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KLUNK
KLUNK

2002 Lincoln Town car

The Verdict

83 Smooth Ride

The 2002 Lincoln Town car has 65 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (28 complaints) and electrical (22 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 83/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Lincoln Town car, consider the 2009 model year which has 92% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2009 has 92% fewer complaints

View the 2009 Lincoln Town car dashboard →

83

Klunk Score: Smooth Ride

This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
2000571439203
2001691367213
200228112240
200312612201626
200455101161
2005532127126
2006491860115
200750111472
200885322
200920120
201070411
201141100

By Category

Body
28
Electrical
22
Brakes
11
Engine
4

By Severity

1
21
2
25
3
4
4
15

Worst Problems

Complaints

Body 2

Last week I blow a back tire . They said the belt broke separated. GOT a knot. This week Im having the same problem with one of my front tires. On way ro work had to pull over. Tire has a knot. I used Firestone but have had nothing but issues. Didn't tighten down my tires wore tire another store replaced the. Piedmont stoe . First store was powtersprings.

2mo ago
Electrical 1

ON 01/12/2019 I WAS TRAVELING STRAIGHT DOWN A LEVEL COUNTRY ROAD WITH 1 PASSENGER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AT ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN FOR NO REASON THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. AFTER REGAINING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TOOK A FEW MINUTES TO CALM DOWN AND FIGURE OUT WHAT JUST HAPPENED AND CLEAR ALL THE SMOKE FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE AIR BAG. MY FRIEND IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS SORE BUT NOT INJURED AND BOTH OUR EARS WERE RINGING. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN FIRED IN THE CAR. I CALL LINCOLN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOT ANY RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND DUE TO ITS AGE THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE TO GET IT REPAIRED. THE SIDE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT IS ALL TORE APART.

91mo ago
Brakes 1

TAKATA RECALL I'VE CHANGE THE BRAKE SWITCH ON MY CAR OVER FOUR TIMES AND IT WENT OUT AGAIN. MT CAR WILL NOT CHAGE GIER WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL WITH THIS PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENS AFTER THE VEHICLE IS PARK.

99mo ago
Engine 2

INTAKE MANFIOLD

103mo ago
Electrical 2

TAKATA RECALL ? MY WIFE AND FRIEND DRIVING 30 MPH IN NO TRAFFIC, AND THE DRIVERS SEAT AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. SHE SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT AND THE YELLOW BAG CAME OUT OF THE DRIVERS SEAT. DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD ON A COUNTRY ROAD.

123mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000. UPDATED 12/30/14*LJ UPDATED 05/27/2015 *JS

142mo ago
Electrical 4

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME LOOSE AS THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE ALSO WENT AIRBORNE, ROLLED OVER AND SPUN THREE TIMES BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS FRACTURED AND THE REAR WINDSHIELD BECAME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THREE OCCUPANTS AND A PET DOG WERE SEVERELY INJURED AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND WAS INSPECTED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE STEERING OR AIR BAG FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000. UPDATED 08/06/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY HERNDON AND ASSOCIATES EGINEERING FIRM. THE REPORT WAS SENT TO FORD, WHICH FORD DISSMISSED IN FOUR (4) DAYS. UPDATED 08/5/2013 *JS

166mo ago
Engine 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING EXCESSIVELY AND EXHIBITING LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISES FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE CYLINDERS MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RUN ON SEVEN CYLINDERS INSTEAD OF EIGHT. HE ALSO DISCOVERED THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO THEN REPLACED THE MANIFOLD AND THE PLUG WIRE FOR THE CYLINDER. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING REIMBURSEMENT AND THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, IT COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY LED TO A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

190mo ago
Body 4

AFTER HEARING C. THE RECENT SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITH TOYOTA VEHICLES, I AM PROMPTED TO WRITE YOU AGAIN REGARDING THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITH MY 2002 LINCOLN TOWNCAR. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE UP MY DRIVEWAY, AND PARK IN MY GARAGE, TRAVELING C. 5 MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY SOUNDED AS IF WERE REVVING AND LURCHED FORWARD. THE AGENT SENT FROM MY INSURANCE COMPANY, RECORDED 35 FEET OF SKID MARKS. BRAKES DID NOT WORK AND MY VEHICLE AND I CRASHED INTO MY DEN. I DID REPORT THIS INCIDENT TO FORD AND TO YOU AT THE TIME. MY COUSIN, IN ILLINOIS, HAD THE SAME MAKE AND YEAR AUTOMOBILE, AND HAD THE INCIDENT OCCUR THREE TIMES. IT IS A FRIGHTENING OCCURRENCE AND ONE FEELS TOTALLY HELPLESS. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO ELIMINATE THIS FROM OUR DRIVING EXPERIENCE? *TR

200mo ago
Body 2

2002 LINCOLN TOWNCAR CAR HAS AUTO LOCK FEATURE LOCKING ALL DOORS WHEN MOVING FORWARD. AFTER STOPPING THOSE IN THE FRONT SEAT CAN EXIT BY USING DOOR HANDLE. THOSE IN REAR SEAT MUST FIRST USE THE UNLOCK PLUNGER. IN EVENT OF ACCIDENT IF REAR PASSENGERS DO NOT KNOW THIS THEY ARE TRAPPED IN CAR. *CW

200mo ago
Electrical 4

WHILE SITTING IN A DRIVE THRU MY 2002 LINCOLN TOWNCAR CAUGHT A BLAZE UNDER THE HOOD. *TR

200mo ago
Body 1

THE DRIVER SIDE SAFETY BELT ON MY 2002 LINCOLN TOWN CAR NO LONGER LATCHES AND APPEARS TO BE LOCKED PREVENTING THE SEAT BELT FROM BEING CONNECTED/LATCHED. THE DASH BOARD SEAT BELT INDICATOR (NORMALLY LIT UP WHEN A SEAT BELT IS NOT ATTACHED) DOES NOT LIGHT UP. THIS PROBLEM STARTED ONLY A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AND CONTINUES. THIS CAR HAVE LESS THAN 48,000 MILES AND IS USED TO DRIVE TO WORK AND BACK. BECAUSE I AM UNABLE TO LATCH MY DRIVER SEAT BELT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AND I WANTED TO REPORT IT TO YOUR AGENCY. AS OF THIS WRITING I HAVE NOT HAD A FORD SERVICE REP LOOK AT THIS, BUT INTEND TO SHORTLY. BECAUSE I HAVE NOT YET TAKEN MY CAR INTO A FORD SERVICE CENTER FOR EXAMINATION I AM UNABLE TO REPORT WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THIS FAILURE OR PARTS NEEDED/REPLACED. *TR

206mo ago
Brakes 4

RE 2002 LINCOLN TC CARTIER L. THE MOST USELESS AND DANGEROUS ACCESSORY ON THIS AUTO IS THE ADJUSTABLE BRAKE & ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THERE DOESN'T APPEAR THAT THERE IS ANY WAY ONE MAY ADJUST EITHER/OR AS THEY ADJUST SIMULTANEOUSLY. RECENTLY THIS "ACCESSORY" COST ME $1000.00. MY WIFE WAS STOPPED, WAITING ON THE LIGHT TO CHANGE AND HAD HER FOOT PARTIALLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WHEN SHE PUSH ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, SHE ALSO PUSHED ON THE ACCELERATOR CAUSING HER TO REAR-END THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. ONCE THE BRAKE PADS WEAR, THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATOR IS AT THE SAME LEVEL. THIS IS NO JOKE. THIS HAS HAPPEN TO ME TWICE, FORTUNATELY IN BOTH INSTANCES THERE WERE NO PEOPLE OR VEHICLE (S) IN FRONT OF ME.- ( NO EXCUSES, JUST FACTS). I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE (REPORTED TO YOU)? THANK YOU. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE. EZRA RACHAL. *TR

208mo ago
Electrical 3

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A POTHOLE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 154,000. UPDATED 5/27/09 *CN

209mo ago
Electrical 1

WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED FOR A LONG TRAFFIC LIGHT STOP, I COULD SMELL BURNING PLASTIC. AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS OF THIS MY CAR WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK. FOUND THE HARNESS PLUG TO THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MELTED. I AM CURIOUS AS TO WHY THE FUSE DIDN'T BLOW ?. I REPLACED THE PLUG WITH NEW CONNECTORS AND A FEW WEEKS LATER THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING - WIRES ARE MELTED AND THE FUSE IS NOT TRIPPED.

212mo ago
Brakes 1

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DEPRESSES THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED INSTEAD. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO UNEXPECTEDLY SPEED UP. THE FAILURE RECENTLY OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH. HE HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THEY STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM TO BE MORE CAREFUL WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY BE BECAUSE AN ADJUSTABLE BRAKE PEDAL WAS INSTALLED IN HIS VEHICLE. HE BELIEVES THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF REPAIR OR SOLUTION TO THIS FAILURE. THE CONTACT FEELS UNSAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECAUSE HE COULD MISTAKENLY DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND CAUSE A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 11/07/08. *LJ UPDATED 11/07/08. *JB

215mo ago
Body 4

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. SHE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE UNTIL ONE MINUTE LATER. THE MECHANIC AND DEALER WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 49,000.

227mo ago
Electrical 3

TRAVELING AT 65 OR 70 MPH ON A CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY LAST SUMMER, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED (CAUSING PAIN, BRUISING, ETC. BUT NOTHING APPARENTLY PERMANENT - NO PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM HAS EVER BEEN CONTEMPLATED). IT WAS SHOCKING IN THAT THERE WAS NO CRASH OF ANY KIND. THE PASSENGER THOUGHT THE BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. THE DRIVER, NOT BEING CERTAIN, HAD THE IMPRESSION THAT SOME OBJECT (E.G., A SMALL PIECE OF TIRE RUBBER) WAS KICKED UP AGAINST THE CAR FROM THE ROADWAY. THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF ANY IMPACT WITH ANYTHING. THE BAG TORE PART OF THE LEATHER SEAT (BEYOND THE SEAM). THIS OCCURRED NEAR THE 5 YEAR POINT RE: WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER, FORD MOTOR COMPANY, SEEMED RESPONSIVE AT FIRST AND ASKED THAT WE TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER. I DID SO, AND WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT FORD INFORMED THEM IT WAS REFERRED TO THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND, THUS, THEY COULD NOT EVEN LOOK AT, LET ALONE REPAIR IT. THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT TOOK SEVERAL WEEKS TO ULTIMATELY SEND A LETTER STATING THEY HAD NO RESPONSIBILITY. OUR INSURANCE CARRIER IS UNCERTAIN AS TO HOW TO HANDLE THE CLAIM. THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IN THIS LINCOLN TOWN CAR IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE. IS THIS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THIS MODEL, ETC.? WHAT RECOURSE DO WE HAVE AGAINST FORD MOTOR COMPANY FOR FAILURE TO FULFILL ITS MORAL AND LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE THE AIR BAG AND REPAIR THE SEAT? IS THERE NOT A FEDERAL AGENCY THAT CAN BE HELPFUL IN SUCH MATTERS? NOTE: THE DAMAGE OCCURRED IN EARLY JUNE, 2006 (ENTERED 1ST BELOW TO ALLOW FOR TRANSMISSION OF CLAIM). *JB

235mo ago
Electrical 3

ON THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2007, MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY LINCOLN TOWN CAR APPROXIMATELY 55 MILES PER HOUR. FOR NO APPARENT REASON, THE PASSENGER RIGHT SIDE AIRBAG INFLATED. ALSO CAUSING INJURIES TO MY DAUGHTER, INJURIES INCLUDES A BRUISED EAR DRUM AND AN ASTHMA ATTACK. *JB

235mo ago
Body 1

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON A CITY STREET, SMOKE ERUPTED FROM ALL OF THE AIR VENTS ON THE DASH, AND FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THERE WERE NO VISIBLE FLAMES PRESENT. THE CONTACT TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, WHICH STOPPED THE SMOKE. AFTERWARDS, AS SOON AS THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED, SMOKE WAS AGAIN PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR SHORTED OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 01V258000, REGARDING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER MOTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

238mo ago

65 total

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