FaultScore

Lincoln Town CAR acceleration problems

469 of the 4,329 complaints filed about the Lincoln Town CAR are about the throttle and cruise control — 11% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1997.

469

Complaints

11%

Share of all complaints

106

Crashes

51

Fires

Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year

1983 Town CAR 1 0.2%
1984 Town CAR 2 0.4%
1985 Town CAR 1 0.2%
1986 Town CAR 3 0.6%
1987 Town CAR 2 0.4%
1988 Town CAR 17 3.6%

Median failure at 98,500 miles

1989 Town CAR 13 2.8%
1990 Town CAR 16 3.4%
1991 Town CAR 20 4.3%
1992 Town CAR 39 8.3%

Median failure at 100,000 miles

1993 Town CAR 37 7.9%

Median failure at 113,500 miles

1994 Town CAR 22 4.7%

Median failure at 111,500 miles

1995 Town CAR 19 4.1%

Median failure at 137,000 miles

1996 Town CAR 36 7.7%

Median failure at 102,500 miles

1997 Town CAR 44 9.4%

Median failure at 106,353 miles

1998 Town CAR 7 1.5%

Median failure at 71,267 miles

1999 Town CAR 5 1.1%

Median failure at 70,000 miles

2000 Town CAR 9 1.9%

Median failure at 55,000 miles

2001 Town CAR 26 5.5%

Median failure at 32,000 miles

2002 Town CAR 12 2.6%

Median failure at 22,000 miles

2003 Town CAR 18 3.8%

Median failure at 43,307 miles

2004 Town CAR 19 4.1%

Median failure at 3,366 miles

2005 Town CAR 34 7.2%

Median failure at 48,250 miles

2006 Town CAR 26 5.5%

Median failure at 28,000 miles

2007 Town CAR 32 6.8%

Median failure at 28,000 miles

2008 Town CAR 5 1.1%

Median failure at 25,500 miles

2009 Town CAR 2 0.4%

Median failure at 42,500 miles

2010 Town CAR 1 0.2%

Median failure at 88,000 miles

2011 Town CAR 1 0.2%

Median failure at 92,000 miles

What owners said

2007 Lincoln Town CAR at 140,000 miles Snow Hill, MD Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

The contact owns a 2007 Lincoln Town Car. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the driver pressed the accelerator pedal the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration, causing the vehicle's speed to suddenly increase above 65 MPH. The driver shifted the transmission to the neutral position, but the vehicle continued to increase speed. The driver then pressed the brake pedal, causing the vehicle to spin multiple times before crashing into a ditch. During the incident, no injuries were reported. A police report was taken at the scene, and the vehicle was towed away. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTS Hotline. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 140,000.

NHTSA complaint #11674612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Lincoln Town CAR Clearwater, FL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Unintended/Unexpected acceleration, even while brake pedal is pressed. Happens intermittently. Most scary time for me happened in Publix parking lot at crosswalk for pedestrians. I thought I was going to hit the pedestrians. There are two drivers for this car and has happened to both of us. Just now, [XXX] around [XXX] it happened again when the other driver was driving out of Subway parking lot near St. Johns river into right lane of 3 lanes of traffic near an intersection with a car tuning left right in front of us. Very scary and glad no collision. No, to dealer or independent service dealer question. No, to the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others question No, to the warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem question INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11627094 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Lincoln Town CAR at 75,000 miles Albany, OR

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

The contact owns a 2006 Lincoln Town Car. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the engine made an abnormally loud sound. The contact stated upon shifting into drive(D), the vehicle accelerated unintendedly down the steep driveway. The contact continuously depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact then turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring intermittently while driving. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

NHTSA complaint #11551039 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 Lincoln Town CAR at 140,000 miles Rapid City, SD

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

The contact owns a 1996 Lincoln Town Car. The contact stated while the vehicle was turned on and he was shifting the vehicle from park(P) to drive(D), with his foot on the brake pedal, the vehicle lunged forward at high speed. The contact stated that the acceleration was extreme. The contact observed smoke coming from the rear tires as the vehicle accelerated. The contact was able to safely stop the vehicle after approximately 50 feet but had to depress the brake pedal with force. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was not turned off but was shifted to park(P). The contact had tested and shifted the vehicle from park (P), drive (D), neutral (N) and reverse (R) and the vehicle reacted normally to each gear change. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000. The contact stated that the vehicle was sold to the mechanic who repaired it.

NHTSA complaint #11503799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Lincoln Town CAR Abingdon, MD

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

While accelerating approximate @ 30 mph, vehicle speed increased without assistance nearly plummeting into a body of water at a curve... exit 77 on I-95S MD. The car could not handled the curve at that rate of speed. Town Car had to be thrown into neutral and hard press brake pedal in order to stop. Safety issue could have been major accident or my death. I do not desire to reproduce a dangerous scenario with an accelerating vehicle. Dealership and private mechanic refused to reproduce incident. Zero warning lamps and nothing in computer to determine a problem/fix.

NHTSA complaint #11490937 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Lincoln Town CAR Prole, IA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Rear end started a sudden howell and shaking and grinding and the Abs and traction control light came on and brakes and suspension did not want to function properly while driving in traffic as quick as I could I pulled over and it looked like one tire was sticking out of the axel way far So I just pulled over and called for my AAA to to and got towed home thats it

NHTSA complaint #11463703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Lincoln Town CAR Coconut Creek, FL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

When applying the brake to slow down on an exit ramp, the car unexpectedly accelerated despite the brake pedal being pressed hard. The driver was able to avoid a collision with a stopped vehicle in front by shifting the gear into neutral. The engine revved up for a couple a seconds, but returned to a normal rate of revolution with the gear still in neutral and the car practically stopped.

NHTSA complaint #11462430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Lincoln Town CAR Rocklin, CA Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2005 LINCOLN TOWNCAR. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FAULTY ACCELERATOR WHICH RESULTED IN A AUTO ACCIDENT. *LD

NHTSA complaint #11374430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 Lincoln Town CAR at 25 miles Newburgh Heights, OH

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

AS PER RECALL CRUISE CONTROL NEITHRT STARTS OR WORKS ON HIGHWAY

NHTSA complaint #11310265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Lincoln Town CAR at 104,028 miles Columbus, OH Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE UP A HILL, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED EXCESSIVELY INDEPENDENTLY. THE BRAKES CEASED TO OPERATE AND THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE IF ANY WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT THEN FORCED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AS THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO MAKE AN ABRUPT STOP. AS THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, THE VEHICLE THEN PROCEEDED TO ACCELERATE BACKWARDS DOWN THE HILL. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO AVOID HITTING OTHER VEHICLES AND STEERED THE VEHICLE INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND BACKED INTO A SMALL TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE ANY MEDICAL ATTENTION AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,028. *PM CONSUMER STATED CAR ACCERELATED AND DID NOT STOP UNTIL CAR WAS IN PARK TO A STOP.

NHTSA complaint #11297956 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1993 Lincoln Town CAR at 83,000 miles Rochester, NH

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I WAS WORKING ON DOING MAINTENANCE ON MY CAR. NEXT THING I KNOW, THERE'S A FIRE. I GOT IT OUT QUICKLY ENOUGH WITH THE ORIGINAL EXTINGUISHER. THE SPEED CONTROL HARNESS, WHICH HAD A RECALL AT ONE POINT, IS BURNED AND A BRAKE LINE BUSTED. 9F924 IS THE NUMBER FOR THE PART. I DO NOT KNOW FOR CERTAIN IF THIS WAS EVER REPLACED. BUT IT MUST HAVE BEEN HOT ENOUGH TO CATCH BRAKE FLUID ON FIRE

NHTSA complaint #11246137 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 Lincoln Town CAR at 92,000 miles Litchfield Park, AZ Crash 1 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE CAR ACCELERATED WHILE GOING UP A RAMP THAT WENT TO AN AXIS ROAD TO THE INTERSTATE. WE HIT A RETAINING WALL HEAD ON, SPUN AROUND AND THEN THE BACK OF THE CAR ALSO HIT THE WALL. MY SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD ME BACK. I ENDED WEDGED BETWEEN THE CONSOLE AND DASHBOARD. I HAVE A BROKEN RIB AND CHIPPED TOOTH AND BUMPS AND BRUISES. MY WIFE WAS A PASSENGER AND HER SEAT BELT HELD HER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. OUR CAR WAS TOTALED

NHTSA complaint #11228950 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Lincoln Town CAR at 65,000 miles Oklahoma City, OK

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD, ACCELERATED, AND ALMOST CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DIFFEE FORD LINCOLN (1681 I-40, EL RENO, OK), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA complaint #11150387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Lincoln Town CAR at 86,000 miles Roswell, GA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED THE CAR KEPT WANTING TO ACCELERATE. I HAD TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND PUT THE CAR IN N THEN TURN IT OFF. I WAS STOPPING AT A LIGHT. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE WITH THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #11139077 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Lincoln Town CAR at 75,000 miles Monroe, NY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TAKATA RECALL. THE CAR ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN WHEN HITTING THE BRAKES., WHILE IN MOTION. ( PERIODICALLY.)

NHTSA complaint #11138750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Lincoln Town CAR at 173,000 miles Pittsburgh, PA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

OPERATOR EXPERIENCED STUCK SPEED CONTROL BUTTON AND ACCELERATED COULDN�T STOP THE SPEED ACCELERATION WITH STEERING WHEEL SO OPERATOR HIT BREAKS. LOUD BANG SOUND FOLLOWED BY DRASTIC REDUCED SPEEDS. COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL. RESULTED IN SPEEDING TICKET DURING FAILURE SPEEDS ALMOST UP TO 100MPH DURING EMERGENCY EVENT MODE.

NHTSA complaint #11133036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Lincoln Town CAR at 146,000 miles Catskill, NY Crash 1 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY, THE ACCELERATOR STUCK OPEN CAUSING THE CAR TO GAIN AN EXCESS AMOUNT OF SPEED IN TRAFFIC. THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND THE BREAKS WOULD NOT HOLD IT OR SLOW IT DOWN. IN THE END THE CAR WAS TOTALED AFTER HITTING 2 TREES AND A WALL.

NHTSA complaint #11131631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Lincoln Town CAR at 45,000 miles Rice Lake, WI

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

MY 2006 LINCOLN TOWN CAR ONLY HAS 45,000 MILES ON IT AND IS KEPT IN A GARAGE. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS WITH MY FAMILY ON VACATION IN SOUTH DAKOTA. THE GAS PEDAL STUCK DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN ACCELERATING BY ITSELF. WE WERE ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE VEHICLE SPEED REACHED 85 MPH. THE SECOND TIME LESS THAN A YEAR LATER MY HUSBAND WAS PULLING INTO OUR DRIVEWAY AND IT DID THE SAME THING HE TURNED OFF INTO THE GRASS TO AVOID HITTING OUR CHILDREN AND GARAGE. BOTH TIMES HE HAD TO REACH DOWN AND MANUALLY PULL UP THE GAS PEDAL. EVEN HITTING THE BRAKES WOULDN'T STOP IT.

NHTSA complaint #11122753 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Lincoln Town CAR at 87,000 miles Hoover, AL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN IN A PARKING LOT AT 5-10 MILES/HOUR. IT RAPIDLY ACCELERATED AND WAS STOPPED ONLY AFTER BOTH FEET ON BRAKE AND EMERGENCY BRAKE USED. THE SKID MARKS ARE 32' LONG. THERE WERE MANY WITNESSES BECAUSE IT WAS IN A CHURCH PARKING LOT AT THE END OF SUNDAY SERVICE.

NHTSA complaint #11112556 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Lincoln Town CAR at 173,000 miles Pittsburgh, PA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

OPERATOR EXPERIENCED STUCK SPEED CONTROL BUTTON AND ACCELERATED COULDN'T STOP THE SPEED ACCELERATION WITH STEERING WHEEL SO OPERATOR HIT BREAKS. LOUD BANG SOUND FOLLOWED BY DRASTIC REDUCED SPEEDS. COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL.

NHTSA complaint #11112085 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Lincoln Town CAR problems