Head-to-head reliability
Lincoln TOWN CAR vs FORD F 150
How the Lincoln TOWN CAR and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Lincoln TOWN CAR vs FORD F 150: The Town Car has 739 complaints over 10 years (about 74 per year) and 22 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,621 complaints (about 1,162 per year) and 151 recalls. The F-150's higher volume includes many transmission and electrical issues, but the Town Car's fewer complaints still include serious unintended acceleration and airbag problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Lincoln TOWN CAR or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Lincoln TOWN CAR
The Lincoln Town Car is a large, rear-wheel-drive luxury sedan often used as a livery vehicle, with 739 complaints over 10 years (about 74 per year) and 22 recalls. Owners frequently report unintended acceleration, airbag deployments without a crash, and brake problems that can make stopping unpredictable. Suspension issues, especially with the air suspension, are also common and can lead to warning lights and costly repairs. Overall, the complaint pattern suggests a car that can be comfortable but may demand attention to safety-related systems.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with 11,621 complaints over 10 years (about 1,162 per year) and 151 recalls, far more than the Town Car. The most common trouble spots are the powertrain, electrical system, and exterior lighting, with many owners describing transmission limp mode, lead frame failures, and rear window shattering. These issues can leave the truck stuck in gear or cause sudden electrical faults. While the F-150 is popular, the volume of complaints points to a higher likelihood of recurring problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Lincoln TOWN CAR | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 739 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 22 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 103 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 73.9 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 66 Better | 297 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Lincoln TOWN CAR
- 01VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL150
- 02AIR BAGS129
- 03SERVICE BRAKES98
- 04SUSPENSION91
- 05STEERING85
Owners report sudden unintended acceleration, such as the engine racing as if the gas pedal were floored, even when trying to brake. This can lead to rear-end collisions and is a serious safety concern for any buyer.
Complaints include airbags deploying without a crash, like the passenger-side airbag going off on a straight road at 45 mph. This can startle the driver and cause loss of control, and it means the airbag system may not be trustworthy.
Drivers describe intermittent trouble stopping, including being unable to stop when approaching a toll booth. This suggests brake components may fail without warning, making the car risky in everyday driving.
The air suspension often triggers warning lights for check air suspension and tire fault, with mechanics finding issues on both sides. Repairs can be expensive, and a failing suspension affects ride comfort and handling.
“WE HAD A SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF OUR CAR. WE WERE TRAVELING WEST ON THE NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY (I-90) TOWARDS NIAGARA FALLS. AS WE EXITED INTO A REST AREA, SUDDENLY THE ENGINE RACED AS IF THE GAS PEDAL WERE FLOORED. THE DRIVER PRESSED ON THE BRAKE V…”
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AT A SLOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO POLICE…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners report the truck going into limp mode and getting stuck in 5th gear almost daily, as well as lead frame issues that have persisted for over a decade. These problems can leave you stranded or cause near collisions.
The lead frame issue also appears here, along with output speed sensor failures that trigger limp mode on the highway. Electrical gremlins like these can be hard to diagnose and may recur even after repairs.
One owner reported the rear window exploding outward after using the defroster, likely due to a short. This is a shocking and dangerous event that shows how electrical faults can have unexpected consequences.
Although not detailed in the sample complaints, exterior lighting is a top complaint category with 1,224 reports. Buyers should check all lights carefully, as failures can affect visibility and safety.
“This lead frame issue is never ending. Well over a decade without a proper remedy. I’m very familiar with it. but this one nearly ended my life. After the near collision I called my mechanic and bought a new ford lead frame from a dealership. It’s doing fine…”
“My 2017 Ford F-150 V8 with the 6-speed automatic transmission has been experiencing a serious and recurring transmission malfunction. The truck has consistently, almost on a daily basis, gone into limp mode and become stuck in 5th gear. It also frequently fai…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Lincoln TOWN CAR — 22 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria, 2005-2011 Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles manufactured March 23, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and 2005-2011 Lincoln Town Car vehicles manufactured March 8, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and on which the upper intermedi…
The risk: Improper servicing of the upper intermediate shaft could cause the shaft to separate, which can then result in a loss of steering control, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify the owners of vehicles whose repair records reflect that the upper intermediate steering shaft was repaired during the course of the prior recall 13V-385. Dealers will inspect and replace the upper immediate shaft if neces…
The defect: Ford is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria (including Crown Victoria Police Interceptors), Mercury Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Car vehicles. The affected vehicles are currently registered or were originally sold in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinoi…
The risk: If the lower bearing separates, the vehicle may experience a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners and dealers will replace the lower intermediate shaft, free of charge. The upper intermediate shaft and steering column lower bearing will be inspected to identify any damage that may have occurred as a result of lo…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria, 2005-2011 Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles manufactured March 23, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and 2005-2011 Lincoln Town Car vehicles manufactured March 8, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and on which the upper intermedi…
The risk: Improper servicing of the upper intermediate shaft could cause the shaft to separate, which can then result in a loss of steering control, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify the owners of vehicles whose repair records reflect that the upper intermediate steering shaft was repaired during the course of the prior recall 13V-385. Dealers will inspect and replace the upper immediate shaft if neces…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria, 2005-2011 Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles manufactured March 23, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and 2005-2011 Lincoln Town Car vehicles manufactured March 8, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and on which the upper intermedi…
The risk: Improper servicing of the upper intermediate shaft could cause the shaft to separate, which can then result in a loss of steering control, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify the owners of vehicles whose repair records reflect that the upper intermediate steering shaft was repaired during the course of the prior recall 13V-385. Dealers will inspect and replace the upper immediate shaft if neces…
FORD F 150 — 151 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block he…
The risk: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab vehicles. If a front seat belt pretensioner deploys as the result of a crash, the sparks may ignite materials such as carpeting or insulation within the B-pillar area.
The risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the B-pillar insulation material and wiring harness tape, and install heat resistant tape, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ford F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty trucks. The doors on these vehicles may have a bent or kinked actuation cable or the door latches may freeze after water gets into the latch. Either condition can result in the do…
The risk: A door that opens while driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the door latch actuation cables and repair if necessary, and install water shields over the door latches, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer…
Buyer analysis
Lincoln TOWN CAR or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Lincoln Town Car has far fewer complaints per year (about 74) compared to the Ford F-150 (about 1,162), meaning you are much less likely to encounter a reported problem with the Town Car. However, the Town Car's complaints often involve severe safety issues like unintended acceleration and airbag malfunctions, while the F-150's higher volume includes many transmission and electrical faults. In practice, the Town Car may have fewer issues overall, but the ones it has can be just as dangerous.
Key differences
- The Lincoln Town Car averages about 74 complaints per year, while the Ford F-150 averages about 1,162 per year, a huge difference in reported problem frequency.
- Town Car owners report unintended acceleration and airbag deployments without a crash, whereas F-150 owners report transmission limp mode and lead frame failures.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls versus 22 for the Town Car, suggesting more widespread safety fixes over the years.
- Both vehicles have 1 death reported, but the F-150 has 297 injuries compared to 66 for the Town Car, though these numbers don't account for how many vehicles are on the road.
- Test the brakes at low speed and on a test drive to see if the car hesitates or fails to stop, as owners report intermittent brake trouble.
- Check the air suspension for warning lights and listen for compressor noise, since failing air springs are a common complaint.
- Scan for transmission codes and test drive at highway speeds to see if it enters limp mode or gets stuck in gear, a frequent owner complaint.
- Inspect the rear window and defroster for cracks or signs of stress, as one owner reported the window shattering after using the defroster.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the brakes, suspension, and airbag system on the Town Car, and the transmission and electrical system on the F-150.
- During a test drive, specifically try to replicate reported issues: sudden acceleration or brake failure in the Town Car, and transmission limp mode in the F-150.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for transmission repairs or air suspension work.
- Budget for potential repairs: Town Car air suspension and brake fixes can be costly, while F-150 transmission and electrical repairs may also be expensive.
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Lincoln TOWN CAR or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Lincoln TOWN CAR vs FORD F 150
- Lincoln TOWN CAR total complaints
- 739
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Lincoln TOWN CAR total recalls
- 22
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Lincoln TOWN CAR avg complaints/year
- 73.9
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Lincoln TOWN CAR
- Lincoln TOWN CAR top complaint area
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN