1999 Craftsmen LINCOLN TOWN CAR: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
3 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
50,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 3 complaints (66.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 1 | 33.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft | 1 |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
Air Bags: 2; Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft: 1; Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar: 1; Suspension: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2005: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10109449 · 2005-02-01 (February 1, 2005)
STEERING WHEEL HAS TO MUCH PLAY. THE WHEELS WILL NOT TURN AFFECTIVELY. CONSUMER STATES CONSUMER HAS NO CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DRIVESHAFT GEARS WORE OUT, PER THE DEALER.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10109449 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10717495 · 2015-05-20 (May 20, 2015)
AIR BAG WARNING LITE ON INSTRUMENT PANEL. NO ACCIDENTS OR CRASHES. IS THIS A SAFETY ISSUE TO BE ADDRESSED BY MANUFACTURER? WHEN AIR BAG WARNING IS LITE ON, DOES THIS MEAN THE BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY?
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10717495 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10895211 · 2016-08-11 (August 11, 2016)
TAKATA RECALL: AIRBAG LIGHT CAMEON STAYS ON WONT GO OUT. COMES WHEN CAR IS STARTED AND STAYS ON WHILE IN MOTION'
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10895211 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
02V182000 · Equipment:Other:Labels
Reported: 2002-07-02 (July 2, 2002)
CERTAIN LIMOUSINES, AS ALTERED BY JMRL SALES & SERVICE, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 217, "BUS EMERGENCY EXITS AND WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE." THESE VEHICLES LACK PROPER EMERGENCY ESCAPE INSTRUCTIONS AND LABELS.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, AN OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY EXIT THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH TWO LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 4, 2002. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT JMRL AT 1-800-762-0447.
NHTSA campaign record ↗Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
3 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10457908I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. COULD IT BE BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP FIX MY STEERING COLUMN AND NOT MY DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG. *TR | 266.7%ODI 10717495AIR BAG WARNING LITE ON INSTRUMENT PANEL. NO ACCIDENTS OR CRASHES. IS THIS A SAFETY ISSUE TO BE ADDRESSED BY MANUFACTURER? WHEN AIR BAG WARNING IS LITE ON, DOES THIS MEAN THE BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY? |
| Engine | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10524384 · 143,475 miI TOOK MY TOWN CAR IN, BECAUSE I COULD SMELL COOLANT IN THE CAB OF THE CAR. AFTER INSPECTION, THEY SAID IT WAS THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED AND WAS LEAKING COOLANT. THEY CALLED FORD AND FORD SAID THEY HAD A LOT OF THESE PARTS ON HAND BECAUSE THIS WAS A COMMUNE PROBLEM WITH THIS PART. I WAS TOLD THE PART ALONE WOULD BE $600. I AM ON SS AND DISABLED AND I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO REPAIR WHAT IS A DEFECT AND SHOULD BE COVERED IN A RECALL. THERE WAS A RECALL ON DEC. 2001 FOR THIS PART PUT ONLY LIMITED TO TAXIS, POLICE, AND LIMOS, AND LIVERY PAC… | 1100.0%ODI 10895942 · 94,079 miBLEW A SPARK PLUG, DAMAGING ENGINE AND COIL. MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 10458719 · 56,000 miWHILE RUNNING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING, INITIALLY COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. FIRE BEGAN COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. BRAKES THEN FAILED COMPLETELY. I WAS ABLE TO PUT TRANSMISSION INTO PARK, WHICH EVENTUALLY STOPPED THE VEHICLE, AFTER CRASHING THROUGH A GATE SECURITY BARRIER.(NO BRAKES AT THAT TIME.). FIRE COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND HOOD OF THE VEHICLE, AS EXPLOSIONS OCCURRED. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10555186 · 106,000 miBRAKE FAILURE FROM RUSTED BRAKE LINES LOSS OF 90% OF BRAKES AT TIME OF INCIDENT THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED ON TWO OF MY OTHER LINCOLNS. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Steering | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10704734 · 149,300 miDRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT . STOPPED FOR A OTHER VEHICLES , DROVE ABOUT 10 FEET AND THE RIGHT SIDE OF CAR SLAMMED TO THE GROUND IN THE MIDDLE OF PARKING LOT INTERSECTION. CAR WAS UNABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT DRAGGING FRAME , FRONT END ON PAVEMENT LEAVING DRAG MARKS IN PAVEMENT. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10808909TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CRAFTSMEN LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE CONCRETE WALL OF A BRIDGE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK AND SHOULDER INJURIES, AS WELL AS A MILD CONCUSSION THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT TOWING LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 10458719 · 56,000 miWHILE RUNNING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING, INITIALLY COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. FIRE BEGAN COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. BRAKES THEN FAILED COMPLETELY. I WAS ABLE TO PUT TRANSMISSION INTO PARK, WHICH EVENTUALLY STOPPED THE VEHICLE, AFTER CRASHING THROUGH A GATE SECURITY BARRIER.(NO BRAKES AT THAT TIME.). FIRE COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND HOOD OF THE VEHICLE, AS EXPLOSIONS OCCURRED. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10109449 · 50,000 miSTEERING WHEEL HAS TO MUCH PLAY. THE WHEELS WILL NOT TURN AFFECTIVELY. CONSUMER STATES CONSUMER HAS NO CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DRIVESHAFT GEARS WORE OUT, PER THE DEALER.*AK |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10109449 · 50,000 miSTEERING WHEEL HAS TO MUCH PLAY. THE WHEELS WILL NOT TURN AFFECTIVELY. CONSUMER STATES CONSUMER HAS NO CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DRIVESHAFT GEARS WORE OUT, PER THE DEALER.*AK |
| Suspension | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10895211TAKATA RECALL: AIRBAG LIGHT CAMEON STAYS ON WONT GO OUT. COMES WHEN CAR IS STARTED AND STAYS ON WHILE IN MOTION' |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft | Too few reports for a range | 50,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10109449 · 50,000 miSTEERING WHEEL HAS TO MUCH PLAY. THE WHEELS WILL NOT TURN AFFECTIVELY. CONSUMER STATES CONSUMER HAS NO CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DRIVESHAFT GEARS WORE OUT, PER THE DEALER.*AK |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | Too few reports for a range | 50,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10109449 · 50,000 miSTEERING WHEEL HAS TO MUCH PLAY. THE WHEELS WILL NOT TURN AFFECTIVELY. CONSUMER STATES CONSUMER HAS NO CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DRIVESHAFT GEARS WORE OUT, PER THE DEALER.*AK |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
1998: 0 complaints · 1999: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Air Bags | Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft | Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | Suspension |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | — | 0 | 0 | 1ODI 10895211TAKATA RECALL: AIRBAG LIGHT CAMEON STAYS ON WONT GO OUT. COMES WHEN CAR IS STARTED AND STAYS ON WHILE IN MOTION' |
| Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft | 0 | — | 1ODI 10109449 · 50,000 miSTEERING WHEEL HAS TO MUCH PLAY. THE WHEELS WILL NOT TURN AFFECTIVELY. CONSUMER STATES CONSUMER HAS NO CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DRIVESHAFT GEARS WORE OUT, PER THE DEALER.*AK | 0 |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 0 | 1ODI 10109449 · 50,000 miSTEERING WHEEL HAS TO MUCH PLAY. THE WHEELS WILL NOT TURN AFFECTIVELY. CONSUMER STATES CONSUMER HAS NO CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DRIVESHAFT GEARS WORE OUT, PER THE DEALER.*AK | — | 0 |
| Suspension | 1ODI 10895211TAKATA RECALL: AIRBAG LIGHT CAMEON STAYS ON WONT GO OUT. COMES WHEN CAR IS STARTED AND STAYS ON WHILE IN MOTION' | 0 | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.