Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Lincoln Town Car owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owned a 1999 Lincoln Town Car. While driving approximately 25 MPH in heavy rain, the vehicle hydroplaned and crashed with a flat bed tow truck. None of the frontal air bags deployed. The police department was present, but a report was not filed. The contact and a passenger were transported to the hospital by ambulance, treated, and released. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot and later deemed destroyed by the insurance company. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 183,000.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 2mph through a parking lot, the front driver side airbag deployed without warning. Upon deployment of the side air bag, the contact, who was not wearing a seat belt, was pushed aside into the center console, and lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle rolled over a parking lot divider, and crashed into another vehicle. The contact sustained minor injuries. Due to the low speed of the crash, the vehicle sustained minor damage. A police report was taken. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer and an insurance adjustor who were unable to determine the cause of the airbag deployment. The manufacturer was also alerted. Updated 10/31/2006 -
The consumer was involved in an accident and the driver's air bag did not deploy. The consumer's vehicle was hit on a slight angle head on when another vehicle crossed the divider into oncoming traffic. The vehicle came to rest in a ditch. The driver's side air bag did not deploy. The consumer sustained a broken ankle in 3 places and a hairline crack on the right knee. Also, a cut on the left leg. The driver of the other vehicle was killed as a result of the accident.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Lincoln Town Car. While driving 50 MPH, the contact's vehicle crashed head on into another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed and no injuries were sustained. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was advised by a sheriff not to drive the vehicle in case the air bags deployed independently. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
Vehicle was parked with engine off. When started, vehicle went approximately 10-14 feet. Attempted to make a u-turn, and put foot on brake pedal, but there were no brakes. Vehicle accelerated out of control. Put vehicle in park and it continued to travel and hit a parked Car in the rear, but continued to travel. Finally vehicle was turned off and it stopped. Upon impact , air bags failed to deploy. Drive rsustained injuries, and vehicle was totaled.
Tl contact owned a 1999 Lincoln Town Car. While driving 35 MPH the contacts vehicle was hit head on by an SUV. The contact crashed into a light post. A police report was taken. The passenger was injured. The vehicle was taken by the police and later on moved by the contact to a dealer. The air bags failed to deploy. The manufacturer was not informed. The vehicle was destroyed. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 120,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Lincoln Town Car. The contact stated that the front driver's side air bag erroneously deployed as soon as the contact inserted the key into the ignition. The vehicle had been parked and was not driven on the day of the failure. The contact suffered injuries to the back and the head. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 101,525.
My air bag light blinks on and off for about 90 seconds then goes off for about another 90 seconds then comes on and stays on I was told by the mechanic at the Lincoln dealership that I do not have any air bags when the light is on the problem? Not known until I spend $$$ finding out why then spending more $$$ to fix it
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Lincoln Town Car. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH and without any warning, the passenger side airbag deployed erroneously. The airbag warning light illuminated after the airbag deployed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 120,000.
While driving 58 MPH another vehicle broadside my vehicle on drivers side door. Upon impact side door seat air bag failed to deploy. Frontal air bags deployed. Driver was knocked sideways towards door and window in vehicle and sustained injuries. Vehicle was totalled.
NHTSA investigations
Inadvertent side air bag deployment
Odi has identified 173 complaints alleging inadvertent or non-crash deployment of side air bags on model year (my) 1999-2003 Lincoln town cars.most of the complaints allege that one of the side air bags deployed while driving without any impact.analysis showed that my 2001 through early my 2003 town cars have much higher complaint and warranty claim rates (138 complaints and 120 warranty claims) than the remaining…
Airbag complaints in other Town Car years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1999 Lincoln Town Car?
NHTSA has 29 complaints about the air bags of the 1999 Lincoln Town Car, 20% of the model year's 148 complaints. The component named most often is side/window (8 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Lincoln Town Car airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 1999 Lincoln Town Car, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1999 Lincoln Town Car airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 102,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 12 crashes, 0 fires and 13 injuries to air bags 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.