NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 Lincoln Town Car Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2003 Lincoln Town Car has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 201 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Lincoln dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2003 Lincoln Town Car, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2003 Lincoln Town Car owner complaints

Owners have filed 201 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Lincoln Town Car, describing incidents dated October 1, 2002 to October 12, 2023.

Most-cited components

Suspension 81 complaints
Power Train 27 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control 18 complaints
Steering 16 complaints
Engine 14 complaints
Service Brakes 13 complaints

Of the 201 complaints on file, 14 report a crash; across all 201 complaints, owners report 6 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11585759 · Filed April 29, 2024
[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
ODI #11502756 · Filed January 20, 2023
The contact owns a 2003 Lincoln Town Car. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the vehicle experienced rough idling. Additionally, the headlights were flickering, and the alternator failed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the powertrain control module…
ODI #11475616 · Filed July 24, 2022
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.

Read all 201 complaints

Owner-reported

2003 Lincoln Town Car mileage at failure

159 of the 201 complaints on file for the 2003 Lincoln Town Car give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Component	Median	Middle half	Based on
Suspension	Median 70,000 miles	Middle half 50,000–100,000 miles	Based on 66 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2003 Lincoln Town Car in 4 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Defect Petition DP05-005: SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
Closed January 4, 2006
Engineering Analysis EA03-014: INADVERTENT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT
Closed August 12, 2004
Preliminary Evaluation PE04-010: REAR AXLE FRACTURE
Closed July 8, 2004
- Recall 04V-328
Preliminary Evaluation PE03-011: INADVERTENT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT
Closed August 22, 2003

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

FORD/REAR AXLE SHAFT FRACTURE

NHTSA #04V328000 · Suspension — Rear · NHTSA notice

Reported July 7, 2004 · FORD MOTOR COMPANY

Potentially affected: 47,314 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign 04S16 · Owners notified July 15, 2004 · Vehicles built November 14, 2001 – December 3, 2002 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

CERTAIN POLICE, COMMERCIAL, AND PASSENGER VEHICLES SOLD TO FLEETS TYPICALLY INPUT HIGHER LOADS INTO THE VEHICLE CHASSIS OVERLOADING THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND AXLES.

Safety consequence

THIS COULD LEAD TO EARLY BEARING FAILURE AND ULTIMATELY TO AXLE SHAFT FRACTURE. IN THE EVENT OF AXLE SHAFT FRACTURE, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE DRIVE FUNCTION AND WOULD COAST TO A STOP. LOSS OF DRIVE FUNCTION COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS, SEALS,AND AXLE SHAFTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 15, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Notes

FORD RECALL NO. 04S16. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT ( 1-888-327-4236).

2003 Lincoln Town Car 4-DR. w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 5, Passenger: 5

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 5, Passenger: 5

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

4 investigations

201 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Lincoln Town Car.

Suspension

ODI #11585759

Incident: October 12, 2023 · Filed: April 29, 2024

[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Electrical System; Engine

ODI #11502756

Incident: January 1, 2023 · Filed: January 20, 2023

The contact owns a 2003 Lincoln Town Car. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the vehicle experienced rough idling. Additionally, the headlights were flickering, and the alternator failed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the powertrain control module (PCM) was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 140,000.

Power Train; Wheels

ODI #11475616

Incident: July 19, 2022 · Filed: July 24, 2022

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.

Suspension

ODI #11471316

Incident: June 3, 2022 · Filed: June 28, 2022

The contact owns a 2003 Lincoln Town Car. The contact stated while his son was driving on the highway, the accelerator pedal was slightly released; however, the vehicle stopped instantly. There was no warning light illuminated. The driver was able to drive to his destination safely. The vehicle was towed to the contact's workplace. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The tow truck operator stated that the rear axle was fractured. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 155,000.

Steering; Suspension; Service Brakes

ODI #11466895

Incident: May 20, 2022 · Filed: June 1, 2022

The rear-end failed does not have tempered axle There was a recall on 2003 lincolns with same problem but when I enter vin It does not pull anything up Lost control of car and had to be towed home have not had it to the dealer yet

Power Train

ODI #11465634

Incident: May 12, 2021 · Filed: May 22, 2022

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

Steering; Suspension; Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #11463703

Incident: May 3, 2022 · Filed: May 7, 2022

Rear end started a sudden howell and shaking and grinding and the Abs and traction control light came on and brakes and suspension did not want to function properly while driving in traffic as quick as I could I pulled over and it looked like one tire was sticking out of the axel way far So I just pulled over and called for my AAA to to and got towed home thats it

Suspension

ODI #11443996

Incident: December 16, 2021 · Filed: December 16, 2021

The contact owns a 2003 Lincoln Town Car. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V328000 (Suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, vibration sounds were heard coming from the rear of the vehicle. The local dealer, All American Ford of Paramus (375 NJ-17, Paramus, NJ 07652) and Mahwah Ford (55 Franklin Turnpike, Mahwah, NJ 07430) were made aware of the recall however, all three dealers informed the contact that the parts were obsolete. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to several dealers. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000. Consumer stated safety recall for a fracture in the rear axle and bearing states can cause crash still isn’t resolved.

Engine

ODI #11419201

Incident: March 9, 2021 · Filed: June 1, 2021

The contact owns a 2003 Lincoln Town Car. The contact stated that he noticed fuel on the pavement in the driveway at his residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the intake manifold was faulty. The mechanic also confirmed that the manifold was leaking and needed to be replaced. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 85,800.

Power Train

ODI #11408476

Incident: June 19, 2019 · Filed: April 16, 2021

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.

Other Lincoln Town Car model years

Check your 2003 Lincoln Town Car VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Lincoln Town Car at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Lincoln VIN