The 1996 Lincoln Town Car has 3 recalls, the most serious being a steering linkage defect where a ball joint in the pitman arm can corrode and separate, causing sudden loss of steering control.
On the brake side, rear brake lines on vehicles equipped with the livery package can lose fluid, which extends stopping distances. The third recall involves the rear seat belts: during prior service, incorrect replacement parts may have been installed that lack the automatic locking feature needed to secure a child safety seat, meaning a child restraint may not hold properly in a crash.
At a glance
What can fail
The brake lines may not have enough space between them and the underbody floor pan, which could cause the lines to wear through over time.
What the fix does
The dealer will inspect the brake lines, install two new clips to secure them properly, and replace any worn sections.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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At a glance
What can fail
The pitman arm's ball joint was not fully lubricated during manufacturing. The joint can become contaminated and corrode over time.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the joint. If it shows significant wear, the pitman arm is replaced. Otherwise, the joint is fully greased.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Rear seat belt assemblies may have been installed with wrong parts that lack the automatic locking feature needed for child safety seats.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the rear belt assemblies with correct parts that include the automatic locking feature.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
