Lincoln Town Car Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy
Every Lincoln Town Car model year (1998–2011) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, injuries, and deaths. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.
Lincoln Town Car Years to Avoid
6 recalls · 174 complaints
27 reported injuries
Top issue: AIR BAGS
Problem score: 246
1 recall · 201 complaints
6 reported injuries
Top issue: SUSPENSION
Problem score: 216
6 recalls · 160 complaints
14 reported injuries
Top issue: AIR BAGS
Problem score: 206
Best Lincoln Town Car Years to Buy
3 recalls · 5 complaints
Main area: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
Problem score: 14
3 recalls · 6 complaints
Main area: STEERING
Problem score: 19
3 recalls · 13 complaints
Main area: STEERING
Problem score: 22
Found the right year? Verify that specific Town Car with a free VIN report.
Lincoln Town Car — Year-by-Year Problem Report
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Problem Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 3 | 6 | 19 | Excellent |
| 2010 | 3 | 13 | 22 | Excellent |
| 2009 | 3 | 5 | 14 | Excellent |
| 2008 | 3 | 20 | 33 | Good |
| 2007 | 3 | 84 | 119 | Caution |
| 2006 | 2 | 143 | 163 | Avoid |
| 2005 | 3 | 119 | 169 | Avoid |
| 2004 | 0 | 83 | 95 | Caution |
| 2003 | 1 | 201 | 216 | Avoid |
| 2002 | 1 | 64 | 91 | Caution |
| 2001 | 6 | 174 | 246 | Avoid |
| 2000 | 9 | 133 | 188 | Avoid |
| 1999 | 6 | 160 | 206 | Avoid |
| 1998 | 8 | 161 | 191 | Avoid |
Higher scores indicate more reported safety issues across recalls, complaints, and injury data.
Lincoln Town Car Shopping Guide by Era
Pre-2013
Proceed with CautionOlder Town Car models have more accumulated wear and a larger recall history. These are higher-risk purchases without documented maintenance records and a clean VIN history report. Confirm all historical recalls have been completed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What year Town Car should I avoid?+
Avoid the 2001 Lincoln Town Car if possible. It has 6 recalls, 174 owner complaints, and the most common complaint category is AIR BAGS. The overall problem score is 246 — the highest in our dataset.
What is the best year Town Car to buy?+
The 2009 Lincoln Town Car is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 14. It has only 3 recalls and 5 complaints on record with NHTSA.
Which Town Car has the fewest problems?+
The 2009, 2011, 2010 model years have the fewest documented problems across recall and complaint databases. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.
More Lincoln Town Car Research
Check a Specific Lincoln Town Car VIN
Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.
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