1999 Lincoln TOWN CAR problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
129 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
100,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 77 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 129 complaints (10.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 18 | 14.0% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 7.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 4.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 2.3% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 13 |
| Suspension | 10 |
| Steering | 9 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 8 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 7 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 6 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 5 |
Air Bags: 13; Suspension: 10; Steering: 9; Air Bags:Side/Window: 8; Electrical System: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 7; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint: 6; Air Bags:Frontal: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 13 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 23 |
| 150,000 and above | 17 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 23; 150,000 and above: 17
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (23). 52 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 10 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2002 | 11 |
| 2003 | 11 |
| 2004 | 17 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 10 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2000: 10; 2001: 7; 2002: 11; 2003: 11; 2004: 17; 2005: 10; 2006: 5; 2007: 10; 2008: 4; 2010: 5; 2011: 2; 2012: 3; 2013: 4; 2014: 8; 2015: 6; 2016: 3; 2017: 1; 2018: 4; 2019: 2; 2020: 3; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 18 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10012163 · 2004-09-24 (September 24, 2004)
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN TAPPED. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE VEHICLE SHOOK. *NLM THE CONSUMER HAD A NEW MASTER CYLINDER, TEN SETS OF ROTARS AND PADS INSTALLED AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *TC
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10012163 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070362 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
WE PURCHASED TWO NEW TOWNCARS FROM GERMAIN LINC.-MERC., NAPLES, FL, IN 1999 AND 2000 MY CAR'S,VIN [XXX], 1999 TOWN CAR, AND MY WIFE'S 2000 TOWN CAR, VIN [XXX]. MY FIRST COMPLAINT IS REGARDING MY CAR THAT DEVELOPED ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS RIGHT AFTER IT RAN OUT OF WARRANTY, AND NEEDED A $500 REPAIR. A WEEK LATER, IT DEVELOPED A LEAK, AND WAS REPAIRED AT $1000. IS THIS PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE? THIS WAS AT 56,000 MILES OF USE. SHOULDN'T THE DEALER CHECK BASIC SYSTEMS AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE WELL MAINTAINED? MY WIFE'S TOWNCAR HAS A FAR MORE SERIOUS AND HA…
Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070362 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065384 · 2004-04-29 (April 29, 2004)
WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP FOR INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RIGHTS TIE ROD END NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK ON MARCH 26, 2004 THE LEFT SIDE TIE ROD END FAILED WHILE DRIVING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10065384 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070305 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
CAR HAS A PROBLEN IN THE STEERING BOX. TOOK IT TO A SPECIALIST AND FORD DISCOUNTED IT. THEY SENT A LINCOLN REP DOWN AND HE JUST LIED TO ME ABOUT THE PROBLEM SAID IT WAS A FACTORY FLAW AND COULD NOT FIX , THEN I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER FOR A PINGING AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T HEAR IT (NOTHING WAS DONE)THEN LATER ON A TRIP IT WENT HAYWIRE SOUNDED LIKE A BIG DIESEL TRUCK ON THE HIGHWAY AND RAN LIKE CRAP , SUCKING GAS ALSO, THEN CHANGED DEALERS AND THEY SAID THEY COULDEN'T FIND A PING . I GRABED ME A MECHANIC AND WE TOOK A LITTLE RIDE AND BEF…
Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070305 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020398 · 2003-05-22 (May 22, 2003)
THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE WAS A DESIGN DEFECT WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FUSE BOX WAS POSITIONED UNDER THE HOOD DIRECTLY ABOVE THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WELL. THE FUSE BOX STARTED TO MELT DUE TO WATER FROM THE ROAD CONTACTING IT, WHICH CAUSED THE AIR SHOCKS AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO FAIL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020398 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10092571 · 2004-10-15 (October 15, 2004)
CONSUMER HAS A LIMOUSINE WHICH IS EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE CIRCUIT BOARD THAT CONTROLLED ALL THE LIGHTING AND AIR CONDITIONING IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE CIRCUIT BOARD WAS UPGRADED. THE CONNECTOR HEATED UP WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A POTENTIAL FIRE. *AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10092571 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10524501 · 2013-07-11 (July 11, 2013)
WHEN ENGINE STARTED VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK BUT WILL START IN NEUTRAL THEN WILL SHIFT TO OTHER GEARS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10524501 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 870919 · 2000-09-19 (September 19, 2000)
CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE IN THE SHOP FOR SEVERAL TIMES FOR TRANSMISSION/ AIR CONDITIONER,AND BRAKES. ROTOR WERE TURNED, AND WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR . CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC STATED DEFECTIVE PADS AFFECTED ROTORS, AND ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 870919 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10191612 · 2007-05-24 (May 24, 2007)
COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ON LINCOLN TOWNCAR 1999, HAD TO BE TOWED FROM HIGHWAY.
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10191612 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 894565 · 2001-08-16 (August 16, 2001)
WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH VEHICLE STALLS. CONSUMER HAS TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP TO START AGAIN. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS.*AK CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION VIBRATES AFTER DRIVING AND IS ALSO NOISY. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 894565 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019222 · 2003-05-24 (May 24, 2003)
THE FUEL PUMP ON MY 1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASE INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: FUEL PUMP, DIGITAL DISPLAY (SPEEDOMETER, MILEAGE, COMPASS, TEMPERATURE), PASSENGER WINDOW POWER MECHANISM (WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP COMPLETELY IF LOWERED) AND SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. CURRENT ISSUE REGARDS FUEL PUMP. TOTAL COST TO REPAIR INCLUDE $403.00 LABOR, $257.49 PARTS (FUEL PUMP), $25.00 MISC FEES, $16.72 TAX, $215.00 TOWING. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019222 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11084585 · 2018-04-11 (April 11, 2018)
THIS IS THE 2ND TOWN CAR THAT HAS A HOLE RUSTED IN THE FUEL TANK FILL TUBE IT'S NOT SHOWING NO RECALL BUT I FEEL IT'S A FIRE HAZARD AND AFRAID TO DRIVE
Owner-reported narrative. 180,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11084585 at NHTSA ↗