When pressing hard on brakes 2005 town car engine went to full throttle. *ts the consumer stated the incident happened 3 times. *jb
2005 Lincoln Town Car cruise control problems
severe 27 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
27
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
7crashes
5injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 27 cruise control complaints filed for the 2005 Lincoln Town Car, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 4 model years of Lincoln Town Car we track for cruise control problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 27.
Owners have filed 27 cruise control complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2005 Lincoln Town Cars document recurring unintended acceleration across all driving phases—parked, stopped at lights, and moving at low speeds. The car lunges forward without pedal input, engines rev to maximum RPM, and brake applications either fail to slow the vehicle or actually accelerate it further. Skid marks up to 33 feet long, tire squeals, and collision damage appear repeatedly in these narratives. Multiple owners have shifted to neutral and killed the ignition as the only reliable way to stop acceleration.
The problem shows up as early as 2005 (initial purchase) and persists into high mileage (100,000+). What stands out is dealer helplessness—Lincoln and Ford technicians at multiple franchises cannot diagnose, duplicate, or repair the issue despite owner persistence. One independent shop identified a seized fuel injector valve; most dealers find no diagnostic codes and tell owners they cannot help without reproducing the fault. Brake pedal feel is sometimes abnormally soft, and one owner's foot slid from brake onto accelerator because pedal travel was excessive.
Cruise control also fails—one owner's speed control button did nothing despite repeated selection. A separate recall (07V336000) addressed a speed-control disconnect switch that could short out; another owner had cruise control disconnected under recall but waited months for parts never delivered. Injuries, property damage, and near-misses at intersections underscore the safety profile here.
Same Lincoln Town Car cruise control reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007
Failure modes owners describe
Sudden unintended acceleration (stationary/low-speed)
Vehicle accelerates without driver input while parked, stopped at lights, or moving slowly. Owners report the car jumping forward, lunging, or revving to high RPM unprompted. Multiple owners state pressing the brake pedal made acceleration worse or had no effect. Shifting to neutral and turning off the engine typically stopped the surge.
When: Occurs from vehicle startup through 118,000 miles; earliest report July 2005, incidents recurring multiple times over years of ownership.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden acceleration while parked or at very low speed (5-15 mph); Engine revs to high RPM without accelerator input; Brake pedal press results in continued or increased acceleration; Tires squeal, skid marks left on pavement; Shifting to neutral and killing ignition stops acceleration; Acceleration marks uniform and unbroken, suggesting sustained full throttle
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple owners took vehicles to Lincoln and Ford dealers; dealers unable to diagnose or duplicate failure. No diagnostic trouble codes stored on computer. One independent mechanic diagnosed an electronic valve in fuel injector seized in open position; vehicle not repaired. Dealerships cite inability to reproduce the problem despite owner attempts to demonstrate it.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 07V336000 for speed control disconnect deactivation switch. One owner mentions Ford class action lawsuit for unintended acceleration (2002-2010 Fords). Lincoln/Ford dealers consistently tell owners they cannot diagnose without reproducing the fault.
Delayed or unresponsive braking with simultaneous acceleration
Brake pedal depresses abnormally far or does not stop the vehicle. While driver is braking hard, engine continues to accelerate. Vehicle does not decelerate or slow until shifted to neutral and engine shut off, or emergency brake engaged.
When: Reported across vehicle lifetime; one incident on initial drive from dealership.
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal travel excessive or spongy, foot slides forward onto accelerator; Vehicle accelerates while brake pedal is depressed hard; Continued acceleration even in neutral (on some occasions); Vehicles required emergency brake or neutral shift to stop; Delayed brake response at highway speeds (55-60 mph reported)
Repairs/costs cited: One dealership claimed to have corrected the problem via hydraulic brake work, but failure recurred the next day. Most vehicles not diagnosed or repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner noted dealership mentioned hydraulic brake adjustment; no recalls specifically cited for brake responsiveness.
Cruise control malfunction (speed control inoperative)
Cruise control fails to engage or activate. Owner selects cruise control multiple times with no effect on vehicle speed.
When: Reported at 23,934 miles in one incident dated 07/24/2017.
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control selected but does nothing; Repeated activation attempts fail to increase or maintain speed; Speed control disconnection suspected
Codes mentioned: Fuse #25 (under dash), Fuse F13 (engine compartment)
Repairs/costs cited: Owner replaced fuses #25 and F13 but problem recurred.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 07V336000 for speed control disconnect deactivation switch; owner noted this recall was open on their 2005 Town Car and suspected it was the likely cause.
Cruise control disconnection/fire hazard
After recall notice, cruise control was disconnected at dealership due to reported fire hazard, but replacement parts were never delivered.
When: Recall service performed; owner waited 6+ months post-service.
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control disabled by dealer per recall; Vehicle left without functional cruise control
Repairs/costs cited: Cruise control disconnected at Arrow Ford of Abilene, Texas. Replacement parts backordered or unavailable.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford recall notice resulted in disconnection, not repair/replacement.
Synthesized from 27 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Dt: the contact stated three times the vehicle accelerated while the contact's foot on the brakes. This happened with or without the cruise control activating. The vehicle was taken to the dealership, but they were unable to diagnose the cause of the problem. *ak
Tl* the contact owns 2005 Lincoln town-car. While attempting to decelerate, the vehicle began to accelerate without intention. Even after repeated brake application the vehicle would not stop. Consequently she crashed into a grass embankment. She was hospitalized because her back had broken. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer, but the technician could not identify the cause of the failure. The…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2005 Lincoln Town Car?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2005 Lincoln Town Car?
It's a meaningful issue. 27 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 22 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 25,500 and 90,000 miles, with the median around 73,065. A quarter of owners report trouble before 25,500; a quarter make it past 90,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Lincoln/Town Car.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.