LINCOLN TOWN CAR · model year

2001 LINCOLN TOWN CAR

207 NHTSA complaints, 31 crash reports, and 6 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2001LINCOLNTOWN CAR carries 207 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 31 crashes, 5 fires, 25 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 2001 TOWN CAR is air bags with 24 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (20) and air bags:side/window (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. This model year has 6 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2001 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.

207
Complaints
31
Crashes
5
Fires
25
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

207 filings

Crashes Reported

31 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS24
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL20
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW17
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL13
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP7
STEERING7
SEATS6
UNKNOWN OR OTHER6
VISIBILITY6
SUSPENSION5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING5
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR5
ENGINE5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4

Recalls (6)

01V22700116/07/2001

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND MINIVANS. EQUIPPED WITH SEAT BELTS SUPPLIED BY TRW. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE DRIVER'S AND/OR FRONT PASSENGER'S OUTBOARD SEAT BELT BUCKLE MAY NOT FULLY LATCH. FORD CROWN VICTORIA BUILT AT ST. THOMAS ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM

00V27000013/09/2000

AIR BAGS

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIMOUSINES, AND MINI VANS WERE BUILT WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE (RCM). IN SOME CASES, THE RCM DOES NOT RECOGNIZE CERTAIN SYSTEM FAULTS THAT COULD RESULT IN AN AIR BAG OR SEAT BELT PRE-TENSIONER UNEXPECTEDLY ACTIVATING DURING THE SELF-TEST SEQUENCE AT

00V35600012/12/2000

TIRES

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN LIMOUSINES STRETCHED OVER 60 INCHES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 109, "NEW PNEUMATIC TIRES," AND NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS."

01V25800008/08/2001

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND LIGHT AND MEDIUM DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS. A SWITCH LOCATED IN THE PLASTIC COVER OF THE WIPER MOTOR GEAR CASE COULD MALFUNCTION AND OVERHEAT, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN LOSS OF INTERMITTENT WIPER FUNCTION, LOSS OF WIPER PARK FUNCTION, COMPL

00V41200006/12/2000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS AND PASSENGER VEHICLES. A RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE (RCM) OR A SIDE OR FRONT CRASH SENSOR MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH ONE OR MORE OF THE SCREWS THAT MOUNT THE CIRCUIT BOARD IN THE HOUSING MISSING. IF SOME OR ALL OF THE SCREWS ARE MISSING, THE PERFORMANCE OF THE OCC

15E08200006/10/2015

STEERING

Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain model Dorman Steering Shafts, part number 425-359, Solutions Steering Shafts, part number 7-0359, and OE Solutions Steering Shafts, part number 425-359, manufactured April 17, 2014, to September 28, 2015. These aftermarket replacement steering sha

Recent Complaints

20221017ENGINE

My car has been making a weird whistling noise for a few months. My husband found it was coming from the rear intake manifold hose. He started my car and next the car started smoking and he looked under the hood the nipple where the hose connected had broke off and there is a crack all the way down the intake manifold.

20221017ENGINE

There was a loud pop after I got gas. My car wouldn't stay running. I couldn't figure out what was going on. My husband looked under the hood and the spark plug still attached to the ignition coil had popped out of the engine. All of the screws holding the ignition coils had backed out.

20221017FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

There was a loud pop after I got gas. My car wouldn't stay running. I couldn't figure out what was going on. My husband looked under the hood and the spark plug still attached to the ignition coil had popped out of the engine. All of the screws holding the ignition coils had backed out.

20210708AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2001 Lincoln Town Car. The contact stated while driving 35 mph, the passenger’s side curtain air bag inadvertently deployed without warning. While the contact was startled by the deployment of the air bag, there was no injury sustained. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the vehicle was not under recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 50,930.

Mileage: 50,930

20200515AIR BAGS

PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG DEPLOYED OVERNIGHT. CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, 50' FROM STREET. *TR

Mileage: 248,780

20190531STEERING

" TAKATA RECALL " WHEN I DRIVE OVER A POT HOLE MY CAR WANTS 2 GO ALL OVER THE ROAD THE STEERING IS LOOSECAN'T HARTLEY HOLE IT STRAIGHT ON THE ROAD I CANNT. AND ALSO MY WINDSHIELD FLUID DOESN'T COME OUT WHEN PUSH.STEERING COULD IS LOOSE.ALL IN MOTION EVEN.ON THE HWY I CANNOT GO ON. I CANNOT TAKE PIC IT IS UNDER THE CAR

20190531UNKNOWN OR OTHER

" TAKATA RECALL " WHEN I DRIVE OVER A POT HOLE MY CAR WANTS 2 GO ALL OVER THE ROAD THE STEERING IS LOOSECAN'T HARTLEY HOLE IT STRAIGHT ON THE ROAD I CANNT. AND ALSO MY WINDSHIELD FLUID DOESN'T COME OUT WHEN PUSH.STEERING COULD IS LOOSE.ALL IN MOTION EVEN.ON THE HWY I CANNOT GO ON. I CANNOT TAKE PIC IT IS UNDER THE CAR

20180627SUSPENSION

ON JULY 16, 2017, I WAS TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 70 EAST, NEAR WASHINGTON, PA. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY 2001 LINCOLN STARTED SHAKING VERY VIOLENTLY. I MANAGED TO PULL INTO A REST STOP A FEW MILES AWAY, AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR PORTION OF MY LINCOLN WAS VERY LOW TO THE GROUND. I MANAGED TO DRIVE INTO WASHINGTON, PA, AND A LOCAL MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HE SUSPECTED THAT THE AIR SUSPENSION COMPRESSOR, WHICH CONTROLS THE REAR AIR SUSPENSION BAGS, WAS DEFECTIVE. A FEW WEEKS EARLIER, THE "AIR BAGS" WARNING LIGHT RELATING TO THE REAR AIR SUSPENSION BAGS HAD COME ON; MY MECHANIC CHECKED THEM OUT AND STATED THAT THEY WERE FINE, AS HE HAD REPLACED BOTH OF THEM, IN 2013. HOWEVER, IN RETROSPECT, THE COMPUTER WAS REFERRING TO THE AIR SUSPENSION COMPRESSOR AND PROBABLY TO THE AIR SUSPENSION HEIGHT SENSOR. I HAD MY MECHANIC REPLACE BOTH OF THOSE PARTS. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE LINCOLN PERSONNEL SHOULD HAVE WARNED THE LINCOLN TOWN CAR OWNERS THAT THE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM, WHICH IS USED ON THE LINCOLN TOWN C

Mileage: 131,500

20170421VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO STOP. NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONE OTHER TIME AND HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL COMING TO A SCREECHING STOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

Mileage: 98,000

20170421ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE ROAD SHOULDER AND WAS RESTARTED AFTER TEN MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 104,250.

Mileage: 104,250

20170416STEERING

I HAVE REPLACED ALL STEERING COMPONENTS. AND THE STEERING STILL WONDERS TO BAD TO DRIVE.

Mileage: 140,000

20161230FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

MY 2001 LINCOLN TOWNCAR SIGNATURE ,. GAS IN FUEL AND DROVE 3 MILES IN PARK. THE CAR LITTLE EXHAUST, I PROCEEDED TO THE LIGHT AND THERMOSTATS HEATING NEEDLE TO HOT. I MOVE TO NEXT, LIGHT, AIR CONDITION ON TO COOL DOWN. IMMEDIATELY LEFT TURN INTO CYPRESS RESTAURANT. PARKING, TURN OFF, COOL DOWN, AND NEXT OPEN BY FRIEND WHO NEEDED GO THE DOCTOR. CALLED AAA PULL TO THE SHOP. ESTIMATED , CAN NOT REPAIRED THIS...DAY. SO, IF IT WAS MANUFACTURED DEFECEITS. I LOOK UP ...

Mileage: 146,999

20161230SUSPENSION

MY 2001 LINCOLN TOWNCAR SIGNATURE ,. GAS IN FUEL AND DROVE 3 MILES IN PARK. THE CAR LITTLE EXHAUST, I PROCEEDED TO THE LIGHT AND THERMOSTATS HEATING NEEDLE TO HOT. I MOVE TO NEXT, LIGHT, AIR CONDITION ON TO COOL DOWN. IMMEDIATELY LEFT TURN INTO CYPRESS RESTAURANT. PARKING, TURN OFF, COOL DOWN, AND NEXT OPEN BY FRIEND WHO NEEDED GO THE DOCTOR. CALLED AAA PULL TO THE SHOP. ESTIMATED , CAN NOT REPAIRED THIS...DAY. SO, IF IT WAS MANUFACTURED DEFECEITS. I LOOK UP ...

Mileage: 146,999

20161230UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MY 2001 LINCOLN TOWNCAR SIGNATURE ,. GAS IN FUEL AND DROVE 3 MILES IN PARK. THE CAR LITTLE EXHAUST, I PROCEEDED TO THE LIGHT AND THERMOSTATS HEATING NEEDLE TO HOT. I MOVE TO NEXT, LIGHT, AIR CONDITION ON TO COOL DOWN. IMMEDIATELY LEFT TURN INTO CYPRESS RESTAURANT. PARKING, TURN OFF, COOL DOWN, AND NEXT OPEN BY FRIEND WHO NEEDED GO THE DOCTOR. CALLED AAA PULL TO THE SHOP. ESTIMATED , CAN NOT REPAIRED THIS...DAY. SO, IF IT WAS MANUFACTURED DEFECEITS. I LOOK UP ...

Mileage: 146,999

20160722CrashAIR BAGS

AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN HARD IMPACT

Mileage: 199,700

20160122SUSPENSION

AIRBAGS HAD TO BE REPLACED, MILEAGE 102050.ALSO, WIPER MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED 3TIMES SO FAR.

Mileage: 102,020

20160122VISIBILITY/WIPER

AIRBAGS HAD TO BE REPLACED, MILEAGE 102050.ALSO, WIPER MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED 3TIMES SO FAR.

Mileage: 102,020

20151112STEERING

WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION STEERING WONDERS BACK AND FORTH. CENTER STEERING ONLY OBTAIN WITH CONSTANT CORRECTING.

Mileage: 146,000

20151110STEERING

ON WIPERS THE INTERMEDIATE DONT WORK AND WHEN WASHER FLUID SPRAYED CANT SHUT WIPERS OFF 2 NOW ON WHEELS CONSTANTLY LOOSING AIR DUE TO RIMS PEELING AND THE INSIDE RIMS ARE PEELING CAUSING TIRE NOT TO HOLD AIR AND 3 FRONT END WOBBLES AND RADDLES HAD NEW TIERODS AND BALL JOINTS WONDERING IF ANY RECALLS WERE DUE TO BE DONE AND PREVIOUS OWNER NEGLECTED TO GET DONE PLEASE HELP

Mileage: 168,500

20151110VISIBILITY/WIPER

ON WIPERS THE INTERMEDIATE DONT WORK AND WHEN WASHER FLUID SPRAYED CANT SHUT WIPERS OFF 2 NOW ON WHEELS CONSTANTLY LOOSING AIR DUE TO RIMS PEELING AND THE INSIDE RIMS ARE PEELING CAUSING TIRE NOT TO HOLD AIR AND 3 FRONT END WOBBLES AND RADDLES HAD NEW TIERODS AND BALL JOINTS WONDERING IF ANY RECALLS WERE DUE TO BE DONE AND PREVIOUS OWNER NEGLECTED TO GET DONE PLEASE HELP

Mileage: 168,500

Compare 2001LINCOLNTOWN CAR to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2001 LINCOLN TOWN CAR have?
The 2001 LINCOLN TOWN CAR has 207 NHTSA complaints, 31 crashes, 5 fires, 25 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2001 LINCOLN TOWN CAR?
Yes, the 2001 LINCOLN TOWN CAR has 6 recall(s). The most common affected component is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 LINCOLN TOWN CAR?
The most-complained component for the 2001 LINCOLN TOWN CAR is AIR BAGS with 24 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW.
Is the 2001 LINCOLN TOWN CAR safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

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.