Common Lincoln Town Car Failures: Problems, Failures And Reliability!

If you plan to buy a used luxury car, the Lincoln Town Car is a great option. It is an impressive sedan with high aesthetic value due to its luxury and vintage styling. The Town Car’s most recent redesign has kept its old-school look, making it popular with Lincoln enthusiasts. If you want to know the common failures of the Lincoln Town Car , continue reading.

It also holds its value very well compared to other luxury sedans. The 2011 model has an estimated five-year depreciation rate of 8%.

The Lincoln Town Car is considered reliable. It has received good reliability ratings, scoring 4.0 out of 5.0 and coming in second out of 30 cars in the same category. The Town Car can reportedly easily last over 250,000 miles with little to no problems.

Some owners have also shared that it can last upwards of 400,000 to 500,000 miles as long as its maintenance and service schedule is followed correctly.

Main common faults of the Lincoln Town Car

The Lincoln Town Car is reliable, but it does have its fair share of problems depending on the model year. Here are the common Lincoln Town Car faults you may encounter:

1. Air suspension failures due to air leaks

One of the common faults of the Lincoln Town Car of the years 1990-2010, is its faulty air suspension, which can cause the car to sink. The air suspension reportedly leaks every time the car is turned off . Starting the car may help to temporarily fix the problem, but may cause your air suspension check light to come on.

However, it can be turned off once the car levels out. These air suspension leaks should be fixed as soon as possible because they can damage your Town Car’s air suspension compressor. Some owners have reported that their air suspension has not re-inflated because the compressor has gone bad. If you notice any problem with the air suspension, see your mechanic immediately.

2. Coolant leaks due to broken intake manifold

The 1993-2007 Lincoln Town Car tends to develop coolant leaks due to intake manifold damage. Some owners have reported that coolant leaks often start near the thermostat housing. These leaks can be accompanied by overheating, which can affect the health of the engine in the long run.

These leaks are reportedly caused by a broken or cracked intake manifold, which needs to be replaced as soon as possible. The intake manifold usually breaks at around 132,000 kilometers. Ford has released a reinforced intake manifold to help solve this problem. It is best to replace it as soon as you notice any coolant leaks in your Town Car.

3. Frequently blown spark plugs

One of the most annoying problems with the 2004 Lincoln Town Car is its engine that frequently blows its spark plugs. Some owners have shared that they have had to stop and get their cars towed due to abnormal sounds coming from the engine. They have also reported that this issue can occur multiple times.

Spark plug blowouts can also affect the spark plug hole, which may need extra work to properly seat new spark plugs. According to Lincoln Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) #07212, the procedure required to repair the hole is not covered by the vehicle’s limited warranty .

The typical cost of the repair is about $350, which can vary depending on the amount of work required. If your Town Car often blows its spark plugs, it’s definitely not the only one.

4. Vehicle control problems

One of the most dangerous problems with the 2003 Lincoln Town Car is vehicle control, which can cause the car to jerk or accelerate unexpectedly. Some owners have shared that instead of stopping, their Town Cars sped up when they hit the brakes.

They have also shared how their brakes totally failed to stop the car, resulting in an accident. Some have also shared that their cruise control can get hot and malfunction.

Sudden loss of vehicle control can increase the risk of accidents. Multiple injuries and crashes related to this issue have been confirmed. These vehicle control issues reportedly typically occur around 54,400 miles. If you notice any signs of these problems in your Town Car, see a mechanic immediately to avoid accidents.

5. Failed to Acceleration

1999 Lincoln Town Car acceleration problems can be very annoying. Some owners have reported that their cars won’t accelerate no matter how hard they put their foot on the accelerator . The car reportedly hesitates and loses power.

Some owners have shared that these acceleration issues can be related to faulty components such as the fuel filter, throttle position sensor, or catalytic converter. Some were able to resolve these issues by replacing the faulty components.

However, there are other complications that can reduce your Town Car’s acceleration. It can also be caused by other transmission, exhaust and engine issues, which can be more difficult to resolve.

Having your car scanned with a scan tool can help determine the exact cause of your Town Car’s poor acceleration. However, it is best to have your car checked out by a mechanic, so that you can get an accurate diagnosis.

6. A/C (Air Conditioning) Problems

1996 Lincoln Town Car A/C problems can become very severe, which can lead to complete component failure. Some owners have shared that their A/C suddenly broke down and stopped working without any warning. Others have reported abnormal odors coming from their A/C prior to the failure. Multiple TSBs were published for the 1996 Lincoln Town Car A/C, including TSB #99195, #00213, #9735, and a few others.

However, A/C failure can also be linked to a faulty A/C compressor clutch air gap, which can cause the A/C to shut off intermittently.

Some owners have reported fixing their A/C systems by adjusting the A/C compressor clutch air gaps, costing them about $60.

This is a common problem for the 1990-2010 Lincoln Town Car. If you’re having a/c problems in your car, have your a/c compressor clutch air gap checked before spending on unnecessary part repairs and replacements.

To complete

The Lincoln Town Car is a good choice for a reliable luxury sedan, but you need to learn about potential problems with the model year you’re interested in. Being aware of their common problems can help you easily manage them later as they happen. Just make sure you clear all important details with the seller before making any payments.