2000 Lincoln Town CAR Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe air bag problems (warning lights, plus bags that did not deploy in collisions or deployed without one), a cracked plastic intake manifold that leaks coolant, and cruise-control concerns ranging from failing to disengage to unintended acceleration. Many reports involve low-speed maneuvering or ordinary driving in higher-mileage cars, and several describe dealer visits that ended without a lasting fix or with the owner told the condition was normal or outside a program.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Air bag light on or air bag does not deploy

   • 17 complaints (16%)
   • median 30,000 mi at 3.7 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2014

   Owners describe the air bag warning light blinking or staying lit, with dealers replacing the air bag harness or diagnosing a harness fault, sometimes without the light staying off. Others report that bags failed to deploy in front or side impacts, or that the passenger bag deployed on its own at low speed in a parking lot with no contact. Complaints describe dealers replacing harness parts, running diagnostics, or saying they could not correct the light. Reports in the sample range from about 20,000 to 90,000 miles, often in normal-speed driving or parking-lot maneuvers.

   Recall 00V364000Recall 00V368000Recall 00V228001Recall 00V157001Recall 00V157002

   What to check: With the key on, confirm the air bag warning light comes on and then goes out; a light that stays lit or blinks is worth diagnosing before purchase. Ask whether any air bag harness or seat belt buckle work has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The passenger side air bag deployed by itself while driving approximately 5 MPH in a parking lot. I was making a slight turn to the right at the time of deployment. The car did not hit or come in contact with anything and to my knowledge the car has never been in an accident prior. No one was sitting in the passenger seat at the time of air bag deployment.”

   NHTSA complaint #10631140, filed 2014-09, 90,280 miles

   “Side air bag failed to deploy on drivers side during a side collision. My car is a Lincoln Town Car 2000 model cartier. I was traveling less than 5 miles an hour when I was broadsided by a pickup truck traveling more than 40 miles per hour. Both vehicles were totaled. I sustained injuries that should not have occurred had the side air deployed properly. I was wearing my seat belt.”

   NHTSA complaint #10019277, filed 2003-05, 73,000 miles
2. 2
   Suspension

   Loose or wandering steering, front-end play

   • 13 complaints (12%)
   • median 153,000 mi at 16.8 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2000–2024

   Owners describe the car drifting or pulling to one side, vague steering with a lot of play, and feeling pushed around when passing trucks. Some report worn tie rod ends, sway bar links, or a cracked trailing arm bracket, and one says a front lower ball joint failed and dropped the corner of the car. A few note dealers could not duplicate or correct the pull. Mostly reported above about 100,000 miles, with some complaints at unknown mileage.

   What to check: Drive it at highway speed and over bumps, and have a shop check tie rod ends, ball joints, sway bar links and the rear trailing arms for play or cracks before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I wasn't aware until recent that there had been a recall on my vehicle on october 28, 2015. I find this information on credit karma and I been having problem with loose steering I never received anything regarding a recall on my car. I would have definitely took it in for repairs. I need to know if the recall still valid because I need the steering fixed. When driving the steering has a lot play and I no that's not the way it supposed to be. Will someone please help me regarding this matter.”

   NHTSA complaint #11174347, filed 2019-02, 128,700 miles

   “While driving at 35 MPH the consumer heard a sound. The rear end of the vehicle shimmied. After a thorough inspection and while repairing something else, it was discovered that the trailer arm brackets were cracked. The trailer arm cracking and or breaking had a lot to do with the control of the vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10048331, filed 2004-01, 200,000 miles
3. 3
   Vehicle speed control

   Cruise control will not disengage or car accelerates

   • 8 complaints (7%)
   • median 52,000 mi at 7.8 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2011

   Owners describe the cruise control staying engaged when the brake pedal is pressed, requiring the switch to be turned off or the car shifted to neutral to slow down. Other complaints describe the car speeding up on its own, including while pulling into a parking space or at low speed, with one reported crash. Some report the cable sticking and dealers inspecting without finding a fault. Reports in the sample cluster between about 25,000 and 60,000 miles, and several at unknown mileage.

   What to check: On a test drive, engage the cruise control at low speed and confirm it cancels with the brake pedal and the off switch. Ask whether the speed control cable or module has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While pulling into a parking space vehicle commenced to accelerate. Vehicle lurched forward and ran up an embankment. No injuries or property damage to report. Vehicle was towed to a repair shop, and mechanic could not find anything wrong. Consumer will be taking the vehicle to the dealer. ..”

   NHTSA complaint #10115231, filed 2005-03, 37,517 miles

   “Consumer was going 75mph set on cruise control, when approaching a curve conusmer applied brakes to slow down,and as brake pedal was pressed it speeded up vehicle. Consumer was coached from limousine service on a 2- way radio how to control vehicle. Consumer turned cruise control switch off, and vehicle returned to normal drive. Pressing brakes, it sent wrong signal and engaged cruise control.”

   NHTSA complaint #887943, filed 2001-05
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Cracked plastic intake manifold leaking coolant

   • 5 complaints (5%)
   • median 115,000 mi at 12.2 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2011–2013

   Owners report coolant pooling or dripping under the passenger side or front of the car, traced to a cracked plastic intake manifold, sometimes where the heater hose attaches. Several say the manifold was replaced at their expense, and a few mention being told there was no warranty coverage on plastic intakes or that their vehicle was not included in a related program. One complaint also links a manifold crack to a stall and a traction control light. Mostly reported between roughly 70,000 and 130,000 miles, and one at about 200,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Look for coolant stains or a sweet smell near the front passenger side of the engine and check the coolant level; ask whether the intake manifold has been replaced and whether any extended coverage program applies to the VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I recently went to a mechanic and was told that my intake manifold on my 2000 Lincoln towncar was leaking. He also advised me about a recall about the leaking manifolds but when I contacted Lincoln they denied any recalls about it. I have yet not repaired my intake manifold and am still waiting for a response from ford or Lincoln from my letters that I have written.”

   NHTSA complaint #10377041, filed 2011-01, 135,738 miles

   “A puddle appeared under pass.side of vehicle,took it to dealer ,they found the plastic intake had cracked where the heater hose connects to the intake,was told : no warranty on plastic intakes , vehicle is 10 yrs old,2000 Lincoln Town Car,never received any information about a class action lawsuit,replacement cost is $1100.00 from the dealer ,they told me there is a 1 yr warranty on replacement part.”

   NHTSA complaint #10376957, filed 2011-01, 128,000 miles
5. 5
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield wipers stop working

   • 5 complaints (5%)
   • median 72,000 mi at 5.3 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2001–2008

   Owners report wipers quitting entirely, including in a snowstorm and in rain, leaving no visibility. Some complaints describe the repair being made once under the wiper motor campaign and then failing again, and one owner says a dealer declined the campaign because the motor part number did not match even though the VIN was included. A related complaint covers a wiper motor switch that overheated in a recall description. Reported from about 20,000 to 78,000 miles in the sample, often in rain or snow.

   Recall 01V258000

   What to check: Run the wipers at every speed, including intermittent, and check that they park correctly; ask whether campaign 01V258000 was completed and which motor was installed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The windshield wipers went out in the middle of a snow storm. The consumer had to make it home without any wipers. The manufacturer made the repair to the windshield wipers sometime ago and stated there would be no second repair.”

   NHTSA complaint #10108697, filed 2005-01, 78,000 miles

   “The dealership has refused to honor the recall for the windshield wiper motor 01 v 258 000. They indicated that although the VIN number is included the motor part number is not.”

   NHTSA complaint #10032371, filed 2003-08, 72,000 miles

Buying note. Have a shop inspect the intake manifold for coolant leaks, the steering and front-end parts for play, and confirm the wiper motor campaign was completed and the air bag light behaves correctly. Service records showing these items already addressed make for a lower-risk example of this model year.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.