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
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Vehicle speed control19
- Steering14
- Structure11
- Service brakes, hydraulic9
- Electrical system8
- Wheels6
- Exterior lighting4
- Engine and engine cooling4
- Tires3
- Latches/locks/linkages3
- Suspension2
- Visibility2
- Fuel system, gasoline2
- 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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
13
10
4
2
6
3
4
3
4
4
13
7
0
1
2
1
3
1
0
0
0
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 13 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 13 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 2 |
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.
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.”
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.”
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.”
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”
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”
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…”
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.