2003 Lincoln Town CAR Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2003 Town Car most often write about the rear axle and wheel bearings: humming, grinding or knocking from the rear of the vehicle, sometimes followed by gear oil on the wheel, brake damage or a broken axle shaft. Many say the dealer told them their VIN was not covered by the rear suspension recall. A second, smaller group describes unexpected acceleration or cruise-control problems, and parking-brake, steering and electrical faults make up the rest. Most reports arrive between roughly 25,000 and 150,000 miles, so these are not only high-mileage complaints.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Rear axle and wheel bearing noise or failure

   • 102 complaints (51%)
   • median 83,000 mi at 7.9 yrs old (87 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $932 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2004–2022

   Complaints describe a humming, grinding, howling or knocking noise from the rear of the car, often noticed at highway speed or when accelerating. Mechanics typically find worn rear wheel bearings and damaged axle shafts, and recommendations range from replacing bearings and seals to replacing both axles. Several owners report oil or grease on the inside of the rear wheel or rim, and some describe the axle shaft cracking or breaking. Many say they asked about recall 04V328000 and were told their vehicle was not a fleet vehicle or that its VIN was excluded, so they paid for the repair themselves. Reported from about 25,000 to 200,000 miles, most commonly between roughly 40,000 and 120,000 miles, with noise often the first symptom.

   Recall 04V3280001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Listen for humming or grinding from the rear at road speed and check the inside of both rear rims and tyres for gear oil or grease. Ask whether rear wheel bearings, seals or axle shafts have been replaced, and whether the car was ever checked under campaign 04V328000.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1) I noticed a slight vibration and noise. 2) took car to a ford dealer who identified the problem as a pinion bearing, but they couldn't get to a repair immediately. I took the car to the closest aaa approved garage. 3) both axle shafts and all axle bearings have to be replaced.”

   NHTSA complaint #10158033, filed 2006-05, 83,000 miles

   “I took my 2003 Lincoln Town Car to the local ford dealership because I heard a noise in the rear of the car. I was told that the rear axel seal was blown out and the axel assembly was damaged on both sides of the car. In addition, the brakes were ruined by the axel fluid that leaked out. I found out that there was a recall for the rear axel problem in 2003 Lincoln town cars for fleet cars only. I called the ford service center and asked them for help with my expensive repair bill. They said no. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10502395, filed 2013-03, 84,799 miles
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Unexpected acceleration on its own

   • 18 complaints (9%)
   • median 67,500 mi at 5.8 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2022

   Owners describe the car accelerating without the pedal being pressed, sometimes right after shifting into drive or reverse and sometimes while braking at low speed. Several say the brakes would not hold the car and they had to shift to neutral and switch off the engine, and a few report collisions or damage as a result. In some cases dealers could not reproduce or diagnose the problem, and others state their vehicle was not included in a speed control campaign. Reported mostly under about 85,000 miles, often at low speed, while shifting gears or coming to a stop.

   What to check: Take a test drive that includes slow-speed manoeuvring, shifting between park, reverse and drive, and light braking in a parking lot. Ask whether the throttle cable and cruise control system have been inspected or serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Dt: having problem with engine, vehicle accelerates on its own, with no warning. Put car in reverse it roars up, and put vehicle in drive and it takes off on it own. Consumer can take foot off the gas pedal and it continues to accelerate on its own. Consumer has been in several minor accidents because of this.”

   NHTSA complaint #10124424, filed 2005-06, 27,000 miles

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #11131631, filed 2018-09, 146,000 miles

Buying note. Have any 2003 Town Car inspected from underneath before purchase, with attention to the rear axle, bearings and seals, since that is by far the most frequent area in owner complaints and many vehicles were not part of the rear suspension campaign. A road test that includes highway speed, slow parking-lot manoeuvres and a check of the cruise control and steering is worth the time.

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.