Problems · NHTSA complaints
2005 Lincoln Town Car problems
Owners filed 119 complaints about the 2005 Lincoln Town Car with NHTSA between Jun 2005 and Apr 2023. The most-cited component is vehicle speed control (34).
Complaints
119
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
17
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
18
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Vehicle speed control34
- Air bags22
- Service brakes, hydraulic15
- Seat belts11
- Service brakes9
- Steering8
- Electrical system8
- Structure8
- Power train7
- Engine7
- Visibility/wiper3
- Exterior lighting3
- Fuel/propulsion system3
- Wheels3
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
11
8
3
9
3
9
6
6
7
14
10
11
5
5
7
2
0
2
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
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
34 reports9 crashes
“While accelerating approximate @ 30 mph, vehicle speed increased without assistance nearly plummeting into a body of water at a curve... exit 77 on I-95S MD. The car could not handled the curve at that rate of speed. Town Car had to be thrown into neutral and hard press brake pedal in order to stop. Safety issue could have been major accident or my death. I do not desire to reproduce a dangerous scenario with an accelerating vehicle. Dealership and private mechanic refused to reproduce incident. Zero warning lamps and nothing in computer to determine a problem/fix.”
Air bags
22 reports2 crashes
“"TAKATA RECALL." I NOTICED A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. I HAVE 28000 ACTUAL MILES ON THE 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED. I HAVE NOT HAD A RECALL ON THE AIRBAG LIGHT AND I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO CHECK IT OUT AND LET ME KNOW OF ANY RECALLS ON THE AIRBAGS.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
15 reports3 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A POWER ADJUSTABLE FOOT PEDAL SWITCH. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY CAME TO A STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE FOOT PEDAL SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE VEHICLE PERFORMED AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.”
Seat belts
11 reports
“AIR BAG LIGHT ON, GIVING CODE 34 THEN REMAINS ILLUMINATED. DEALER SAID SEAT BELT TENSIONERS ON BOTH SIDE NEED TO BE CHANGED @ A COST OF $1,500 . THEY ALSO ADVISE SERIOUS INJURY CAN OCCUR IN AN EVENT OF AN IMPACT .”
Service brakes
9 reports3 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT CALLED IN REGARDS TO HAVING A BRAKE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HIT A TRUCK AND THE CURB. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO STOP AFTER DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED NO INJURY WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR BODY DAMAGE ESTIMATE AND REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, CASE WAS FILED, AND REFERRED TO CONTACT NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 126,000.”
Steering
8 reports2 related recalls
“BECAME HARD TO STEER WHILE DRIVING. LIKE LOSS OF POWER STEERING TO IT INTO BE CHECKED IT IS THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING. ALMOST LOST CONTROL. I WAS TOLD IT WAS RECALLED FOR SAME REASON. I CHECKED IT WAS RECALLED BUT SAYS 0 UNREPAIRED . BUT SAYS SOME WAS NOT REPAIRED CORRECTLY I HAVE LESS THAN 95,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. WHAT CAN BE DONE FOR THIS VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING DOWN A ROAD WITH OUT NOTICED”
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.