1988 Lincoln Town Car

THIS IS MY SECOND REPORT ON THESE TIRES. SEE ODI NUMBER 731196 FOR FAILURE REPORT ON BOTH FRONT TIRES. THIS REPORT IS ON THE REAR RIGHT TIRE. THE RIGHT REAR TIRE FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY AT 60MPH WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A SMOOTH DRY PAVEMENT. THE OUTER SIDE WALL FAILED COMPLETELY. DIGITAL PHOTOS OF THE FAILED TIRE ARE AVAILABLE. THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WAS LOCATED ON THE INSIDE OR BLACKWALL SIDE OF THE TIRES: 85288 IN RAISED LETTERS AND 8H2298 IN A RECESSED BOX WITH ROUNDED CORNERS. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR REQUIRE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE WRITE, CALL OR EMAIL. BEST REGARDS FROM THE SUNSHINE STATE. S/S P.J. STAGER (DOT NUMBER: CC60 TIRESIZE: P215/70R15)

I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE FOR A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. I JUST FOUND OUT YESTERDAY ABOUT IT. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED IN REFERENCE TO THE RECALL. IT WASN'T UNTIL THE SWITCH SHORTED OUT MY RADIO WHICH I CAN NOT REPLACE UNTIL THE SWITCH IS REPLACED. THE FORD COMPANY SAID THAT THE RECALL WAS COMPLETE. I DON'T KNOW HOW IT CAN BE COMPLETE WHEN MY CAR WAS NEVER DONE. I HAVE A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH THAT IS SUPPLYING SHORTS THROUGH MY WIRING HARNESS THAT CONNECTS TO THE RADIO. I HAVE CHECKED IT BY TESTING THE POWER TO THE WIRING HARNESS (IGNITION/ACCESSORY) AND SOMETIMES IT HAS POWER AND THEN SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A RECALL THE IS COMPLETED WHEN MINE WAS NEVER DONE. WHAT CAN I DO SINCE IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT CAUSED THE BURNED OUT RADIO AND ALMOST A FIRE IN MY VEHICLE?*AK

THE TWO FRONT TIRES FAILED AFTER APPROXIMATELY 23,000 MILES OF WEAR. THE LEFT FRONT WAS WORN THROUGH ONE SET OF STEEL BELTS FOR APPROXIMATELY 1/5 OF THE TIRE CIRCUMFERENCE. THE LEFT FRONT WAS WORN THROUGH THE TREAD FOR APPROIMATELY 1/5 OF THE TIRE CIRCUMEFERENCE. BOTH AREAS OF ABNORMAL WEAR WERE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TIRES WHEN LOOKING FORWARD FROM THE DRIVERS SEAT. DIGITAL PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE FO THE FAILED TIRES. THE TIRES WERE BALANCED AND THE FRONT END WAS REALIGNED WHEN THE TIRES WERE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE IS MAINTAINED IN A GOOD STATE OF REPAIR AND IS NOT SUBJECT TO ABUSE. THE FAILED TIRES WERE REPLACED ON A PRO-RATED BASIS AT THE PINT OF PURCHASE. THE FRONT END WAS ALSO RELAIGNED. UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT PROVIDED WITH ANY QUANTITATIVE INFORMATION ON THIS FRONT END ALIGNMENT SO CAN ONLY CONCLUDE THAT NO UNUSUAL OR ABNORMAL CONDITIONS EXISTED. THE ORIGNAL SYMPTOM WAS AN INCREASING LEVEL OF VEHICLE VIBRATION PRIMARILY WHEN DECELERATING THROUGH 30 MPH. THE FOLLOWING ADDTIONAL INFORMATION WAS LOCATED ON THE INSIDE OR BLACKWALL SIDE OF THE TIRES: 85288 IN RAISED NUMBERS AND 8H2298 IN A RECESSED BOX WITH ROUNDED CORNERS. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR REQUIRE ADDTIONAL INFORMATION OR COPIES OF THE PHOTOS OF THE FAILED TIRES, PLEASE CONTACT ME. BEST REGARDS FROM THE SUNSHINE STAE. S/S P>J> STAGER. *AK( DOT NUMBER: CC60 TIRE SIZE: P215/70R15 )

THE CAR WAS LEFT AT THE REPAIR FACILITY FOR ENGINE REPAIR AND TO REMAIN OVERNIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING, ON JUNE 30, THE OWNER OF THE REPAIR FACILITY SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE FUMES WHEN HE ENTERED THE BUILDING. HE IMMEDIATELY DISCOVERED THE GAS TANK HAD BEEN LEAKING AND OVERNIGHT AND WAS CONTINUOUSLY LEAKING "LIKE A FAUCET" . THE WHOLE BUILDING WAS FILLED WITH GAS FUMES. HIS FIRST CONCERN WAS THE CHANCE OF AN EXPLOSION SO HE DIDN'T TURN ON THE BUILDING'S INTERIOR LIGHTS. AFTER THE TANK HAD BEEN REMOVED, MY MECHANIC SHOWED ME WHERE IT WAS RUSTED IN SEVERAL PLACES. THE TANK IS MOUNTED IN A HOUSING WHICH BLOCKS A VIEW OF THE EXTERIOR OF THE TANK, THEREFORE, CORROSION CANNOT CANNOT BE DETECTED WHEN THE CAR IS ON A LIFT FOR ROUNTINE MAINTAINANCE AND SAFETY CHECKS. I WAS EXTREMELY FORTUNATE THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, ESPECIALLY DURING THE RECENT HEAT WAVE AND DROUGHT HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS. ALTHOUGH THIS IS A HIGH MILEAGE CAR (90% HIGHWAY MILES), THE GAS TANK SHOULD NOT BE AFFECTED BY AGE (12 YEARS OLD) AND ESPECIALLY NOT FROM HIGH MILEAGE DRIVING. DURING THE PAST TWELVE YEARS, I HAVE CONSISTENTLY MAINTAINED THIS CAR WITH GREAT CARE IN ORDER TO KEEP IT "LIKE NEW" FOR THE PURPOSE OF SAFETY AND UTILITY. THE ENGINE, RADIATOR AND ALL COMPONENTS UNDER THE HOOD HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND TO TOP IT OFF, IT HAS NEW PAINT (SEVEN COATS OF CLEAR COAT). PHYSICALLY, THE CAR IS IN PRISTINE CONDITION. THERE APPEARS TO BE A LARGE NUMBER OF 1987, 1988, AND 1989 LINCOLN TOWN CARS CURRENTLY ON THE ROAD AND I BELIEVE THE OWNERS SHOULD BE ALERTED TO THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND VOLATILE CONDITION. *AK