2004 Lincoln Town Car Steering Problems

Bought a 2004 Linc Tow as a gift to my grandson. Drove it a couple of times and had no issues. After it had sat for about 2-3 weeks, I drove it to town to let it run after sitting. On my way home I was turning on to the road for home and the steering suddenly caught, I was in the middle of a turn and pulled steering wheel to straighten the car when it released. I almost hit the car next to me. I have an appointment on October 14th to have it checked out. I understand that this is a problem that has occurred often in other years and was fixed, so why not the 2004. This car only has 92,500 miles on it. I can't risk my grandson getting into an accident.

NHTSA ID

11692471

Incident

Sep 19, 2025

The steering is binding really bad. Noticed it yesterday while taking hubby to docs. Much worse today. Unable to pull into parking spaces, did not dare to try to pull up to pumps. Cornering was a challenge in either direction. We do not have any Ford garages in this area. Think this is a major issue that may go with Lincolns. had 2 other ones with similar issues. It is not too bad if rolling along, but almost impossible when going slow.

NHTSA ID

11440077

Incident

Nov 9, 2021

MY STEERING IS HARD TO TURN. VERY STIFF. BOUGHT IT USED AND I SEE THEY REPAIRED THE UPPER AND LOWER POWER STEERING SHAFT., ALL OTHER MODELS WERE BEING RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM. WHY NOT THIS YEAR? IT ONLY HAS 65,500 MILES

NHTSA ID

11319767

Incident

Mar 29, 2020

Mileage

65,500 mi

I HAVE ONLY 20,118 ORIGINAL MILES ON MY 2004 LINCOLN TOWN CAR ULTIMATE. THE STEERING COLUMN UNDER THE HOOD IS TERRIBLY RUSTED. THE CORROSION LOOKS SCARY. I WANTED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THEM TELL ME IF I NEEDED TO REPLACE IT! NOW, I WASN'T LOOKING FOR FORD TO PAY FOR ANYTHING BUT GET THIS - THEY WANT ME TO PAY THEM A $100 DIAGNOSTIC FEE JUST TO TELL ME IF I NEED TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN! THE 2005 TOWN CAR IS BEING RECALLED FOR THE SAME THING YET FORD IS PAYING FOR THIS. WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE. I SEE NOW WHY THEY WANT TO CHARGE FOR THIS INSPECTION BECAUSE THEY KNOW THESE CARS WELL AND ARE AWARE OF THE CORROSION ISSUE WITH THEIR STEERING COMPONENTS. NOW THE I LOOK AT THE TOE-IN TOE-OUT POSITION OF THE FRONT WHEELS ONE WHEEL IS POINTING STRAIGHT AHEAD AND THE OTHER IS TURNED SLIGHTLY AWAY FROM STRAIGHT. IT ISN'T CAUSING ANY PROBLEMS BUT I WANT THIS INSPECTED SO I CAN REPLACE THE PARTS IF NEEDED BUT I'LL BE DOUBLE-DAMNED IF I GIVE THE MORONS $100 JUST TO TELL ME IF I NEED TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT. THIS CAR LOOKS LIKE IT IS BRAND NEW ON THE OUTSIDE, THE INTERIOR'S LEATHER HAS NO CREASES...NO ONE HAS EVEN SAT IN THE REAR COMPARTMENT. IT HAS BEEN WELL CARED FOR TOO. THIS IS WHY I CANNOT BELIEVE THE STEERING COLUMN IS SO FREAKIN RUSTY - IT LOOKS DANGEROUS! I LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING FROM A CAR THAT'S BEEN SITTING IN A JUNK YARD ALL ITS LIFE. NOW I SEE WHY THE LINCOLN CONCIERGE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO HELP WHAT SO EVER. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS CORROSION ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11301254

Incident

Jan 22, 2020

Mileage

20,118 mi

WE WERE ENTERING INTERSTATE 75 IN FLORIDA ON A RAMP AND THE CAR BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO RETURN AND TAKE IT TO AN AUTOMOBILE SHOP, THEY TOLD US THE MULTIPLE U-JOINTS ON THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN WERE RUSTED TO WHERE THEY WOULD NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. WE HAVE A 2010 LINCOLN TOWN CAT THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT. THE 2004 LINCOLN TOWN CAR HAS THE SAME STEERING SO WHY WASN'T THERE A RECALL ON IT. WE ARE STILL DRIVING THE 2004, BUT IT WAS AFTER WE SPENT A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY ON HAVING IT REPAIRED SO IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. WE WROTE A YEAR AGO ABOUT THE 2004 LINCOLN TOWN CAR, BUT RECEIVED AN ANSWER....UPDATED 12/04/14 *BF

NHTSA ID

10661732

Incident

Feb 12, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT 10 MPH, THEY TRIED TO STEER OUT OF THE WAY OF AN ONCOMING VEHICLE THAT HAD VEERED OUT OF IT'S LANE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STEER AWAY, THE VEHICLE STEERED THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION INTO A DITCH. THE PROBLEM HAD RECURRED TWO TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

10619361

Incident

Dec 25, 2013

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE KNUCKLE WAS RUSTED AND THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 245,000.

NHTSA ID

10610681

Incident

Jun 11, 2014

Mileage

245,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH , THE POWER STEERING ASSIST SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,300.

NHTSA ID

10586123

Incident

Apr 11, 2014

Mileage

78,300 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH , THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED TWO STEERING COLUMN SHAFT ASSEMBLIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,847. UPDATED 06/27/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THIS VEHICLE'S MODEL AND MODEL YEAR WERE EXCLUDED FROM THE STEERING RECALL. UPDATED 07/2/2014 *JS

NHTSA ID

10585969

Incident

Mar 23, 2012

Mileage

37,847 mi

2010 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO STEERING LINKAGE SHAFT DUE TO CORROSION RECALL. CONSUMER STATES 2004 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WITH SAME ISSUE IS NOT UNDER RECALL. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD DIFFICULTY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL DUE TO CORROSION OF THE LINKAGE SHAFT BEING VERY CORRODED. THE COST OF THE REPAIR WAS $ 296.80. IT HAD RUSTED OUT AND MADE THE VEHICLE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10578710

Incident

Apr 1, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

NHTSA ID

10575381

Incident

Aug 1, 2013

Mileage

96,000 mi

STEERING STICKS AND VEHICLE BECOMES HARD TO TURN. WILL WORK NORMALLY THEN WILL STICK BECOMING ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THEN AS YOU TURN IT WILL STICK THEN RELEASE THEN STICK THEN RELEASE. SERPENTINE BELT IS IN NEW CONDITION. FILLED WITH POWER STEERING FLUID AND NOT LEAKING. BELT IS NOT SLIPPING ON PULLEY WHEN OCCURRING. I AM BRINGING TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR TODAY. MUSCATELLBURNS FORD HAWLEY MN 2184833356. *TR

NHTSA ID

10551747

Incident

Nov 4, 2013

Mileage

128,500 mi

MARCH OF 2013 WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY I NOTICE THE STEERING NOT RESPONDING PROPERLY, I DROVE CAREFULLY TO MY DESTINATION IN FLORIDA AND TOOK CAR TO DEALER WHO STATED IT WAS THE STEERING RACK WHICH I HAD THEM REPLACE, CAR WAS RETURNED AND WHILE IT STILL WAS A BIT HARD TO STEER I FIGURED IT WAS A NEW PART AND HAD TO BREAK IN, BACK HOME IN NEW YORK I CALLED THE DEALER IN FLORIDA WHO STATED THE PART WAS WARRENTIED FOR 12,000 MILES OR ONE YEAR AND I COULD TAKE IT TO ANY FORD DEALER AND IT WOULD BE HONORED, I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER WHERE THEY RAN A DIAGNOSIS AND STATED IT WAS A FROZEN STEERING SHAFT PROBLEM GETTING CAR BACK IT STILL WAS NOT STEERING PROPERLY, SO I WENT BACK YESTERDAY AND THEY HAD 2 SERVICE PEOPLE TEST DRIVE CAR, BOTH ACKNOWLEDGED THE CAR WONDERED AND STEERING DID NOT STRAIGHTENED OUT PROPERLY AFTER TURNING, STARTED TALKING ABOUT OTHER PARTS IT COULD BE, NOW WITH OVER TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS IN COST ALREADY I INSISTED IT THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS FINE AND A PLEASURE TO DRIVE BEFORE THE STEERING RACK WENT BAD THAT IT HAD TO BE THE RACK, THEY SEEMED UNCONCERNED AND STATED THAT IF THEY REPLACED THE RACK UNDER WARRANTY THAT WHEN THEY SENT THIS PART BACK TO FORD AND IF THEIR ENGINEER FOUND IT WAS NOT BAD THEY WOULD GET BILLED FOR THE NEW ONE, SO HERE WE ARE, A CAR THAT STEERS LIKE IT HAS NO POWER STEERING AND A DEALER WHO DON'T SEEM TO CARE, WHAT DO I DO NEXT EXCEPT WRITE TO YOU, *TR

NHTSA ID

10522192

Incident

Mar 26, 2013

Mileage

77,000 mi

2004 LINCOLN TOWN CAR, POWER STEERING FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING, DRIVER MAY LOSE CONTROL OF CAR, JUST LIKE DRIVING ON BLACK ICE. WHILE DRIVING MAKING A RIGHT HAND MERGE, STEERING GOT STUCK FOR A FEW SECONDS. AND WHEN DRIVER TRIED TO CORRECT THE CAR WAS GOING ONE WAY WHILE THE DRIVER WAS STEERING ANOTHER. DRIVER LOST CONTROL AND HIT THE WALL TOTALING THE CAR AND PUTTING 5 PEOPLE INTO THE ER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10283952

Incident

Sep 11, 2009

Mileage

100,000 mi