Page 2 of 2 · complaints 51–83 of 83

2004 Lincoln Town Car complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2004 record →

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Jun 20, 200817,000 milesVA

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

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed May 6, 200852,900 milesFL

CLAMP FAILURE FOR CONNECTING FUEL HOSES TO INLINE FUEL FILTER. CLAMPS ARE MADE OF PLASTIC AND DETERIORATE WITH TIME AND MILEAGE. RESULT IS PRESSURED FUEL LINE SEPARATING FROM FUEL FILTER AND SPRAYING GASOLINE OVER UNDERSIDE OF CAR, INCLUDING CATALYTIC CONVERTER. VEHICLE WAS 2004 LINCOLN TOWN CAR FUEL LINES WERE REPLACED, BUT REPLACEMENTS ALSO HAVE PLASTIC CLAMPS TO SECURE HOSES TO FILTER. *TR

Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery
Filed Mar 10, 200826,749 milesMA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING OR PARKED, THE VEHICLE WHINES, THE POWER DRAINS, AND THE BATTERY FAILS. THE CONTACT HAS TO CHARGE THE BATTERY EVERY TWO OR THREE DAYS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THREE PREVIOUS OCCASIONS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,749 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,794. UPDATED 4/8/08 *CN UPDATED 04/08/08 *TR

Air BagsCrash
Filed Feb 13, 200826,000 milesTX

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING 72 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WALL, AND THEN BOUNCED TO ANOTHER CONCRETE WALL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. BEFORE THE CRASH, NEW BACKUP SENSORS WERE PLACED IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 26,000.

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Oct 13, 2007109,954 milesNY

FIRE STARTED IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR WITHOUT ANY KNOWN REASONS. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED REGULARLY AND NO PROBLEMS WERE NOTED DURING THE SERVICE TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE FIRE. A THOROUGH FULL SERVICE WAS DONE IN MAY 200Y AS WELL. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Aug 16, 200732,000 milesTN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 90 MPH ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGED. THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO ITS REGULAR SPEED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE ON THEIR OWN. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT FORD MOTORS WOULD SEND HER A RECALL LETTER, HOWEVER, IT HAS NOT YET BEEN RECEIVED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 32,000. UPDATED 02-04-08. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED, HOWEVER THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. UPDATED

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Aug 16, 200618,163 milesGA

2004 LINCOLN TOWN CAR'S BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *KB NOT ONLY DID THE VEHICLE NOT STOP BUT IT ALSO ACCELERATED WHILE THE CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT THE VEHICLE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF HERS PUSHING THAT VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TRYING TO GET HE VEHICLE TO STOP. SHE PUT THE GEAR SHIFT IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE AWAY FROM OTHER VEHICLES BUT EVENTUALLY HAD NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO RUN INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES BEFORE COMING TO REST UPRIGHT ON ALL FOUR WHEELS. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ACCELERATING AND HIT THE WALL OF A BUILDING THEN STOPPED. *NM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Pedals and Linkages
Filed Jun 12, 200635,027 milesNC

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, DUE TO THE PLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS INTERMITTENTLY PRESSED AS WELL WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO NOTED THIS WAS A MANUFACTURING DESIGN CHANGE OF THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 06/27/06. *JB

Wheels
Filed Jun 5, 20063,000 milesKY

DEFECTIVE CHROMED WHEELS ON THE TOWN CAR WHICH CAUSES EXCESSIVE PRESSURE LOSS. THE CHROME IS FLAKING AT THE BEAD AREA AND IS EXAGGERATED BY LONG DISTANCE DRIVING. HAD TO HAVE TIRES DISMOUNTED AND RE-SEALED; LEFT FRONT TWICE (ONCE BY DEALER) AND RIGHT FRONT AT SAM'S CLUB. THIS STARTED 2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. NEW MAY 2004 AND I HAVE CONTINUED TO ADD AIR DURING TRIPS. *JB

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Jan 23, 2006TX

2004 TOWN CAR PARKED IN GARAGE. TURNED KEY AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. ALL I DID WAS TURN THE KEY. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO CAR, FIRE AND SMOKE DAMAGE TO HOME.*AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control
Filed Oct 6, 20053,500 milesOH

DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT 2004 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL NOT HOLDING SPEED WHEN DESCENDING A HILL. THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL HOLD THE SPEED WHEN ON FLAT GROUND AND WHEN GOING UP A HILL. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR THE CONSUMER FOR ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS. THE CONSUMER HAD NOT NOTICED THE PROBLEM BEFORE THIS DUE TO THE FACT THAT HE LIVED ON FLAT GROUND. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION ,AND THEY TOLD HIM TO STAY OUT OF THE MOUNTAINS. THE CONSUMER ALSO CONTACTED FORD ABOUT THE MATTER. THE PERSON THAT THE CONSUMER SPOKE WITH TOLD HIM THAT WAS THE WAY IT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET EVERY TIME THAT THIS HAPPENED TO THE CONSUMER. *AK *NM

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Oct 6, 20056,138 milesCA

DT: THE ENGINE DIED/STALLED. THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED WAS ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2005. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON OCTOBER 3. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT, BUT IT DIED AGAIN. HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT AND SLOWLY GOT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED TWO FUEL INJECTORS, AND TWO SPARK PLUGS. AFTERWARDS THEY TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THEY FOUND THE VACUUM LINE HAD NOT BEEN CONNECTED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE PROBLEM WILL REOCCUR. *AK UPDATED 11/29/05. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Sep 22, 200519,875 milesDE

DT: WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH THE ENGINE BEGAN TO HESITATE AND FINALLY STALLED. CONSUMER INSPECTED UNDER THE ENGINE AND SMELLED SMOKE. AN INDIVIDUAL STOPPED ALONG THE SIDE OF ROAD WHERE CONSUMER WAS AND NOTED HE WAS FROM AAA. HE TOOK OUT THE AIR FILTER WHICH HAD SMOLDERED AND WAS SLIGHTLY SMOKING. HE POURED WATER ON IT. THE CONSUMER DROVE HOME WITHOUT THE AIR FILTER IN. THAT MONDAY MORNING WENT TO A DEALER AND SHOWED THE SERVICE MANAGER THE AIR FILTER. CONSUMER LEFT VEHICLE FOR REPAIRS AND FOUR DAYS LATER. SERVICE MANAGER NOTED THAT THE AIR FILTER HAD PICKED UP A FOREIGN OBJECT, SUCH AS A CIGARETTE BUTT. THIS WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY WARRANTY. REPAIRS WERE MADE, NO PROBLEMS SO FAR. *AK *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Aug 2, 2005SC

2004 LINCOLN TOWN CAR DEVELOPED A KNOCKING WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED.*MR THE DEALER INSTALLED COVERS FOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS BUT THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *NM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jul 11, 20051,525 milesNY

DT: CONTACT STATES: HER BRAKES HAVE FAILED 4 TIMES ON HER CAR. NO LIGHTS CAME ON TO WARN HER BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. THE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN ONE DAY, ON 6-1-05 DAY AND ANOTHER TIME 3 WEEKS LATE ON 6-24-05. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER DROVE THE CAR 600 MILES AND THE BRAKES DID NOT FAIL. THE DEALER CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID AND SAID IT WAS FULL. THE DEALER DID NOT HAVE ANY IDEA WHY THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. *NM

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed May 23, 2005FL

THE VEHICLE WAS IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT SURGED FORWARD ON ITS OWN WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. *SC THE DEALER CONCLUDED THAT THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL WERE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER, SO THEY RAISED THE PEDAL.*JB

Tires
Filed Mar 30, 2005MO

2004 LINCOLN TOWN CAR HAD THE WRONG TIRE PRESSURE PUT IN ALL FOUR TIRES DURING TIRE REPLACEMENT RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE PERFORMING BADLY WHILE DRIVING.*MR WHEN THE CONSUMER CHECKED THE OWNERS MANUAL FOR THE CORRECT TIRE PRESSURE IT STATED 35 PSI FOR THE REAR AND 32 PSI FOR THE FRONT. THE CONSUMER STOPPED TO A LOCAL SERVICE STATION AND DISCOVERED THE REAR TIRES HAD 30 PSI AND THE FRONT TIRES HAD 31 PSI. *JB

Tires › SidewallCrash1 injured
Filed Mar 28, 20058,334 milesTX

MICHELIN RADIAL SXE, P225/60R17. DUE TO THE CONDITION OF THE BLOWN TIRE, THE DOT# WAS UNAVAILABLE WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS GIVEN. THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE THE RENTER WAS DRIVING ON A CLEAR DAY AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. THE SIDEWALL WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THE BLOWOUT. *AK DRIVER COULD NOT CONTROL VEHICLE. VEHICLE HIT MAIL BOX, CROSSED ROAD AND RAN BACKWARDS INTO A DITCH. THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT BUT ALL OTHER TIRES WERE STILL INFLATED. *BF *NM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Feb 18, 20052,347 milesOH

VEHICLE HAS VERY POOR BRAKES. PEDAL FEEL IS VERY WEAK AND SPONGY. PEDAL FREE TRAVEL EXCEEDS 4 INCHES FROM FULL RELEASE TO FULL ENGAGEMENT. PEDAL IS 3/4 IN.FROM FLOORBOARD WHEN FULLY ENGAGED. EVEN ON PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT THE BRAKE PEDAL IS CLOSER TO THE FLOORBOARD THAN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THIS CREATES A SITUATION WHERE THE DRIVER CAN BE BRAKING AND ACCELERATING AT THE SAME TIME. THIS HAPPENED ONE TIME AT FREEWAY SPEED. CAR HAS BEEN TO DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR BRAKE ISSUES AND OTHER PROBLEMS. DEALER STATES BRAKE FUNCTION IS NORMAL. DEALER ALSO TOLD ME NOT OPERATE VEHICLE WITH ADJUSTABLE PEDALS IN FULL FORWARD POSITION. VEHICLE PROBLEMS CURRENTLY SUBJECT OF ARBITRATION WITH DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BOARD IN WAUKESHA,WI. CURRENT VEHICLE MILEAGE 2,347.*AK

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Jan 19, 20052,388 milesSC

WHILE IDLING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. *NM THE VEHICLE HAS HAD FOUR CASES OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AFTER EACH OCCURRENCE BUT THEY INDICATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT RELATED TO THE BRAKES. ONE ACCIDENT RESULTED ON $7000. IN DAMAGE. *NM

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Dec 28, 20042,388 milesSC

2004 LINCOLN TOWNCAR HAS HAD FOUR CASES OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. HAVE TAKEN AUTO TO DEALER ON FIRST THREE OCCASIONS. THEY SAY BRAKES ARE OK. SUDDEN ACCELERATION IN MY OPINION IS NOT RELATED TO BRAKES. I'VE ALREADY HAD ONE ACCIDENT. COST $7000. *JB

Structure
Filed Nov 15, 2004FL

VEHICLE HAS A METAL STRIP ON THE DASHBOARD MAKING THE VISIBILITY ON THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT. THE SUNSHINE REFLECTS ON THAT STRIP, AND IT CAUSES A DISTORTED GLARE.*AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Sep 28, 20043,232 milesPA

THE VEHICLE SURGED AND BUCKED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. *MR THE CONSUMER HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL FOR IT TO IDLE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *NM WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED TWO MORE TIMES BUT MORE VIOLENTLY. *TC

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Sep 17, 2004KY

ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2004 WHILE DRIVING AND APPROACHING THE STOP SIGN AT 10 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. AS RESULT, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT COLLISION, WHICH DAMAGED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND TECHNICIAN INDICATED TO CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Sep 13, 20041,200 milesNY

WHEN GAS PEDAL WAS TAPPED TO PULL UP INTO A PARKING SPACE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED. WHEN THIS OCCURRED BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO SLOW AND STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT IT LOCKED UP AND FAILED. THIS RESULTED IN VEHICLE GOING OVER AN EMBANKMENT, DOWN A 5 FOOT HILL, AND CRASHING INTO A TREE. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, TWICE WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN THE BRAKES LOCKED UP. DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITHTHE VEHICLE. *AK *NM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Sep 1, 200488 milesTX

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE BRAKES FAILED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE CRASHEDS INTO A VEHICLE AT A RED LIGHT. NO INJURIES REPORTED.*AK *TC

Visibility › Rearview Mirrors/Devices
Filed Aug 4, 2004IN

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS CONSUMER HEARD ALOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE MIRROR BROKE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE MIRROR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jul 20, 2004125 milesFL

POOR BRAKING SYSTEM AND EXTREME CABIN NOISE. *JB

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jul 19, 2004605 milesNC

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE ACCELERATED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT HOME. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER IN THE NEAR FUTURE. *AK *NM

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Jul 19, 20043,000 milesNY

WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE CONSUMER WAS DEPRESSING THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. CONSUMER LOST TOTAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND COLLIDED INTO A WALL. A BICYCLE RACK WAS DESTROYED IN THE PROCESS. THE SEAT BELTS WERE WORN AND THE AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY. THE POLICE DID ARRIVE AND CITED THE CONSUMER FOR THE COLLISION. *AK *NM

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jun 23, 2004IL

THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.*MR THIS PROBLEM HAS ALSO OCCURRED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS IN REVERSE. THE ONLY THING THAT KEEPS THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING IS THE CONSTANT PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL OR SHIFTING THE SELECTOR INTO NEUTRAL. THE LOCAL DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM. *NM

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator PedalCrash
Filed Jun 4, 2004500 milesFL

THE HEIGHT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS ADJUSTABLE. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS LOW, THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAN BE DEPRESSED AT THE SAME TIME. THE HAS HAPPENED TWICE. AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER GRAZED A TREE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER CALLED THE CONSUMER TO RAISE THE BRAKE PEDAL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK *NM

Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise ControlCrash
Filed Apr 15, 2004228 milesCT

WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH AND TURNING TO THE LEFT VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER TAPPED THE BRAKES AND ENGINE SPEED INCREASED EVEN MORE. AS A RESULT, DRIVER LOSS CONTROL AND VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE, LANDING ON THE BUILDING WALL. *AK

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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