Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2003 Lincoln Town Car, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Suspension81
- Power train27
- Vehicle speed control18
- Steering16
- Structure12
- Air bags10
- Service brakes, hydraulic10
- Engine and engine cooling8
- Electrical system8
- Tires6
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 6 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 33 2003 Town Car vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 26 people died inside them, and 4 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2003 Lincoln Town Car failed the safety check 2.51% of the time — 19% more often than the average 2003 passenger car (2.11%). Median odometer at inspection: 119,029 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
21 first registered in 2003 are on Dutch roads; 95% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €63,470.
Most common APK defects
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm15
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen9
- Accu ondeugdelijk bevestigd6
- Mechanische delen van het remsysteem vertonen slijtage4
- Roestschade van 1,5 t/m 2,0E of meer dan 15% dikteafname4
- Roestschade hulpbalk4
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde4
- Afgedekt onderdeel niet beoordeeld 5.1b.34
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
5 cars built in 2003 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 18 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 13.1 L/100 km (about 18 mpg US), CO₂ 301 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Town Car · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 15.3 | 10.4 | 13.1 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 2003 Lincoln Town Car.
| 2004236 9 Jul 2004 | Suspension Certain Crown Victoria Police Interceptors, Crown Victoria commercial vehicles and Lincoln Town Car fleet vehicles. As opposed to civilian vehicles, the potent… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
CERTAIN POLICE, COMMERCIAL, AND PASSENGER VEHICLES SOLD TO FLEETS TYPICALLY INPUT HIGHER LOADS INTO THE VEHICLE CHASSIS OVERLOADING THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND AXLES.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Lincoln told its dealers about the 2003 Lincoln Town Car: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637820 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A PASSIVE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM (PATS) MAY EXHIBIT STEERING WHEEL LOCK AND TRANSMISSION SHIFT SELECTOR THAT WILL NOT MOVE OUT OF PARK. *TT |
| 637819 | POOR AM RADIO RECEPTION CONDITION. *TT |
| 637811 | SUBJECT REGARDING AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATION WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE B2290 / LAMP FAULT CODE 16. *TT |
| 637754 | INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE AUDIOPHILE ALPINE RADIO DSP (DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING) FEATURE. *TT |
| 637707 | SUBJECT REGARDING REAR PARK BRAKE CLICKING NOISE. *TT |
| 637706 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CLICK OR RATTLE NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEEL AREA. *TT |
| 636155 | SOME VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE 6/21/2002 MAY EXHIBIT AIRBAG LAMP ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE B2290 (0CCUPANT CLASSIFICATION CIRCUIT FAULT). *TT |
| 10177863 | This article supersedes TSB 19-2026 to update the vehicle model years affected. Some 2000 and newer Ford/Lincoln/Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended. |
| 10156863 | Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended. Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition |
| 10155551 | Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended. Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition |
| 10023943 | SOME 1997-2008 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4.6L 2V, 5.4L 2V, OR 6.8L 2V ENGINE--SPARK PLUG THREAD REPAIR PROCEDURE--NOT COVERED UNDER NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY. *NJ THIS INCLUDES F-53 MOTORHOME CHASSIS. UPDATED 2/23/10. *PE |
| 10022299 | PARKING AID SYSTEM IS INOPERATIVE - DTC C1983. *KB |
| 10020702 | PARKING AID SYSTEM INOPERATIVE - DTC C1983. *KB |
| 10018968 | PARKING AID SYSTEM INOPERATIVE. *AK |
| 10018745 | WDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIP - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - ENGINE MISFIRE OR ROUGH RUNNING. *TT |
| 10018074 | CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 05B31 - INFORMATION ONLY. A POSSIBILITY THAT DURING A HIGH SPEED / HIGH ENERGY REAR COLLISION, CERTAIN COMPONENTS HAVE AN INCREASED RISK OF PUNCTURING THE FUEL TANK ON VEHICLES WITH LIMO PREP PACKAGE LIMO PACKAGE UPGRADE KIT OFFERING. *TT SUPPLEMENT #1. *TT UPDATED SUPPLEMENT #2. *TT |
| 10017901 | DOOR LOCKS BEING INOPERATIVE WHEN USING THE KEYPAD AND/OR REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY (RKE) FOB - FUSE 2.30 OPENING INTERMITTENTLY. |
| 10014165 | ALUMINUM CORROSION - SERVICE TIP. *TT |
| 10014138 | SAFETY BELT RETRACTION SPEED. *TT |
| 10014100 | LIMITED SLIP AXLE CHATTER, SHUDDER, BINDING SENSATION, OR VIBRATION DURING LOW SPEED TURNING MANEUVERS. *TT |
| 10014086 | GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 10014062 | REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER GRID/INTEGRAL ANTENNA DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR - TERMINAL TAB REPAIR. *TT |
| 10013381 | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMPAND P0460 DTC IN MEMORY. *EH |
| 10013369 | GENERAL POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 10013321 | AM/FM AND CELLULAR PHONE RECEPTION INTERFERENCE - SERVICE TIP. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
REAR AXLE FRACTURE
INADVERTENT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT
INADVERTENT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation