VehicleVerdict

1996 Lincoln Town Car suspension problems

The 1996 Lincoln Town Car has 30 suspension complaints filed with NHTSA — 9% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

30

Suspension complaints

9%

Share of year

1

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Suspension complaints by year

Town Car suspension complaints by model year83 complaints1988: 1 complaints1989: 3 complaints1990: 9 complaints1991: 8 complaints1992: 12 complaints1993: 12 complaints1994: 15 complaints1995: 26 complaints1996: 30 complaints1997: 59 complaints1998: 21 complaints1999: 24 complaints2000: 10 complaints2001: 11 complaints2002: 3 complaints2003: 83 complaints2004: 2 complaints2005: 1 complaints2006: 1 complaints2007: 2 complaints2008: 1 complaints
Town Car suspension complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

98V322000SuspensionDecember 16, 1998 · 175,000 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 1996-1999 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE, FLEET, NATURAL GAS, AND 1996-1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINE VEHICLES THAT WERE PRODUCED WITH A LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CONTAINING A ONE PIECE BEARING; AND 1990-1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE, FLEET, AND NGV VEHICLES AND 1990-1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINE VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN SERVICED WITH EITHER A BALL JOINT CONTAINING THE ONE-PIECE BEARING OR A FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM CONTAINING A BALL JOINT WITH A ONE-PIECE BEARING. THE ONE-PIECE BEARING WITHIN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CAN WEAKEN SLOWLY DURING USE AND EVENTUALLY CRACK. THIS COULD RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE BALL AND CAP OF THE JOINT, ALLOWING THE CONTROL ARM TO DROP TO THE GROUND.

Consequence

IF THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, REDUCED STEERING CONTROL COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS (2).

What owners report

“1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR STEERING WENT OUT CAUSING CONSUMER TO RUN INTO A FENCE.*MR THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN LEFT AND RIGHT BUT THE WHEEL DID NOT RESPOND. REAR AIR SPRING WERE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CRACKING. THE VEHICLE STEERING A SUSPENSION PERFORMED POORLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE UPPER AND…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Suspension · March 3, 2005 · crash

Common questions

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

NHTSA has 30 complaints about the 1996 Lincoln Town Car suspension — 9% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1996 Lincoln Town Car suspension?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the suspension: 98V322000.

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.