiently higher load rating. Owner notification began January 10, 2001.
Speed control / throttle Vehicle recall #07V336000 · 2007 · 3,600,000 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain pickup trucks, passenger vehicles, sport utility vehicles, and motor homes chassis, the speed control deactivation switch May, under certain conditions, leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.
Why it matters: This could result in an underhood fire.
The fix: Dealers will install a fused wiring harness. Owners of the passenger cars included in this campaign will be instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected as an interim repair. As soon as repair parts are available (expected October…
1 aftermarket equipment / tire recall replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Steering Equipment recall #15E082000 · 2015 · 1,767 vehicles
What's wrong: Dorman products, Inc. (dorman) is recalling certain model dorman steering shafts, part number 425-359, solutions steering shafts, part number 7-0359, and oe solutions steering shafts, part number 425-359, manufactured April 17, 2014, to September 28, 2015. These aftermarket replacement steering shafts are sold for use in 1995-2002 Ford crown victoria, Mercury grand marquis, and Lincoln town car vehicles. These…
Why it matters: If the shafts separate during vehicle operation, a loss of steering control would result, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
The fix: Dorman will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering shaft, free of charge. The recall began on October 28, 2015.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 7 mention a fire, 3 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Engine & cooling (32): the most common themes are leaks (12), stalls / loses power (9).
- Brakes (hydraulic) (19): the most common themes are noise or vibration (4), warning light on (2).
- Suspension (19): the most common themes are noise or vibration (4), steering problems (3).
- Visibility (wipers, glass) (16): the most common themes are leaks (2), stalls / loses power (2).
The 1998 Lincoln Town Car has 154 owner complaints, ranking #11 of 22 Town Car model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 136). Complaints peaked in 1999 (28 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 84,000 miles. Neighboring years: 1997 (314 complaints, 6 recalls), 1999 (148 complaints, 5 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.6 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 22 | 18 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 1998 Lincoln Town Car.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
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FAQ
Does the 1998 Lincoln Town Car have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 7 vehicle recalls for the 1998 Lincoln Town Car, plus 1 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 1998 Lincoln Town Car problems?
Owners have filed 154 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are engine & cooling (32), brakes (hydraulic) (19), suspension (19).
What gas mileage does the 1998 Lincoln Town Car get?
EPA ratings run up to 18 mpg combined (4.6 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 1 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 1998 Lincoln Town Car repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.