2003 Lincoln Town CAR: common problems

Owners of the 2003 Lincoln Town CAR filed 201 complaints with NHTSA, most often about suspension and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 201
involving a crash: 14

What fails most often

1 Suspension 40% of all complaints
2 Powertrain 13% of all complaints
3 Vehicle speed control 9% of all complaints
4 Steering 8% of all complaints
5 Service brakes 6% of all complaints
6 Structure 6% of all complaints
7 Air bags 5% of all complaints
8 Electrical system 4% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Suspension: 81 complaints (40% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Powertrain: 27 complaints (13% of all).
Vehicle speed control: 18 complaints (9% of all), 8 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Steering: 16 complaints (8% of all).
Service brakes: 13 complaints (6% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.

Engines and transmissions

US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.

4.6 L · petrol · 8 cyl
automatic, 4-speed

Drive: RWD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 201 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

knocking, grinding or other noise18 · 9%
vibration12 · 6%
A/C or heater6 · 3%
oil leak or consumption5 · 2%
rust, corrosion5 · 2%
unintended acceleration5 · 2%
fuel system, fuel smell4 · 2%
steering or power steering problems4 · 2%
jerking, harsh shifts3 · 1%
tires: bulges, blowouts3 · 1%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Suspension	81	1
Powertrain	27	0
Vehicle speed control	18	8
Steering	16	0
Service brakes	13	1
Structure	12	0
Air bags	10	4
Electrical system	8	0
Engine and cooling	8	0
Engine	6	0
Exterior lighting	6	0
Tires	6	0
Wheels	6	0
Equipment	4	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

Takata recall as an 83 year old senior citizen, just recently widowed in may 2015, I was forced to purchase another lincoln, because of the airbag in my 2003 lincoln did not function at all doing a head on collision, hitting a concrete wall
Air bags · crash · 2016-05-06 · NHTSA complaint #10863679
The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries reported. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was not available.
Suspension · crash · 2015-06-18 · NHTSA complaint #10726108
Seconds after that the car jerked forward at an increasing speed ,knocked a nissan pathfinder and carried a mitsubushi eclipse ,from the parking lot, over the sidewalk to the grass while the car was still gaining speed towards a livingroom with the family in there.
Vehicle speed control · crash · 2011-09-26 · NHTSA complaint #10427182
2003 lincoln town car with unexpected acceleration. Consumer states that she found a service bulletin with the same problem and she would like more information. ***** the consumer stated an accident occurred as a result of the unwanted acceleration.
Vehicle speed control · crash · 2008-02-27 · NHTSA complaint #10219526
In 2003 lincoln town car when the airbag deployed it shot off the round silver lincoln emblem which severely lacerated my nose. Thank god it did not take out an eye. I have noticed on the newer models that the emblem is now embedded in the material so it cannot fly off and cause injury.
Air bags · crash · 2006-02-06 · NHTSA complaint #10149516
Dt: the contact stated while in reverse the back up alarm sensor was not working which resulted in the vehicle striking a mailbox. There was not a crash ,but some property damage. The dealer repaired the alarm sensor under warranty and determined it had malfunctioned.
Backover prevention · crash · 2005-11-07 · NHTSA complaint #10141995
Additionally, the headlights were flickering, and the alternator failed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the powertrain control module (PCM) was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered.
Electrical system · 2023-01-20 · NHTSA complaint #11502756
There was no warning light illuminated. The driver was able to drive to his destination safely. The vehicle was towed to the contact's workplace. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The tow truck operator stated that the rear axle was fractured.
Suspension · 2022-06-28 · NHTSA complaint #11471316

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

20025
200316
200413
200510
200617
200713
200815
200912
201012
201114
201210
20139
201410
201512
20169
20176
20184
20194
20213
20225
20231
20241

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 2,034 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 6% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Town CAR has 95 complaints (35 years in the data). This year has 201, above average.

What to check before buying

Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Lincoln Town CAR?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: suspension, powertrain, vehicle speed control. Total complaints: 201. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (9%), vibration (6%), A/C or heater (3%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2003 Lincoln Town CAR?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 2003 Lincoln Town CAR from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 2003 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.