Problems · NHTSA complaints

2004 Lincoln Town Car problems

Owners filed 83 complaints about the 2004 Lincoln Town Car with NHTSA between Apr 2004 and Oct 2025. The most-cited component is vehicle speed control (19).

Complaints
83
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
18
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Vehicle speed control19
  2. Steering14
  3. Structure11
  4. Service brakes, hydraulic9
  5. Electrical system8
  6. Wheels6
  7. Exterior lighting4
  8. Engine and engine cooling4
  9. Tires3
  10. Latches/locks/linkages3
  11. Suspension2
  12. Visibility2
  13. Fuel system, gasoline2
  14. Air bags2

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200413
200510
20064
20072
20086
20093
20104
20113
20124
20134
201413
20157
20160
20171
20182
20191
20203
20211
20220
20230
20240
20252

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Vehicle speed control

19 reports9 crashes
“OPERATOR EXPERIENCED STUCK SPEED CONTROL BUTTON AND ACCELERATED COULDN�T STOP THE SPEED ACCELERATION WITH STEERING WHEEL SO OPERATOR HIT BREAKS. LOUD BANG SOUND FOLLOWED BY DRASTIC REDUCED SPEEDS. COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL. RESULTED IN SPEEDING TICKET DURING FAILURE SPEEDS ALMOST UP TO 100MPH DURING EMERGENCY EVENT MODE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 3, 2018Vehicle speed controlODI 11133036

Steering

14 reports1 crash
“Bought a 2004 Linc Tow as a gift to my grandson. Drove it a couple of times and had no issues. After it had sat for about 2-3 weeks, I drove it to town to let it run after sitting. On my way home I was turning on to the road for home and the steering suddenly caught, I was in the middle of a turn and pulled steering wheel to straighten the car when it released. I almost hit the car next to me. I have an appointment on October 14th to have it checked out. I understand that this is a problem that has occurred often in other years and was fixed, so why not the 2004. This car only has 92,500 miles on it. I can't risk my grandson getting into an accident.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 10, 2025SteeringODI 11692471

Structure

11 reports1 crash
“VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE DURING RAIN SHOWERS AND WATER ACCUMULATED INSIDE THE REAR PASSENGER FOOT AREA 1ST AND OVERFLOWED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER'S FOOT AREA.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 25, 2020StructureODI 11325896

Service brakes, hydraulic

9 reports5 crashes
“2004 LINCOLN TOWN CAR HAD BRAKE FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKES FAILED CAUSING A REAR-END COLLISION. *NJ THE STATE POLICE TOLD THE CONSUMER THE ABS FAILED. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 20, 2008Service brakes, hydraulicCrash reportedODI 10231811

Electrical system

8 reports1 crash2 fires
“My car has the same lcm control module issues as cars from the same years ad models, but when I enter my VIN it is not showing. +4 PO#3 1998-2000 Lincoln Town Car Lighting Control Module YW1T ... Yes, a recall exists for a 2003-2005 model year Ford/Lincoln Town Car lighting control module (LCM) failure that can cause a loss of headlights. The recall, #15S39, involves dealers installing a bypass module kit to fix the problem for free. The issue stems from a cracked solder joint inside the LCM that can lead to intermittent or complete headlight failure, increasing crash risk at night. The lcm is under the dash near the pedals. It causes loud vibrating noise for a long time and causes a parasitic drain to my battery almost daily especially when it's cool outside. The relay under the hood vibrates as well”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 20, 2025Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11694438

Wheels

6 reports
“WHILE TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC SOUTHBOUND ON I-95 @ 75 MPH IN PALM BEACH COUNTY THERE WAS A SHIFT OF THE RIGHT REAR TO THE RIGHT. I ADJUSTED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL PRESUMING POSSIBLE HIGH WINDS ON THE ROAD. UPON ACCELERATING THERE WAS NO POWER, THEREFORE I APPLIED BRAKES TO COAST TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK (AUTOMOBILE WAS STILL MOVING UNTIL IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP). LOOKING AROUND THE VEHICLE, EVERYTHING SEEMED NORMAL; NO LEAKAGE OF LIQUIDS/FLUIDS, NO SKID MARKS, NO FOREIGN DEBRIS, ETC. WHILE AUTO WAS BEING PUT UPON THE FLAT BED FOR TOW, THERE WAS A CYLINDER-SHAPED PIECE LOCATED ON THE GROUND NEAR THE TOW TRUCK. I NOTICED THE ITEM, BUT DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT AT THE TIME. AFTER THE CAR WAS TOWED TO MY RESIDENCE 40 MILES AWAY FROM THE INCIDENT AND BEFORE BEING RELEASED FROM FLAT BED TOW TRUCK; THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL/TIRE WAS PROJECTING ABOUT 45 DEGREES OUT FROM REAR FENDER WELD. THE CAR HAD TO BE JACKED UP AND THE WHEEL/TIRE HAD TO BE HELD IN PLACE BY HAND AND ROTATED SLOWLY OFF THE RAMP . UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, IT IS NOTICED THAT ONLY THE TOP PORTION OF THE BRAKE CALIPHER ASSEMBLY WAS HOLDING THE WHEEL ALL ALONG. THE JACK HAD TO BE LEFT IN…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 8, 2014Suspension, Power train, WheelsODI 10609116
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.