Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1995 Lincoln Town Car owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 1995 Lincoln Town Car. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated. Also, the brake pedal was stiff when depressed. The brake lines were replaced three times by an independent mechanic, but the failure recurred. Furthermore, the steering wheel had to be maneuvered in either direction to prevent it from seizing. The contact stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 15e082000 (steering), 96V135000 (steering), 98V001000 (service brakes, hydraulic), 01V318000 (air bags), and 95e006002 (air bags). The contact stated that the vehicle exhibited the same failures listed in the recall campaigns. Liberty Ford Lincoln canton (423 tuscarawas st w, canton, oh 44702) and the manufacturer stated that the vehicle was not included in any recalls to provide a remedy. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. …
Tl contact owns a 1995 Lincoln Town Car. The contact's mother attempted to place the vehicle into reverse and heard a popping noise. The vehicle accelerated backwards, although her foot was depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle eventually stopped after crashing into a guardrail and three people. The police impounded and inspected the vehicle, but found no failure. A police report was filed. A state farm representative inspected the vehicle and gave the contact's mother a ticket for careless driving. Her mother continued to stress that her foot was depressing the brake pedal the entire time. The current and failure mileages were approximately 127,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1995 Lincoln Town Car. The contact noticed a pool of fluid under the vehicle while idling. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the brake lines were leaking fluid. While refueling the vehicle, there was an abnormal fuel odor. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign numbers: 98i001000 (service brakes, hydraulic) and 95V063000 (fuel system, gasoline) as possible causes of the failure due to similar failures. The failure mileage was 106,000.
While driving the ABS failed. The consumer was braking when the pedal pushed back and the pedal went to the floor. As a result the vehicle was involved in an accident. The consumer had various brake components replaced but the system continued to fail.
Faulty brake lines, rusted sections, leaking loss of braking while driving. I checked the brake lines, I found the 2 brake lines going to the rear of the Car severely rusted, leaking sections. (photo enclosed) a line adjacent to the brake lines looks new, no rust at all! Everything else under the Car, including parts that normally rust like the muffler, tail pipe, etc. Are in great shape. It is obvious to me that the brake lines used in this particular year of the Lincoln are faulty,( a material defect)! I have made several phone calls to inquire about having it fixed because my Car is not safe to drive. I have been told that this Car needs some very unusual, and expensive, labor to replace the faulty brake lines. (the frame and body of the Car has to be separated) what type of engineering is that? I ve received estimates to fix my Car at a minimum of $1500! …
Tl contact owns a 1995 Lincoln Town Car. While driving 5 MPH or greater, the vehicle would not stop immediately when the brake pedal was depressed. The contact stated that the failure increased the stopping distance by twenty feet. The road conditions were clear. The dealer stated that the ABS terminal caused the failure. As of September 17, 2007, the dealer had not repaired the vehicle. The failure mileage was 101,000 and current mileage was 103,000. Updated 01-14-08. Updated 12/12/07
The rear brake lines have rusted all the way through. There is a recall for this particular vehicle. The manufacturer is aware of the problem, but informed the consumer that his VIN was not on the list. The brake lines on both side failed at the same time due to the routing of the lines along the frame. The consumer believes this system is poorly designed.
Intermittently when applying the brake at low speed of 20 MPH or less, it caused the vehicle to shimmy and extended stopping distance occurred. The vehicle has been to the dealer on several occasions. The dealer replaced the ABS senor module & cleaned the ABS sensor however the problem continued. Please provide any further information.
The front rotors were replaced twice, and there was still a problem with the braking system not working effectively. On the second occasion the brake light had come on and the consumer was told that the brake lines had rusted. The manufacturer declined on covering the repairs. Referenced in rq03-004
The brake line was rusted through below the driver seat and ruptured. The driver could not stop the vehicle in time and crashed into another vehicle at a traffic intersection. Referenced in rq03-004
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Improper installation of the rear brake line at the point at which the extended brake line first bends and extends over the left rear wheel area of the frame. If not installed with sufficient clearance, chafing of the brake line can occur in an area adjacent to the rear floor pan.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the brake line for proper installation and/or damage and replace as necessary. Also a protective boot or sleeve over the brake line will be installed.
NHTSA investigations
Rear brake line failure
Odi has received 40 complaints alleging rear brake line failure in the subject vehicles, including 8 that have been received this year.an additional 192 reports and 478 warranty claims have been received from Ford.a leak in the rear brake line can cause extended stopping distance.a search of odi's complaint database for peer vehicle complaints, using the same brake line failure criteria as for the subject vehicles…
Rear brake line failure
In a letter dated February 25, 2005, Ford motor company (Ford) notified odi that it would be conducting a customer satisfaction program (Ford no. 04b26) to correct a rear brake line chafing concern in approximately 44,000 model year (my) 1997 Ford crown victoria and grand marquis non-fleet vehicles equipped with electronic traction control that werebuilt after March 19, 1997.these vehicles have an additional rear…
Brake complaints in other Town Car years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 1995 Lincoln Town Car?
NHTSA has 52 complaints about the brakes of the 1995 Lincoln Town Car, 32% of the model year's 165 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (31 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1995 Lincoln Town Car brake problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 95V-133 (hoses, lines/piping, and fittings, Jul 11, 1995). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1995 Lincoln Town Car brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 95,000 miles, and 18% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 5 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.