VehicleVerdict

1996 Lincoln Town Car brakes problems

The 1996 Lincoln Town Car has 33 brakes complaints filed with NHTSA — 10% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

33

Brakes complaints

10%

Share of year

2

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Brakes complaints by year

Related recalls

98I001000BrakesApril 7, 1998 · 167,742 units

Defect

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATION 573. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. FORD IS INITIATING AN OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR OWNERS OF CERTAIN 1995-1997 CROWN VICTORIA MODEL VEHICLES WITH POLICE, TAXI, AND COMMERCIAL FLEET PACKAGES AND TOWN CAR VEHICLES WITH THE LIVERY PACKAGE. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE LINE AND THE UNDERBODY FRONT FLOOR PAN ASSEMBLY WHICH COULD CAUSE WEAR OF THE BRAKE LINES.

Consequence

THIS COULD LEAD TO BRAKE FLUID LOSS FOR THE REAR BRAKES AND, POTENTIALLY, INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE LINES FOR WEAR, INSTALL TWO NEW TUBE BUNDLE CLIPS, AND CHECK THE BRAKE LINES FOR PROPER CLEARANCES. IF THE BRAKE LINES ARE WORN, THE DAMAGED SECTION OF THE BRAKE LINE WILL BE REPLACED.

What owners report

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WAS COMING TOWARDS AND INTERSECTION, WENT TO APPLY BRAKES AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. ALSO, THERE WAS NO STEERING, FORCING HIM INTO A GUARDRAIL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · January 11, 2001 · crash

Common questions

How many brakes complaints does the 1996 Lincoln Town Car have?

NHTSA has 33 complaints about the 1996 Lincoln Town Car brakes — 10% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1996 Lincoln Town Car brakes?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the brakes: 98I001000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.