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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

Power Train 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

87,000 miles · Feb 23, 2015
Electrical SystemPower Train

WE HAVE A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WITH 87000 MILES WHEN IT RAINS THE REAR R FLOOR GETS A LOT OF WATER. THE WATER COMES FROM A DEFECTIVE SEAL IN THE AC/HEAT SYSTEM ? PROBABLY AROUND THE FAN MOUNT FOR THE HEATING /COOLING. AND ? MORE TROUBLE ? WHEN WE BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY IN WET WEATHER ? THE CAR FROZE IN PLACE ? AS IF WE…

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WE HAVE A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WITH 87000 MILES WHEN IT RAINS THE REAR R FLOOR GETS A LOT OF WATER. THE WATER COMES FROM A DEFECTIVE SEAL IN THE AC/HEAT SYSTEM ? PROBABLY AROUND THE FAN MOUNT FOR THE HEATING /COOLING. AND ? MORE TROUBLE ? WHEN WE BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY IN WET WEATHER ? THE CAR FROZE IN PLACE ? AS IF WE HAD HIT A WALL. IT WOULD STILL GO FORWARD. HAPPENED HALF A DOZEN TIMES ? ALWAYS RAINING. EXCEPT ONE RAINY SUNDAY, JUST OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY LEAVING FOR CHURCH, IT FROZE DRIVING FORWARD. WE TOOK THE CAR TO BOB DAVIDSON FORD PAID THEM 'DIAGNOSTIC FEES' - $250 FOR THE [2] SEPARATE PROBLEMS. [XXX] GAVE US THE REPORT: THE LEAK REPAIR WOULD COST $600 ? AND, MORE OF A CHALLENGE, THE TRANNY, WHICH SHOWED: ?TRANSMISSION INTERNAL FAULT 150? NEEDS REPLACEMENT [ABOUT $4000 PARTS PLUS LABOR] THE LOCAL AAMCO OWNER SAID THIS MODEL LINCOLN ? FOR 2005 [AND THE 5 OTHER YEARS OF THE SAME DESIGN ? IS NOTABLE FOR CONSIDERABLE WATER PROBLEMS. HE HAD NOT HEARD OF WATER CAUSING THE TRANNY PROBLEMS AND HE ASKED ME TO GET THE DIAGNOSTIC CODES FROM [XXX]. HERE IT GETS INTERESTING. ?FAULT 150? IS GENERIC FOR TRANSMISSION. THE SHOP TESTING ? WELL, THERE WAS NO CODE. THERE WAS NO REPORT OF A DEFECT FROM THE CAR'S ON-BOARD COMPUTER. NO FAULT CODES AT ALL. JUST AN INDICATION, TOLD US AS: ?THE ACCUMULATOR WAS LEAKING OR THERE IS A BINDING CONCERN? WHEN THEY TOOK THE CAR OUT FOR A TEST DRIVE CONNECTED TO A DIAGNOSTIC TOOL. AND FROM THIS [XXX] IS ABLE TO TELL US WE NEED TO REPLACE A $4000 TRANSMISSION. PLUS LABOR, OF COURSE. WE PAID $120 TO A LEAK DOCTOR REPAIR TECH TO FIX THE WATER LEAK ON THE ENGINE SIDE OF THE FIREWALL. THE WATER LEAK SEEMS TO BE RESOLVED AND THE TRANNY LOCKING UP PROBLEM HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN. EVEN WHEN IT RAINS. ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ON THIS WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10689963

79,000 miles · May 8, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE SPEED REDUCED TO 12 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FROM DIAGNOSIS AND THEY STATED THE MALFUNCTION WAS CONTRIBUTED TO TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE SPEED REDUCED TO 12 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FROM DIAGNOSIS AND THEY STATED THE MALFUNCTION WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10511052

52,500 miles · Nov 20, 2011
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

AFTER BEING PARKED IN PARKING LOT - ENGINE TURNED OFF, NO RADIO PLAYING, ETC. WE STARTED THE VEHICLE UP, BACKED UP, BRAKED, PUT IN DRIVE AND ACCELERATED AT WHICH TIME THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE CAR. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE FASTER AND FASTER. WE RAN OVER A COUPLE OF IS…

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AFTER BEING PARKED IN PARKING LOT - ENGINE TURNED OFF, NO RADIO PLAYING, ETC. WE STARTED THE VEHICLE UP, BACKED UP, BRAKED, PUT IN DRIVE AND ACCELERATED AT WHICH TIME THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE CAR. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE FASTER AND FASTER. WE RAN OVER A COUPLE OF ISLANDS, PULLED FIRE HYDRANT OUT OF THE GROUND, RAN INTO A WALL, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND IT SEARED FROM THE WALL, ACCELERATING FASTER WE KNOCKED 6 PARKED CARS OUT OF THE WAY LIKE THEY WERE BOXES ALL THE WHILE BRAKING TO NO AVAIL VEHICLE CONTINUING TO ACCELERATE FASTER HEADED ACROSS THE PARKING LOT TOWARD A CHAIN LINK FENCE WE THREW THE GEAR SHIFT INTO PARK ABOUT THE SAME TIME WE HIT THE FENCE. THE VEHICLE BALKED AND CAME TO STOP IN ABOUT 50 FEET IN AN ADJACENT PARKING LOT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE RIPPING ABOUT 50 FEET OF THE FENCE WITH IT. FRONT END DEMOLISHED, RADIATOR STEAMING, ENGINE STILL RUNNING, RIPPED UNDERCARRIAGE FLATTENED TIRES FROM RIMS. TOTALED THE CAR. AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ONLY INJURIES WERE BRUISES AND SPRAINS AND EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS. PRAISE GOD. 2 ADULTS AND 3 CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR. I KNOW THE CAR MALFUNCTIONED AND LINCOLN HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PUBLIC TO INVESTIGATE, DETERMINE CAUSE & CORRECT. LOOK AT THE INSURANCE REPORT INVESTIGATIVE REPORT. THEY TELL ME IT COST TOO MUCH TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE SINCE THERE WERE NO SEVERE INJURIES, .THERE ARE MANY SIMILAR INCIDENTS ON THE INTERNET AND SOME NOT SO FORTUNATE. THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE HERE AND THE PUBLIC HAS THE RIGHT TO HAVE THESE ACCIDENTS INVESTIGATED. THE TRAUMA OF BEING IN AN OUT OF CONTROL VEHICLE IS DEVASTATING AND LINCOLN HAS A PUBLIC LIABILITY TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION TO SAVE FUTURE LIVES. 2 ADULTS AND 3 CHILDREN ARE STILL EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED ABOUT THIS. ARE ALSO SIMILAR INCIDENTS WITH OTHER FORD PRODUCTS. PLEASE RESPOND. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10436477

3,440 miles · Aug 21, 2008
Electrical SystemPower TrainStructure

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. INTERMITTENTLY, THE VEHICLE SURGED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY 9 TIMES, AND 6 FOR THE SURGING PROBLEM. BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,440. UPDATED 09/24/08. *LJ THE DEALER …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. INTERMITTENTLY, THE VEHICLE SURGED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY 9 TIMES, AND 6 FOR THE SURGING PROBLEM. BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,440. UPDATED 09/24/08. *LJ THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THERE WAS A MAJOR DEFECT WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE TRUNK LID WOULD NOT STAY UP. THE HORN WAS NOT WORKING. UPDATED 10/01/08. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10239168

Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 2007
Power TrainFire

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING HIS 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR DOWN A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY OF OUR COUNTRY RESIDENCE. HIS VEHICLE BECAME STUCK BY THE SIDE OF THE DRIVEWAY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DISLODGE HIS VEHICLE FROM THE SIDE OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID IN HIS VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE OVERHEATED TRANSMISSION FLUID FORCED T…

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MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING HIS 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR DOWN A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY OF OUR COUNTRY RESIDENCE. HIS VEHICLE BECAME STUCK BY THE SIDE OF THE DRIVEWAY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DISLODGE HIS VEHICLE FROM THE SIDE OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID IN HIS VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE OVERHEATED TRANSMISSION FLUID FORCED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID DIPSTICK OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION FILL TUBE FAR ENOUGH TO ALLOW THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO OVERFLOW ONTO THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE WHERE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE RESULTING FIRE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE, AND MY HUSBAND, WHO WAS UNABLE TO ESCAPE FROM THE VEHICLE, BURNED TO DEATH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10206817

1 miles · Aug 8, 2005
Power Train

I PURCHASED A NEW 2005 LINCOLN TOWNCAR. WHEN I START TO PASS A CAR AND PRESS THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR TO GO INTO PASSING GEAR THERE IS A PERIOD OF A FEW SECONDS WHEN THE CAR APPEARS TO LOSE POWER THEN IT SHIFTS DOWN AND ACCELERATES. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME "THAT IS THE WAY IT WORKS AND THERE IS NO WAY TO CORRECT IT". I THIN…

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I PURCHASED A NEW 2005 LINCOLN TOWNCAR. WHEN I START TO PASS A CAR AND PRESS THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR TO GO INTO PASSING GEAR THERE IS A PERIOD OF A FEW SECONDS WHEN THE CAR APPEARS TO LOSE POWER THEN IT SHIFTS DOWN AND ACCELERATES. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME "THAT IS THE WAY IT WORKS AND THERE IS NO WAY TO CORRECT IT". I THINK THIS PUTS ME IN DANGER BECAUSE I CANNOT TELL IF THE CAR IS GOING TO DOWNSHIFT AND GAIN ENOUGH SPEED TO PASS OR NOT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10131948

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.