If you plan on buying a used luxury car, the Lincoln Town Car is a great choice. It’s an impressive sedan with high aesthetic value because of its upscale and vintage style. The Lincoln Town Car was the Ford group’s longest-running nameplate, running from 1981 to 2011. It takes its name from a limousine body style. Before this, the Town Car name was first used on the Lincoln Continental until 1980.
The Town Car’s most recent redesign has kept its old-school look, making it popular amongst Lincoln enthusiasts. It also holds value very well compared with other luxury sedans. The 2011 model has an estimated five-year depreciation rate of 8%, according to AutoPadre.com.
Are Lincoln Town Cars Reliable?
The Lincoln Town Car is considered reliable. It has received good reliability ratings from RepairPal, scoring 4.0 out of 5.0 and ranking 2nd out of 30 cars in the same category. According to reports, the Town Car can easily last over 250,000 miles with little to no problems. Some owners have also shared that it can last over 400,000 up to 500,000 miles as long as its maintenance and service schedule is properly followed.
Top Lincoln Town Car Problems
The Lincoln Town Car is reliable, but it has its fair share of problems depending on the model year. Here are the most common issues you may encounter with your Lincoln Town Car:
Faulty Air Suspension Due to Air Leaks
One of the most reported issues with the 1990-2010 Lincoln Town Car is its faulty air suspension, which may cause the car to sag. According to reports, the air suspension leaks whenever the car is turned off. Starting the car can help temporarily fix the problem, but it may make the check air suspension light turn on. However, it may turn off once the car becomes level. These air suspension leaks must be resolved as soon as possible because they may damage your Town Car’s air suspension compressor. Some owners have reported that their air suspension would not reinflate because the compressor gave out. If you notice any air suspension problems, consult your mechanic immediately.
Coolant Leaks Due to Broken Intake Manifold
The 1993-2005 and 2007 Lincoln Town Car tends to develop coolant leaks because of intake manifold damage. Some owners have reported that coolant leaks usually start near the thermostat housing. These leaks may be accompanied by overheating, which may affect long-term engine health. According to reports, these leaks are 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 miles. A reinforced intake manifold was released by Ford to help resolve this problem. It’s best to replace it as soon as you notice any coolant leaks in your Town Car.
Frequently Blown Out Spark Plugs
One of the most troublesome 2004 Lincoln Town Car problems is its engine that frequently blows out spark plugs. Some owners have shared that they had to pull over and get their cars towed because of abnormal popping sounds coming from the engine. They have also reported that this issue may happen multiple times. Getting spark plugs blown out may also affect the spark plug hole, which may need extra work to properly fit 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 usual cost of repairs is around $350, which may vary based on the extent of work needed. If your Town Car often blows out spark plugs, you’re definitely not the only one.
Vehicle Control Issues
One of the most dangerous 2003 Lincoln Town Car problems is its vehicle control issues, which may cause the car to unexpectedly jerk or accelerate. Some owners have shared that instead of stopping, their Town Cars sped up when they stepped on the brakes. They have also shared how their brakes totally failed to stop the car, resulting in a crash. Some have also shared that their cruise control may heat up and malfunction. Sudden vehicle control loss can increase the risk of accidents. Multiple confirmed injuries and crashes are linked to this issue. According to reports, these vehicle control problems usually happen at around 54,400 miles. If you notice any signs of these issues with your Town Car, consult a mechanic immediately to avoid getting into accidents.
Poor Acceleration
The 1999 Lincoln Town Car’s acceleration problems can become very annoying. Some owners have reported that their cars wouldn’t speed up no matter how much they step on the gas pedal. According to reports, the car would hesitate and lose power. Some owners have shared that these acceleration issues may be linked to faulty components, such as the fuel filter, throttle position sensor, or catalytic converter. Some were able to resolve these problems by replacing their faulty components.
However, there are other complications that may reduce your Town Car’s acceleration. It may also be caused by other transmission, exhaust, and engine issues, which may be more complicated to resolve. Getting your car scanned using a scan tool may help determine the exact cause of your Town Car’s poor acceleration. However, It’s best to get your car checked by a mechanic, so you can get an accurate diagnosis.
A/C (Air Conditioning) Problems
1996 Lincoln Town Car A/ problems can become very severe, which may lead to total component failure. Some owners have shared that their A/Cs suddenly broke down and stopped working without any warnings. Others have reported abnormal smells coming from their A/C before failure. Multiple TSBs were released for the 1996 Lincoln Town Car’s A/C, including TSB #99195, #00213, #9735, and some others.
However, A/C failure may also be linked to a faulty A/C compressor clutch air gap, which may cause the A/C to intermittently shut down. Some owners have reported fixing their A/Cs by getting their A/C compressor clutch air gaps adjusted, costing them around $60. This is a common issue for the 1990-2010 Lincoln Town Car. If you’re having AC problems with your car, get your A/C compressor clutch air gap checked before spending on unnecessary repairs and part replacements.
The Lincoln Town Car is a good choice for a reliable luxury sedan, but you need to learn about the potential problems of the model year you’re interested in. Being aware of its common issues can help you easily manage them later as they happen. Just make sure you clear all important details with your seller before making any payments.
Other Facts About the Lincoln Town Car
The First generation was introduced because Lincoln wanted to combine the Continental and Continental Town Car models into one model.
The Lincoln Town Car model was originally sold as a four-door and two-door model. However, the two-door model was overshadowed by the Lincoln’s higher-end Continental model.
Lincoln thought the Town Car might need to be turned into a front-wheel drive vehicle because of volatile fuel prices at the time. Fortunately, fuel prices soon stabilized. Lincoln kept the model line throughout the 1980s without much change.
The Second Generation Town Car came after ten years with a complete redesign. It featured a more contemporary styling, a modern powertrain, plus safety and luxury features. These changes would make it the 1990 Motor Trend Car of the Year.
The Third Generation Town Car was released in 1998. It fully embraced the curvy design trends from the ’90s, abandoning the straight lines of the second generation. The iconic rectangular radiator grille was replaced with an oval one, and the front hood and rear trunk were sloping rather than perpendicular to the ground.
Get a Replacement Lincoln Town Car Air Suspension Compressor
If your Lincoln Town Car’s air suspension compressor stops working, replace it immediately and refrain from driving your car. Avoid creating additional issues with the air suspension that will add to the repair costs. Luckily, you can order a replacement Lincoln Town Car air suspension compressor at CarParts.com, and we will deliver it straight to your doorstep.
Here at CarParts.com, we make it easy for you to find a Lincoln Town Car air suspension compressor that fits your specific application. Plug your vehicle’s year, make, model, and engine into our website’s built-in vehicle selector to see products that meet your budget and requirements. Then, you only have to tap your phone’s screen to place your order. You can also get it in as little as two business days if you live in the continental US and order before 12 p.m. ET.
For a competitively priced, high-grade air suspension compressor for your Lincoln Town Car, look no further than CarParts.com. Order a Lincoln Town Car air suspension compressor today!
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If you have a 90s model then car definitely get your recalls done. Mine caught fire while parked in the driveway. Total loss.
I have 2006 and the mpg is very high & warning oil change is needed while the oil is new!!!
I’ve owned many Ford’s of all flavors, the most annoying thing about them 1998 thru 2005, F150’s and Lincoln’s, 4.9 & 5.4 Ltr. Is consistently blowing out spark plugs. It is obviously a production problem due to the shallow threads on the cylinder heads.Yet Ford never had the balls to admit it was their problem, repairs always cost between $450 and $800 depending on what number plug it was, that and the tailgate plastic cracking on the 2000-2005 SUV’s. For as much as those vehicles cost, Ford should have been responsible for repairs. But because of those issues and some other minor issues that were always expensive to repair, I haven’t bought any Ford products since 2017. Always bought a new F150 or Lincoln SUV on alternating years, but no more, just because of Fords refusal to make repairs, not including recalls. Guess Ford doesn’t need my 30/40 thousand dollars every few years, too bad, really liked the Lincolns, been a customer since the 1970s.
Sad comment.I have been driving a fine 1997 Town car for 20 years and no problems beyond replacing that doofus air suspension on the rear.198,000 miles so far.Blown plugs due to shallow threads sounds like the heads are made in a trade school.An old mechanic I knew would say,”Junk it while it’s running and save the tow bill”RIP Clarence LeMaster.
Ford’s engineering has fallen flat on its rear end if they can’t do any better than what I have read here and I replaced the air suspension with a kit that solved the problem.Blown out spark plugs can NOT be excused.Buy a dtill/tap thread chart and see why this happens.
I am an 88 year old retired machinist and tool maker with no tolerance for this level of botched work.My 1997 Town Car has been my daily driver for 20 years and everything still works except the 2 owners,me and my wife.There is an old idea called QUALITY CONTROL and maybe it can be taught in engineering schools……………AGAIN!