2001 Lincoln Town Car: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2001 Lincoln Town Car: 5 recalls, 161 owner complaints and up to 18 mpg combined.
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Recalls
5 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 1 equipment/tire recall that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Airbags Vehicle recall #00V270000 · 2000 · 18,500 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain passenger vehicles, limousines, and MINI vans were built with a newly designed restraint control module (rcm). In some cases, the rcm does not recognize certain system faults that could result in an air bag or seat belt pre-tensioner unexpectedly activating during the self-test sequence at vehicle start-up.
Why it matters: This condition could result in personal injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the rcm in these vehicles. Owner notification began September 14, 2000.
Airbags Vehicle recall #00V412000 · 2000 · 16,000 vehicles
What's wrong: A restraint control module (rcm) or a side or front crash sensor May have been assembled with one or more of the screws that mount the circuit board in the housing missing. If some or all of the screws are missing, the performance of the occupant restrains could be affected.
Why it matters: In some cases, less than the intended level of protection in the event of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the rcm and crash sensors and, if necessary, replace them.
Tires Vehicle recall #00V356000 · 2000 · 10,000 vehicles
What's wrong: 109, "new pneumatic tires," and no. 110, "tire selection and rims."
Why it matters: The vehicle weight could exceed the maximum load rating for the tire, increasing the risk of premature tire wear or blowout.
The fix: Dealers will replace all 5 tires (including the spare tire) with michelin tires (225/70r16 107t reinforced white sidewall) with a sufficiently higher load rating. Owner notification began January 10, 2001.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #01V227001 · 2001 · 1,400,000 vehicles
What's wrong: Equipped with seat belts supplied by trw. It is possible that the driver's and/or front passenger's outboard seat belt buckle May not fully latch. Ford crown victoria built at st. Thomas assembly plant from 4/17/00 - 5/29/01 Mercury grand marquis built at st. Thomas assembly plant from 4/17/00 - 5/29/01. Lincoln town cars built at wixom assembly plant from 3/27/00 - 5/30/01. Lincoln navigators built at michigan…
Why it matters: In the event of a crash, the restraint system May not provide adequate occupant protection, increasing the risk of personal injury to the seat occupant.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the front outboard seat belt buckles and if the buckle fails the inspection process, it will be replaced. Owner notification began July 25, 2001.
Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #01V258000 · 2001 · 1,083,000 vehicles
What's wrong: A switch located in the plastic cover of the wiper motor gear case could malfunction and overheat, potentially resulting in loss of intermittent wiper function, loss of wiper park function, complete loss of wiper function, or ignition of the plastic cover material. Switch malfunction is most likely to occur when the intermittent setting of the wipers is being used, or when snow or ice obstructs the blades from…
Why it matters: Loss of visibility while driving increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the date code on the wiper motor. Motors built with the suspect time frame will have the wiper motor gear case cover replaced. Owner notification began August 20, 2001.
1 aftermarket equipment / tire recall replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Steering Equipment recall #15E082000 · 2015 · 1,767 vehicles
What's wrong: Dorman products, Inc. (dorman) is recalling certain model dorman steering shafts, part number 425-359, solutions steering shafts, part number 7-0359, and oe solutions steering shafts, part number 425-359, manufactured April 17, 2014, to September 28, 2015. These aftermarket replacement steering shafts are sold for use in 1995-2002 Ford crown victoria, Mercury grand marquis, and Lincoln town car vehicles. These…
Why it matters: If the shafts separate during vehicle operation, a loss of steering control would result, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
The fix: Dorman will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering shaft, free of charge. The recall began on October 28, 2015.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 4 mention a fire, 20 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Airbags (54): the most common themes are deploys unexpectedly / inflator (12), fails to deploy (6), warning light on (5).
- Speed control / throttle (26): the most common themes are sudden acceleration (16).
- Visibility (wipers, glass) (14): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Brakes (hydraulic) (13): the most common themes are brake failure / soft pedal (3).
The 2001 Lincoln Town Car has 161 owner complaints, ranking #8 of 22 Town Car model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 136). Complaints peaked in 2003 (22 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 80,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2000 (108 complaints, 8 recalls), 2002 (65 complaints, 0 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.6 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 23 | 18 | Regular |
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 2001 Lincoln Town Car.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
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FAQ
Does the 2001 Lincoln Town Car have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 vehicle recalls for the 2001 Lincoln Town Car, plus 1 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2001 Lincoln Town Car problems?
Owners have filed 161 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (54), speed control / throttle (26), visibility (wipers, glass) (14).
What gas mileage does the 2001 Lincoln Town Car get?
EPA ratings run up to 18 mpg combined (4.6 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 1 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2001 Lincoln Town Car repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.