FaultScore

Lincoln Town CAR suspension problems

334 of the 4,329 complaints filed about the Lincoln Town CAR are about the suspension — 8% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2003.

334

Complaints

8%

Share of all complaints

11

Crashes

2

Fires

Suspension complaints by model year

1988 Town CAR 1 0.3%
1989 Town CAR 3 0.9%

Median failure at 102,000 miles

1990 Town CAR 9 2.7%
1991 Town CAR 8 2.4%
1992 Town CAR 12 3.6%

Median failure at 155,000 miles

1993 Town CAR 12 3.6%
1994 Town CAR 15 4.5%

Median failure at 231,700 miles

1995 Town CAR 26 7.8%

Median failure at 120,000 miles

1996 Town CAR 30 9.0%

Median failure at 92,275 miles

1997 Town CAR 59 17.7%

Median failure at 90,000 miles

1998 Town CAR 21 6.3%

Median failure at 110,000 miles

1999 Town CAR 24 7.2%

Median failure at 100,000 miles

2000 Town CAR 10 3.0%

Median failure at 176,500 miles

2001 Town CAR 11 3.3%

Median failure at 93,510 miles

2002 Town CAR 3 0.9%

Median failure at 14,166 miles

2003 Town CAR 83 24.9%

Median failure at 71,222 miles

2004 Town CAR 2 0.6%

Median failure at 125,854 miles

2005 Town CAR 1 0.3%

Median failure at 65,000 miles

2006 Town CAR 1 0.3%

Median failure at 30,000 miles

2007 Town CAR 2 0.6%

Median failure at 52,103 miles

2008 Town CAR 1 0.3%

Median failure at 486,713 miles

What owners said

1999 Lincoln Town CAR Madison, MS

SUSPENSION

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA complaint #11617160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Lincoln Town CAR Madison, MS

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA complaint #11617160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Lincoln Town CAR Madison, MS

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA complaint #11617160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Lincoln Town CAR Liberty, MO

SUSPENSION

[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11585759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Lincoln Town CAR Richmond, MO

SUSPENSION

Inner and outer tie rod ends, tie rod end adjusting sleeve, and sway bar link replaced after inner tie rod end pulled out of the adjusting sleeve that’s on the sway bar link there’s still constant pulling in the steering and is either to touchy when trying to correct vehicle back into lane or has to be turned excessively far before it even starts to correct then tries to jerk the vehicle really hard when the steering finally catches up with how far the steering wheel has been turned

NHTSA complaint #11563495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Lincoln Town CAR at 132,000 miles Newnan, GA

SUSPENSION

The contact owns a 1999 Lincoln Town Car. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the steering wheel started pulling to the left with extreme force. The contact attempted to correct the over steering and the vehicle started pulling to the right and the left. The contact stated that an unknown warning was illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle back to his residence. The contact stated that he drove the vehicle several more times and the steering failure recurred while driving at various speeds. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the ball joints, upper and lower control arms, and the steering gear needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000. The dealer is requesting the consumer get a diagnostic for $168 eventhough the consumer presented them with a safety recall via carfax.

NHTSA complaint #11499152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Lincoln Town CAR at 155,000 miles Aiken, SC

SUSPENSION

The contact owns a 2003 Lincoln Town Car. The contact stated while his son was driving on the highway, the accelerator pedal was slightly released; however, the vehicle stopped instantly. There was no warning light illuminated. The driver was able to drive to his destination safely. The vehicle was towed to the contact's workplace. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The tow truck operator stated that the rear axle was fractured. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 155,000.

NHTSA complaint #11471316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Lincoln Town CAR Prole, IA

SUSPENSION

The rear-end failed does not have tempered axle There was a recall on 2003 lincolns with same problem but when I enter vin It does not pull anything up Lost control of car and had to be towed home have not had it to the dealer yet

NHTSA complaint #11466895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Lincoln Town CAR Prole, IA

SUSPENSION

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.

2003 Lincoln Town CAR at 73,000 miles New City, NY

SUSPENSION

The contact owns a 2003 Lincoln Town Car. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V328000 (Suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, vibration sounds were heard coming from the rear of the vehicle. The local dealer, All American Ford of Paramus (375 NJ-17, Paramus, NJ 07652) and Mahwah Ford (55 Franklin Turnpike, Mahwah, NJ 07430) were made aware of the recall however, all three dealers informed the contact that the parts were obsolete. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to several dealers. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000. Consumer stated safety recall for a fracture in the rear axle and bearing states can cause crash still isn’t resolved.

NHTSA complaint #11443996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Lincoln Town CAR at 54,000 miles Hemet, CA

SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED LAMARQUE FORD LOCATED AT 3101 WILLIAMS BLVD SUITE F, KENNER, LA 70065, (504) 443-2500, AND MADE THE DEALER AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.*DT

NHTSA complaint #11329554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Lincoln Town CAR at 106,000 miles Fayetteville, NC

SUSPENSION:REAR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE AXLE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BEARINGS SEIZED, WHICH CAUSED THE AXLE TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V328000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

NHTSA complaint #11290138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Lincoln Town CAR at 486,713 miles Compton, CA

SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK AIR SUSPENSION AND TIRE FAULT WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS AND ALL FOUR TIRE SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 486,713.

NHTSA complaint #11265222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Lincoln Town CAR at 92,643 miles Tecumseh, OK

SUSPENSION

RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING WENT OUT. MILEAGE OF CAR IS 92,643. THERE WAS A RECALL OF THIS YEAR OF CAR MANUFACTURED FROM THE SAME PLANT, WIXOM, MI, BUT THE PRODUCTION LINE OF RECALL ENDED IN DECEMBER 2002. THIS CAR ROLLED OFF IN FEBRUARY2003. HOWEVER, IT WAS EXACTLY AS THE RECALL STATED AND THERE IS NO WAY THAT THE BAD PARTS WAS NOT PUT ON OTHER VEHICLES OF THE 2003 PRODUCTION VEHICLES. WHEN THE BEARING WENT, IT CHEWED THE AXLE SO IT TOO HAD TO BE REPLACED. IT WENT OUT WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION. WAS IMMEDIATELY PARKED AND NOT DRIVEN TIL FIXED. MACHANIC AGREES THAT IT WAS BAD PARTS AND KNOWS OF SEVERAL 2003 MODELS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #11228611 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Lincoln Town CAR at 131,500 miles Columbus, OH

SUSPENSION

ON JULY 16, 2017, I WAS TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 70 EAST, NEAR WASHINGTON, PA. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY 2001 LINCOLN STARTED SHAKING VERY VIOLENTLY. I MANAGED TO PULL INTO A REST STOP A FEW MILES AWAY, AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR PORTION OF MY LINCOLN WAS VERY LOW TO THE GROUND. I MANAGED TO DRIVE INTO WASHINGTON, PA, AND A LOCAL MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HE SUSPECTED THAT THE AIR SUSPENSION COMPRESSOR, WHICH CONTROLS THE REAR AIR SUSPENSION BAGS, WAS DEFECTIVE. A FEW WEEKS EARLIER, THE "AIR BAGS" WARNING LIGHT RELATING TO THE REAR AIR SUSPENSION BAGS HAD COME ON; MY MECHANIC CHECKED THEM OUT AND STATED THAT THEY WERE FINE, AS HE HAD REPLACED BOTH OF THEM, IN 2013. HOWEVER, IN RETROSPECT, THE COMPUTER WAS REFERRING TO THE AIR SUSPENSION COMPRESSOR AND PROBABLY TO THE AIR SUSPENSION HEIGHT SENSOR. I HAD MY MECHANIC REPLACE BOTH OF THOSE PARTS. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE LINCOLN PERSONNEL SHOULD HAVE WARNED THE LINCOLN TOWN CAR OWNERS THAT THE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM, WHICH IS USED ON THE LINCOLN TOWN CARS, IS PRONE TO FAILURE; AND, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A WARNING BUILT INTO THE COMPUTER TO WARN DRIVERS OF AN IMPENDING LOSS TO THAT SYSTEM. A LIGHT COMING ON JUST STATING "AIR BAGS" IS NOT SUFFICIENT. PRIOR TO THAT PROBLEM, I HAD NO IDEA THAT THERE WAS AN AIR SUSPENSION COMPRESSOR, OR AN AIR SUSPENSION HEIGHT SENSOR TO CONTROL THE REAR AIR SUSPENSION BAGS. SINCE THERE ARE STILL THOUSANDS OF LINCOLN TOWN CARS ON THE ROAD, THE NHTSA SHOULD AT LEAST WARN OWNERS OF THOSE CARS, ABOUT THE POTENTIAL SUSPENSION PROBLEM, WHICH CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #11104321 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Lincoln Town CAR at 106,000 miles Southport, NC

SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE REAR AIR SUSPENSION WAS ACTIVATED. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS AT A HIGHER HEIGHT AND WOULD NOT LOWER. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE BOUNCED WHILE DRIVING. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT CALLED CAPITAL FORD LINCOLN OF WILMINGTON (4222 OLEANDER DR, WILMINGTON, NC 28403 (910) 378-3858) AND RECEIVED SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

NHTSA complaint #11033099 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Lincoln Town CAR at 146,999 miles Tallahassee, FL

SUSPENSION

MY 2001 LINCOLN TOWNCAR SIGNATURE ,. GAS IN FUEL AND DROVE 3 MILES IN PARK. THE CAR LITTLE EXHAUST, I PROCEEDED TO THE LIGHT AND THERMOSTATS HEATING NEEDLE TO HOT. I MOVE TO NEXT, LIGHT, AIR CONDITION ON TO COOL DOWN. IMMEDIATELY LEFT TURN INTO CYPRESS RESTAURANT. PARKING, TURN OFF, COOL DOWN, AND NEXT OPEN BY FRIEND WHO NEEDED GO THE DOCTOR. CALLED AAA PULL TO THE SHOP. ESTIMATED , CAN NOT REPAIRED THIS...DAY. SO, IF IT WAS MANUFACTURED DEFECEITS. I LOOK UP ...

NHTSA complaint #10938689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Lincoln Town CAR at 175,000 miles Denton, TX

SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE BALL JOINTS ON THE VEHICLE BECAME UNDONE. IN ADDITION, THE A FRAME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.

NHTSA complaint #10916458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Lincoln Town CAR at 60,000 miles Harrisonville, MO

SUSPENSION

I HAVE A 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR THAT I BOUGHT IN 2005, WHICH WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. OVER THE YEARS, I'VE HAD TO PAY FOR REPLACING THE REAR AXLES AND AXLE BEARINGS THAT WENT BAD. I SAW ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE YESTERDAY THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM THAT RESULTED IN A RECALL OF THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON THIS PROBLEM, AND HAVE PAID OUT-OF-POCKET FOR THESE REPAIRS TWICE, NOT KNOWING THAT THERE WAS EVER A RECALL. NOW, ALL FORD WILL TELL ME THAT THERE IS NOT CURRENTLY A RECALL ON MY CAR, IGNORING THAT I SHOULD HAVE BEEN SENT A RECALL NOTICE. I BELIEVE THAT FORD SHOULD REPLACE THE REAR AXLES AND BEARINGS, WHICH ARE ONCE AGAIN NEEDING REPLACED. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT FORD SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR THE TWO TIMES ALREADY THAT I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THE AXLES AND BEARINGS REPLACED. THE VIN OF THE CAR IS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10897659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Lincoln Town CAR at 140,140 miles Auburn, CA

SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE STATIONARY, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE FRACTURED. THE CONTACT NOTICED OIL COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V328000 (SUSPENSION) AS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,140.

NHTSA complaint #10894094 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Lincoln Town CAR problems