RoadVitals

1996 Lincoln Town Car Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
33
Latest Jan 26, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
13%
of 259 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Lincoln Town Car submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 33 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

The 25 most recent of 33, in the owner's own words

Driver assistance
Filed Jan 26, 2023

The contact owns a 1996 Lincoln Town Car. The contact stated while the vehicle was turned on and he was shifting the vehicle from park(P) to drive(D), with his foot on the brake pedal, the vehicle lunged forward at high speed. The contact stated that the acceleration was extreme. The contact observed smoke coming from the rear tires as the vehicle accelerated. The contact was able to safely stop the vehicle after approximately 50 feet but had to depress the brake pedal with force. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was not turned off but was shifted to park(P). The contact had tested and shifted the vehicle from park (P), drive (D), neutral (N) and reverse (R) and the vehicle reacted normally to each gear change. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000. The contact stated that the vehicle was sold to the mechanic who repaired it.

NHTSA ID
11503799
Incident
Jan 26, 2023
Mileage
140,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 20, 2020

AS PER RECALL CRUISE CONTROL NEITHRT STARTS OR WORKS ON HIGHWAY

NHTSA ID
11310265
Incident
Feb 14, 2020
Mileage
25 mi
Driver assistanceSeat belts
Filed Apr 29, 2016

1. DRIVERS SEAT BELT LATCH IS BROKEN INTERNALLY AND CANNOT BE USED. TO CIRCUMVENT THE BROKEN LATCH, THE FRONT CENTER PASSENGER SEAT BELT IS BEING USED. 2. FRONT RIGHT HAND PASSENGER SEAT BELT CAN NO LONGER BE LATCHED WITHOUT FIRST PUSHING THE RELEASE BUTTON. 3. CRUISE CONTROL AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGED WHILE DRIVING IN RESIDENTIAL AREA, CAUSING A RAPID ACCELERATION OF MY VEHICLE ABOVE THE SPEED LIMIT. SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES FORCEFULLY DISENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL. ONE TIME OCCURRENCE.

NHTSA ID
10862125
Incident
Jun 15, 2015
Mileage
211,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 18, 2014
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE BATTERY WIRES WERE BURNED AND BRAKE FLUID HAD SPILLED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SWITCH GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WIRE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10667073
Incident
Aug 16, 2014
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 11, 2014
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE REPAIRED AND WAS PARKED IN THE MECHANIC'S REPAIR SHOP WHEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE SPREAD QUICKLY AND DESTROYED THE REPAIR SHOP BUILDING AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHER BUSINESSES, RESULTING IN OVER 7 MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE. THE FIRE MARSHALL INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE PARKED VEHICLE BEING INSIDE THE BUILDING. THE FIRE OCCURRED PRIOR TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME DEFECT THAT WAS LISTED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 196,000. *TR

NHTSA ID
10568501
Incident
Aug 20, 2006
Mileage
196,000 mi
Driver assistanceOther / unspecified
Filed Jul 7, 2010
Fire reported1 injury reported

LINCOLN TOWN CAR WENT ON FIRE IN GARAGE FROM CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. TOTAL HOUSE FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10341886
Incident
Oct 12, 2009
Mileage
80,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed May 30, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2007 FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH WAS DISCONNECTED IN MARCH OF 2008. ONCE THE SWITCH WAS DISCONNECTED, HE BEGAN HEARING A BUZZING SOUND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BUZZING SOUND THAT THE BRAKES WERE MAKING. HE FILED COMPLAINT NUMBER 0377821518 WITH FORD. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,167 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.

NHTSA ID
10229334
Incident
Sep 5, 2007
Mileage
28,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed May 5, 2008

1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WITH RECALL ON SPEED CONTROL. CONSUMER STATES THAT THEY DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL BUT HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. HE WOULD LIKE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED WITH THE REPLACEMENT PART. *KB

NHTSA ID
10227311
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Driver assistance
Filed May 5, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL IN JULY OF 2007. THE VEHICLE HAS STILL NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300,000.

NHTSA ID
10226629
Incident
Jul 27, 2007
Mileage
300,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 29, 2008

1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR RECALL FOR SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. I HAVE A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER THAT STATES THAT THERE ARE PARTS AVAILABLE FOR THIS REPAIR BUT HAVE YET TO RECEIVE A CALL FROM THE DEALER, I'M TOLD I'M ON THE LIST.. HOW LONG SHOULD THIS TAKE? *TR

NHTSA ID
10226070
Incident
Sep 9, 2007
Mileage
64,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 9, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A FORD RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CRUISE CONTROL IN MARCH OF 2008. HE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR APRIL TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THE FORD PARTS WOULD BE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL THE MANUFACTURER SENT THE PARTS TO THE DEALER. THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH HAS NOT BEEN DISCONNECTED BECAUSE THE CONTACT WAS NOT GIVEN AN ESTIMATE AS TO WHEN THE PARTS ARE EXPECTED TO ARRIVE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE POWERTRAIN AND RECALL NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID
10223835
Incident
Mar 14, 2008
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 1, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CRUISE CONTROL AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT HAD TO DISCONNECT THE WIRING HARNESS FROM THE SWITCH, WHICH ENABLED HIS VEHICLE TO START. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTIONALITY. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,252 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ID
10223017
Incident
Mar 18, 2008
Mileage
98,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 6, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWNCAR. HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR HIS CRUISE CONTROL (RECALL 07V336000) IN SEPTEMBER AND HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATED AT THAT TIME. HE WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR WOULD BE DONE IN DECEMBER. THE FINAL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED IN MARCH 2008; HOWEVER, THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT FUNCTION. THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE HIM $80 TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 107,000. UPDATED 04/03/08. *LJ

NHTSA ID
10220276
Incident
Mar 5, 2008
Mileage
107,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 6, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT HAD HIS VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH DISCONNECTED ON 09/20/2007 BY ONE FORD DEALER, AND ON 03/06/2008 BY ANOTHER FORD DEALER. THE DEALER RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO HIM AND STATED THAT THEY MADE THE FINAL REPAIR. MEANWHILE, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE MECHANIC LOOSENED THE BRAKE LINE AND ALL OF THE FLUID CAME OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THEY REPAIRED THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL STILL DOES NOT WORK. THE DEALER WANTS A $85.00 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TO FIND OUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THE REPAIR WAS MADE TO THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, BUT DID NOT LAST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SOMETHING HAD TO BE WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL BEFORE THE REPAIR WAS MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 22,000. UPDATED 03-25-08 *BF UPDATED 03/25/08 *TR

NHTSA ID
10220274
Incident
Mar 6, 2007
Mileage
22,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 4, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND FORD RECALL NUMBER 05S28 IN AUGUST OF 2007. HE CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND THEY INITIALLY STATED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN MID-DECEMBER AND THEN LATER IN JANUARY OF 2008. THE CONTACT CALLED BACK AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC DATE. THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH WAS NOT DISCONNECTED. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID
10216845
Incident
Aug 30, 2007
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 23, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V366000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 03-19-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN OBTAINING THE FORM, HE WAS INFORMED FORD WAS SENDING OUT POSTCARDS TO INFORM OWNERS WHEN TO BRING THE VEHICLES IN FOR THE REPAIRS, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER STATED HAS NOT RECEIVED THE INFORMATION AS OF YET. UPDATED 03/19/08 *TR

NHTSA ID
10215783
Incident
Sep 1, 2007
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 17, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH WAS DISCONNECTED. THE CONTACT UNDERWENT A HIP REPLACEMENT AND CANNOT DRIVE WITHOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

NHTSA ID
10215231
Incident
Sep 27, 2007
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 16, 2008

I RECEIVED 2 RECALL NOTICES THIS PAST OCTOBER. THE RECALL WAS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEVICE REPLACED. ONE FOR MY 96 LINCOLN TOWNCAR AND THE OTHER FOR MY 2000 HOLIDAY RAMBLER (BOTH EQUIPPED WITH FORD MOTORS. I HAVE CONTACTED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER RE THE LINCOLN RIGHT AFTER RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE. WAS TOLD THAT FORD SHOULD BE SENDING THE REPLACEMENT SPEED CONTROL DEVICE BY DECEMBER. IT IS NOW THE 16TH OF JAN 2008 AND ALEXANDER FORD HAS NOT RECEIVED THE REPLACEMENT PART. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE DELAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10215183
Incident
Oct 20, 2007
Mileage
56,700 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 28, 2007

FORD MOTOR COMPANY NOTIFIED ME IN AUGUST 2007 THAT A DEFECT IN THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH WOULD BE REMOVED BY THE DEALER ON VEHICLES 1992-2004 AND THE SAME WOULD BE REPLACED NO LATER THAN THE 4TH QUARTER OF 2007. THE DEALER NOW STATES " WE HAVE NO IDEA WHEN WE WILL GET THE PARTS AND NEITHER DOES FORD". I CALLED FORD THIS DATE AND THE SAME STATEMENT WAS REPEATED. THE SWITCH WAS REMOVED AUGUST 4, 2007 BY THE DEALER (GREENS OF LEXINGTON, LINCOLN ) AND AS OF THIS DATE I STILL HAVE NO SPEED CONTROL AS STATED . *TR

NHTSA ID
10213050
Incident
Sep 4, 2007
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 26, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A FORD RECALL NOTICE FOR THE SPEED CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AND IMMEDIATELY SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL DECEMBER OF 2007. HE CALLED AGAIN AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN MARCH OF 2008. THE CONTACT HAD THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH DISCONNECTED. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID
10212719
Incident
Aug 27, 2007
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 17, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A FORD RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CRUISE CONTROL AND IMMEDIATELY SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN NOVEMBER OF 2007. HE HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH DEACTIVATED AND CALLED THE DEALER AGAIN IN DECEMBER OF 2007. AT THAT TIME, THEY STATED THAT THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL APRIL OF 2008. THE CONTACT HAS NOT FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE VIN AND RECALL NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

NHTSA ID
10212152
Incident
Oct 10, 2007
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 30, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2007 FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PART WOULD BE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL MARCH OF 2008. THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH HAS NOT YET BEEN DISCONNECTED. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07.

NHTSA ID
10210381
Incident
Nov 30, 2007
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 30, 2007
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SHOCKS WERE BEING REPLACED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED AND THE VEHICLE WAS READY. HOWEVER, THAT SAME EVENING HE INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS TOTALED. THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS NOTHING BUT DUST, AND THE REST HAS FIRE AND SMOKE DAMAGE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT A FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH CAUSED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT FILED A CIVIL LAW SUIT, AND DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A POLICE OR FIRE REPORT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000. *AK

NHTSA ID
10189242
Incident
Jan 13, 2006
Mileage
150,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 22, 2006
Fire reported

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES, AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE SPEED CONTROL WAS THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE DUE TO OVERHEAT EVEN THOUGH THE IGNITION WAS OFF. THERE WAS A RECALL #05V017000. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.*AK

NHTSA ID
10166263
Incident
Jun 30, 2006
Mileage
142,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 11, 2003

WHILE IN PARK THE SPEEDOMETER AND MILEAGE GO UP WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10022871

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .