1996 Lincoln Town CAR Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Town CAR years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 17 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 8 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 259 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Lincoln Town CAR. That ranks 2nd out of 17 Town CAR model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (90 complaints, 35%), typically at around 88,500 miles. Complaints mention 9 crashes, 12 fires, 8 injuries. There are 8 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 6 defect investigations involving it.
- 259owner complaints
- 8safety recalls
- 6NHTSA investigations
- 9complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 Lincoln Town CAR problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 90 | 35% | 88,500 | “intake manifold” (58%) | $1,150 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 33 | 13% | 102,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 27 | 10% | 101,242 | — | — |
| Suspension | 25 | 10% | 92,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 19 | 7% | 160,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 19 | 7% | 94,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 15 | 6% | 118,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 14 | 5% | 129,330 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 9 | 3% | 81,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 9 | 3% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 8 | 3% | 67,370 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 6 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 6 | 2% | 77,379 | — | — |
| Equipment | 4 | 2% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 4 | 2% | 83,776 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 3 | 1% | 69,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 0% | 100,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 Lincoln Town CAR recalls (8)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Vehicle speed control
Problem: On certain pickup trucks, passenger vehicles, sport utility vehicles, and motor homes chassis, the speed control deactivation switch may, under certain conditions, leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.
Risk: This could result in an underhood fire.
Fix: Dealers will install a fused wiring harness. Owners of the passenger cars included in this campaign will be instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected as an interim repair. As soon as repair parts are available (expected october 2007), owners will be instructed to return to the dealers for installation of a fused wiring harness. The recall began on august 13, 2007, and mailing completed by september 19, 2007. Owners may contact ford at 1-888-222-2751.
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Problem: Equipment description: passenger vehicles that have had the driver's air bag module replaced after april 5, 2000. The replacement driver's air bag module inflator may have insufficient welds that could prevent proper inflation of the air bag.
Risk: In the event of a crash, the driver's air bag may not properly deploy which could potentially result in less than the intended level of occupant protection.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the driver's air bag module. Owner notification began october 5, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.
Seat belts:front:anchorage
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles using aftermarket driver's seat belt assemblies that were sold by ford parts departments from january 1, through june 13, 2000. These seat belt assemblies fail to comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 209, "seat belt assemblies." the equipment involved is service stock seat belt assemblies, model nos. H 9977, h 9979, t 9063, and t 9217, built by trw vehicle safety systems, inc. (trw) manufactured from june 1, 1998 through may 21, 2000. Some of these seat belt assemblies may have been installed as service replacement equipment on the vehicles involved in the recall.
Risk: In the event of a collision, these seat belts may not restrain an occupant increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect these vehicles and replace the service seat belt assemblies that were installed in these vehicles from january 1 through june 13, 2000.
Seat belts:front:anchorage
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles using aftermarket front passenger side seat belt assemblies that were sold by ford parts departments from january 1, through june 13, 2000. These seat belt assemblies fail to comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 209, "seat belt assemblies." the equipment involved is service stock seat belt assemblies, model nos. H 9977, h 9979, t 9063, and t 9217, built by trw vehicle safety systems, inc. (trw) manufactured from june 1, 1998 through may 21, 2000. Some of these seat belt assemblies may have been installed as service replacement equipment on the vehicles involved in the recall.
Risk: In the event of a collision, these seat belts may not restrain an occupant increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect these vehicles and replace the service seat belt assemblies that were installed in these vehicles from january 1 through june 13, 2000.
Suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint
Problem: Vehicle description: certain 1996-1999 ford crown victoria police, fleet, natural gas, and 1996-1999 lincoln town car limousine vehicles that were produced with a lower control arm ball joint containing a one piece bearing; and 1990-1996 ford crown victoria police, fleet, and ngv vehicles and 1990-1996 lincoln town car limousine vehicles that have been serviced with either a ball joint containing the one-piece bearing or a front lower control arm containing a ball joint with a one-piece bearing. The one-piece bearing within the lower control arm ball joint can weaken slowly during use and eventually crack. This could result in separation of the ball and cap of the joint, allowing the control arm to drop to the ground.
Risk: If this occurs while the vehicle is moving, reduced steering control could occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the lower control arm ball joints (2).
Steering:linkages
Problem: The pitman arms were not fully lubricated at the assembly plant. The "ball joint" at the outer end of the pitman arm can become contaminated and corrode.
Risk: Such corrosion can result in abnormal wear of the joint, resulting in separation of the joint. Loss of steering control can occur increasing the risk of a vehicle accident.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the vehicles and if the joint is found to have significant wear, the arm will be replaced. Those pitman arms not replaced will have the "ball joint" fully greased.
Seat belts:rear/other
Problem: The elr/alr feature is used to accommodate child restraints. When servicing the rear belt assemblies, wrong parts could have been used which do not contain the automatic locking feature.
Risk: In the event of an accident, the seat belt assemblies may not properly secure the child restraint increasing the risk of personal injury to the seat occupant.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rear belt assemblies with the appropriate design retractor and tongue assemblies.
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Problem: When in the secondary latched position, the driver door latches may open when subjected to transverse loads less than that specified in fmvss no. 206, "door locks and door retention components."
Risk: The driver's door, when closed only to the secondary latched position, may not sustain a 1,000 pound transverse load.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the driver door latch.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Rear brake line failure (EA03012) — opened Jul 25, 2003, closed Apr 11, 2005, led to recall 05V086000.
- Rear brake line failure (RQ03004) — opened Mar 11, 2003, closed Jul 25, 2003.
- Ball joint separation (RQ03002) — opened Jan 3, 2003, closed Jun 3, 2003.
- Speed control deactivation switch fires (EA02025) — opened Sep 6, 2002, closed Jun 30, 2004.
- Fuel-fed fires (DP02007) — opened Aug 22, 2002, closed Dec 4, 2002.
- Post rear end collision fires (SQ01014) — opened Nov 27, 2001, closed Oct 3, 2002, led to recall 02I003000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 1996 Lincoln Town Car. The contact stated while the vehicle was turned on and he was shifting the vehicle from park(P) to drive(D), with his foot on the brake pedal, the vehicle lunged forward at high speed. The contact stated that the acceleration was extreme. The contact…
As per recall cruise control neithrt starts or works on highway
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 lincoln town car. While attempting to drive the vehicle and shift the gear into drive with the brake pedal depressed. The pedal traveled to the floorboard and all the warning indicators illuminated. When the contact poured brake fluid into the reservoir and depressed the…
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 lincoln town car. While driving 35 mph, the vehicle began to vibrate and an unknown clicking sound was heard from the passenger side wheel when making a turn. The failure occurred constantly. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that…
1. Drivers seat belt latch is broken internally and cannot be used. To circumvent the broken latch, the front center passenger seat belt is being used. 2. Front right hand passenger seat belt can no longer be latched without first pushing the release button. 3. Cruise control automatically engaged…
Other Lincoln Town CAR years
← 1995 Town CAR · 1997 Town CAR →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 Town CAR | 6 | 3 |
| 2010 Town CAR | 13 | 3 |
| 2009 Town CAR | 5 | 3 |
| 2008 Town CAR | 20 | 3 |
| 2007 Town CAR | 84 | 3 |
| 2006 Town CAR | 143 | 2 |
| 2005 Town CAR | 119 | 3 |
| 2004 Town CAR | 83 | 0 |
| 2003 Town CAR | 201 | 1 |
| 2002 Town CAR | 65 | 0 |
| 2001 Town CAR | 161 | 5 |
| 2000 Town CAR | 108 | 8 |
| 1999 Town CAR | 148 | 5 |
| 1998 Town CAR | 154 | 7 |
| 1997 Town CAR | 314 | 6 |
| 1996 | 259 | 8 |
| 1995 Town CAR | 165 | 6 |
See all Lincoln Town CAR problems by year, every Lincoln model, or the Lincoln VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Lincoln Town CAR?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, vehicle speed control, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 90 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Lincoln Town CAR?
Yes, 8 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1996 Lincoln Town CAR a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Town CAR model years, the 1996 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.