MotorDeets

Lincoln Town Car problems, recalls & best years

The deets on every Town Car from 1990 to 2011: 2,992 owner complaints and 88 recalls across 22 model years.

The model years with the most owner complaints are 1997 (314), 1996 (259), 1992 (249). Best fuel economy: 20 mpg combined (1992).

Lincoln Town Car
Photo: IFCAR · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons. Representative photo of this generation; trim may differ.

Problem areas across all years

Speed control / throttle424
Engine & cooling415
Brakes (hydraulic)369
Electrical368
Airbags315
Suspension300
Steering222
Transmission & drivetrain148

Year by year

YearRecallsComplaintsBest mpg
1990420918
1991515518
1992424920
1993417619
1994515518
1995616518
1996825918
1997631418
1998715418
1999514818
2000810818
2001516118
200206517
2003120118
200408318
2005311919
2006214318
200738418
200832018
20093519
201031319
20113619

Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.

Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the Lincoln Town Car.

eManualOnline Download (PDF), keep forever

Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.

Most $25–$78, one-time
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Mitchell 1 DIY Online access, factory-level data

Pro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.

From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yr
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ALLDATAdiy Online access, factory OEM info

OEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.

From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yr
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Haynes Print book or AllAccess online

Step-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.

Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/mo
Check Lincoln Town Car manual

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FAQ

What is the worst year for the Lincoln Town Car?

The model years with the most owner complaints are 1997 (314), 1996 (259), 1992 (249).

How many recalls has the Lincoln Town Car had?

Across 1990–2011, NHTSA lists 88 vehicle recall campaigns by model year (a campaign that covers several years counts once per year).