2004 Lincoln Town CAR Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 14about this part
- Share
- 17%of 83 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 79,150miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 14 complaints about the steering of the 2004 Lincoln Town CAR, 17% of the 83 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 79,150 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My steering is hard to turn. Very stiff. Bought it used and I see they repaired the upper and lower power steering shaft., all other models were being recalled for this problem. Why not this year? It only has 65,500 miles”
NHTSA complaint #11319767, filed 2020-03, 65,500 miles“I have only 20,118 original miles on my 2004 Lincoln Town Car ultimate. The steering column under the hood is terribly rusted. The corrosion looks scary. I wanted to take it to the dealer to have them tell me if I needed to replace it! Now, I wasn't looking for ford to pay for anything but get this - they want me to pay them a $100 diagnostic fee just to tell me if I need to replace the steering column! The 2005 Town Car is being recalled for the same thing yet ford is paying for this. What recourse do I have. …”
NHTSA complaint #11301254, filed 2020-01, 20,118 miles“March of 2013 while driving on interstate highway I notice the steering not responding properly, I drove carefully to my destination in florida and took car to dealer who stated it was the steering rack which I had them replace, car was returned and while it still was a bit hard to steer I figured it was a new part and had to break in, back home in new york I called the dealer in florida who stated the part was warrentied for 12,000 miles or one year and I could take it to any ford dealer and it would be honored, I took it to my local ford dealer where they ran a diagnosis and stated it was…”
NHTSA complaint #10522192, filed 2013-06, 77,000 miles“2004 Lincoln Town Car, power steering failure. While driving, driver may lose control of car, just like driving on black ice. While driving making a right hand merge, steering got stuck for a few seconds. And when driver tried to correct the car was going one way while the driver was steering another. Driver lost control and hit the wall totaling the car and putting 5 people into the er.”
NHTSA complaint #10283952, filed 2009-09, 100,000 miles“Bought a 2004 Linc Tow as a gift to my grandson. Drove it a couple of times and had no issues. After it had sat for about 2-3 weeks, I drove it to town to let it run after sitting. On my way home I was turning on to the road for home and the steering suddenly caught, I was in the middle of a turn and pulled steering wheel to straighten the car when it released. I almost hit the car next to me. I have an appointment on October 14th to have it checked out. I understand that this is a problem that has occurred often in other years and was fixed, so why not the 2004. …”
NHTSA complaint #11692471, filed 2025-10Steering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 4 | 67% |
| 2010 | 5 | 38% |
| 2009 | 1 | 20% |
| 2008 | 3 | 15% |
| 2007 | 18 | 21% |
| 2006 | 13 | 9% |
| 2005 | 8 | 7% |
| 2004 | 14 | 17% |
| 2003 | 16 | 8% |
| 2002 | 3 | 5% |
| 2001 | 10 | 6% |
| 2000 | 7 | 6% |
| 1999 | 15 | 10% |
| 1998 | 13 | 8% |
| 1997 | 22 | 7% |
| 1996 | 19 | 7% |
| 1995 | 15 | 9% |
| 1994 | 3 | 2% |
| 1993 | 11 | 6% |
| 1992 | 3 | 1% |
| 1991 | 8 | 5% |
| 1990 | 11 | 5% |
| 1989 | 5 | 6% |
| 1988 | 2 | 2% |
| 1987 | 1 | 3% |
| 1986 | 1 | 2% |
| 1985 | 2 | 10% |
| 1984 | 1 | 7% |
Other parts of the 2004 Lincoln Town CAR
19 complaintsBody and structure
11 complaintsBrakes
10 complaintsElectrical system
8 complaintsWheels
6 complaintsEngine cooling
4 complaintsExterior lighting
4 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
3 complaintsOther or unknown
3 complaintsTires
3 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
3 complaintsAir bags
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 Lincoln Town CAR
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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