Consumer alleges brake application leading to engine revving. Vehicle moves forward. Consumer has had vehicle for 6 months and incident has occurred 12-14 times. Ran across intersection once because could not stop vehicle immediately. Consumer has had vehicle serviced at saffard Lincoln mercury in md. 3110 automobile blvd silver spring md 20904. Dealer run computer test but could not duplicate…
2006 Lincoln Town Car cruise control problems
severe 18 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
3crashes
4injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 18 cruise control complaints filed for the 2006 Lincoln Town Car, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 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
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 16 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners consistently report unintended acceleration occurring independently of throttle input, most often when braking. The engine surges while the driver's foot is on the brake pedal, with RPM spikes ranging from 2,500 to over 4,000 depending on the incident. In several cases, vehicle momentum continued forward despite brake application, requiring driver intervention—shifting to Neutral, turning off the ignition, or applying harder brake pressure—to regain control.
A distinct secondary pattern involves pedal interference: adjustable pedals sit close together, and some owners report their foot slipping from brake to accelerator, or depressing both simultaneously, especially at low speeds. Some dealers attributed incidents to dual-pedal application, but owners disputed this claim.
The failures occur sporadically and intermittently across mileage ranges (8,000 to 75,000 miles), with no warning lights reported. Several incidents happened during parking maneuvers or stop-and-go traffic; at least three collisions resulted. Dealers performed computer diagnostics in some cases without reproducing the fault. No manufacturer recalls, TSBs, or service bulletins addressing the root cause appear in these narratives.
Same Lincoln Town Car cruise control reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended Acceleration During Braking
Engine surges and vehicle accelerates forward while brake pedal is depressed, independent of throttle input. RPM spikes observed; brake pressure may not immediately overcome engine power.
When: Intermittently across 8,000–75,000 miles; occurs during braking, low-speed maneuvers, parking, and stop-and-go traffic
Symptoms owners cite: Engine RPM spike (2,500–4,000+ RPM) while foot on brake; Vehicle lurches or accelerates forward despite brake application; Brakes initially unable to hold vehicle; driver must apply harder pressure; Engine continues racing for few seconds after vehicle stops; No warning lights illuminate
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers performed computer diagnostics without reproducing the fault; no parts or repair costs cited in narratives
Stuck or Sticking Accelerator Pedal
Gas pedal mechanically stuck in down position or sticks intermittently, causing uncontrolled acceleration. Manual pedal manipulation required to restore control.
When: At least two incidents on same vehicle at 45,000 miles over approximately one year
Symptoms owners cite: Gas pedal stuck to floor; Vehicle accelerates uncontrollably (reached 85 MPH on highway); Brake application ineffective at stopping acceleration; Driver must manually pull pedal up to restore control
Repairs/costs cited: No repair documented; owner manually pulled pedal up in both incidents
Pedal Interference and Design (Adjustable Pedals)
Adjustable pedals positioned close together with minimal spacing between brake and accelerator. Foot slips from brake to accelerator or both pedals pressed simultaneously during braking, causing unintended acceleration.
When: Since purchase in Feb 2006 (narrative #1); reported on 20,000 miles and low-speed scenarios
Symptoms owners cite: Foot slips from brake pedal onto accelerator; Both brake and accelerator pressed simultaneously; Difficulty distinguishing pedals during braking; Vehicle accelerates while attempting to stop
Repairs/costs cited: No service performed
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Lincoln town car. While approaching a stop, the vehicle independently accelerated when the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. Updated 02/12/16*lj updated 02/17/16.*jb
Had cruise control 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 cruise control problem on the 2006 Lincoln Town Car?
It's a meaningful issue. 18 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 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 20,000 and 75,000 miles, with the median around 45,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 20,000; a quarter make it past 75,000. 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/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.