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ProblemsByVinFile / 2006-LINCOLN-TOWN-CARNHTSA data synced 1 day ago
Lincoln
2006 Lincoln Town Car problems
The 2006 Lincoln Town Car has 143 NHTSA owner complaints and 2 active recall campaigns on file. Here's the breakdown — what's serious, what's noise, and what a working mechanic would actually do about it.
The 2006 Lincoln Town Car has 143 NHTSA owner complaints and 2 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is airbags at 55 complaints, typically surfacing around 78,986 miles (~$1,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
0
Critical
2
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2006 Town Car?
Acceptable — with caveats
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
Reliability score 7.2/10 — around the segment average
2 recall campaigns on file
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model —
not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Buying a used 2006 Lincoln Town Car? Check these first
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or
make the seller fix it before you sign.
What to inspect on this specific car
airbags — 55 owner reports
· tends to show around 78,986 mi · ~$1,100 to fix
cruise control — 18 owner reports
· tends to show around 48,217 mi · ~$600 to fix
steering — 13 owner reports
· tends to show around 118,395 mi · ~$700 to fix
brakes — 10 owner reports
· tends to show around 29,385 mi · ~$450 to fix
⚠ The one to take seriously: airbags is flagged
severe on this model
, showing up around 78,986 mi.
Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Recalls to confirm are done
Run the VIN from the listing — 2 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 7.2/10 model. The priciest documented failure is
powertrain (~$2,500) — get the
seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report
tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in
this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Dash light, leak, worn part — snap it and we'll read it against this car's record.
Photo attached — type a question or just hit Ask.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
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<p style="font:12px/1.5 system-ui,sans-serif;color:#64748b;max-width:640px;margin:6px 0 0">Source: <a href="https://problemsbyvin.com/2006-lincoln-town-car/" style="color:#b8540a;font-weight:600">2006 Lincoln Town Car reliability snapshot — ProblemsByVin</a></p>
When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you,
what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.
"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact
year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.
What owners are saying
recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
2006 Town Car· airbags
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Lincoln town car. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 MPH, the air bag warning light illuminated as a chime sounded. The failure recurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the…
Want to report similar problem others seem to be reporting. When starting the car you hear 5 chimes/beeps repeating five times. The airbag light remains lit the entire time. On extended trips the chimes/beeps comes on again roughly every thirty minutes. Being directly linked to…
2006 Lincoln town car with brake failure**cc 03/01/07 customer send in additional info**cc the consumer rented the 2006 Lincoln town car. The consumer experienced two brake failures while driving the vehicle. When the consumer applied the brakes, the vehicle didn't stop…
At about the 83,500 mileage mark an airbag dash indicator illuminated and a series of 5 chimes played. The dashboard indicator remained illuminated at all times. The chimes would play periodically while the engine was running. It was diagnosed as a faulty airbag sensor in the…
Had a problem with your 2006 Lincoln Town Car?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
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 intermediate shaft was serviced during the course of safety recall 13V-385
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.
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 necessary free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S25.
Ford is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria (including Crown Victoria Police Interceptors), Mercury Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Car vehicles
If the lower bearing separates, the vehicle may experience a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
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 lower intermediate shaft corrosion, and repaired or replaced as necessary. If the steering column lower bearing has separated, a retainer clip will be installed. The recall began on October 23, 2013. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall number is 13S08.
Common questions
Is the 2006 Lincoln Town Car reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.2 out of 10 based on 143 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 Lincoln Town Car is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2006 Lincoln Town Car?
The 2006 Lincoln Town Car is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 7.2/10 — around the segment average; 2 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What should I check before buying a used 2006 Lincoln Town Car?
Inspect the airbags first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 55 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 78,986 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
Is the 2006 Lincoln Town Car a good used car to buy?
It scores 7.2 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 143 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is airbags. Typical failure occurs around 78,986 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
What's the most common problem on the 2006 Lincoln Town Car?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 55 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 78,986 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 78,986 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Lincoln Town Car has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2006 Lincoln Town Car?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 143 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.
Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database, last synced 1 day ago. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Lincoln/Town Car.
Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics.
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