Lincoln Town Car Recalls & Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA lists 47 safety recalls and 3,308 owner complaints across 34 model years of the Lincoln Town Car (1977–2011). The most-complained-about year is 1997.
Pick your Lincoln Town Car model year
- 1977
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- 2010
- 2011
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 Lincoln Town Car | 3 | 6 |
| 2010 Lincoln Town Car | 3 | 13 |
| 2009 Lincoln Town Car | 3 | 5 |
| 2008 Lincoln Town Car | 3 | 20 |
| 2007 Lincoln Town Car | 3 | 84 |
| 2006 Lincoln Town Car | 2 | 143 |
| 2005 Lincoln Town Car | 3 | 119 |
| 2004 Lincoln Town Car | 0 | 83 |
| 2003 Lincoln Town Car | 1 | 201 |
| 2002 Lincoln Town Car | 0 | 65 |
| 2001 Lincoln Town Car | 5 | 161 |
| 2000 Lincoln Town Car | 8 | 108 |
| 1999 Lincoln Town Car | 5 | 148 |
| 1998 Lincoln Town Car | 7 | 154 |
| 1997 Lincoln Town Car | 6 | 314 |
| 1996 Lincoln Town Car | 8 | 259 |
| 1995 Lincoln Town Car | 6 | 165 |
| 1994 Lincoln Town Car | 5 | 155 |
| 1993 Lincoln Town Car | 4 | 176 |
| 1992 Lincoln Town Car | 4 | 249 |
| 1991 Lincoln Town Car | 5 | 155 |
| 1990 Lincoln Town Car | 4 | 209 |
| 1989 Lincoln Town Car | 5 | 89 |
| 1988 Lincoln Town Car | 5 | 99 |
| 1987 Lincoln Town Car | 6 | 32 |
| 1986 Lincoln Town Car | 4 | 50 |
| 1985 Lincoln Town Car | 1 | 21 |
| 1984 Lincoln Town Car | 1 | 15 |
| 1983 Lincoln Town Car | 3 | 4 |
| 1982 Lincoln Town Car | 0 | 2 |
| 1981 Lincoln Town Car | 0 | 1 |
| 1980 Lincoln Town Car | 0 | 1 |
| 1978 Lincoln Town Car | 0 | 1 |
| 1977 Lincoln Town Car | 0 | 1 |
What Lincoln Town Car owners complain about
Across all model years, owners have filed 3,308 complaints with NHTSA. The 1997 model year has the most, with 314.
All Lincoln Town Car recalls (47)
Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Lincoln Town Car, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.
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Pinion shaft (steering)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria, 2005-2011 Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles manufactured March 23, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and 2005-2011 Lincoln Town Car vehicles manufactured March 8, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and on which the upper intermediate shaft was serviced during the…
Remedy: Ford will notify the owners of vehicles whose repair records reflect that the upper intermediate steering shaft was repaired during the course of the prior recall 13V-385. Dealers will inspect and replace the upper…
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Steering
Ford is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria (including Crown Victoria Police Interceptors), Mercury Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Car vehicles. The affected vehicles are currently registered or were originally sold in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine,…
Remedy: Ford will notify owners and dealers will replace the lower intermediate shaft, free of charge. The upper intermediate shaft and steering column lower bearing will be inspected to identify any damage that may have…
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Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe (engine and engine cooling)
Executive coach is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 lincoln town car limousines. The fuel rail shield was left off during manufacturing. In a frontal impact the engine could potentially bend or rupture fuel lines if the replacement shield is not in place, causing those lines to leak fuel.
Remedy: Executive coach will supply kits and installation instructions to have vehicles repaired at a facility of the owner's choice. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on december 1, 2010.…
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Vehicle speed control
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.
Remedy: 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…
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Hub (suspension)
On certain passenger vehicles, a front wheel bearing and hub assembly may fracture due to improper heat treatment.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect both front wheel bearing and hub assemblies and replace them free of charge. The recall began on june 22, 2007. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Model years: 2007
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Cables (electrical system)
On certain passenger vehicles, the battery cable includes a fusible link that may contact and subsequently chafe on a #2 cross member attaching bolt.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the fusible link and position it away from the cross member bolt. If the fusible link has already chafed and copper wires have been exposed, the fusible link will be replaced. The recall began on…
Model years: 2005
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Suspension: rear
Certain police, commercial, and passenger vehicles sold to fleets typically input higher loads into the vehicle chassis overloading the wheel bearings and axles.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear wheel bearings, seals,and axle shafts. The recall began on july 15, 2004. Owners should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Model years: 2003
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Inflator module (air bags)
Equipment description: passenger vehicles that have had the driver's air bag module replaced after april 5, 2000. The replacement driver's air bag module inflator may have insufficient welds that could prevent proper inflation of the air bag.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the driver's air bag module. Owner notification began october 5, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not…
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Motor (visibility)
Vehicle description: passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, and light and medium duty pickup trucks. A switch located in the plastic cover of the wiper motor gear case could malfunction and overheat, potentially resulting in loss of intermittent wiper function, loss of wiper park function, complete loss of wiper function, or ignition…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the date code on the wiper motor. Motors built with the suspect time frame will have the wiper motor gear case cover replaced. Owner notification began august 20, 2001. Owners who take their…
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Buckle assembly (seat belts)
Vehicle description: passenger and sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and minivans. Equipped with seat belts supplied by trw. It is possible that the driver's and/or front passenger's outboard seat belt buckle may not fully latch. Ford crown victoria built at st. Thomas assembly plant from 4/17/00 - 5/29/01 mercury grand marquis…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the front outboard seat belt buckles and if the buckle fails the inspection process, it will be replaced. Owner notification began july 25, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized…
Model years: 2001
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Tires
Vehicle description: certain limousines stretched over 60 inches fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 109, "new pneumatic tires," and no. 110, "tire selection and rims."
Remedy: 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. Owners who…
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Air bags: sensor/control module-inactive
Vehicle description: minivans and passenger vehicles. A restraint control module (rcm) or a side or front crash sensor may have been assembled with one or more of the screws that mount the circuit board in the housing missing. If some or all of the screws are missing, the performance of the occupant restrains could be affected.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rcm and crash sensors and, if necessary, replace them.
Model years: 2001
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Seat belts: front
Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles with medium graphite seat belts fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 209, "seat belt assemblies." an incorrect front center seat belt and retractor assembly may have been installed.
Remedy: All suspect vehicles have had the seat belts inspected or replaced by ford.
Model years: 2000
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Seat belts: rear/other
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles with midnight black or medium parchment seat belts manufactured on july 31, 2000, fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 209, "seat belt assemblies." an incorrect driver's side rear seat belt and retractor assembly may have been installed.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the seat belts and replace the affected seat belt and retractor assemblies.
Model years: 2000
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Air bags
Certain passenger vehicles, limousines, and MINI vans were built with a newly designed restraint control module (rcm). In some cases, the rcm does not recognize certain system faults that could result in an air bag or seat belt pre-tensioner unexpectedly activating during the self-test sequence at vehicle start-up.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rcm in these vehicles. Owner notification began september 14, 2000. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy…
Model years: 2001
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Seat belts
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles, light duty trucks, sport utility vehicles, and MINI vans equipped with trw seat belt buckle assemblies. The buckle base of these seat belt assemblies were not properly heat treated and therefore do not pass the load bearing requirement of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 209, "seat belt…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the date code on certain seat belt buckles of your vehicle and replace all seat belt buckles that fall within the suspect date code range. Owner notification began october 26, 2000. Owners who take…
Model years: 2000
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Integrated jack/leveler/stabilizer (equipment)
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. 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…
Remedy: 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.
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Anchorage (seat belts)
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles using aftermarket driver's seat belt assemblies that were sold by ford parts departments from january 1, through june 13, 2000. 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,…
Remedy: 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.
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Anchorage (seat belts)
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles using aftermarket front passenger side seat belt assemblies that were sold by ford parts departments from january 1, through june 13, 2000. 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…
Remedy: 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.
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Electrical system
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The speed control deactivation switch can develop a resistive short in the electrical circuit that could potentially result in an underhood fire. A fire is possible both when the vehicle is running and when the vehicle engine is off. Also, the short could disable the speed control system or cause…
Remedy: Dealers will install a new speed control deactivation switch and connector shell. Owner notification began may 20, 1999.
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Suspension: lower ball joint
Vehicle description: certain 1996-1999 ford crown victoria police, fleet, natural gas, and 1996-1999 lincoln town car limousine vehicles that were produced with a lower control arm ball joint containing a one piece bearing; and 1990-1996 ford crown victoria police, fleet, and ngv vehicles and 1990-1996 lincoln town car limousine…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the lower control arm ball joints (2).
Model years: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
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Headlights (exterior lighting)
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. 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."
Remedy: Owner guides containing revised aiming instructions will be mailed to owners of these vehicles.
Model years: 1998
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Air bags: frontal
Two bolts that attach the driver air bag to the steering wheel were not installed during vehicle assembly.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicles and install any bolts that are missing.
Model years: 1997
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Linkages (steering)
The pitman arms were not fully lubricated at the assembly plant. The "ball joint" at the outer end of the pitman arm can become contaminated and corrode.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicles and if the joint is found to have significant wear, the arm will be replaced. Those pitman arms not replaced will have the "ball joint" fully greased.
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Seat belts: rear/other
The elr/alr feature is used to accommodate child restraints. When servicing the rear belt assemblies, wrong parts could have been used which do not contain the automatic locking feature.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear belt assemblies with the appropriate design retractor and tongue assemblies.
Model years: 1996
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Ignition (electrical system)
The ignition switch could experience an internal short circuit.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the ignition switch.
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Latch (latches/locks/linkages)
When in the secondary latched position, the driver door latches may open when subjected to transverse loads less than that specified in FMVSS no. 206, "door locks and door retention components."
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the driver door latch.
Model years: 1996
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Latch (latches/locks/linkages)
The secondary hood latch may not engage when the hood is closed.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the hood latch assembly.
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)
Improper installation of the rear brake line at the point at which the extended brake line first bends and extends over the left rear wheel area of the frame. If not installed with sufficient clearance, chafing of the brake line can occur in an area adjacent to the rear floor pan.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the brake line for proper installation and/or damage and replace as necessary. Also a protective boot or sleeve over the brake line will be installed.
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Latch (latches/locks/linkages)
Corrosion of the hood latch striker plate causes detachment of the plate from the hood assembly resulting in an unexpected opening of the hood while the vehicle is being driven.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new hood inner panel reinforcement and a new, galvanized hood latch striker plate.
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Filler pipe and cap (fuel system)
The seal material between the fuel filler pipe and fuel tank may not have been fully cured during the molding process which could allow for fuel leakage.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel filler pipe-to-fuel tank seal with a new seal of different material.
Model years: 1995
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Foundation components (service brakes)
The nuts and bolts that attach the rear brake adaptor to the axle housing flange can loosen and eventually separate. If one or more of the nuts come off the bolts, damage to the parking brake assembly or to the antilock brake system (ABS) sensor and sensor ring (if so equipped) will occur. If all four nuts on one end of the axle come…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if needed, install new bolts. If any of the fasteners are disconnected, the parking brake and ABS components will be inspected and serviced.
Model years: 1994
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Pedals and linkages (service brakes)
The brake pedal push rod retainer (hairpin clip) may be missing or not properly installed on the service brake pedal. This can cause disengagement of the brake pushrod and loss of braking ability.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the retainer.
Model years: 1994
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Latch (latches/locks/linkages)
The secondary hood latch may not engage when the hood is closed.
Remedy: Install a new hood latching assembly.
Model years: 1991
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Delivery (fuel system)
Distorted fuel lines in engine compartment may contact the steering column universal joint and cause damage to the fuel line.
Remedy: Reposition fuel line to prevent contact with universal joint; if fuel lines are already damaged, repair or replace fuel lines.
Model years: 1991
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Labels (equipment)
Tire placard may contain incorrect gross vehicle weight ratings and tire information.
Remedy: Install revised tire placards.
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Labels (equipment)
Gross vehicle weight ratings and tire information may be incorrect on labels.
Remedy: Install revised certification labels.
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Labels (equipment)
Vehicle description: limousines built by empire coach. Vehicle alterers label may be missing or incomplete.
Remedy: Add compliance label.
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Anchorage (seat belts)
Safety belts (type 1 lap belts) for rear facing seats were not installed.
Remedy: Install safety belts for rear facing seats.
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)
Spring lock fuel line coupling may not be properly engaged.
Remedy: Install retainer clips over the couplings to prevent coupling separation and fuel leakage.
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Fuel injection system (fuel system)
Fuel rails may be bent so that no. 5 injector cups are out of design position.
Remedy: Replace fuel rail assemblies as necessary.
Model years: 1988
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Idler and attachment (steering)
Remedy: Replace idler arm assembly.
Model years: 1987
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Connecting (steering)
Steering centerlinks may break at a bend location.
Remedy: Replace steering centerlink.
Model years: 1987
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Electrical system: front underhood
Wiring harness in the engine compartment may be misrouted and subject to damage. Consequence of defect: a short circuit could occur (during use or when parked) which could result in a vehicle fire.
Remedy: Properly route wiring harnesses, as necessary.
Model years: 1987
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Column shift (power train)
Incorrect bolts were used in the transmission linkage adjustment mechanism. Consequence of defect: the transmission gear shift selector lever on the steering column would be on the wrong transmission function. Should this occur, the driver would find their car in a gear other than the one indicated by shift lever indicator. This could…
Remedy: Replace the shift linkage trunnion, grommet and adjustment bolt.
Model years: 1986
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Automatic transmission (power train)
The parking gear may not engage, even though the gear shift lever is placed in the "park" position. This occurs if the linkage inside the transmission that actuates the park gear was improperly manufactured. A pin that retains components on a linkage (actuating) rod could break and the linkage may not engage the parking gear.
Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace the parking pawl actuating rod assembly.
Model years: 1983
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Column shift (power train)
The shift indicator may not accurately reflect the shift selector position. Some vehicles were produced with transmission control selector tube retaining clips that may not be hard enough. The clip may loosen or fall off, and the selector tube may become displaced.
Remedy: The dealer will replace the transmission control selector tube retaining clip at no charge to owner.
Model years: 1983
Other Lincoln models
- Continental1,678 complaints
- Mkz1,665 complaints
- Mkx1,417 complaints
- Navigator1,353 complaints
- LS982 complaints
- Mark VIII826 complaints
- Mkc599 complaints
- Aviator488 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.