This safety issue was discovered yesterday. The passenger-side rear door will not unlock, either by manual attempt to raise the knob or by using the control buttons on the FOB nor at the driver's station. The window in that door also no longer responds to attempts to raise or lower it. Both my rear seat passengers had to enter using the driver's-side rear door. This creates a serious potential safety hazard by preventing rear-seat passengers exiting the vehicle near their closest door in an emergency. The car will be taken to a local dealership to resolve this safety and convenience issue upon my return from an extended trip. I had no warning of any impending component failure. That door lock and window worked well days ago.
Lincoln Town Car door locks problems
40 of the 2,986 owner complaints about the Lincoln Town Car describe doors won't lock, open or latch, most of them for the 2004 model year.
- owner complaints
- 40
- worst model year
- 2004
- typical mileage
- 70,000
Is there a fix? There are 4 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
- 20071
- 20064
- 20052
- 20048
- 20032
- 20023
- 20012
- 20001
- 19982
- 19972
- 19962
- 19951
- 19943
- 19932
- 19923
- 19912
Often reported together
Sudden acceleration 2Pulling 2Airbag light 2Stalling 1Fuel pump 1Fire or smoke 1
What owners say
3 of 4 interior door latches broke in normal use when attempting to exit the vehicle and the part is integral to the door panel. Ford dealer says the parts are no longer available and ford has provided no other means of repair. Exiting the vehicle may not be possible in an emergency and may pose a serious threat to life & safety.
The drivers inside door handle became unsecured from door panel. Unable to open door from inside vehicle. I took the vehicle to the dealer this morning and was informed the part is not available. There were no options given, except that the part would have to come from a salvage yard. I expressed my concern over the safety of this vehicle, should a collision or fire occur, the occupant would not be able to get out. I took the vehicle to my mechanic, and he is going to secure the handle tomorrow, so I can open the door from the inside.
For no reason, the front door on the driver's side will not open from the inside. You have to roll down the window and open it with the outside door handle.
Driver was parking lincoln town car. Stepped on brake while putting car into park position. Car suddenly accelerated over concrete parking stop and slammed into an entrance to shopping center sign that was in front of the parking space. The car ended up with the front of the car against the sign and the rear wheels of the car up against the parking stop. Also, the rear door locks failed, and passengers were unable to exit the vehicle and the air bag light illuminated. Updated 06/10/14
Opening the driver's door normally, the door handle broke off with a piece of the door panel. The whole door assembly used to open/close the door is no longer available and has been discontinued. The only way to open the door now is to roll the window down and reach outside to open the door from the outside. This is particularly unsafe as it is the driver's main escape.
The interior door lock within the panel broke off on the drivers side & the clips broke off on the passengers side. Per lincoln we will need to replace the whole panel. They no longer make the panel nor can we find it at anywhere else. Lincoln offered two sites to try and locate however they do not have this part either. The car hasn't even hit 10 years for us and lincoln offers no solution. The car runs ok but it's a bit embarrassing that we cannot open the door without the panel falling down. I believe this is a bad business transaction from the manufacturer and had we known we would get this type of service we wouldn't of bought this make of car.
Interior door handles dislodge from door panel mechanism rendering the inside door handle inoperative. This can trap people inside of car. No way to open door from the inside.
The door handle to open the drivers door is stuck out and the door cannot be opened from the inside of the car. If in an accident, you could die. Ford dealer told me tuff luck, the part is discontinued and impossible to repair. Poor design, poor response from ford. If there is a fire or accident, you cannot exit the car. Ford needs orders to recall these cars and fix the problem so innocent people do not sacrifice their lives for fords bottom line.
Driver's side interior door latch broke and is integral to the door panel. Ford dealer says the part is no longer available and ford has provided no other means of repair. Ford provided the following part number: 4w1z5423943eaa, which is not available. To exit the vehicle, the window must be rolled down and the outside door handle used. This is a potential safety risk if a quick exit is required during a fire, accident, or other emergency.
Related recalls
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch
- What is wrong
- When in the secondary latched position, the driver door latches may open when subjected to transverse loads less than that specified in fmvss no. 206, "door locks and door retention components."
- Risk
- The driver's door, when closed only to the secondary latched position, may not sustain a 1,000 pound transverse load.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the driver door latch.
Recall number 96V070000 · Recall details
Latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch
- What is wrong
- The secondary hood latch may not engage when the hood is closed.
- Risk
- In the event the primary hood latch releases or is not properly latched when the vehicle is in motion, the hood could fly up obstructing the operator's vision, and increasing the potential for a vehicle accident.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the hood latch assembly.
Recall number 95V151000 · Recall details
Latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch
- What is wrong
- Corrosion of the hood latch striker plate causes detachment of the plate from the hood assembly resulting in an unexpected opening of the hood while the vehicle is being driven.
- Risk
- This condition can reduce the driver's view of the road increasing the potential of a vehicle accident.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a new hood inner panel reinforcement and a new, galvanized hood latch striker plate.
Recall number 95V091000 · Recall details
Latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch
- What is wrong
- The secondary hood latch may not engage when the hood is closed.
- Risk
- In the event the primary hood latch releases when thevehicle is in motion, the hood could fly up, obstructing the operator's vision,and increasing the potential for a vehicle accident.
- Remedy
- Install a new hood latching assembly.
Recall number 91V147000 · Recall details
Questions about the Lincoln Town Car door locks
Which Lincoln Town Car years have doors won't lock, open or latch problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2004 (8 complaints), 2006 (4 complaints) and 1992 (3 complaints).
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