NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Service Brakes complaints
9 reportsClear category filter126,000 miles · Jul 28, 2020
Service BrakesCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT CALLED IN REGARDS TO HAVING A BRAKE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HIT A TRUCK AND THE CURB. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO STOP AFTER DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL MULTIPLE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT CALLED IN REGARDS TO HAVING A BRAKE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HIT A TRUCK AND THE CURB. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO STOP AFTER DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED NO INJURY WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR BODY DAMAGE ESTIMATE AND REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, CASE WAS FILED, AND REFERRED TO CONTACT NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 126,000.
NHTSA ODI #11341849
93,000 miles · Apr 16, 2019
Service BrakesCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AT AN EXTENDED DISTANCE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE CONTACT STRUCK A GUARDRAIL IN ORDER TO AVOID CRASHING INTO ANO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AT AN EXTENDED DISTANCE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE CONTACT STRUCK A GUARDRAIL IN ORDER TO AVOID CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GATEWAY FORD LINCOLN NISSAN (LOCATED AT 1055 W ANDREW JOHNSON HWY, GREENEVILLE, TN 37745, (423) 639-5151) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
NHTSA ODI #11196694
73,616 miles · Apr 8, 2016
Service Brakes
I JUST PURCHASED A USED 2005 LINCOLN. THE 1ST DAY OF/DURING DRIVING IT, I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WHEN MOVING MY RIGHT FOOT ONTO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP. DOING SO, 3 DIFFERENT TIMES, THE VEHICLE LEAPT FORWARD. (I'VE HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING IN THE PAST TO OLDER FOLKS DRIVING INTO BUILDINGS.) I HAVE COME TO BE AWARE THAT WHEN MOV…
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I JUST PURCHASED A USED 2005 LINCOLN. THE 1ST DAY OF/DURING DRIVING IT, I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WHEN MOVING MY RIGHT FOOT ONTO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP. DOING SO, 3 DIFFERENT TIMES, THE VEHICLE LEAPT FORWARD. (I'VE HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING IN THE PAST TO OLDER FOLKS DRIVING INTO BUILDINGS.) I HAVE COME TO BE AWARE THAT WHEN MOVING THE RIGHT FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR TO THE BRAKE PEDAL VIA ROLLING ON THE HEEL OF YOUR FOOT, THAT THE RIGHT OUTTER EDGE OF YOUR SHOE-SOLE CONTACTS THE ACCELERATOR AT THE SAME TIME WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW OR STOP THE VEHICLE. NO UPLOADS OR ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS PROVIDED.
NHTSA ODI #10854244
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
Mileage unknown · Dec 12, 2014
Service Brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MASTER CYLIN…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10663815
73,065 miles · Oct 27, 2014
Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control
I HAD JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AND WAS DRIVING IT HOME FROM THE CAR DEALERSHIP. WHILE PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH MY RIGHT FOOT TO STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN SO FAR THAT MY RIGHT FOOT BEGAN TO ALSO PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHILE THAT SAME FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. AS MY RIGHT FOOT W…
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I HAD JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AND WAS DRIVING IT HOME FROM THE CAR DEALERSHIP. WHILE PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH MY RIGHT FOOT TO STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN SO FAR THAT MY RIGHT FOOT BEGAN TO ALSO PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHILE THAT SAME FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. AS MY RIGHT FOOT WAS THEN PRESSING ON BOTH PEDALS (BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR), THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE TOWARDS THE INTERSECTION BEING CONTROLLED BY THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AND TOWARDS ANOTHER CAR THAT HAD STOPPED AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT. TO AVOID PLOWING INTO THE BACK OF THE STOPPED VEHICLE, I SHIFTED THE GEAR SHIFT FROM "D" (DRIVE) TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION AND THEN MY CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED JUST BEFORE PLOWING INTO THE BACK OF THE STOPPED VEHICLE. AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT I DID NOT REALIZE WHAT CAUSED THIS, BUT I WAS ABLE TO REPRODUCE THIS SERIES OF EVENTS WITHIN A HOUR AFTERWARDS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10650328
95,900 miles · Aug 29, 2013
Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control
I WAS NEARLY STOPPED AT A 4-WAY INTERSECTION, FOOT LIGHTLY ON THE BRAKE, WHEN THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD AND I HEARD A NOISE AS IF I WERE PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AND GIVING THE CAR GAS. I PRESSED THE BRAKES HARD AND THE CAR SLOWED BUT DID NOT STOP PROMPTLY (AS IF BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING WELL). THIS WAS AN UNEXPLAINED ACCELERATION, …
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I WAS NEARLY STOPPED AT A 4-WAY INTERSECTION, FOOT LIGHTLY ON THE BRAKE, WHEN THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD AND I HEARD A NOISE AS IF I WERE PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AND GIVING THE CAR GAS. I PRESSED THE BRAKES HARD AND THE CAR SLOWED BUT DID NOT STOP PROMPTLY (AS IF BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING WELL). THIS WAS AN UNEXPLAINED ACCELERATION, AND DANGEROUS. IF THE CAR HAD NOT FINALLY STOPPED, I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION, WITH ONE OF MY PRECIOUS GRANDCHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. SO DANGEROUS. IT HAPPENED AGAIN TO ME THIS A.M. WHEN I WAS STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN. BRIEF ACCELERATION. AND I AM POSITIVE I WAS NOT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. CALLING MY DEALER TODAY. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR NOW.
NHTSA ODI #10537887
69,000 miles · Aug 26, 2013
Service BrakesCrash
I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR SIGNATURE SERIES APPROXIMATELY TWENTY FIVE MILES PER HOUR. WHEN I APPROACHED A STOP SIGN THAT ANOTHER DRIVER WAS ALREADY STOPPED AT, MY BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED, WITH THE PEDAL GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING ME TO HIT THE BACK OF THE OTHER PERSON'S VEHICLE. I THEN THREW MY CAR INTO…
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I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR SIGNATURE SERIES APPROXIMATELY TWENTY FIVE MILES PER HOUR. WHEN I APPROACHED A STOP SIGN THAT ANOTHER DRIVER WAS ALREADY STOPPED AT, MY BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED, WITH THE PEDAL GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING ME TO HIT THE BACK OF THE OTHER PERSON'S VEHICLE. I THEN THREW MY CAR INTO PARK TO SPEAK WITH THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE BRAKES SEEMED TO WORK AFTER THAT BUT NOW I'M COMPLETELY PARANOID THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AT SOME POINT! NOBODY SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY BRAKES! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10537387
10,000 miles · Jun 6, 2012
Service Brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY DOWN SHIFTING AND SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS M…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY DOWN SHIFTING AND SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 06/29/12 *BF UPDATED 07/09/12
NHTSA ODI #10460846
Official recalls
3Nov 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.
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.
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 ↗