Total Complaints
316 filings
LINCOLN TOWN CAR · model year
316 NHTSA complaints, 15 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996LINCOLNTOWN CAR carries 316 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 15 crashes, 14 fires, 11 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1996 TOWN CAR is engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe with 42 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (22) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (17). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 1996 TOWN CAR. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
316 filings
Crashes Reported
15 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 42 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 22 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 17 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 16 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT | 14 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 11 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 10 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 10 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 9 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 7 |
| SEAT BELTS | 7 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 7 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN | 6 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 6 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 6 |
The contact owns a 1996 Lincoln Town Car. The contact stated while the vehicle was turned on and he was shifting the vehicle from park(P) to drive(D), with his foot on the brake pedal, the vehicle lunged forward at high speed. The contact stated that the acceleration was extreme. The contact observed smoke coming from the rear tires as the vehicle accelerated. The contact was able to safely stop the vehicle after approximately 50 feet but had to depress the brake pedal with force. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was not turned off but was shifted to park(P). The contact had tested and shifted the vehicle from park (P), drive (D), neutral (N) and reverse (R) and the vehicle reacted normally to each gear change. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 1
Mileage: 140,000
AS PER RECALL CRUISE CONTROL NEITHRT STARTS OR WORKS ON HIGHWAY
Mileage: 25
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND SHIFT THE GEAR INTO DRIVE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE CONTACT POURED BRAKE FLUID INTO THE RESERVOIR AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT NEAR THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Mileage: 100,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND AN UNKNOWN CLICKING SOUND WAS HEARD FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WHEN MAKING A TURN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT BALL JOINTS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 98V322000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
Mileage: 45,000
1. DRIVERS SEAT BELT LATCH IS BROKEN INTERNALLY AND CANNOT BE USED. TO CIRCUMVENT THE BROKEN LATCH, THE FRONT CENTER PASSENGER SEAT BELT IS BEING USED. 2. FRONT RIGHT HAND PASSENGER SEAT BELT CAN NO LONGER BE LATCHED WITHOUT FIRST PUSHING THE RELEASE BUTTON. 3. CRUISE CONTROL AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGED WHILE DRIVING IN RESIDENTIAL AREA, CAUSING A RAPID ACCELERATION OF MY VEHICLE ABOVE THE SPEED LIMIT. SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES FORCEFULLY DISENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL. ONE TIME OCCURRENCE.
Mileage: 211,000
1. DRIVERS SEAT BELT LATCH IS BROKEN INTERNALLY AND CANNOT BE USED. TO CIRCUMVENT THE BROKEN LATCH, THE FRONT CENTER PASSENGER SEAT BELT IS BEING USED. 2. FRONT RIGHT HAND PASSENGER SEAT BELT CAN NO LONGER BE LATCHED WITHOUT FIRST PUSHING THE RELEASE BUTTON. 3. CRUISE CONTROL AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGED WHILE DRIVING IN RESIDENTIAL AREA, CAUSING A RAPID ACCELERATION OF MY VEHICLE ABOVE THE SPEED LIMIT. SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES FORCEFULLY DISENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL. ONE TIME OCCURRENCE.
Mileage: 211,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VIBRATING AND THE WHEELS FELT AS IF THERE WERE TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED AND THE SEAT BELTS WERE UNABLE TO LOCK PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
Mileage: 180,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VIBRATING AND THE WHEELS FELT AS IF THERE WERE TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED AND THE SEAT BELTS WERE UNABLE TO LOCK PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
Mileage: 180,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE BATTERY WIRES WERE BURNED AND BRAKE FLUID HAD SPILLED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SWITCH GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WIRE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THERE WAS SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT ANTI-FREEZE WAS COVERING THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND WOULD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000. UPDATED 10/24/2014*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEFECTIVE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS COVERED IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT EVEN THOUGH THE DATE OF THE COVERAGE EXPIRED THE VEHICLE SHOULD STILL BE COVERED. UPDATED 04/16/2015 *JS
Mileage: 101,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THERE WAS SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT ANTI-FREEZE WAS COVERING THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND WOULD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000. UPDATED 10/24/2014*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEFECTIVE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS COVERED IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT EVEN THOUGH THE DATE OF THE COVERAGE EXPIRED THE VEHICLE SHOULD STILL BE COVERED. UPDATED 04/16/2015 *JS
Mileage: 101,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE REPAIRED AND WAS PARKED IN THE MECHANIC'S REPAIR SHOP WHEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE SPREAD QUICKLY AND DESTROYED THE REPAIR SHOP BUILDING AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHER BUSINESSES, RESULTING IN OVER 7 MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE. THE FIRE MARSHALL INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE PARKED VEHICLE BEING INSIDE THE BUILDING. THE FIRE OCCURRED PRIOR TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME DEFECT THAT WAS LISTED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 196,000. *TR
Mileage: 196,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND CENTER SEAT BELT RECEPTACLES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO ADVISED THAT THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000. UPDATED 4/24/13 *CN UPDATED 05/29/2013 *JS
Mileage: 125,000
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN WE WERE INFORMED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM OUR VEHICLE, I WENT TO INVESTIGATE AND FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SMOKING TERRIBLY, I RAISED THE HOOD AND THERE WAS FIRE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED, WE GOT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND PROCEED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED AND FINISHED UP AND WROTE UP SOME INFORMATION. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME WHERE IT NOW SITS. *JS
Mileage: 124,758
HEADLIGHTS AND DASH PANEL CUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING ON SMOOTH PAVEMENT FOR PAST 10 YEARS. I HAVE HAD DEALERSHIP EXPERIENCE THIS BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. ALSO, THE SPEEDOMETER SHOWS CAR SPEED AT 100 OR MORE MPH WHEN STARTING CAR BUT GOES TO NORMAL WHEN MOVING. I JUST REPLACED THE MOTORCRAFT ALTERNATOR WITH A REBUILD VERSION AND THE SPEEDOMETER PROBLEM IS GONE. CAN'T BE SURE THAT THE HEADLIGHT ISSUE IS GONE TOO, BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE THE MAGIC FIX. I'M WONDERING IF A BATCH OF INTERMITTENTLY DEFECTIVE MOTORCRAFT ALTERNATORS WERE OEM SINCE THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM FOR OTHERS. IT IS VERY SCARY TO BE DRIVING 55 MPH AND HAVE THE HEADLIGHTS CUT OFF FOR A SHORT TIME. MONTHS GO BY AND NOTHING HAPPENS; THEN THERE IT IS AGAIN. I WAS THINKING THAT THE CAR WAS HAUNTED. I STILL HAVE THE OLD MOTORCRAFT ALTERNATOR BUT I WILL RETURN IT TO AUTOZONE TO GET MY CORE BACK UNLESS IT CAN BE USED TO DETERMINE IT IS DEFECTIVE. OVER THE YEARS I HAVE SPENT A LOT AT REPAIR SHOPS AN
Mileage: 120,000
HEADLIGHTS AND DASH PANEL CUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING ON SMOOTH PAVEMENT FOR PAST 10 YEARS. I HAVE HAD DEALERSHIP EXPERIENCE THIS BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. ALSO, THE SPEEDOMETER SHOWS CAR SPEED AT 100 OR MORE MPH WHEN STARTING CAR BUT GOES TO NORMAL WHEN MOVING. I JUST REPLACED THE MOTORCRAFT ALTERNATOR WITH A REBUILD VERSION AND THE SPEEDOMETER PROBLEM IS GONE. CAN'T BE SURE THAT THE HEADLIGHT ISSUE IS GONE TOO, BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE THE MAGIC FIX. I'M WONDERING IF A BATCH OF INTERMITTENTLY DEFECTIVE MOTORCRAFT ALTERNATORS WERE OEM SINCE THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM FOR OTHERS. IT IS VERY SCARY TO BE DRIVING 55 MPH AND HAVE THE HEADLIGHTS CUT OFF FOR A SHORT TIME. MONTHS GO BY AND NOTHING HAPPENS; THEN THERE IT IS AGAIN. I WAS THINKING THAT THE CAR WAS HAUNTED. I STILL HAVE THE OLD MOTORCRAFT ALTERNATOR BUT I WILL RETURN IT TO AUTOZONE TO GET MY CORE BACK UNLESS IT CAN BE USED TO DETERMINE IT IS DEFECTIVE. OVER THE YEARS I HAVE SPENT A LOT AT REPAIR SHOPS AN
Mileage: 120,000
I OWN A 1996 LINCOLN TOWNCAR VIN [XXX]. ON SATURDAY 7/9/2011 MY BRAKE LINES BROKE AND MY BRAKES FAILED IN ROCKWOOD, TN. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE THE CAR TO A SAFE PLACE WHERE I HAD A FRIEND PATCH THE LINES WITH RUBBER HOSES AND WAS ABLE TO AGAIN USE MY BRAKES. I DISCOVERED THAT FORD HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR CERTAIN TOWNCARS #79493 4/7/1998 FOR BRAKE LINE REPLACEMENT. I WENT TO 2 FORD DEALERSHIPS AND WAS TOLD THIS RECALL DIDN'T COVER MY CAR. I FEEL THIS RECALL SHOULD COVER MY CAR BECAUSE THE SAME DEFECTS ON THE TOWNCARS COVERED ARE PRESENT ON MY TOWNCAR AND CAUSED THE BRAKE LINES TO BREAK. I AM ASKING FORD TO AUTHORIZE ME TO RECEIVE THE SAME PROTECTION AFFORDED THE OWNERS OF THE COVERED TOWNCARS AND COVER MY REPAIRS AT ONE OF MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIPS. I CALLED THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS CENTER ON 7/12/2011 AND WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER [XXX]. I CALLED AGAIN ON 7/13/2011 AND WAS TOLD THE RECALL DIDN'T COVER MY CAR. I AM ONLY ASKING FOR THE SAME TREATMENT AFFORDED MANY OTHER COVER
Mileage: 309,000
I OWN A 1996 LINCOLN TOWNCAR VIN [XXX]. ON SATURDAY 7/9/2011 MY BRAKE LINES BROKE AND MY BRAKES FAILED IN ROCKWOOD, TN. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE THE CAR TO A SAFE PLACE WHERE I HAD A FRIEND PATCH THE LINES WITH RUBBER HOSES AND WAS ABLE TO AGAIN USE MY BRAKES. I DISCOVERED THAT FORD HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR CERTAIN TOWNCARS #79493 4/7/1998 FOR BRAKE LINE REPLACEMENT. I WENT TO 2 FORD DEALERSHIPS AND WAS TOLD THIS RECALL DIDN'T COVER MY CAR. I FEEL THIS RECALL SHOULD COVER MY CAR BECAUSE THE SAME DEFECTS ON THE TOWNCARS COVERED ARE PRESENT ON MY TOWNCAR AND CAUSED THE BRAKE LINES TO BREAK. I AM ASKING FORD TO AUTHORIZE ME TO RECEIVE THE SAME PROTECTION AFFORDED THE OWNERS OF THE COVERED TOWNCARS AND COVER MY REPAIRS AT ONE OF MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIPS. I CALLED THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS CENTER ON 7/12/2011 AND WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER [XXX]. I CALLED AGAIN ON 7/13/2011 AND WAS TOLD THE RECALL DIDN'T COVER MY CAR. I AM ONLY ASKING FOR THE SAME TREATMENT AFFORDED MANY OTHER COVER
Mileage: 309,000
BRAKES FAILED - DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION ON BRAKE LINES (RIGHT FRONT). SECOND OCCURRENCE DIFFERENT BRAKE LINE(REAR). ALSO OCCURRED ON MY NEIGHBORS 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR (REAR BRAKE LINE) BOTH CARS ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. SERIOUS ACCIDENT AVOIDED BY USING EMERGENCY BRAKE. *TR
Mileage: 101,242
I'VE OWNED A 96 LINCOLN TOWN CAR FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS NOW AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED RECENTLY WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THAT CAUSE I'VE JUST RECENTLY HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL AND I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT CONSTANTLY HAPPENING, IS THERE ANY THING I CAN DO. *TR
Mileage: 90,000
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.