NHTSA lists 201 complaints for the 2003 Lincoln Town CAR, 14 of them mention a crash and 0 mention a fire. 6 complaints mention an injury, with 6 injuries and 0 deaths reported.
Data build 2026-10-09.
NHTSA lists this vehicle as LINCOLN TOWN CAR.
At a glance
Complaints
201
With crash
14
With fire
0
With injury (complaints)
6
Injuries
6
Deaths
0
Recalls
1
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
47,314
Investigations
4
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
83
Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.
Where the complaints are
Top systems
System
Complaints
Share of this vehicle's complaints
SUSPENSION
81
40.3%
POWER TRAIN
27
13.4%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
18
9.0%
STEERING
16
8.0%
STRUCTURE
12
6.0%
AIR BAGS
10
5.0%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
10
5.0%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
8
4.0%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
8
4.0%
ENGINE
6
3.0%
Top subsystems
System
Subsystem
Complaints
SUSPENSION
REAR
46
POWER TRAIN
AXLE ASSEMBLY
11
STRUCTURE
BODY
7
POWER TRAIN
DRIVELINE
5
AIR BAGS
FRONTAL
4
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BRAKE LIGHTS
4
SUSPENSION
FRONT
4
EQUIPMENT
APPLIANCE
3
AIR BAGS
SIDE/WINDOW
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE
2
One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.
Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.
Defect: CERTAIN POLICE, COMMERCIAL, AND PASSENGER VEHICLES SOLD TO FLEETS TYPICALLY INPUT HIGHER LOADS INTO THE VEHICLE CHASSIS OVERLOADING THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND AXLES.
Consequence: THIS COULD LEAD TO EARLY BEARING FAILURE AND ULTIMATELY TO AXLE SHAFT FRACTURE. IN THE EVENT OF AXLE SHAFT FRACTURE, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE DRIVE FUNCTION AND WOULD COAST TO A STOP. LOSS OF DRIVE FUNCTION COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS, SEALS,AND AXLE SHAFTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 15, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Investigations
4 investigations; 0 open.
DP05005
Opened: 2005-09-22. Closed: 2006-01-04.
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CY
Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
PE04010
Opened: 2004-01-22. Closed: 2004-07-08.
REAR AXLE FRACTURE
THIS PE WAS OPENED AFTER ODI BECAME AWARE OF TWO ALLEGATIONS CONCERNING REAR AXLE FRACTURE AND PARTIAL WHEEL SEPARATION INVOLVING MY 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTORS (CVPI).INITIALLY, THE PE'S SCOPE INVOLVED ALL MY 2003 GRAND MARQUIS, CROWN VICTORIA, AND LINCOLN TOWN CARS (I.E., PANTHER PLATFORM) PRODUCED THROUGH JANUARY 2003.WHILE GATHERING INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ISSUE, IT BECAME EVID
THIS INVESTIGATION IDENTIFIED A TOTAL OF 182 REPORTS ALLEGING INADVERTENT OR NON-CRASH DEPLOYMENT OF THE SIDE AIR BAGS.THE DATA EXAMINED DURING THE INVESTIGATION SUGGEST THAT THE SIDE AIR BAG CRASH SENSING SYSTEM'S ALGORITHM MAY RECOGNIZE CERTAIN NON-CRASH INCIDENTS AS DEPLOYABLE EVENTS.ODI HAS NOT, HOWEVER, IDENTIFIED ANY FAILED COMPONENT THAT RELATES TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES
Systems: AIR BAGS.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
PE03011
Opened: 2003-03-14. Closed: 2003-08-22.
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) T
Systems: AIR BAGS.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
Manufacturer communications
83 manufacturer communications.
Communications by system
System
Count
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
18
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
13
EQUIPMENT
10
POWER TRAIN
6
STRUCTURE
6
VISIBILITY
5
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
4
STEERING
4
10177863
Date: 2020-07-13. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.
This article supersedes TSB 19-2026 to update the vehicle model years affected. Some 2000 and newer Ford/Lincoln/Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is
10155551
Date: 2019-02-07. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.
Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended. Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition
10156863
Date: 2019-02-07. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT, STRUCTURE.
Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended. Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition
10023943
Date: 2007-10-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
SOME 1997-2008 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4.6L 2V, 5.4L 2V, OR 6.8L 2V ENGINE--SPARK PLUG THREAD REPAIR PROCEDURE--NOT COVERED UNDER NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY. *NJ THIS INCLUDES F-53 MOTORHOME CHASSIS. UPDATED 2/23/10. *PE
10018074
Date: 2007-05-08. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 05B31 - INFORMATION ONLY. A POSSIBILITY THAT DURING A HIGH SPEED / HIGH ENERGY REAR COLLISION, CERTAIN COMPONENTS HAVE AN INCREASED RISK OF PUNCTURING THE FUEL TANK ON VEHICLES WITH LIMO PREP PACKAGE LIMO PACKAGE UPGRADE KIT OFFERING. *TT SUPPLEMENT #1. *TT UPD
10014100
Date: 2006-01-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.
LIMITED SLIP AXLE CHATTER, SHUDDER, BINDING SENSATION, OR VIBRATION DURING LOW SPEED TURNING MANEUVERS. *TT
10018745
Date: 2005-11-14. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
WDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIP - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - ENGINE MISFIRE OR ROUGH RUNNING. *TT
10014138
Date: 2005-06-07. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SEAT BELTS.
SAFETY BELT RETRACTION SPEED. *TT
10017901
Date: 2005-04-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES.
DOOR LOCKS BEING INOPERATIVE WHEN USING THE KEYPAD AND/OR REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY (RKE) FOB - FUSE 2.30 OPENING INTERMITTENTLY.
10012954
Date: 2005-02-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SEAT BELTS.
SAFETY BELT WEB STOP BUTTON SERVICE. *EH
Notes on this record
Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.