1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 307 complaints · 8 recalls
Most-reported system: ENGINE (85 complaints · 27.7%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 10
  • Fires 6
  • Injuries 8
  • Deaths 0
Compare with 1996 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

Component Problem Distribution ENGINE appears in 85 of 307 owner complaints (27.7%) in this vehicle snapshot. ENGINE: 85 complaints, 27.7% of reports ENGINE 85 · 27.7% · 1 fire reports SUSPENSION: 43 complaints, 14.0% of reports SUSPENSION 43 · 14.0% · 2 crash reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: 38 complaints, 12.4% of reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 38 · 12.4% · 2 crash reports 3 fire reports SERVICE BRAKES: 37 complaints, 12.1% of reports SERVICE BRAKES 37 · 12.1% STEERING: 16 complaints, 5.2% of reports STEERING 16 · 5.2% · 1 crash reports EXTERIOR LIGHTING: 15 complaints, 4.9% of reports EXTERIOR LIGHTING 15 · 4.9% FUEL SYSTEM: 14 complaints, 4.6% of reports FUEL SYSTEM 14 · 4.6% VISIBILITY: 12 complaints, 3.9% of reports VISIBILITY 12 · 3.9% ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 11 complaints, 3.6% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11 · 3.6% · 2 fire reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 215 complaints, 70.0% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 215 · 70.0% · 5 crash reports 3 fire reports 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
ENGINE 85 27.7% 0 crashes · 1 fires
SUSPENSION 43 14.0% 2 crashes · 0 fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 38 12.4% 2 crashes · 3 fires
SERVICE BRAKES 37 12.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
STEERING 16 5.2% 1 crashes · 0 fires
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 15 4.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
FUEL SYSTEM 14 4.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
VISIBILITY 12 3.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11 3.6% 0 crashes · 2 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 215 70.0% 5 crashes · 3 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

Problem & Recall Timeline Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Oct 1996; the first recall shown was reported in Nov 1996. 1996-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 1997-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 1997-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 1997-Q4: 9 owner reports 9 1998-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 1998-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 1998-Q3: 9 owner reports 9 1998-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 1999-Q1: 15 owner reports 15 1999-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 1999-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 1999-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2000-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2000-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2000-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2000-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2001-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2001-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2001-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2001-Q4: 10 owner reports 10 2002-Q1: 8 owner reports 8 2002-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 2002-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2002-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2003-Q1: 8 owner reports 8 2003-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2003-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2003-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2004-Q1: 15 owner reports 15 2004-Q2: 10 owner reports 10 2004-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 2004-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2005-Q1: 9 owner reports 9 2005-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2005-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2005-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2006-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2006-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2006-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2007-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2007-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2007-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2007-Q4: 8 owner reports 8 2008-Q1: 20 owner reports 20 2008-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2008-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2008-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2009-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2009-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2010-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2010-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2011-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2011-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2011-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2012-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2014-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2014-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2015-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2019-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Oct 1996 Oct 2022 Recall campaign 96V231000 ◆ Recall campaign 96V231000 Recall campaign 98I001000 ◆ Recall campaign 98I001000 Recall campaign 98V322000 ◆ Recall campaign 98V322000 Recall campaign 00V157001 ◆ Recall campaign 00V157001 Recall campaign 00V157002 ◆ Recall campaign 00V157002 Recall campaign 01V318000 ◆ Recall campaign 01V318000 Recall campaign 07V336000 ◆ Recall campaign 07V336000 Recall campaign 15E082000 ◆ Recall campaign 15E082000 Investigation SQ01014 ● Investigation SQ01014 Investigation DP02007 ● Investigation DP02007 Investigation EA02025 ● Investigation EA02025 Investigation RQ03002 ● Investigation RQ03002 Investigation RQ03004 ● Investigation RQ03004 Investigation EA03012 ● Investigation EA03012 Investigation DP05005 ● Investigation DP05005
  • Campaign 98I001000 was reported 148 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 98V322000 was reported 604 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 00V157001 was reported 497 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 00V157002 was reported 497 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 01V318000 was reported 1,402 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
1996-Q4 Owner reports 1
1997-Q2 Owner reports 1
1997-Q3 Owner reports 3
1997-Q4 Owner reports 9
1998-Q1 Owner reports 3
1998-Q2 Owner reports 7
1998-Q3 Owner reports 9
1998-Q4 Owner reports 2
1999-Q1 Owner reports 15
1999-Q2 Owner reports 4
1999-Q3 Owner reports 5
1999-Q4 Owner reports 4
2000-Q1 Owner reports 7
2000-Q2 Owner reports 3
2000-Q3 Owner reports 2
2000-Q4 Owner reports 5
2001-Q1 Owner reports 5
2001-Q2 Owner reports 4
2001-Q3 Owner reports 5
2001-Q4 Owner reports 10
2002-Q1 Owner reports 8
2002-Q2 Owner reports 8
2002-Q3 Owner reports 8
2002-Q4 Owner reports 5
2003-Q1 Owner reports 8
2003-Q2 Owner reports 4
2003-Q3 Owner reports 5
2003-Q4 Owner reports 6
2004-Q1 Owner reports 15
2004-Q2 Owner reports 10
2004-Q3 Owner reports 10
2004-Q4 Owner reports 5
2005-Q1 Owner reports 9
2005-Q2 Owner reports 4
2005-Q3 Owner reports 7
2005-Q4 Owner reports 1
2006-Q1 Owner reports 4
2006-Q2 Owner reports 3
2006-Q3 Owner reports 3
2006-Q4 Owner reports 7
2007-Q1 Owner reports 2
2007-Q2 Owner reports 3
2007-Q3 Owner reports 5
2007-Q4 Owner reports 8
2008-Q1 Owner reports 20
2008-Q2 Owner reports 3
2008-Q3 Owner reports 1
2008-Q4 Owner reports 2
2009-Q1 Owner reports 1
2009-Q2 Owner reports 1
2010-Q2 Owner reports 2
2010-Q3 Owner reports 4
2010-Q4 Owner reports 1
2011-Q1 Owner reports 1
2011-Q3 Owner reports 1
2011-Q4 Owner reports 2
2012-Q1 Owner reports 1
2013-Q4 Owner reports 2
2014-Q1 Owner reports 2
2014-Q2 Owner reports 1
2014-Q3 Owner reports 1
2015-Q1 Owner reports 2
2015-Q3 Owner reports 1
2015-Q4 Owner reports 1
2016-Q2 Owner reports 2
2019-Q2 Owner reports 1
2022-Q3 Owner reports 1
2022-Q4 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 96V231000
Recall campaign 1 98I001000
Recall campaign 1 98V322000
Recall campaign 1 00V157001
Recall campaign 1 00V157002
Recall campaign 1 01V318000
Recall campaign 1 07V336000
Recall campaign 1 15E082000
Defect investigation 1 SQ01014
Defect investigation 1 DP02007
Defect investigation 1 EA02025
Defect investigation 1 RQ03002
Defect investigation 1 RQ03004
Defect investigation 1 EA03012
Defect investigation 1 DP05005
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (8)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 00V157001

    Report date
    Component:
    SEAT BELTS
    Consequence:
    IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THESE SEAT BELTS MAY NOT RESTRAIN AN OCCUPANT INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES AND REPLACE THE SERVICE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES THAT WERE INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES FROM JANUARY 1 THROUGH JUNE 13, 2000.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 00V157002

    Report date
    Component:
    SEAT BELTS
    Consequence:
    IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THESE SEAT BELTS MAY NOT RESTRAIN AN OCCUPANT INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES AND REPLACE THE SERVICE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES THAT WERE INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES FROM JANUARY 1 THROUGH JUNE 13, 2000.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 01V318000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MAY NOT PROPERLY DEPLOY WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN LESS THAN THE INTENDED LEVEL OF OCCUPANT PROTECTION.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 5, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 07V336000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 15E082000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    If the shafts separate during vehicle operation, a loss of steering control would result, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
    Remedy:
    Dorman will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering shaft, free of charge. The recall began on October 28, 2015. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492, option 5.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 96V231000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL COLLISION, THE AIR BAG MODULE WOULD STAY IN POSITION DURING DEPLOYMENT. HOWEVER, THE MODULE COULD LEAVE THE STEERING WHEEL CAVITY FOLLOWING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES AND INSTALL ANY BOLTS THAT ARE MISSING.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  7. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 98I001000

    Report date
    Component:
    SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
    Consequence:
    THIS COULD LEAD TO BRAKE FLUID LOSS FOR THE REAR BRAKES AND, POTENTIALLY, INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE LINES FOR WEAR, INSTALL TWO NEW TUBE BUNDLE CLIPS, AND CHECK THE BRAKE LINES FOR PROPER CLEARANCES. IF THE BRAKE LINES ARE WORN, THE DAMAGED SECTION OF THE BRAKE LINE WILL BE REPLACED.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  8. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 98V322000

    Report date
    Component:
    SUSPENSION
    Consequence:
    IF THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, REDUCED STEERING CONTROL COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS (2).
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-21
Safety incident filters
Showing 0 of 307 complaints · page 1 of 13

No complaints match the current filters.
EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources