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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

Steering complaints

8 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2023
Electrical SystemForward Collision AvoidanceSteering

Unknown

NHTSA ODI #11516084

95,000 miles · Aug 9, 2019
Steering

BECAME HARD TO STEER WHILE DRIVING. LIKE LOSS OF POWER STEERING TO IT INTO BE CHECKED IT IS THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING. ALMOST LOST CONTROL. I WAS TOLD IT WAS RECALLED FOR SAME REASON. I CHECKED IT WAS RECALLED BUT SAYS 0 UNREPAIRED . BUT SAYS SOME WAS NOT REPAIRED CORRECTLY I HAVE LESS THAN 95,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. WHAT CAN…

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BECAME HARD TO STEER WHILE DRIVING. LIKE LOSS OF POWER STEERING TO IT INTO BE CHECKED IT IS THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING. ALMOST LOST CONTROL. I WAS TOLD IT WAS RECALLED FOR SAME REASON. I CHECKED IT WAS RECALLED BUT SAYS 0 UNREPAIRED . BUT SAYS SOME WAS NOT REPAIRED CORRECTLY I HAVE LESS THAN 95,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. WHAT CAN BE DONE FOR THIS VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING DOWN A ROAD WITH OUT NOTICED

NHTSA ODI #11242887

125,000 miles · Dec 7, 2018
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO TURN WITHOUT WARNING. IT BECAME DIFFICULT FOR THE CONTACT TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE A…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO TURN WITHOUT WARNING. IT BECAME DIFFICULT FOR THE CONTACT TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED STEERING IS VERY HARD AND STIFF. *JB

NHTSA ODI #11156830

133,283 miles · Aug 2, 2018
Steering

TIGHT STEERING/REPAIRED BY DEALER 7/31/2017( RECALL # 13S08)...TIGHT STEERING AGAIN 8/1/2018 WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC( NON-DEALER) WAS STEERING PUMP, TURNED OUT TO BE UPPER INTERMITTENT STEERING SHAFT, I BELIEVE WHEN THE LOWER WAS REPLACED IT WOULD HAVE MADE SENSE TO REPLACE THE UPPER AS WELL, LOOKING FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR AT LEAST…

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TIGHT STEERING/REPAIRED BY DEALER 7/31/2017( RECALL # 13S08)...TIGHT STEERING AGAIN 8/1/2018 WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC( NON-DEALER) WAS STEERING PUMP, TURNED OUT TO BE UPPER INTERMITTENT STEERING SHAFT, I BELIEVE WHEN THE LOWER WAS REPLACED IT WOULD HAVE MADE SENSE TO REPLACE THE UPPER AS WELL, LOOKING FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR AT LEAST PART $310.10 TO BE PAID TO MECHANIC @ JOES AUTO MALL /NEW BEDFORD MA

NHTSA ODI #11115276

Mileage unknown · Dec 12, 2014
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V385000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TECHNICIAN EXPLAINED THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED SIX MONTHS PRIOR AT ANOTHER DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V385000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TECHNICIAN EXPLAINED THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED SIX MONTHS PRIOR AT ANOTHER DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS COULD NOT BE PERFORMED A SECOND TIME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10663967

98,500 miles · Apr 23, 2014
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND CASUED THE WHEEL TO BECOME VERY HARD TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN PERFORMED THE REPAIRS FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V385000 (STEERING) BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND CASUED THE WHEEL TO BECOME VERY HARD TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN PERFORMED THE REPAIRS FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V385000 (STEERING) BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE UPPER INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,100.

NHTSA ODI #10584526

128,000 miles · Sep 3, 2013
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STUCK WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE RETURNED TO NORMAL FUNCTION AFTER THE CONTACT PROCEEDED TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO DIFF…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STUCK WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE RETURNED TO NORMAL FUNCTION AFTER THE CONTACT PROCEEDED TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT MECHANICS, WHO BOTH INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE LOWER INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND STEERING COLUMN LOWER BEARING WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 13V385000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

NHTSA ODI #10538571

162,244 miles · Sep 7, 2012
Steering

THERE WASNT AN ACCCIDENT BUT MY STEERING COLUMN HAS A PROBLEN. IT IS BINDING, LOOSE, AND MAKES NOISE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10474269

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.