FaultScore

Lincoln Town CAR transmission problems

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

179

Complaints

4%

Share of all complaints

14

Crashes

3

Fires

Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year

1986 Town CAR 3 1.7%

Median failure at 118,000 miles

1987 Town CAR 2 1.1%
1988 Town CAR 10 5.6%

Median failure at 85,000 miles

1989 Town CAR 6 3.4%

Median failure at 96,951 miles

1990 Town CAR 4 2.2%
1991 Town CAR 8 4.5%
1992 Town CAR 14 7.8%
1993 Town CAR 21 11.7%

Median failure at 100,000 miles

1994 Town CAR 17 9.5%
1995 Town CAR 17 9.5%
1996 Town CAR 2 1.1%
1997 Town CAR 3 1.7%

Median failure at 105,500 miles

1998 Town CAR 11 6.1%

Median failure at 44,000 miles

1999 Town CAR 7 3.9%

Median failure at 70,000 miles

2000 Town CAR 1 0.6%

Median failure at 55,097 miles

2001 Town CAR 5 2.8%

Median failure at 107,900 miles

2003 Town CAR 29 16.2%

Median failure at 83,256 miles

2004 Town CAR 1 0.6%

Median failure at 153,000 miles

2005 Town CAR 7 3.9%

Median failure at 52,500 miles

2006 Town CAR 6 3.4%

Median failure at 31,000 miles

2007 Town CAR 2 1.1%

Median failure at 125,626 miles

2008 Town CAR 2 1.1%

Median failure at 51,000 miles

2010 Town CAR 1 0.6%

Median failure at 94,000 miles

What owners said

2006 Lincoln Town CAR at 91,000 miles Volente, TX

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2006 Lincoln Town Car. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, he was unable to shift into the intended gear. The contact stated that the gear shifter had seized. The contact stated the steering shaft was maneuvered until the gear shifter unlocked. There was an unknown warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the local dealer was contacted; however, no assistance was provided. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.

NHTSA complaint #11590333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Lincoln Town CAR Abingdon, MD

POWER TRAIN

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.

2010 Lincoln Town CAR at 94,000 miles Stoughton, MA

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

The contact owns a 2010 Lincoln Town Car. The contact stated while driving at 30 MPH and steering the steering wheel, the steering wheel was resistant and was emitting abnormal metallic sounds, and the accelerator pedal was making clicking sounds. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving. However, the failure reoccurred increasingly. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed that there was a plastic component of the driveshaft that had slipped and had bond to the accelerator pedal, which caused it to click. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V38500 (Steering) and NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V704000 (Steering). The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.

NHTSA complaint #11481797 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Lincoln Town CAR Louisville, KY

POWER TRAIN

I have had to replace wheel bearing and axle every few months because of premature wear and causing driving to be a safety concern. Once it wears thin, the car shakes and wobbles and the tire almost snapped off twice.

NHTSA complaint #11475616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Lincoln Town CAR Newcity, NY

POWER TRAIN

Been trying for about a year to get this safety recall called 4 local ford dealer ships first one said my cars to old they won’t fix the safety recall other don’t give call back I can hear like vibrating in the back where this recall would fix it hopfully it don’t break on me

NHTSA complaint #11465634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Lincoln Town CAR at 92,611 miles Shawnee, OK

POWER TRAIN

THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED LESS THAN 2 YEARS AGO AND IS ALREADY BAD AGAIN. THIS SPECIFIC MAKE AND MODEL AND YEAR OF CAR HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THE BEARING ISSUES THAT THIS CAR HAS, AND THIS CAR WAS PRODUCED IN THE EXACT PLANT THAT THE RECALL INVOLVES. HOWEVER, THE RECALL MANUFACTURE DATE ENDS ON DECEMBER 31, 2002 AND THIS CAR'S MANUFACTURE DATE IS FEBRUARY 2003. THE CAR HAS THE BAD PARTS THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

NHTSA complaint #11408476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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

POWER TRAIN

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.

2003 Lincoln Town CAR at 240,000 miles LAS Vegas, NV

POWER TRAIN

THE CAR DOESNT GO ON GEAR. ENGINE STARTS BUT WONT GO ON ANY GEAR. EITHER AXLE SHAFT OR BEARING PROBLEM

NHTSA complaint #11180204 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Lincoln Town CAR at 150,000 miles Saint Helen, MI

POWER TRAIN

MAKES LOUD POPPING NOISE WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED TO THE EXTREME RIGHT OR LEFT WHETHER THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN OR STANDING STILL. OCCASIONALLY, THE IGNITION WON'T TURN ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED, CLOSING THE ENTIRE SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #11084191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Lincoln Town CAR Urbana, IL

POWER TRAIN

ASSISTING A FRIEND WITH THIS. THE LEFT REAR AXLE HAS BROKEN AND DAMAGED THE BRAKES AND ABS SENSOR. HE HAD DRIVEN THE VEHICLE TO WORK AND PARKED IT. AFTER HIS SHIFT ENDED, HE STARTED THE VEHICLE, SHIFTED INTO GEAR AND FOUND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE & WAS MAKING NOISE. HE HAD IT TOWED TO HIS HOUSE AND ASKED ME TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE. AFTER RAISING THE REAR AXLE, I WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT THE LEFT REAR AXLE BEARING HAD WORN THROUGH THE AXLE AND IT BROKE. WHEN I CHECKED THE NHTSA WEBSITE, IT SHOWED IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE REAR AXLE SAFETY RECALL, ALTHOUGH THE CONDITIONS ARE SIMILAR TO WHAT WAS LISTED.

NHTSA complaint #11048444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Lincoln Town CAR at 148,000 miles Kansas City, MO

POWER TRAIN

LOOKING THROUGH THE LIST OF COMPLAINTS THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO MANY TIMES TO BE IGNORED. I COUNTED 38 TIMES BY PAGE 15, NOT EVEN HALF WAY THROUGH THE LIST. I HAVE A 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR AND IS BEEN HAVING SOME ISSUES WITH THE DRIVER SIDE AXLE AND BEARINGS, I AM GETTING READY TO REPLACE THE SHAFT, BEARING AND SEAL FOR THE THIRD TIME IN A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS. LIKE SOME OTHER CUSTOMERS I FOUND THAT MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED ON THE RECALL, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THAT PROBLEM IS A LOT MORE FREQUENT THAN IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE. THIS IS A PROBLEM AND ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED IT UNDER THE "SUSPENSION" CATEGORY.

NHTSA complaint #11015025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Lincoln Town CAR at 85,000 miles Fort LEE, NJ Crash

POWER TRAIN

I WAS SLOWLY BACKING OUT OF MY SHORT DRIVEWAY MY FOOT ONLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN SUDDENLY CAR ACCELERATES AND HIT PARKED CAR ACROSS AT RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. TWO WEEKS BEFORE THIS I WAS DRIVING ON ROAD ABOUT 15 MPH AND SAW CAR AHEAD OF ME HAD STOPPED I PUT FOOT ON BRAKE STARTED SLOWING WHEN CAR ACCELERATED HARD TAPPED BRAKE AND CAR STOPPED. I DIDN'T PRESS THROTTLE.

NHTSA complaint #10949532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Lincoln Town CAR at 150,000 miles Lakeland, FL

POWER TRAIN

I HAVE A 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR AND IS BEEN HAVING SOME ISSUES WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AXEL, I AM GETTING READY TO REPLACE THE SHAFT, BEARING AND SEAL FOR THE THIRD TIME IN A PERIOD OF MAYBE FOUR YEARS, I'M SORRY, BUT DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHEN IT WAS, BUT LAST TIME WAS LEST THAN 16 MONTHS AGO, ON THE LAST TWO THERE WAS OIL LEAKING ALL AROUND THE WHEEL, THIS TIME THERE IS STILL NO OIL LEAK BUT IS MAKING THAT KIND OF HUMMING NOISE, AND WHEN LIFTED THE CAR YOU CAN MOVE THE WHEEL UP AND DOWN, NOW I'M JUST WAITING FOR THE PARTS TO DO THE JOB AGAIN. LIKE SOME OTHER CUSTOMERS I FOUND THAT MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED ON THE RECALL, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THAT PROBLEM IS A LOT MORE FREQUENT THAN IS SUPPOSE TO, AND I HAS FOUND THAT SOME PEOPLE HAD REPORTED IT UNDER THE "SUSPENSION" CATEGORY. THANKS GOD! NOTHING HAD HAPPEN, BECAUSE I GOT IT ON TIME, BUT IT WON'T TAKE ME BY SURPRISE THAT SOME ONE OUT THERE WASN'T SO LUCKY. LIKE I SAID BEFORE I FOUND THE PROBLEM WHEN WALKING AROUND THE CAR WITH THE EXEMPTION OF THIS TIME THAT I HEARD THE NOISE WHEN DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY.

NHTSA complaint #10913978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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

POWER TRAIN

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.

2006 Lincoln Town CAR at 90,000 miles Woodbridge, VA

POWER TRAIN

I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE TO BACKUP. THEN, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, I PLACE THE CAR INTO DRIVE GOES FORWARD. IT CONTINUES FORWARD FOR ABOUT A CAR LENGTH BEFORE IT STOPS. THE CAR HAS DONE THIS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. I FEAR FOR MY LIFE.

NHTSA complaint #10870858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Lincoln Town CAR at 59,000 miles Salem, NH

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AXLE/BEARING WAS WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

NHTSA complaint #10808425 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1993 Lincoln Town CAR at 100,000 miles Sand Rock, AL

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, IT BEGAN TO MAKE A JERKING MOTION AND ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURES RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA complaint #10744131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Lincoln Town CAR at 87,000 miles Baltimore, MD

POWER TRAIN

WE HAVE A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WITH 87000 MILES WHEN IT RAINS THE REAR R FLOOR GETS A LOT OF WATER. THE WATER COMES FROM A DEFECTIVE SEAL IN THE AC/HEAT SYSTEM ? PROBABLY AROUND THE FAN MOUNT FOR THE HEATING /COOLING. AND ? MORE TROUBLE ? WHEN WE BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY IN WET WEATHER ? THE CAR FROZE IN PLACE ? AS IF WE HAD HIT A WALL. IT WOULD STILL GO FORWARD. HAPPENED HALF A DOZEN TIMES ? ALWAYS RAINING. EXCEPT ONE RAINY SUNDAY, JUST OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY LEAVING FOR CHURCH, IT FROZE DRIVING FORWARD. WE TOOK THE CAR TO BOB DAVIDSON FORD PAID THEM 'DIAGNOSTIC FEES' - $250 FOR THE [2] SEPARATE PROBLEMS. [XXX] GAVE US THE REPORT: THE LEAK REPAIR WOULD COST $600 ? AND, MORE OF A CHALLENGE, THE TRANNY, WHICH SHOWED: ?TRANSMISSION INTERNAL FAULT 150? NEEDS REPLACEMENT [ABOUT $4000 PARTS PLUS LABOR] THE LOCAL AAMCO OWNER SAID THIS MODEL LINCOLN ? FOR 2005 [AND THE 5 OTHER YEARS OF THE SAME DESIGN ? IS NOTABLE FOR CONSIDERABLE WATER PROBLEMS. HE HAD NOT HEARD OF WATER CAUSING THE TRANNY PROBLEMS AND HE ASKED ME TO GET THE DIAGNOSTIC CODES FROM [XXX]. HERE IT GETS INTERESTING. ?FAULT 150? IS GENERIC FOR TRANSMISSION. THE SHOP TESTING ? WELL, THERE WAS NO CODE. THERE WAS NO REPORT OF A DEFECT FROM THE CAR'S ON-BOARD COMPUTER. NO FAULT CODES AT ALL. JUST AN INDICATION, TOLD US AS: ?THE ACCUMULATOR WAS LEAKING OR THERE IS A BINDING CONCERN? WHEN THEY TOOK THE CAR OUT FOR A TEST DRIVE CONNECTED TO A DIAGNOSTIC TOOL. AND FROM THIS [XXX] IS ABLE TO TELL US WE NEED TO REPLACE A $4000 TRANSMISSION. PLUS LABOR, OF COURSE. WE PAID $120 TO A LEAK DOCTOR REPAIR TECH TO FIX THE WATER LEAK ON THE ENGINE SIDE OF THE FIREWALL. THE WATER LEAK SEEMS TO BE RESOLVED AND THE TRANNY LOCKING UP PROBLEM HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN. EVEN WHEN IT RAINS. ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ON THIS WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10689963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1988 Lincoln Town CAR at 45,000 miles Westfield, NJ Crash 1 injured

POWER TRAIN

THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILS WHEN IN OVERDRIVE. THIS FAILURE OCCURS ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEED AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE CAR GOES OUT OF CONTROL.

NHTSA complaint #10650865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Lincoln Town CAR at 147,224 miles Syracuse, NY

POWER TRAIN

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,224.

NHTSA complaint #10617755 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Lincoln Town CAR problems