2003 Lincoln Town Car
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Decode a VIN1 recall and 201 owner complaints on record for this model year.
Almost all of this describes the model year, not the individual car. Nothing here can tell you about this vehicle’s mileage, accidents or ownership — no identifier encodes those.
WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY, THE ACCELERATOR STUCK OPEN CAUSING THE CAR TO GAIN AN EXCESS AMOUNT OF SPEED IN TRAFFIC. THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND THE BREAKS WOULD NOT HOLD IT OR SLOW IT DOWN. IN THE END THE CAR WAS TOTALED AFTER HITTING 2 TREES AND A WALL.
TAKATA RECALL AS AN 83 YEAR OLD SENIOR CITIZEN, JUST RECENTLY WIDOWED IN MAY 2015, I WAS FORCED TO PURCHASE ANOTHER LINCOLN, BECAUSE OF THE AIRBAG IN MY 2003 LINCOLN DID NOT FUNCTION AT ALL DOING A HEAD ON COLLISION, HITTING A CONCRETE WALL
IN 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WHEN THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED IT SHOT OFF THE ROUND SILVER LINCOLN EMBLEM WHICH SEVERELY LACERATED MY NOSE. THANK GOD IT DID NOT TAKE OUT AN EYE. I HAVE NOTICED ON THE NEWER MODELS THAT THE EMBLEM IS NOW EMBEDDED IN THE MATERIAL SO IT CANNOT FLY OFF AND CAUSE INJURY. *JB
I HAD A FRONT END COLLISION IN MY 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR AND NEITHER THE DRIVERS SIDE NOR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE CAR HAD STOPPED AND I WAS GETTING OUT OF THE CAR THAT THE DRIVERS AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGER SIDE NEVER INFLATED. THE IMPACT TO MY VEHICLE WAS SO SEVERE THAT THE FRONT END IS COMPLETELY GONE AND THE HOOD WAS CRUMPLED BACK TO THE WINDSHIELD. THE ENGINE WAS PUSHED UP AGAINST THE FIREWALL. WHY DID MY AIRBAGS NOT INFLATE????!!!!!*AK
THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE IDLING, WHICH RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE HITTING A WALL, CONSUMER WAS INJURED.*JB
DT: WHILE DRIVING DOWN A GRAVEL ROAD AT 40 MPH THE SIDE/CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CALLER SAID SHE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. DEALER ORDERED PARTS TO FIX IT, BUT THE INSURANCE COMPANY WANTED PICTURES FIRST. MANUFACTURER TOOK HER INFORMATION AND SAID THEY WILL LOOK INTO IT. CONSUMER SUSTAINED BACK AND NECK INJURIES. *AK THE RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE AXLE FRACTURED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE DIVIDER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
I WAS IN FRONT OF THE TOWNHOUSE WHERE I LIVE WAITING IN IDLE FOR AN ONCOMING CAR TO PASS SO I CAN PARK ON MY SPOT WHEN I HEARD THREE CLICKING SOUNDS BENEATH THE CAR AT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. SECONDS AFTER THAT THE CAR JERKED FORWARD AT AN INCREASING SPEED ,KNOCKED A NISSAN PATHFINDER AND CARRIED A MITSUBUSHI ECLIPSE ,FROM THE PARKING LOT, OVER THE SIDEWALK TO THE GRASS WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL GAINING SPEED TOWARDS A LIVINGROOM WITH THE FAMILY IN THERE. I WAS ABLE TO STEER THE CAR AWAY FROM THE BUILDING, BETWEEN A BIG TREE WITH A SPACE THE SIZE OF THE CAR.AS I CAME OUT THROUGH THE TIGHT SPACE THE SPEED OF THE CAR WAS TOO FAST FOR ME TO NEGOTIATE IT BETWEEN THE NEXT SET OF TREES.THE CAR HIT A TREE AND CAME TO A STOP. THIS IS A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ,REGISTERED FOR A LIMOUSINE SERVICE. I SENT THE CAR TO FIVE SHOPS AND THEY STILL CANNOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS THE REASON WHY I AM ASKING FOR HELP BECAUSE I KNOW THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, HE ENGAGED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT FELL TO THE FLOORBOARD. THERE WAS AN ABNORMALLY HIGH INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS AND THE VEHICLE THEN ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED REPEATEDLY BUT TO NO AVAIL. SUDDENLY, THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS SHIFTED INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT OPERATED NORMALLY. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION IN WHICH THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PROCEEDING VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO DAMAGES OR PERSONAL INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED SIGNIFICANT CONCERN OF A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WITH UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND SHE WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION. *KB ***NAR*** THE CONSUMER STATED AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE UNWANTED ACCELERATION. *JB
RE: 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR CRUISE CONTROL RUNAWAY ISSUE ON 3/16/07 I WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT DURING A SNOWSTORM ON A TWO LANE NARROW ROAD. I HAD PREVIOUSLY DISENGAGED THE OVERDRIVE AND MANUALLY SHIFTED INTO 2ND GEAR AT 20-25 MPH FOR BETTER CONTROL. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY OVER STEERED TO THE RIGHT. TRYING TO CORRECT, IT OVER STEERED TO THE LEFT, SLID SIDEWAYS IN THE DEEP SHOULDER ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR ABOUT 25 FEET. THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL HIT A LARGE OAK TREE, BOUNCED OFF AND THE VEHICLE WENT DOWN A STEEP 70 FOOT DRIVEWAY AND JUMPED A FROZEN PILE OF SNOW. I DID HAVE THE CAR UNDER CONTROL GOING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. IT WAS A VERY BUSY TEN SECONDS. THE INITIAL ESTIMATE FROM GEICO IS $5100, CLAIM 023442150101027. I CALL THE FORD 800 NUMBER AND DIDN'T GET ANY HELP THERE, WHICH IS NO SURPRISE. I AM WELL AWARE OF MANUFACTURERS NOT ADDRESSING VEHICLE PROBLEMS UNTIL THEY HAVE TO BECAUSE OF MONETARY ISSUES OR LEGAL REQUIREMENTS. I AM A FORMER GM DEALER AND HAVE DRIVEN LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES IN VARIOUS CONDITIONS OF DIRE REPAIR. I ALSO ATTENDED BONDURANT HIGH SPEED DRIVING SCHOOL, HAVE AN EXPIRED SCCA RACING LICENSE AND HOLD AMA EXPERT COMPETITION MOTORCYCLE LICENSE. EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS 35 TO 40 YEARS AGO THE COMPETITION EXPERIENCE TOOK OVER. ONE CAUSE COULD BE THE LOCKING DOG FOR THE STEERING HAS SHORTED THE CRUISE CONTROL RIBBON WIRES AND CAUSED THE PROBLEM. THERE COULD ALSO BE ISSUES WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL CIRCUITRY AND/OR MODULES. SINCE THE ACCIDENT I HAVE HEARD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT CRUISE ENGAGEMENT PROBLEMS. THERE ALSO MAY BE AN ISSUE WITH THE AUTO TRACTION CONTROL WHICH MIGHT EXPLAIN WHY THE CAR WENT SO VIOLENTLY OUT OF CONTROL. THIS DEVICE IS RATHER USELESS AND IMPEDES DRIVABILITY RATHER THAN HELPS. ON THE DRIVE BACK TO MY HOUSE I HAD TO DISENGAGE IT TO DRIVE UP SMALL HILLS, AND HAVE DONE SO BEFORE IN BAD WEATHER AS THIS TYPE OF TRACTION CONTROL IMPEDES ACCELERATION. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BRAKING FROM 30 MPH ON A HIGHWAY EXIT RAMP, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE, WHICH DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE, AND COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE 3 TIMES. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE VEHICLE SLOWED, AND THE BRAKE TOOK EFFECT. A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED. UPDATED 01/18/07. *JB
I WAS STOPPED FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED TO GREEN, I PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL, VERY LIGHTLY,AND THE CAR ACCELERATED AWAY FROM ME. I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND ENDED UP ON THE SIDEWALK, HITTING A BRICK WALL. THE CAR WAS TOTALED OUT BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THIS CAR WAS A 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WITH 36,000 MILES. I THEN PURCHASED A 2006 LINCOLN TOWN CAR AND AFTER DRIVING 700 MILES, THE CAR ACCELERATED AGAIN AND I ALMOST HIT A PEDESTRIAN. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE LINCOLN DEALER SERVICE MANAGER. THEY TOOK THE CAR ON A LIFT, CHECKED IT OUT AND TEST DROVE IT AND TOLD ME THAT THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. FORD INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NO RECALLS ON THIS CAR FOR THAT PROBLEM. I DID NOT TRUST DRIVING THIS CAR ANY LONGER, SO I TRADED IT IN FOR ANOTHER MAKE CAR AND TOOK A VERY LARGE LOSS, RATHER THAN RISK MY LIFE, MY WIFE'S LIFE OR AN INNOCENT PERSON. *NM
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE IN REVERSE THE BACK UP ALARM SENSOR WAS NOT WORKING WHICH RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE STRIKING A MAILBOX. THERE WAS NOT A CRASH ,BUT SOME PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE ALARM SENSOR UNDER WARRANTY AND DETERMINED IT HAD MALFUNCTIONED. SINCE THE REPAIR THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. *AK UPDATED 11/29/05. *JB
WHEN THE DRIVER'S LEFT FOOT WAS QUICKLY MOVED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL FROM ITS RESTING POSITION, IT ENCOUNTERED AN OBJECT ABOVE IT THAT GAVE THE IMPRESSION THE FOOT DID NOT REACH THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHICH RESULTED IN USING THE RIGHT FOOT WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE CONDITION WORSENED WITH THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL IN THE FULL DOWN POSITION THEN THE LEFT KNEE ENCOUNTERED THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH GAVE THE IMPRESSION THE PEDAL WAS NOT REACHED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING BUT ADVISED TO HAVE VEHICLE MODIFIED. CONSUMER IS 5-9 IN HEIGHT AND WEIGHTS 180 LBS. INSTEAD, CONSUMER REPOSITIONED THE PLASTIC PANEL 14"X14" ABOVE THE DRIVER'S LEFT FOOT AND TIED UP THE SMALL LIGHT NORMALLY INSTALLED IN THE PANEL. AND MOVED THE MOVABLE BRAKE/GAS PEDAL FORWARD AND KEPT THE STEERING WHEEL FULLY UPWARD. THIS MADE THE VEHICLE SAFE TO DRIVE. *TT *JB
Filed by owners of this model year and unverified by NHTSA — one person’s account, not an established fact.
CERTAIN POLICE, COMMERCIAL, AND PASSENGER VEHICLES SOLD TO FLEETS TYPICALLY INPUT HIGHER LOADS INTO THE VEHICLE CHASSIS OVERLOADING THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND AXLES.
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.
Published by model year, not by VIN — may not apply to this vehicle, or may already have been done. Confirm with a dealer.