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 immediately in a controlled manner. The second occurrence, the consumer had to use the parking brake to stop the vehicle. *jb…
2006 Lincoln Town Car brakes problems
severe 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
2crashes
What stands out
No new NHTSA brakes complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 19 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2006 Lincoln Town Car describe two related brake system hazards. The primary complaint centers on pedal placement: the accelerator and brake pedals are dangerously close, so close that when drivers depress the brake, their foot simultaneously contacts or slips onto the accelerator. This happens even when the brake pedal is adjusted to its highest position. The result is vehicle surge—the car lunges forward despite brake application, sometimes violently, forcing owners to resort to neutral shifts or the parking brake to regain control. One driver with 54 years' experience and extensive performance-driving background confirmed via dealer computer data that his foot was indeed depressing both pedals at once when attempting to brake.
A secondary failure appears in one complaint: the brake pedal sinks completely to the floor without resistance, total braking pressure loss, recurring multiple times in close succession. That owner's vehicle failed to decelerate and required evasive steering maneuvers.
Dealerships acknowledge the problem but refuse repair, stating they cannot alter the vehicle's design. Lincoln headquarters took complaint information but offered no remedy. No recalls have been issued.
Same Lincoln Town Car brakes reports on nearby years: 2005
Failure modes owners describe
Brake pedal placement hazard—unintended accelerator engagement
Accelerator and brake pedals positioned too close together. Drivers report their foot slips off the brake and onto the accelerator, or both pedals are depressed simultaneously when attempting to brake. Owners with adjustable pedal systems report the problem persists even with the brake pedal at maximum height.
When: Reported from 5,000 miles to 67,000 miles; one report states problem occurred 'every since the vehicle was purchased' at 13,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle surges forward when braking applied; Foot involuntarily contacts accelerator while operating brake; Vehicle lunges forward unexpectedly during braking maneuvers; Engine races or accelerates when attempting to stop; Uncontrolled vehicle acceleration requiring emergency measures (neutral shift, parking brake use)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to fix; stated they 'were not able to alter the design of the vehicle.' One owner had a computer recorder button installed by dealer to monitor brake/throttle inputs; computer data confirmed simultaneous brake and accelerator pedal depression.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Lincoln headquarters recorded complaint information but directed owners to work through dealership. No recalls issued for brake issues per service managers at two separate dealerships.
Brake pedal sinking to floor—loss of braking pressure
Brake pedal extends fully to the floor upon depression without resistance, indicating loss of hydraulic braking pressure. Vehicle fails to decelerate when brakes are applied.
When: At 23,740 miles; recurred within 500 feet of initial failure
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal depresses fully to floor with no resistance; Vehicle fails to slow down when brakes applied; Loss of controlled braking requiring evasive steering to avoid collision
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle taken to authorized dealer; dealer could not duplicate failures. Failure persisted despite service attempt.
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had brakes trouble with your 2006 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 brakes problem on the 2006 Lincoln Town Car?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 29,385 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes 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 brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes 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/2006/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.