Problems · NHTSA complaints

2010 Lincoln Town Car problems

Owners filed 13 complaints about the 2010 Lincoln Town Car with NHTSA between May 2012 and Sep 2024. The most-cited component is steering (5).

Complaints
13
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Steering5
  2. Electrical system3
  3. Seats2
  4. Visibility/wiper1
  5. Power train1
  6. Vehicle speed control1
  7. Air bags1
  8. Structure1
  9. Fuel/propulsion system1
  10. Seat belts1

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 Oct 28, 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
20121
20130
20143
20150
20162
20173
20181
20190
20200
20210
20221
20231
20241

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

Steering

5 reports2 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2010 Lincoln Town Car. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became difficult to control. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the driveshaft had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 24, 2024SteeringODI 11616187

Electrical system

3 reports1 fire
“Electrical; fill gas tank. Minutes later gauge shows I'm empty. Continues to repeat over and over. Driver's seat; crackling sound "like metal broke" seat does not adjust correctly and can no longer move the seats tilt. Having me drive in an uncomfortable position. Wipers; rainy day both motors left and right smoke up and burn out at the same time. Can no longer drive vehicle when it rains. Can't see anything wipers motors fried. As if they were allergic to water.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 31, 2023Electrical system, Seats, Visibility/wiperFire reportedODI 11514717

Seats

2 reports1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE DRIVER'S SEAT WIRING FAILED AND CAUSED THE SEAT TO MOVE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE MALFUNCTION OCCURRED DUE TO A BEVERAGE UNDER THE SEAT SPILLING ONTO THE WIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 102,754.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 9, 2012SeatsODI 10457941

Visibility/wiper

1 report1 fire

Power train

1 report
“The contact owns a 2010 Lincoln Town Car. The contact stated while driving at 30 MPH and steering the steering wheel, the steering wheel was resistant and was emitting abnormal metallic sounds, and the accelerator pedal was making clicking sounds. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving. However, the failure reoccurred increasingly. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed that there was a plastic component of the driveshaft that had slipped and had bond to the accelerator pedal, which caused it to click. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V38500 (Steering) and NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V704000 (Steering). The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 29, 2022Steering, Power trainODI 11481797

Vehicle speed control

1 report
“3 SUA - SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ACCIDENTS. 1 IN 2016 IN TOWN, 2ND ON FEB. 9, 2018 ON I-10 FOR AN ACCIDENT AHEAD, AND 3 ON MAR. 4, 2018 ON A RURAL HIGHWAY. ALL THREE WERE ABOUT 10 MPH WHEN SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP. THE CAR THEN WENT FULL ACCELERATION AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE CAR.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 13, 2018Vehicle speed controlODI 11093516
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

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