2003 Lincoln TOWN CAR problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
201 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
69,222 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 160 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension:Rear is the most frequently named component, appearing in 43 of 201 complaints (21.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 31 | 15.4% |
| Steering behavior | 21 | 10.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 3.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 2.0% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Suspension:Rear | 43 |
| Suspension | 32 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 16 |
| Steering | 14 |
| Power Train | 12 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Engine | 6 |
| Wheels | 6 |
Suspension:Rear: 43; Suspension: 32; Vehicle Speed Control: 16; Steering: 14; Power Train: 12; Electrical System: 6; Engine: 6; Wheels: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 22 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 32 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 31 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 29 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 31 |
| 150,000 and above | 15 |
Under 25,000: 22; 25,000 to 49,999: 32; 50,000 to 74,999: 31; 75,000 to 99,999: 29; 100,000 to 149,999: 31; 150,000 and above: 15
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (32). 41 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 16 |
| 2004 | 13 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 17 |
| 2007 | 13 |
| 2008 | 15 |
| 2009 | 12 |
| 2010 | 12 |
| 2011 | 14 |
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 12 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2002: 5; 2003: 16; 2004: 13; 2005: 10; 2006: 17; 2007: 13; 2008: 15; 2009: 12; 2010: 12; 2011: 14; 2012: 10; 2013: 9; 2014: 10; 2015: 12; 2016: 9; 2017: 6; 2018: 4; 2019: 4; 2021: 3; 2022: 5; 2023: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension:Rear leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 31 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 10000429 · 2002-12-30 (December 30, 2002)
LED HIGH-MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT CAUSES A DISTRACTING REFLECTION ON THE REAR WINDOW.
Owner-reported narrative. 312 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000429 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009715 · 2003-03-14 (March 14, 2003)
WHEN THE DRIVER'S LEFT FOOT WAS QUICKLY MOVED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL FROM ITS RESTING POSITION, IT ENCOUNTERED AN OBJECT ABOVE IT THAT GAVE THE IMPRESSION THE FOOT DID NOT REACH THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHICH RESULTED IN USING THE RIGHT FOOT WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE CONDITION WORSENED WITH THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL IN THE FULL DOWN POSITION THEN THE LEFT KNEE ENCOUNTERED THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH GAVE THE IMPRESSION THE PEDAL WAS NOT REACHED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING BUT ADVISED TO HAVE VEHICLE MODIFIED. CONSUMER IS 5-9 IN HEIGHT A…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009715 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001161 · 2002-12-18 (December 18, 2002)
DRIVER PUT VEHICLE IN DRIVE GEAR AND TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. VEHICLES ENGINE REV UP TO FULL THROTTLE, AND ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THIS RESULTED IN THE DRIVER BEING INJURED. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001161 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10090776 · 2004-09-10 (September 10, 2004)
WHILR SITTING BEHIND ANOYJER VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT WITH FOOT ON BRAKE ENGINE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND CAR TO MOVE FORWARD. AS ENGINE INCREASED IN ACCELERATION I PUT TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL, ENGINE THEN WENT TO REDLEINE RPM. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND WAITED A MOMENT AND RESTARTED CAR WHICH THEN PERFORMEND NORMALLY. I HAVE HAD VEHICLE IN DEALERSHIP FOR ACTION ON PROBLEM, BUT BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM THEY WERE UNABLE TO RESOLVE SAME.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 10,684 miles reported. Look up ODI 10090776 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10119079 · 2005-08-05 (August 5, 2005)
AFTER SHIFTING THE GEAR INTO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED FORWARD. THE CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES HARD, SHIFT THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *JB *SB *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10119079 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10113842 · 2005-03-08 (March 8, 2005)
2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR, MISSING WIRING THAT GOES UNDERNEATH THE PASSENGER SEAT. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 49,370 miles reported. Look up ODI 10113842 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10241620 · 2008-09-09 (September 9, 2008)
VEHICLE HAS WIRING PROBLEM FOR BRAKE LIGHTS,TURN SIGNALS,BULBS & FUSES BLOW IT HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST APPROX EVERY NINE MONTHS TOLD PROBLEM IS ALWAYS BULB OR FUSE HOWEVER THEY MAINLY ALWAYS TAMPER WITH THE WIRING THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE 2003. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 90,880 miles reported. Look up ODI 10241620 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10343407 · 2010-07-15 (July 15, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, SHE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A RECALL RELEVANT TO THE FAILURE AND INQUIRED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V328000 (SUSPENSION: REAR) AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE …
Owner-reported narrative. 74,842 miles reported. Look up ODI 10343407 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10978539 · 2017-04-14 (April 14, 2017)
THE SPARK PLUGS EJECT OUT OF THE ENGINE AND THE CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE SEVERAL OF THEM AND THIS CONTINUE TO HAPPEN I DONT THINK THEY GO OR ARE DEAP ENOUGH AND IT COST 80.00 PER TO REPLACE
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10978539 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10081465 · 2004-08-12 (August 12, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 30-60 MPH THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE CONTINUOUSLY WHEN THE ENGINE WAS UNDER LOAD. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RIDE SMOOTHLY. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE DEALER CHANGER THE ERG VALVE, FUEL PUMP, FUEL SENSORS, SPARK PLUGS AND COIL BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10081465 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10825679 · 2016-02-11 (February 11, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE STRONG FUMES OF FUEL EMITTING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START OCCASIONALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INCORRECTLY REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER AND DID NOT SECURE THE RING OR CAP, WHICH CAUSED A FAILURE RATHER THAN A PERMANENT REMEDY. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING TO ANOTHER STATE AND NOTICED A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT CORRECTLY COMPLETED…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10825679 at NHTSA ↗