Electrical complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 3 | 23% | 41,000 miles |
| 2008 | 3 | 15% | 47,000 miles |
| 2007 | 4 | 5% | 60,000 miles |
| 2006 | 6 | 4% | 103,000 miles |
| 2005 | 8 | 7% | 62,000 miles |
| 2004 | 8 | 10% | 105,000 miles |
| 2003 | 8 | 4% | 91,000 miles |
| 2002 | 3 | 5% | 100,000 miles |
| 2001 | 9 | 6% | 56,000 miles |
| 2000 | 18 | 17% | 78,000 miles |
| 1999 | 13 | 9% | 72,000 miles |
| 1998 | 15 | 10% | 150,000 miles |
| 1997 | 16 | 5% | 127,000 miles |
| 1996 | 19 | 7% | 160,000 miles |
| 1995 | 21 | 13% | 95,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Electrical; fill gas tank. Minutes later gauge shows I'm empty. Continues to repeat over and over. Driver's seat; crackling sound "like metal broke" seat does not adjust correctly and can no longer move the seats tilt. Having me drive in an uncomfortable position. Wipers; rainy day both motors left and right smoke up and burn out at the same time. Can no longer drive vehicle when it rains. Can't see anything wipers motors fried. As if they were allergic to water.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Lincoln Town Car. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The technician repaired the chip and wanted the contact to drive for a week to determine if the remedy worked. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 41,000. Updated 10/30/14 the consumer stated the problem was due to a short in a wire in the steering column, which caused a fuse to blow out. Updated 11/07/14
This vehicle has suddenly violently accelerated on four different occasions during the last eleven months. The first incident occurred after tapping the brake pedal at a very slow speed and resulted in the Car crashing into a barrier at a filling station in upstate new york. Subsequent episodes were halted by turning the ignition switch off while attempting to stop the Car with the service brakes. There seems to be few common threads among the incidents. There are no warning indicators before or after the sudden unintended acceleration events. No history codes were ever recorded in the powertrain control module. The incidents always occurred while the vehicle was moving at a slow speed sometimes when tapping the brake pedal and other times while pressing the accelerator pedal. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Lincoln Town Car. While driving various speeds, the front driver side door independently locked and unlocked. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 46,800.
The 'the Lincoln motor company ' important safety recall' is just another Ford lie. It states 'there is no charge to vehicle owners for recall repairs performed by an authorized dealer.' Ford has closed all of the Lincoln dealerships in the immediate san francisco area. The nearest Lincoln dealerships are an hour away during off-peak traffic hours. Forget it during peak traffic hours. When you get to the dealership, they have no loaner vehicle. They don't even have a rental on-site. You have to make your own arrangements someplace across Town. My experience is that it took four returns to a dealership, each for a full day, to get one recall repair performed. My Car is currently under recall for: gas tank problems, steering column problems, and I understand air bags. …
Engine died at stoplight. Battery jumped by another vehicle. Drove abt 4 miles, engine died again. Called for tow truck and had it towed to Ford dealership. Between 9/7/2013 and 2/14/2014 battery and alternator replaced. "check battery light" constantly appeared. Used fords testor connected to vehicles computer. After three actuation's, returned to dealership for solution.this occurred numerous time in the time period. Ford;s tech center recommended to dealership, at different times to replace: alternator - wires - computer - etc - after 5 months Ford could not fix the problem. Also, as of 12/15/2010 experienced sudden and violent surging during snowy days. Tachometer and speed needle would drop rapidly from 55 to zero, and return to 55mph. So severe, felt like Car was rear-ended. Ford tech's could not advise dealership how to repair this. After 5 months of grief , traded auto. …
The contact owns a 2006 Lincoln Town Car. The contact stated that after it rained, rainwater entered the vehicle, soaking the rear passenger's and rear driver's side seats. The contact removed the debris around the doors, but the failure persisted. Additionally, the front driver's seat remained extremely hot even after the seat heater was turned off. The contact stated that the dealer had previously replaced the intake manifold; however, the failure recurred, and the vehicle made an abnormal sound while being started. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
The passive restraint indicator light (shows an airbag and seatbelt), also called seatbelt retractor, came on and remained on with an audible alarm (5 beeps, 5 times) repeating every 30 minutes. The problem diagnosis was for the right front seat belt pretensioner (passenger side). A Lincoln dealer service employee said the airbag will not work with this problem. At another Lincoln dealership I was told many 2006 towncars had the same problem, but on the driver? Side, mine is on the passenger. The problem started around 114,000 miles, my Car is now about 117,000 miles. And I was not involved in a crash. A Ford employee told me last year?s supplier went out of business, so they had to change the manufacturer for the new part. …
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system › 12V/24V/48V battery › Cables
On certain passenger vehicles, the battery cable includes a fusible link that May contact and subsequently chafe on a #2 cross member attaching bolt.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which Lincoln Town Car years have electrical problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1995 (21), 1996 (19), 2000 (18), 1997 (16) and 1998 (15) model years. Electrical complaints make up 13% of all complaints for the 1995.
Is there a recall for Lincoln Town Car electrical problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 05V-518 (cables, Nov 9, 2005). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Lincoln Town Car electrical problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 91,000 miles; 28% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the horn (24 mentions), followed by the ignition (13).
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.