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2005 Lincoln Town Car

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Lincoln Town Car do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 86.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

97 reports with mileage · 22 unknown

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.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports2 fire reports9 injury reports

Engine complaints

7 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2022
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

While accelerating approximate @ 30 mph, vehicle speed increased without assistance nearly plummeting into a body of water at a curve... exit 77 on I-95S MD. The car could not handled the curve at that rate of speed. Town Car had to be thrown into neutral and hard press brake pedal in order to stop. Safety issue could have bee…

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While accelerating approximate @ 30 mph, vehicle speed increased without assistance nearly plummeting into a body of water at a curve... exit 77 on I-95S MD. The car could not handled the curve at that rate of speed. Town Car had to be thrown into neutral and hard press brake pedal in order to stop. Safety issue could have been major accident or my death. I do not desire to reproduce a dangerous scenario with an accelerating vehicle. Dealership and private mechanic refused to reproduce incident. Zero warning lamps and nothing in computer to determine a problem/fix.

NHTSA ODI #11490937

90,000 miles · Oct 21, 2016
Engine

WHILE IN MOTION VEHICLE ENGINE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN. NOT A DRIVER ERROR PROBLEM. THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ENGINE REVVING HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES WHEN DRIVING IN THE CITY AND SLOWING DOWN APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION. CAN CONTROL THE ENGINE REVVING UP BY PLACING TRANSMISSION ON NEUTRAL, STOPPING CAR TURN IGNITION TO OFF. RES…

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WHILE IN MOTION VEHICLE ENGINE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN. NOT A DRIVER ERROR PROBLEM. THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ENGINE REVVING HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES WHEN DRIVING IN THE CITY AND SLOWING DOWN APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION. CAN CONTROL THE ENGINE REVVING UP BY PLACING TRANSMISSION ON NEUTRAL, STOPPING CAR TURN IGNITION TO OFF. RESTART ENGINE AND ENGINE BEHAVES PROPERLY. TOOK CAR TO DEALER 0N 9/22/16. DEALER KEPT CAR TO ATTEMPT DUPLICATING PROBLEM. CAR RETURNED CAR TO ME ON 10/20/16. DEALER SAYS NO PROBLEM DETECTED. THIS ACCELERATION PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES GOING BACK TO SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE NEW CAR. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN GOOD FAITH. I NOW BELIEVE THAT THE DEALER AND LINCOLN SOLD ME A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITH PASSENGERS AND SAFETY FOR OTHER PERSONS. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED PROBABLY ABOUT 20 TIMES AND REPORTED SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL.

NHTSA ODI #10917960

67,000 miles · Mar 24, 2016
EngineService BrakesWheels

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN, THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE BEFORE THE BRAKES BECAME OPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN, THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE BEFORE THE BRAKES BECAME OPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

NHTSA ODI #10851369

98,000 miles · Aug 10, 2015
Engine

IMMEDIATE UNINITIATED TREMENDOUS ENGINE ACCELERATION AFTER SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. I HAD TO JAM THE BRAKE ON AND PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL UNTIL THE ACCELERATION STOPPED. THIS HAS OCCURRED PREVIOUSLY APPROXIMATELY FIVE OTHER TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF EIGHT YEARS.

NHTSA ODI #10747582

80,000 miles · Jan 7, 2015
EngineStructure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER ENTERED THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER ENTERED THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10670610

27,000 miles · Jun 23, 2014
Engine

TL ' THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVEN TIMES. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND PRODUCE A FAILURE CODE. THE MANUFACTUR…

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TL ' THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVEN TIMES. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND PRODUCE A FAILURE CODE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000. JCC UPDATED 8/11/14*CN

NHTSA ODI #10605191

1,500 miles · Mar 5, 2013
EngineVehicle Speed Control

OUR CONCRETE DRIVE IS AT A SMALL INCLINE-I WENT TO PUT CAR IN OUR GARAGE -I HAD OVERHEAD GARAGE DOOR OPEN-I STARTED CAR AND THE WHEELS SQUEALED LEAVING TIRE MARKS ON CONCRETE AS IT JUMPED FORWARD-WHEN I HIT BRAKE PEDAL IT ACCELERATED MORE. THIS WAS ONE OF ABOUT 7 CASES WHERE CAR FOR NO REASON ACCELERATED AND JUMPED FORWARD WITHO…

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OUR CONCRETE DRIVE IS AT A SMALL INCLINE-I WENT TO PUT CAR IN OUR GARAGE -I HAD OVERHEAD GARAGE DOOR OPEN-I STARTED CAR AND THE WHEELS SQUEALED LEAVING TIRE MARKS ON CONCRETE AS IT JUMPED FORWARD-WHEN I HIT BRAKE PEDAL IT ACCELERATED MORE. THIS WAS ONE OF ABOUT 7 CASES WHERE CAR FOR NO REASON ACCELERATED AND JUMPED FORWARD WITHOUT ANY WARNING-WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE TIRES ALWAYS SQUEAL LEAVING TIRE MARKS ON SURFACE. IN OCT. 2012 I WAS AT A 4 WAY STOP LIGHT-LIGHT WAS RED AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING CAR JUMPED FORWARD AND 2 CARS HAD TO TAKE ACTION TO MISS MY CAR AS IT RAN THROUGH THE STOP LIGHT-OTHER CARS WERE BLOWING THEIR HORNS-THANK GOD WE DID NOT CRASH. THIS CONDITION IS EXTREMELY SERIOUS I HAVE REPORTED THESE CASES TO KRENZEN WHERE I BOUGHT CAR BUT THEY CLAIM THERE WAS NEVER A CASE REPORTED SUCH AS THIS. I ASKED THEM TO MAKE A REPORT ON IT. I FIND MANY CASES ON THE INTERNET LIKE MY CASE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10501335

Official recalls

3

14V704000 · Steering:rack And Pinion:pinion Shaft

Nov 5, 2014

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria, 2005-2011 Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles manufactured March 23, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and 2005-2011 Lincoln Town Car vehicles manufactured March 8, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and on which the upper intermediate shaft was serviced during the course of safety recall 13V-385. The prior repairs may not have been correctly performed.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Improper servicing of the upper intermediate shaft could cause the shaft to separate, which can then result in a loss of steering control, and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify the owners of vehicles whose repair records reflect that the upper intermediate steering shaft was repaired during the course of the prior recall 13V-385. Dealers will inspect and replace the upper immediate shaft if necessary free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S25.

13V385000 · Steering

Aug 29, 2013

Ford is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria (including Crown Victoria Police Interceptors), Mercury Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Car vehicles. The affected vehicles are currently registered or were originally sold in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Severe corrosion can seize the lower intermediate shaft which may cause the upper intermediate shaft to collapse and the steering column lower bearing to separate.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the lower bearing separates, the vehicle may experience a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners and dealers will replace the lower intermediate shaft, free of charge. The upper intermediate shaft and steering column lower bearing will be inspected to identify any damage that may have occurred as a result of lower intermediate shaft corrosion, and repaired or replaced as necessary. If the steering column lower bearing has separated, a retainer clip will be installed. The recall began on October 23, 2013. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall number is 13S08.

05V518000 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery:cables

Nov 9, 2005

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BATTERY CABLE INCLUDES A FUSIBLE LINK THAT MAY CONTACT AND SUBSEQUENTLY CHAFE ON A #2 CROSS MEMBER ATTACHING BOLT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN HEAT DAMAGE AND COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUSIBLE LINK AND POSITION IT AWAY FROM THE CROSS MEMBER BOLT. IF THE FUSIBLE LINK HAS ALREADY CHAFED AND COPPER WIRES HAVE BEEN EXPOSED, THE FUSIBLE LINK WILL BE REPLACED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673, OR LINCOLN/MERCURY AT 1-800-521-4140.

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.