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1996 Craftsmen Lincoln Town Car

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 3 of 3 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

3 reports
149,300 miles · Apr 9, 2015
SteeringVehicle Speed Control

DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT . STOPPED FOR A OTHER VEHICLES , DROVE ABOUT 10 FEET AND THE RIGHT SIDE OF CAR SLAMMED TO THE GROUND IN THE MIDDLE OF PARKING LOT INTERSECTION. CAR WAS UNABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT DRAGGING FRAME , FRONT END ON PAVEMENT LEAVING DRAG MARKS IN PAVEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10704734

106,000 miles · Dec 7, 2013
Service Brakes

BRAKE FAILURE FROM RUSTED BRAKE LINES LOSS OF 90% OF BRAKES AT TIME OF INCIDENT THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED ON TWO OF MY OTHER LINCOLNS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10555186

143,475 miles · Jul 11, 2013
Engine

I TOOK MY TOWN CAR IN, BECAUSE I COULD SMELL COOLANT IN THE CAB OF THE CAR. AFTER INSPECTION, THEY SAID IT WAS THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED AND WAS LEAKING COOLANT. THEY CALLED FORD AND FORD SAID THEY HAD A LOT OF THESE PARTS ON HAND BECAUSE THIS WAS A COMMUNE PROBLEM WITH THIS PART. I WAS TOLD THE PART ALONE WOULD BE $600. …

Read full complaint

I TOOK MY TOWN CAR IN, BECAUSE I COULD SMELL COOLANT IN THE CAB OF THE CAR. AFTER INSPECTION, THEY SAID IT WAS THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED AND WAS LEAKING COOLANT. THEY CALLED FORD AND FORD SAID THEY HAD A LOT OF THESE PARTS ON HAND BECAUSE THIS WAS A COMMUNE PROBLEM WITH THIS PART. I WAS TOLD THE PART ALONE WOULD BE $600. I AM ON SS AND DISABLED AND I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO REPAIR WHAT IS A DEFECT AND SHOULD BE COVERED IN A RECALL. THERE WAS A RECALL ON DEC. 2001 FOR THIS PART PUT ONLY LIMITED TO TAXIS, POLICE, AND LIMOS, AND LIVERY PACKAGES. THIS RECALL SHOULD INCLUDE OWNERS, OR PRIVET OWNED VEHICLES, ALSO, THEY HAVE THE SAME PARTS. THERE HAS TO BE A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT TO COVER ALL OF USE PRIVET OWNERS OF THESE CARS. FORD KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM, THEY NEED TO FIX IT, NOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10524384

Official recalls

1

02V182000 · Equipment:other:labels

Jul 2, 2002

CERTAIN LIMOUSINES, AS ALTERED BY JMRL SALES & SERVICE, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 217, "BUS EMERGENCY EXITS AND WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE." THESE VEHICLES LACK PROPER EMERGENCY ESCAPE INSTRUCTIONS AND LABELS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, AN OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY EXIT THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH TWO LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 4, 2002. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT JMRL AT 1-800-762-0447.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.