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, deaths, and injuries. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.
Lincoln Town Car Years to Avoid
6 recalls · 104 complaints
11 reported injuries
Top issue: AIR BAGS
Problem score: 144
1 recall · 123 complaints
4 reported injuries
Top issue: SUSPENSION:REAR
Problem score: 134
5 recalls · 103 complaints
6 reported injuries
Top issue: AIR BAGS
Problem score: 130
Best Lincoln Town Car Years to Buy
2 recalls · 1 complaint
Main area: STEERING
Problem score: 7
2 recalls · 10 complaints
Main area: STEERING
Problem score: 16
2 recalls · 16 complaints
Main area: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Problem score: 24
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 | Injuries | Deaths | Problem Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 2 | 7 | 6 | — | 25 | Good |
| 2010 | 2 | 10 | — | — | 16 | Good |
| 2009 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 7 | Excellent |
| 2008 | 2 | 16 | 1 | — | 24 | Good |
| 2007 | 1 | 57 | 8 | — | 76 | Caution |
| 2006 | 1 | 108 | 2 | — | 115 | Avoid |
| 2005 | 1 | 83 | 5 | — | 96 | Avoid |
| 2004 | 0 | 41 | 5 | — | 51 | Caution |
| 2003 | 1 | 123 | 4 | — | 134 | Avoid |
| 2002 | 1 | 46 | 12 | — | 73 | Caution |
| 2001 | 6 | 104 | 11 | — | 144 | Avoid |
| 2000 | 9 | 87 | 4 | — | 122 | Avoid |
| 1999 | 5 | 103 | 6 | — | 130 | Avoid |
| 1998 | 5 | 98 | 2 | — | 117 | Avoid |
All 14 model years shown. Deaths and injuries from NHTSA complaint filings. Higher problem scores indicate more reported safety issues.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What year Town Car should I avoid?+
Avoid the 2001 Lincoln Town Car if possible. It has 6 recalls, 104 owner complaints. The overall problem score is 144 — 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 7. It has only 2 recalls and 1 complaint on record with NHTSA.
Which Town Car has the fewest problems?+
The 2009, 2010, 2008 model years have the fewest documented problems. 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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