1997 Lincoln Town CAR Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 16about this part
- Share
- 5%of 314 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 126,500miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 16 complaints about the electrical system of the 1997 Lincoln Town CAR, 5% of the 314 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 126,500 miles. 2 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My 1997 Lincoln Town Car signature series caught fire while parked in the garage. The car had not been driven for approximately 48 hours prior to the fire. About 02:00 hrs on the morning of the 29th december 2014 I was wakened by a loud popping sound. When I investigated I found my garage totally engulfed by fire. It took the fire department over two hours to extinguish the fire; for it had spread to the other vehicle parked in the garage - 2013 jeep moab and to all of the tools and materials stored in the garage. …”
NHTSA complaint #10669915, filed 2015-01, 189,000 miles“When driving under 10 miles per hour the vehicle will shut off. There is sometimes a warning that this is about to occur because the instrument panel will fail. I experienced this last year and upon replacing the battery (which was less than 1 year old) the problem went away until now. This battery is a 60 month battery and is only 10 months old.”
NHTSA complaint #10007862, filed 2003-02, 127,000 miles“The contact owns a 1997 Lincoln Town Car. The contact stated that the horn and cruise control were inoperative. A local mechanic diagnosed that the horn would need to be replaced. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 58,000 and the current mileage was 60,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10445472, filed 2012-01, 58,000 miles“The contact owns a 1997 Lincoln Town Car. Whenever the contact drives with the high beams activated, the lights flicker on and off continuously until they are turned off. The current mileage was 130,000 and failure mileage was 126,000. Updated 11/19/08. The consumer stated a switch was replaced, but the problem continued. Updated 11/19/08.”
NHTSA complaint #10246398, filed 2008-10, 126,000 miles“The contact stated while driving 70 MPH on the interstate at night, all exterior and interior lights failed without warning. The contact maneuvered the vehicle to the side of the road. After turning the headlight switch off and on several times, the exterior and interior lights resumed normal function. The dealer was alerted. Updated 2/12/2007 -”
NHTSA complaint #10175819, filed 2006-12, 127,000 milesElectrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 3 | 23% |
| 2008 | 3 | 15% |
| 2007 | 4 | 5% |
| 2006 | 6 | 4% |
| 2005 | 8 | 7% |
| 2004 | 8 | 10% |
| 2003 | 8 | 4% |
| 2002 | 3 | 5% |
| 2001 | 9 | 6% |
| 2000 | 18 | 17% |
| 1999 | 13 | 9% |
| 1998 | 15 | 10% |
| 1997 | 16 | 5% |
| 1996 | 19 | 7% |
| 1995 | 21 | 13% |
| 1994 | 20 | 13% |
| 1993 | 43 | 24% |
| 1992 | 73 | 29% |
| 1991 | 15 | 10% |
| 1990 | 63 | 30% |
| 1989 | 42 | 47% |
| 1988 | 39 | 39% |
| 1987 | 17 | 53% |
| 1986 | 29 | 58% |
| 1985 | 7 | 33% |
| 1984 | 9 | 60% |
Other parts of the 1997 Lincoln Town CAR
87 complaintsSuspension
50 complaintsBrakes
44 complaintsVehicle speed control
43 complaintsSteering
22 complaintsExterior lighting
17 complaintsFuel system
17 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
16 complaintsAir bags
9 complaintsTires
9 complaintsBody and structure
8 complaintsEngine
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Lincoln Town CAR
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology