2008 Lincoln Town Car Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2008 Lincoln Town Car, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes516.7%
- Driver assistance516.7%
- Electrical310.0%
- Steering310.0%
- Powertrain (other)26.7%
- Engine26.7%
- Fuel system26.7%
- Body & structure26.7%
- Visibility13.3%
- Interior & seats13.3%
- Other / unspecified13.3%
- Suspension13.3%
- Tires & wheels13.3%
- Airbags13.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL A COUPLE OF TIMES AND REGAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000. UPDATED 10/26/17*LJ *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE APPROACHING TRAFFIC IN A LANE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND WAS SLOW TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT APPLIED FORCE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR WHIPLASH THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE16003 (SERVICE BRAKES, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED PER THE CONTACT'S REQUEST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO SPECIFIC REMEDY FOR THE CONDITION. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL A COUPLE OF TIMES AND REGAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000. UPDATED 10/26/17*LJ *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK TO STOP THE ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AND CRASHED THROUGH A BARRIER. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED DURING THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR INDEPENDENTLY LOCKED AND UNLOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,800.
THIS VEHICLE HAS SUDDENLY VIOLENTLY ACCELERATED ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS DURING THE LAST ELEVEN MONTHS. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER TAPPING THE BRAKE PEDAL AT A VERY SLOW SPEED AND RESULTED IN THE CAR CRASHING INTO A BARRIER AT A FILLING STATION IN UPSTATE NEW YORK. SUBSEQUENT EPISODES WERE HALTED BY TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE CAR WITH THE SERVICE BRAKES. THERE SEEMS TO BE FEW COMMON THREADS AMONG THE INCIDENTS. THERE ARE NO WARNING INDICATORS BEFORE OR AFTER THE SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION EVENTS. NO HISTORY CODES WERE EVER RECORDED IN THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE. THE INCIDENTS ALWAYS OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT A SLOW SPEED SOMETIMES WHEN TAPPING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND OTHER TIMES WHILE PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. NO FLOOR MATS WERE INVOLVED IN ANY OF THE INCIDENTS AND THE DRIVER DEFINITELY DID NOT DEPRESS THE WRONG PEDAL OR BOTH PEDALS AT THE SAME TIME.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SWAYED TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT REGAINED CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED NOR DIAGNOSED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V385000 (STEERING) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 157,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 63,478.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS SLOWLY BACKING OUT OF MY SHORT DRIVEWAY MY FOOT ONLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN SUDDENLY CAR ACCELERATES AND HIT PARKED CAR ACROSS AT RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. TWO WEEKS BEFORE THIS I WAS DRIVING ON ROAD ABOUT 15 MPH AND SAW CAR AHEAD OF ME HAD STOPPED I PUT FOOT ON BRAKE STARTED SLOWING WHEN CAR ACCELERATED HARD TAPPED BRAKE AND CAR STOPPED. I DIDN'T PRESS THROTTLE.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE DRIVER PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. SHE EXTENDED HER LEGS OUT OF THE DOOR AND PREPARED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WHEN IT SUDDENLY ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO THE STREET. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED LEG INJURIES. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS DAMAGED. THE POLICE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 17,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS VEHICLE HAS SUDDENLY VIOLENTLY ACCELERATED ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS DURING THE LAST ELEVEN MONTHS. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER TAPPING THE BRAKE PEDAL AT A VERY SLOW SPEED AND RESULTED IN THE CAR CRASHING INTO A BARRIER AT A FILLING STATION IN UPSTATE NEW YORK. SUBSEQUENT EPISODES WERE HALTED BY TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE CAR WITH THE SERVICE BRAKES. THERE SEEMS TO BE FEW COMMON THREADS AMONG THE INCIDENTS. THERE ARE NO WARNING INDICATORS BEFORE OR AFTER THE SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION EVENTS. NO HISTORY CODES WERE EVER RECORDED IN THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE. THE INCIDENTS ALWAYS OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT A SLOW SPEED SOMETIMES WHEN TAPPING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND OTHER TIMES WHILE PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. NO FLOOR MATS WERE INVOLVED IN ANY OF THE INCIDENTS AND THE DRIVER DEFINITELY DID NOT DEPRESS THE WRONG PEDAL OR BOTH PEDALS AT THE SAME TIME.
2008 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS AND PARTS ON CAR BECAUSE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. *TA THE CONSUMER STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, A MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE ISSUE WAS RELATED TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER . ALSO, THE FUEL TANK HAD TO REPLACED. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS VEHICLE HAS SUDDENLY VIOLENTLY ACCELERATED ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS DURING THE LAST ELEVEN MONTHS. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER TAPPING THE BRAKE PEDAL AT A VERY SLOW SPEED AND RESULTED IN THE CAR CRASHING INTO A BARRIER AT A FILLING STATION IN UPSTATE NEW YORK. SUBSEQUENT EPISODES WERE HALTED BY TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE CAR WITH THE SERVICE BRAKES. THERE SEEMS TO BE FEW COMMON THREADS AMONG THE INCIDENTS. THERE ARE NO WARNING INDICATORS BEFORE OR AFTER THE SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION EVENTS. NO HISTORY CODES WERE EVER RECORDED IN THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE. THE INCIDENTS ALWAYS OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT A SLOW SPEED SOMETIMES WHEN TAPPING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND OTHER TIMES WHILE PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. NO FLOOR MATS WERE INVOLVED IN ANY OF THE INCIDENTS AND THE DRIVER DEFINITELY DID NOT DEPRESS THE WRONG PEDAL OR BOTH PEDALS AT THE SAME TIME.
2008 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS AND PARTS ON CAR BECAUSE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. *TA THE CONSUMER STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, A MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE ISSUE WAS RELATED TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER . ALSO, THE FUEL TANK HAD TO REPLACED. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
2008 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FACTORY'S NON-REMOVAL OF PLASTIC SHEETING (USED TO PREVENT DUST IN FAN COMPARTMENT) SHREDDED/BLOCKED DEFROSTER VENTS, FAN, BLEND DOOR, AND HEATER CAUSING NOISES AND SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. *SMD *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR INDEPENDENTLY LOCKED AND UNLOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,800.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
2008 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FACTORY'S NON-REMOVAL OF PLASTIC SHEETING (USED TO PREVENT DUST IN FAN COMPARTMENT) SHREDDED/BLOCKED DEFROSTER VENTS, FAN, BLEND DOOR, AND HEATER CAUSING NOISES AND SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. *SMD *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR INDEPENDENTLY LOCKED AND UNLOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,800.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK AIR SUSPENSION AND TIRE FAULT WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS AND ALL FOUR TIRE SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 486,713.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK AIR SUSPENSION AND TIRE FAULT WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS AND ALL FOUR TIRE SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 486,713.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
IN 2008, I PURCHASED A NEW LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE TIRES ON THE CAR ARE MICHELIN ENERGY LX4 XSE RADIALS. THE DOT NUMBER IS M3XHDEH3X0208. TREAD WEAR IS SHOWN AS 500. TIRE SIZE IS P225/60R17. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT ALL 4 TIRES SHOW SIDEWALL CRACKING. THE CAR HAS 23,000 MILES ON IT. TREAD WEAR LOOKS TO BE ABOUT HALF OF NEW. THE SIDEWALL CRACKING IS EXTENSIVE, AND I BELIEVE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY IN WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA, WHERE I LIVE, BECAUSE OF THE HIGH AMBIENT DAYTIME TEMPERATURES. I HAVE GOOGLED THE TIRE 'MICHELIN ENERGY LX4' AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY CONSUMER SAME MODEL MICHELIN TIRE COMPLAINTS FOR SIDE WALL CRACKING. DEALERS REPRESENTING THE MICHELIN BRAND, UPON INSPECTING THE PROBLEMATIC TIRES HAVE DETERMINED THE PROBLEM DUE TO 'TIRE ROT.' I BELIEVE WHOLEHEARTEDLY THAT THIS ISSUE DEMANDS IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION, BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED, DUE TO A SIDEWALL BLOWOUT. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK AIR SUSPENSION AND TIRE FAULT WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS AND ALL FOUR TIRE SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 486,713.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .