Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
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Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Lincoln Town Car submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 27 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.
The 25 most recent of 27, in the owner's own words
I have had to replace wheel bearing and axle every few months because of premature wear and causing driving to be a safety concern. Once it wears thin, the car shakes and wobbles and the tire almost snapped off twice.
Been trying for about a year to get this safety recall called 4 local ford dealer ships first one said my cars to old they won’t fix the safety recall other don’t give call back I can hear like vibrating in the back where this recall would fix it hopfully it don’t break on me
THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED LESS THAN 2 YEARS AGO AND IS ALREADY BAD AGAIN. THIS SPECIFIC MAKE AND MODEL AND YEAR OF CAR HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THE BEARING ISSUES THAT THIS CAR HAS, AND THIS CAR WAS PRODUCED IN THE EXACT PLANT THAT THE RECALL INVOLVES. HOWEVER, THE RECALL MANUFACTURE DATE ENDS ON DECEMBER 31, 2002 AND THIS CAR'S MANUFACTURE DATE IS FEBRUARY 2003. THE CAR HAS THE BAD PARTS THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
THE CAR DOESNT GO ON GEAR. ENGINE STARTS BUT WONT GO ON ANY GEAR. EITHER AXLE SHAFT OR BEARING PROBLEM
ASSISTING A FRIEND WITH THIS. THE LEFT REAR AXLE HAS BROKEN AND DAMAGED THE BRAKES AND ABS SENSOR. HE HAD DRIVEN THE VEHICLE TO WORK AND PARKED IT. AFTER HIS SHIFT ENDED, HE STARTED THE VEHICLE, SHIFTED INTO GEAR AND FOUND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE & WAS MAKING NOISE. HE HAD IT TOWED TO HIS HOUSE AND ASKED ME TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE. AFTER RAISING THE REAR AXLE, I WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT THE LEFT REAR AXLE BEARING HAD WORN THROUGH THE AXLE AND IT BROKE. WHEN I CHECKED THE NHTSA WEBSITE, IT SHOWED IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE REAR AXLE SAFETY RECALL, ALTHOUGH THE CONDITIONS ARE SIMILAR TO WHAT WAS LISTED.
LOOKING THROUGH THE LIST OF COMPLAINTS THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO MANY TIMES TO BE IGNORED. I COUNTED 38 TIMES BY PAGE 15, NOT EVEN HALF WAY THROUGH THE LIST. I HAVE A 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR AND IS BEEN HAVING SOME ISSUES WITH THE DRIVER SIDE AXLE AND BEARINGS, I AM GETTING READY TO REPLACE THE SHAFT, BEARING AND SEAL FOR THE THIRD TIME IN A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS. LIKE SOME OTHER CUSTOMERS I FOUND THAT MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED ON THE RECALL, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THAT PROBLEM IS A LOT MORE FREQUENT THAN IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE. THIS IS A PROBLEM AND ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED IT UNDER THE "SUSPENSION" CATEGORY.
I HAVE A 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR AND IS BEEN HAVING SOME ISSUES WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AXEL, I AM GETTING READY TO REPLACE THE SHAFT, BEARING AND SEAL FOR THE THIRD TIME IN A PERIOD OF MAYBE FOUR YEARS, I'M SORRY, BUT DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHEN IT WAS, BUT LAST TIME WAS LEST THAN 16 MONTHS AGO, ON THE LAST TWO THERE WAS OIL LEAKING ALL AROUND THE WHEEL, THIS TIME THERE IS STILL NO OIL LEAK BUT IS MAKING THAT KIND OF HUMMING NOISE, AND WHEN LIFTED THE CAR YOU CAN MOVE THE WHEEL UP AND DOWN, NOW I'M JUST WAITING FOR THE PARTS TO DO THE JOB AGAIN. LIKE SOME OTHER CUSTOMERS I FOUND THAT MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED ON THE RECALL, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THAT PROBLEM IS A LOT MORE FREQUENT THAN IS SUPPOSE TO, AND I HAS FOUND THAT SOME PEOPLE HAD REPORTED IT UNDER THE "SUSPENSION" CATEGORY. THANKS GOD! NOTHING HAD HAPPEN, BECAUSE I GOT IT ON TIME, BUT IT WON'T TAKE ME BY SURPRISE THAT SOME ONE OUT THERE WASN'T SO LUCKY. LIKE I SAID BEFORE I FOUND THE PROBLEM WHEN WALKING AROUND THE CAR WITH THE EXEMPTION OF THIS TIME THAT I HEARD THE NOISE WHEN DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY.
I HAVE A 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR THAT I BOUGHT IN 2005, WHICH WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. OVER THE YEARS, I'VE HAD TO PAY FOR REPLACING THE REAR AXLES AND AXLE BEARINGS THAT WENT BAD. I SAW ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE YESTERDAY THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM THAT RESULTED IN A RECALL OF THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON THIS PROBLEM, AND HAVE PAID OUT-OF-POCKET FOR THESE REPAIRS TWICE, NOT KNOWING THAT THERE WAS EVER A RECALL. NOW, ALL FORD WILL TELL ME THAT THERE IS NOT CURRENTLY A RECALL ON MY CAR, IGNORING THAT I SHOULD HAVE BEEN SENT A RECALL NOTICE. I BELIEVE THAT FORD SHOULD REPLACE THE REAR AXLES AND BEARINGS, WHICH ARE ONCE AGAIN NEEDING REPLACED. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT FORD SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR THE TWO TIMES ALREADY THAT I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THE AXLES AND BEARINGS REPLACED. THE VIN OF THE CAR IS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AXLE/BEARING WAS WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
WHEEL BEARINGS AND AXLES AND DIFFERENTIAL BEARINGS MAKING A LOUD NOISE AT 30-35 MPH TOLD BEARINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
I TOOK MY 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I HEARD A NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. I WAS TOLD THAT THE REAR AXEL SEAL WAS BLOWN OUT AND THE AXEL ASSEMBLY WAS DAMAGED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES WERE RUINED BY THE AXEL FLUID THAT LEAKED OUT. I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE REAR AXEL PROBLEM IN 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CARS FOR FLEET CARS ONLY. I CALLED THE FORD SERVICE CENTER AND ASKED THEM FOR HELP WITH MY EXPENSIVE REPAIR BILL. THEY SAID NO. IN ADDITION TO A VERY LARGE REPAIR BILL, MY CAR WAS UNSAFE DUE TO THE CONDITION OF THE AXEL YET I WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE SITUATION BECAUSE I DON'T OWN A FLEET CAR. *TR
HAD A PREMATURE AXLE FAILURE ON MY 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR, ONLY 110K MILES. SAME YEAR, MODEL, BODY CODE, ASSEMBLY PLANT & PROBLEM AS ADDRESSED IN THE RECALL FOR THIS CAR, BUT WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT IT WAS NOT THERE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WAS BUILT A FEW MONTHS OUTSIDE OF THE DATE RANGE GIVEN IN THE RECALL. A LITTLE INTERNET RESEARCH WILL SHOW YOU THAT THERE ARE MANY OF US OUT HERE THAT HAVE RECEIVED NO REMEDY FROM FORD TO CORRECT THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY PROBLEM. ALSO WHILE DOING RESEARCH ON THIS CAR I DISCOVERED THAT MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE THAT BROKE A FEW MONTHS AGO CREATING ANOTHER POTENTIALLY DEADLY SITUATION HAS ALSO BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED AND IGNORED BY FORD & THE NHTSA. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR, SOMEONE TO BE TRAPPED & DIE BECAUSE OF A BROKEN PIECE OF PLASTIC. *TR
VERY NOISY REAR AXLE BEARINGS, FORD HAS A SAFETY RECALL IF THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN SOLD AS A FLEET VEHICLE,SAFETY #04S16,THEY WOULD REPAIR IT FREE OF CHARGE AS A SAFETY ISSUE, I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 12-20-06 IN FL.IT HAD 52,343 MI. AT THAT TIME., THOUGHT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE TYPE OF ROAD SURFACE IN FL. AND THE SALESMAN SAID IT WAS THE ROAD ALSO, BROUGHT IT TO INDIANA AND IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE, IT NOW HAS OF THIS DATE 11-16-2010, 59,335 MILES, THIS VEHICLE SITS IN THE GARAGE BECAUSE I FELL IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IT WAS TITLED IN MICH. AND ORIGINAL PURCHASER HAD A HOME IN FL. AND I BELIEVE THEY MADE TRIPS TO AND FROM THERE WITH VEHICLE OVERLOADED. FORD HAS THE RECALL FOR ANYONE THAT HAD A FLEET VEHICLE BUT NO ONE THAT HAS A PERSONAL VEHICLE, DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT TO FORD THAT A PERSONAL VEHICLE WOULD HAVE THIS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE HAD TWO OTHER TOWNCARS AND HAD NO ISSUES LIKE THIS. GUESS I SHOULD NEVER HAVE PURCHASED THE THIRD ONE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, SHE HEARD A NOISE UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TWO REAR AXLES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 84687.
2003 TOWN CAR ON AUG. 3, 2009 THE CAR LOST DRIVE FUNCTION ON INTERSTATE. THE REPAIR WAS A NEW DRIVE AXLE FROM THE FORD DEALER. ON AUG. 8, THE SAME THING HAPPEN AGAIN WE LOST DRIVE FUNCTION AND THE REAR AXLE IS BROKEN. I SPOKE TO THE DEALER ABOUT THE FORD RECALL NO. 04S16 OR 04V328000 AND HE EXPLAINED THAT THE VIN NO. DID NOT APPLY. *TR
NOISY REAR END ON MY LINCOLN TOWNCAR (2003). THERE WAS A RECALL BY THE MANUFACTURER TO REPLACE REAR AXELS & BEARINGS ON 2003 TOWNCARS WITH CERTAIN VIN #S (RECALL # 04V328000) MY CAR HAD EXACTLY THE SAME FAILURE AS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL AND I FEEL THAT THE COMPANY SHOULD PAY OR THE REPAIR. I ONLY HAVE 39,840 MILES PON THE CAR. THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED BY THE DEALER AND I HAD TO PAY A PORTION OF THE CHARGE. I FEEL THE REPAIR WORK SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE NC UNDER THE RECALL, WHETHER THE VIN WAS ON IT OR NOT, THE FAILURE IS THE SAME. *TR
HAD POPPING NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF CAR.HAD IT TO THE DEALER THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT HEAR THE NOISE.1/28/08 DRIVING AND HEARD LOUD KNOCKING AND THEN LOTS OF NOISE. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER SAID REAR WHEEL SEALS BEARINGS HAD FAILED. SAME PROBLEM THAT WAS RECALLED ON OTHER 2003 LINCOLNS. NOT RECALLED ON MINE. COSTS 1053.00 TO FIX. *CN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND HEARD A ROARING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS, WHEELS, AND AXLE SHAFTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS GIVEN A COPY OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V328000 (SUSPENSION:REAR), WHICH HE TOOK TO THE FORD DEALER, BUT WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,700 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,600.
SEVERE NOISE IN REAR AXLE ON 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR . TOOK VEHICLE TO SELLING DEALER TO FIX IT, WHO CHARGED HIM $707.63 INCLUDING TAXES TO FIX IT BY REPLACING REAR AXLES AND BEARINGS WITH KIT 3W1Z*4A109*AA. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE PART OF NHTSA RECALL 04V328000 DATED JUL 6, 2004. FORD RECALL NUMBER 04S16. HOWEVER FORD DENIED WHEN I CALLED THEM AT 800-392-3673 SAYING THE CAR WAS NOT A FLEET SALE AND WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVE REPAIR RECEIPT. *AK
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE REAR AXLES AND BEARING WERE DEFECTIVE, AND THE PARTS WERE REPLACED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 04V328000, REGARDING THE REAR SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.*AKI
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE IN THE RIGHT REAR END OF THE PASSENGER SIDE. THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGNALS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP WHO DETERMINED THAT THE AXLE AND AXLE BEARING HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. UPDATED 12/01/06. 8JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE IN THE REAR END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THE REAR AXLES, BEARINGS AND SAFETY PINS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR KIT WAS ORDERED FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND THE KIT WAS INSTALLED.*AK
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE COASTED TO A STOP AT A TOLL BOOTH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE REAR BEARING FAILED. THE PROBLEM LED TO AN AXLE SHAFT FRACTURE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE DRIVE FUNCTION. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 04V328000, REGARDING THE SUSPENSION: REAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. *AK
1) I NOTICED A SLIGHT VIBRATION AND NOISE. 2) TOOK CAR TO A FORD DEALER WHO IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS A PINION BEARING, BUT THEY COULDN'T GET TO A REPAIR IMMEDIATELY. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE CLOSEST AAA APPROVED GARAGE. 3) BOTH AXLE SHAFTS AND ALL AXLE BEARINGS HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *NM
GRINDING NOISE IN REAR AXLE. *NM
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.
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