U.S. public vehicle records

Lincoln TOWN CAR problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

2,595 owner complaints analyzed

47 distinct recall campaigns

81,790 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1977 to 2011 model years. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 1,253 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 315 of 2,595 complaints (12.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	496	19.1%
Steering behavior	242	9.3%
Electrical and battery issues	144	5.5%
Engine operation	94	3.6%
Transmission and shifting	87	3.4%
Fuel system concerns	40	1.5%

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.

Vehicle Speed Control

315

Air Bags

164

Steering

116

Electrical System

112

Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

Engine And Engine Cooling

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Vehicle Speed Control	315
Air Bags	164
Steering	116
Electrical System	112
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe	93
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	90
Engine And Engine Cooling	85
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	68

Vehicle Speed Control: 315; Air Bags: 164; Steering: 116; Electrical System: 112; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 93; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 90; Engine And Engine Cooling: 85; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 68

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

164

25,000 to 49,999

169

50,000 to 74,999

216

75,000 to 99,999

267

100,000 to 149,999

294

150,000 and above

143

Under 25,000: 164; 25,000 to 49,999: 169; 50,000 to 74,999: 216; 75,000 to 99,999: 267; 100,000 to 149,999: 294; 150,000 and above: 143

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (294). 1,342 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.

1995

174

1996

212

2000

182

2001

184

2002

188

2003

182

2004

201

2005

151

2006

120

2007

113

2008

152

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

122

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

Complaints over time data
Category	Count
1995	174
1996	212
2000	182
2001	184
2002	188
2003	182
2004	201
2005	151
2006	120
2007	113
2008	152
2009	64
2010	86
2011	57
2012	50
2013	57
2014	122
2015	77
2016	52
2017	38
2018	32
2019	32
2020	13
2021	11
2022	19
2023	13
2024	9
2025	3
2026	1

1995: 174; 1996: 212; 2000: 182; 2001: 184; 2002: 188; 2003: 182; 2004: 201; 2005: 151; 2006: 120; 2007: 113; 2008: 152; 2009: 64; 2010: 86; 2011: 57; 2012: 50; 2013: 57; 2014: 122; 2015: 77; 2016: 52; 2017: 38; 2018: 32; 2019: 32; 2020: 13; 2021: 11; 2022: 19; 2023: 13; 2024: 9; 2025: 3; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 496 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 242 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 144 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 860974 · 2000-04-26 (April 26, 2000)

WHILE DRIVING IN CITY TRAFFIC AND COMING TO AN INTERSECTION IN THE LEFT HAND LANE, APPLIED BRAKES AND THEY FAILED. COULDN'T STOP, AND REARENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT. CHECKED ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND BRAKE FLUID WAS GONE. ALSO, BRAKE LINE CORRODED DUE TO FAULTY MATERIAL IN THE TUBE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 860974 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10124802 · 2005-06-29 (June 29, 2005)

DT: THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT 35 MPH WHEN IT STALLED. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STOPPED AND LOST STEERING AND BRAKES. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES. THE VEHICLE USUALLY STALLS AT LOWER SPEEDS ABOUT 35 MPH. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED BEFORE FAILURE, ONLY AFTER THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE IS REGULARLY SERVICED. NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. DUE TO THIS PROBLEM VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN. PROBLEM BEGAN ABOUT A YEAR AGO.*AK *SB

Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10124802 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 870241 · 2000-09-12 (September 12, 2000)

TILT YOKE IN THE STEERING WHEEL BROKE, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL NOT TO LOCK IN PLACE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PART WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL, AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER'S COST. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 870241 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 983367 · 1996-04-23 (April 23, 1996)

ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983367 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 985178 · 1996-06-03 (June 3, 1996)

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE DASH AND UNDER THE HOOD. ELECTRICAL RELATED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 985178 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 895232 · 2001-08-27 (August 27, 2001)

VEHICLE WOULD STALLS WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP ONLY DURING HOT WEATHER CONDITION OF 100 DEGREE OR MORE. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER SHOP, AND DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE CAUSE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 895232 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10239672 · 2008-08-25 (August 25, 2008)

CAR WAS PARKED WITH TRANSMISSION SELECTOR IN PARK POSITION WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE CAR JUMPED OUT OF PARK AND BEGIN TO ROLL AWAY. WHEN THE CAR HIT ANOTHER CAR AND CAME TO REST, THE TRANSMISSION INDICATOR WAS IN REVERSE POSITION. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 118,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10239672 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10370429 · 2010-12-13 (December 13, 2010)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 LINCOLN TOWNCAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CLIP FROM THE THROTTLE BODY FRACTURED AND ACCELERATED THE VEHICLE TO 80 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY CLIP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000. THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR CABLE HAD TO REPLACED. UPDATED 04/25/11

Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10370429 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 479625 · 1995-02-11 (February 11, 1995)

GAS TANK LEAKS DUE TO STRAPS BETWEEN GAS TANKS RUBBING, CAUSING HOLES IN TANKS. (OTHER VEHICLE ON 481139) *SKD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 479625 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 884316 · 2001-03-27 (March 27, 2001)

STRAPS THAT HOLD FUEL TANK IN PLACE HAVE BEEN RUBBING ON TANK, FUEL TANK IS LEAKING DUE TO THAT. *AK THE TANK NEEDS REPLACING. *YH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 884316 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999