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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

Structure complaints

8 reports
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90,000 miles · Jan 22, 2016
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER ENTERED THROUGH BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE UNDER BOTH FLOORMATS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10821705

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

118,735 miles · Nov 17, 2014
Structure

THE DRIVERS INSIDE DOOR HANDLE BECAME UNSECURED FROM DOOR PANEL. UNABLE TO OPEN DOOR FROM INSIDE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THIS MORNING AND WAS INFORMED THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. THERE WERE NO OPTIONS GIVEN, EXCEPT THAT THE PART WOULD HAVE TO COME FROM A SALVAGE YARD. I EXPRESSED MY CONCERN OVER THE SAFETY OF …

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THE DRIVERS INSIDE DOOR HANDLE BECAME UNSECURED FROM DOOR PANEL. UNABLE TO OPEN DOOR FROM INSIDE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THIS MORNING AND WAS INFORMED THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. THERE WERE NO OPTIONS GIVEN, EXCEPT THAT THE PART WOULD HAVE TO COME FROM A SALVAGE YARD. I EXPRESSED MY CONCERN OVER THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE, SHOULD A COLLISION OR FIRE OCCUR, THE OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC, AND HE IS GOING TO SECURE THE HANDLE TOMORROW, SO I CAN OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10658563

30,000 miles · Mar 5, 2010
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A WATER LEAK THAT SHOWED UP IN THE CARPET AND WOULD STAND 1.5 INCHES DEEP IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. HE FELT THAT IT WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRICAL SEAT CONNECTIONS THAT WERE EXPOSED TO THE WATER. HE WAS NOT SURE WHERE THE WATER CAME FROM. …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A WATER LEAK THAT SHOWED UP IN THE CARPET AND WOULD STAND 1.5 INCHES DEEP IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. HE FELT THAT IT WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRICAL SEAT CONNECTIONS THAT WERE EXPOSED TO THE WATER. HE WAS NOT SURE WHERE THE WATER CAME FROM. HE HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT HAD CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THE REPRESENTATIVE MADE A RECORD OF HIS CONCERN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,313. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000- UPDATED 04/16/10. *LJ THERE WAS A DRAIN HOLE LOCATED UNDER THE HOOD ABOVE THE FIREWALL. IT WAS COVERED BY COWLING. THE DRAIN HOLE BECAME BLOCKED AND A LEAKED FORMED FROM THE SEALANT DETERIORATING SURROUNDING THE DRAIN HOLE. UPDATED 07/19/10*JB

NHTSA ODI #10317051

12 miles · Nov 21, 2008
Service Brakes, HydraulicStructure

ON THE 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDDLE ARE TO CLOSE. WHEN YOU STEP ON THE BRAKE IT IS VERY EASY TO PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE GAS PEDDLE AT THE SAME TIME. THIS COULD RESULT IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FROM THE DAY I PURCHASED THIS CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10249484

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 · Apr 10, 2006
Structure

CONSUMER CAN NOT READ DASH WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED THE DIMMER SWITCH WAS IN THE HIGH POSITION, AND HE STILL COULD NOT READ THE PANEL. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10156219

1,016 miles · Oct 13, 2005
StructureInjury

WHEN OPENING TRUNK IT WOULD SLAM SHUT. *TS THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRUNK CLOSER. WHEN THE TRUNK WAS OPENED FULLY IT WOULD SUDDENLY SLAM VERY RAPIDLY AND WITH GREAT FORCE. THE CONSUMER'S WIFE FINGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURY FROM THE TRUNK LID MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THEY I…

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WHEN OPENING TRUNK IT WOULD SLAM SHUT. *TS THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRUNK CLOSER. WHEN THE TRUNK WAS OPENED FULLY IT WOULD SUDDENLY SLAM VERY RAPIDLY AND WITH GREAT FORCE. THE CONSUMER'S WIFE FINGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURY FROM THE TRUNK LID MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THEY INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE TORQUE ROD IN THE CLOSURE ASSEMBLY BECOMING DISLODGED. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE BRACKET FOR THE ROD SHOULD BE REDESIGNED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10140975

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.