2005 Lincoln TOWN CAR problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
119 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
65,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 97 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 32 of 119 complaints (26.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 49 | 41.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 10.1% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 7.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 3.4% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 2.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 32 |
| Air Bags | 20 |
| Seat Belts | 10 |
| Service Brakes | 9 |
| Steering | 8 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Engine | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 6 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 32; Air Bags: 20; Seat Belts: 10; Service Brakes: 9; Steering: 8; Electrical System: 7; Engine: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 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 | 20 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 17 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 21 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 21 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 11 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 20; 25,000 to 49,999: 17; 50,000 to 74,999: 21; 75,000 to 99,999: 21; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 7
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 22 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 |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 11 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 14 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2016 | 11 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2005: 11; 2006: 8; 2007: 3; 2008: 9; 2009: 3; 2010: 9; 2011: 6; 2012: 6; 2013: 7; 2014: 14; 2015: 10; 2016: 11; 2017: 5; 2018: 5; 2019: 7; 2020: 2; 2022: 2; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 49 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 12 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 9 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 10125465 · 2005-06-16 (June 16, 2005)
THE VEHICLE ENGINE ACCELERATES FOR NO REASON WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES TO STOP AND TRIES TO MOVE FOWARD REQUIRING ME TO REAPPLY MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH FORCE AND PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN NUTRUAL TO STOP THE FORWARD OR REVERSE MOTION OF THE VEHICLE. I HAD TAKEN DELIVERY OF THIS VEHICLE ON DECEMBER 16, 2004 AND HAVE AS OF THIS DATE HAVE DRIVEN IT LESS THEN 2800 MILES DUE TO A MAJOR SAFETY DEFECT. I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM 3 TIMES, I HAVE ALSO ADVISED THEM IN WRITING THAT, THIS PROBLEM MA…
Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125465 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10136441 · 2005-09-14 (September 14, 2005)
ON SEPTEMBER 4TH, 2005 AT APPROXIMATELY 2:30 PM, MY ASSIGNED CAR, A 2005 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL, CRASHED INTO A HERTZ FORD TAURUS AND A HERTZ VOLVO. WAS THE ACCIDENT MY FAULT OR WAS IT CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE CAR? I WAS AMONG TRANSPORTERS DROPPED OFF AT THE CHERRY HILL, NEW JERSEY HILTON HOTEL. OUR ASSIGNMENT WAS TO PICK-UP CARS AND DRIVE THEM TO THE HERTZ OFFICE AT MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE. I FOUND MY CAR, A 2005 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL, BUCKLED UP, CHECKED THE MILEAGE, STARTED THE ENGINE AND TURNED THE LIGHTS ON. I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE AND THE CA…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10136441 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10203206 · 2007-09-17 (September 17, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE RPM AND THEN STOPPED. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AGAIN ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 1-15 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HARD AS POSSIBLE AND STEERING THE VEHICLE AROUND TRAFFIC WHEN SHE STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE AND STRUCK A PARKED VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS DAMAGED, INCLUDING THE RADIATOR, BATTERY, ENGINE BLOCK, AND WINDSHIELD, HOWEVER, THE FRONT END OF THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS THE MOS…
Owner-reported narrative. 23,934 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203206 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10343885 · 2010-07-18 (July 18, 2010)
2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AT NEARLY 51000 MILES. MECHANIC REPLACED CLOCK SPRING IN STEERING COLUMN ($250)--DID NOT FIX PROBLEM!! THEN INFORMED AN ADDITIONAL PROBLEM IN COLUMN. NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT AND MAINTAINED PROPERLY. HAVE WRITTEN FORD MOTOR TWICE SUGGESTING THEY SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM, THAT IT MUST BE A FACTORY DEFECT. THEY DID NOT HAVE THE DECENCY TO RESPOND!!!!! *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10343885 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10605191 · 2014-06-23 (June 23, 2014)
TL ' THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVEN TIMES. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND PRODUCE A FAILURE CODE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000. JCC UPDATED 8/11/14*CN
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10605191 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10670610 · 2015-01-07 (January 7, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER ENTERED THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10670610 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10139464 · 2005-10-12 (October 12, 2005)
DT: 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONSUMER WROTE A LETTER TO THE DEALER REGARDING POTENTIAL GAS TANK SAFETY AND/OR EXPLOSION PROBLEMS THAT MAY EXIST IN LINCOLN TOWN CAR. HAVE NOT ANY GOTTEN ANY KNOWLEDGEABLE PERSON SAYING THAT CAR WAS SAFE. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT BEEN DRIVING THE CAR. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND SOMEONE CALLED THE CONSUMER BACK AND SAID THE CAR WAS SAFE. THE PERSON HE TALKED TO SAID HE WAS THE INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLAINTS ABOUT VEHICLES. HE SHOWED NO INDICATION THAT HE WAS AN EXPERT THAT COULD SPEAK WI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10139464 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10895397 · 2016-08-12 (August 12, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 85 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON, AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRONIC VALVE IN THE FUEL INJECTOR SEIZED IN THE OPEN POSITION AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFAC…
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10895397 at NHTSA ↗