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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

34 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

Mileage unknown · Nov 9, 2020
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

2005 LINCOLN TOWNCAR. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FAULTY ACCELERATOR WHICH RESULTED IN A AUTO ACCIDENT. *LD *JS

NHTSA ODI #11374430

87,000 miles · Jul 20, 2018
Vehicle Speed Control

THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN IN A PARKING LOT AT 5-10 MILES/HOUR. IT RAPIDLY ACCELERATED AND WAS STOPPED ONLY AFTER BOTH FEET ON BRAKE AND EMERGENCY BRAKE USED. THE SKID MARKS ARE 32' LONG. THERE WERE MANY WITNESSES BECAUSE IT WAS IN A CHURCH PARKING LOT AT THE END OF SUNDAY SERVICE.

NHTSA ODI #11112556

39,590 miles · Aug 15, 2017
Vehicle Speed Control

07/24/217 DRIVING ON HWY. 55 NORTH. SELECTED CRUISE CONTROL ON NOTHING INCREASED SPEED TO 70 MPH RESELECTED SPEED CONTROL(CRUISE CONTROL) NOTHING AGAIN. REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES, NOTHING. WHEN I GOT HOME CHECKED FUSES #25 UNDER DASH. AND FUSE F13 IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT NEITHER WAS BURNT REPLACED WITH NEW FUSES. CHECKED RECALL 3 R…

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07/24/217 DRIVING ON HWY. 55 NORTH. SELECTED CRUISE CONTROL ON NOTHING INCREASED SPEED TO 70 MPH RESELECTED SPEED CONTROL(CRUISE CONTROL) NOTHING AGAIN. REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES, NOTHING. WHEN I GOT HOME CHECKED FUSES #25 UNDER DASH. AND FUSE F13 IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT NEITHER WAS BURNT REPLACED WITH NEW FUSES. CHECKED RECALL 3 RECALLS OPEN ON 2005 TOWN CARS. 1 ON SPEED CONTROL DISCONNECT DEACTIVATION SW. COULD CAUSE TO SHORT OUT, SEEMS LIKELY. 07V336000

NHTSA ODI #11015457

230,000 miles · Feb 6, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or OtherVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

I WAS PARKING AT APPLEBEES WHEN THE CAR BOLTED AND SLAMMED IN THE WALL. I TRIED TO PUT IT IN PARK BUT WENT IN REVERSE ALSO AT HGH SPEED. FINALLY I WAS ABLE TO BRAKE AND GO TO PARK. I'M CONCERNED. I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE ACCELEATOR. I WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO CHECK MY CAR OUT.

NHTSA ODI #10949857

90,000 miles · Aug 12, 2016
Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 85 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON, AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 85 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON, AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRONIC VALVE IN THE FUEL INJECTOR SEIZED IN THE OPEN POSITION AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10895397

100,000 miles · Apr 6, 2016
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED NUMEROUS TIMES, THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES WITHIN TWO YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED NUMEROUS TIMES, THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES WITHIN TWO YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 06/15/16*LJ

NHTSA ODI #10853826

196,250 miles · Jun 9, 2015
Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

AFTER STARTING THE CAR WHILE PARKED, I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, AS SOON AS I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE THE ENGINE ACCELERATED WITHOUT ME PUTTING MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL AND I HAD TO STAND ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR JUMPED FORWARD, I JAMMED THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE STILL CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE TO A HIGH R…

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AFTER STARTING THE CAR WHILE PARKED, I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, AS SOON AS I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE THE ENGINE ACCELERATED WITHOUT ME PUTTING MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL AND I HAD TO STAND ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR JUMPED FORWARD, I JAMMED THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE STILL CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE TO A HIGH RPM, I HAD TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF TO GET IT TO STOP ACCELERATING. I HAD SEVERAL CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND WE ALMOST HIT THE CAR PARKED IN FRONT OF US. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME IN 4 MONTHS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO BE DIAGNOSED THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED, THEY FOUND NOTHING! I POINTED OUT THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR UNINTENDED ACCELERATION PROBLEMS FOR FORDS BETWEEN THE YEARS 2002 AND 2010 BUT THEY DENIED KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND TOLD ME THEY WOULD HAVE TO DUPLICATE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE THEY WOULD DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. OBVIOUSLY THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THIS AND I AM NOW LEFT WITH A DANGEROUS CAR AND FORD DENIES THIS IS A PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10724267

118,000 miles · May 15, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA ODI #10716744

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

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.