Head-to-head reliability
Lincoln TOWN CAR vs Toyota Camry
How the Lincoln TOWN CAR and Toyota Camry 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 Toyota Camry: The Town Car has 739 complaints over 10 years (about 74 per year), while the Camry has 2,056 (about 206 per year). The Town Car's complaints often involve sudden acceleration and brake issues, while the Camry's include power train and electrical problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Lincoln TOWN CAR or Toyota Camry 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). Owners frequently report sudden unintended acceleration, airbag deployments without a crash, and brake problems that make stopping unpredictable. Suspension issues, especially with the air ride system, are also common and can be costly to fix.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a midsize family sedan with 2,056 complaints over 10 years (about 206 per year). Many complaints involve the power train, such as hesitation, shuddering, and key removal problems, as well as engine and brake issues. Electrical and unknown problems also appear, sometimes affecting multiple safety systems at once.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Lincoln TOWN CAR | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 739 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 22 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 103 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 73.9 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 66 Better | 158 |
| 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, where the engine races even when the brake is pressed, sometimes causing rear-end collisions. This is a serious safety concern that can happen at any speed.
There are reports of airbags deploying without a crash, such as the passenger-side airbag going off on a straight road. This can startle the driver and cause loss of control.
Drivers describe intermittent trouble stopping, including a case where the car could not stop at a toll booth. This suggests brake system failures that could lead to crashes.
The air suspension often fails, triggering warning lights and requiring expensive repairs. This affects ride comfort and handling, especially when the system leaks or collapses.
“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…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report the ignition key getting stuck even when the car is in Park, requiring battery disconnection to remove. Others experience hesitation and shuddering while driving, which can be dangerous in traffic.
Complaints include delayed throttle response, where pressing the gas pedal does nothing for several seconds. This lag can make merging or accelerating unpredictable.
The electronic parking brake may not disengage, requiring a tow, and some owners hear clicking or vibrating from the brake pedal area due to the ABS system. These issues can leave the car stuck or cause concern about brake reliability.
Multiple safety systems, such as stability control and blind spot monitoring, can malfunction at once. This could reduce driver awareness and vehicle stability, especially at night or in bad weather.
“My 2023 Toyota Camry has developed an intermittent defect where the ignition key becomes stuck and cannot be removed even though the dashboard shows the vehicle is in Park. The only way to remove the key is to disconnect the vehicle's battery, which is not a…”
“The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was hesitating and shuddering, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle…”
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…
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
Buyer analysis
Lincoln TOWN CAR or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Lincoln Town Car has far fewer complaints per year (about 74) compared to the Toyota Camry (about 206). However, the Town Car's issues often involve sudden acceleration and brake failures, which are immediate safety risks, while the Camry's problems are more varied and sometimes less urgent. In practice, the Town Car may have fewer reported problems, but the ones it has can be more severe.
Key differences
- The Lincoln Town Car has 739 complaints over 10 years, while the Toyota Camry has 2,056, meaning the Camry has nearly three times as many complaints per year.
- Town Car owners frequently report sudden unintended acceleration and airbag deployments without a crash, which are rare in the Camry complaints.
- Camry complaints often involve power train issues like stuck keys and hesitation, as well as electrical glitches affecting multiple safety systems.
- Both have 1 death reported, but the Town Car has 66 injuries and 103 crash-related complaints, while the Camry has 158 injuries and 171 crash-related complaints.
- Check for any history of sudden acceleration by test-driving at low speeds and ensuring the engine does not race when braking.
- Inspect the air suspension for leaks or warning lights, as failures are common and expensive to repair.
- Test the ignition key to ensure it can be removed easily when in Park, as stuck keys are a reported issue.
- Listen for clicking or vibrating from the brake pedal and check that the electronic parking brake engages and disengages properly.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report to see if any recalls or complaints have been addressed.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the brakes, suspension, and airbag systems on the Lincoln Town Car.
- For the Toyota Camry, test the key removal, throttle response, and electronic parking brake during a test drive.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for brake and suspension work.
- Check for open recalls by using the NHTSA VIN lookup tool before purchase.
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 Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Lincoln TOWN CAR vs Toyota Camry
- Lincoln TOWN CAR total complaints
- 739
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Lincoln TOWN CAR total recalls
- 22
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Lincoln TOWN CAR avg complaints/year
- 73.9
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Lincoln TOWN CAR
- Lincoln TOWN CAR top complaint area
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN