1996 Lincoln Town Car problems
Owners have filed 316 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Lincoln Town Car. Engine is the most reported problem area, at 27% of complaints. After that come exhaust system (15%) and cruise control (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 316 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 27% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 15 and 14
- Injuries and deaths
- 11 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 93,000 miles 126 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 3 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 5 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 11 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 22 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 31 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 20 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 12 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 6 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 5 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 4 |
| 200k+ miles | 7 |
What the data shows
Among the 126 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 93,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 90,000 miles (51 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 15 complaints mention a crash; 14 complaints mention a fire; 11 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1996 ranks 8th most-complained-about out of 19 model years of the Lincoln Town Car with enough data (90 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 8 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
When rearended, the two front seatbacks broke and reclined on there own, also no deployment of driver's and passenger's air bags during rearend accident, resulting in injuries.
Vehicle was in park position,engine on, vehicle started to move back wards, ran over consumer. Jumped out of park position. Front left wheel ran over consumer's back, causing large bruises on body.
My 96 lincoln towncar bogs down, sputters, jerks and misfires from a standing start. Also misfires, sputters in passing gear which does not allow you to pass another vehicle with confidence. At this time the solution has not been found.
While driving my 1996 signature series town car about 25 mis/hr in residential area the right front ball joint suspension collapsed & "rolled" under the car frame. The slow speed enabled the car to be stopped within feet. Driver & a passenger unhurt. Car towed to aaa certified garage that had been used for over 25 years. Suspension replaced as was the left one that mechanic deemed ready to also collapse. Resident municipality literally surrounded by expressways whose speed limit is 65 mis/hr.