2006 Lincoln Town CAR Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report the air bag or seat belt warning light staying lit with a repeating chime, which dealers commonly trace to a seat belt pretensioner or sensor. A second frequent theme is unintended acceleration or surging while braking, which several owners link to the adjustable pedals sitting close together. Steering shaft work tied to an open recall, brake pedal concerns and rusted fuel tank straps also appear in the sample.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Air bag / seat belt warning light and chime

   • 56 complaints (39%)
   • median 69,900 mi at 8.9 yrs old (48 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $700 (median of 13 quotes)
   • filed 2010–2021

   Owners describe the air bag warning light staying on after startup, often with five repeating chimes that recur roughly every half hour. Shops commonly diagnose a faulty front seat belt pretensioner or seat belt sensor and quote several hundred dollars per side; some owners report the light returning after repair, sometimes on the other side. Several say they were told the air bags may not deploy while the warning is on. Reported from a few thousand miles up to more than 150,000 miles, on both garage-kept and high-mileage cars.

   What to check: Turn the key and watch for the air bag lamp and chime; ask for service records on seat belt pretensioner or sensor replacements and whether the warning returned.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Every time I drive my car my airbag light comes on and it chimes 5 times repeats a couple of times then shuts off. After doing online research, looks like this is a common/costly problem for the 06. Every half hour it beeps again 5 times repeats a couple of times then shuts off. Ford should issue a recall!”

   NHTSA complaint #10722944, filed 2015-06, 90,000 miles

   “Air bag light came on, ford ran a $60 test and said it was the passenger side pretensioner and the air bags might not deploy with this light on. Ford's cost to fix $750. From internet information it is a chronic problem on the lincolns, particular around the 2006s. The service manager knew what my problem was right away when I said air bag. I think there should be a recall, or help with the repair.”

   NHTSA complaint #10632338, filed 2014-09, 45,000 miles
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Unintended acceleration or surging while braking

   • 34 complaints (24%)
   • median 31,000 mi at 4.7 yrs old (29 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2023

   Owners report the engine revving or the car lurching forward while their foot is on the brake, sometimes at a stop or when selecting a gear, and in some cases the gas pedal sticking down. Some describe shifting to neutral or shutting the engine off to stop it. Dealers often could not duplicate the problem or said both pedals were being pressed at once; several owners point to adjustable brake and accelerator pedals placed close together. Reported from a few thousand miles up to about 130,000 miles, often at low speed during braking or when shifting into gear.

   What to check: Move the adjustable pedals through their full range and check that brake and accelerator are not pressed together; ask whether the throttle body or pedal assembly has been inspected.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving perhaps 30 miles per hour I suddenly heard the car accelerate and it started to go faster. I hit the brakes and that did not slow down the car. I was in heavy traffic and quickly went into a side street turning sharply and narrowly missing parked cars but struck two steel poles and than a parked truck. It was a horrible experience!”

   NHTSA complaint #10420191, filed 2011-08, 58,953 miles

   “My parents bought the car as a certified / pre-owned when it was 6 months old. Within the past six months the Town Car will suddenly try to accelerate, (or the engine will run up to the redline on the tachometer.) it will literally spin the back tires while both the drivers feet are on the brake pedal. We are contacting the dealer this week. This is getting more and more often.”

   NHTSA complaint #10614667, filed 2014-07, 31,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brake pedal feel and stopping concerns

   • 39 complaints (27%)
   • median 31,000 mi at 4.9 yrs old (32 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2023

   Owners describe the brake pedal going to the floor or needing extra pressure, longer stopping distances, and occasional surging while stopping. Some say dealers could not duplicate the pedal-to-floor event, and a few connect the concern to pedal placement rather than the hydraulic system. Reported from very low mileage up to about 130,000 miles, often during low-speed stops.

   What to check: Check brake fluid level and pedal firmness on a test drive, and ask for brake service records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I put the car in reverse to backup. Then, with my foot on the brake, I place the car into drive goes forward. It continues forward for about a car length before it stops. The car has done this on several occasions. I fear for my life.”

   NHTSA complaint #10870858, filed 2016-05, 90,000 miles

   “On the 2006 Lincoln Town Car signature limited, the accelerator and brake pedals are adjustable. The pedals are close together, therefore, leaving little space between the brake and accelerator. When trying to stop, the brake and, unfortunately, accelerator pedals were both being pressed at the same time. This has almost caused accidents when trying to stop for my spouse and me. This has been a problem since the car was purchased in feb 2006. The vehicle was not diagnosed or serviced. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10616642, filed 2014-07, 55,000 miles
4. 4
   Steering

   Steering shaft separation and recall work

   • 14 complaints (10%)
   • median 108,650 mi at 9.2 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2024

   Complaints describe the steering locking up or the column separating, and owners reference recall 13V385 and the follow-up recall 14V704 for the upper intermediate shaft. Some say the lower shaft was replaced under recall and the upper shaft later failed, or that the car was inspected and declared fine before a failure. Others describe difficulty getting timely recall service and seeking reimbursement for work done elsewhere. Mostly reported from about 70,000 miles upward, often on vehicles used in corrosion-prone areas.

   Recall 14V704000Recall 13V3850004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether recalls 13V385 and 14V704 were completed and whether the upper intermediate shaft was replaced; have the steering shaft checked for corrosion or play.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “As part of the recent ford steering recall, an emergency inspection was done on 11/18/13 at 69,104 and declared safe to drive. On 3/18/14 driving to the dealer to have recall work performed, the steering column locked-up solid at the turn was made entering the dealers property.a repair was done replacing the lower shaft only as shown in picture #1. Then less than 14 months later a repeat failure of the upper shaft assembly shown in picture #2. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10730821, filed 2015-06, 75,811 miles

   “Re: recall 13s08 / NHTSA recall 13v385 ford dealers could not do repairs timely. This is a working commercial vehicle. Bought parts from ford and had independent mechanic perform repair. Ford/Lincoln refused to reimburse. I feel that in light of the fact that the repairs were performed, and that their representative dealers were not able to fit us in within a reasonable period of time, they should reimburse at least up to the amount they reimburse through dealers. The repairs were done 2 months ago and appear to be solid.”

   NHTSA complaint #10648648, filed 2014-10, 110,000 miles

Buying note. Ask for proof that the steering recalls were completed, and check the air bag warning light, seat belt pretensioners and brake pedal feel on a test drive, since those are the most common owner complaints. Also inspect the fuel tank straps for corrosion.

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.