Should I buy a 2006 Lincoln Town Car with documented steering problems?

Depends on the price and the specific vehicle. Documented steering issues should be priced into the purchase — if the seller is asking full retail, negotiate down by the expected repair cost. A pre-purchase inspection from an independent shop tells you whether THIS specific vehicle has already shown the symptoms or not.

2006 Lincoln Town Car steering problems

severe Owners of the 2006 Lincoln Town Car have filed 13 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 110,000 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →

Failure mileage

Complaints

Recalls

Avg fix

$700

steering complaints on the Lincoln Town Car, by model year
Model year	steering complaints
2005 Town Car	8
2006 Town Car (this page)	13
2007 Town Car	18
2008 Town Car	3
2010 Town Car	5

3crashes

What stands out

Among the 6 model years of Lincoln Town Car in our records for steering problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.

All 2 active steering recalls on this vehicle land at critical or severe — none classified moderate.

Related recalls

severe NHTSA 14V704000 November 5, 2014

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.

severe NHTSA 13V385000 August 29, 2013

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.

Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins

The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.

Service Bulletin 16-0072 Apr 2016

For 2005-2012 Crown Victoria, 2005-2011 Grand Marquis and Town Car vehicles, Regional Program 13R01 applies to vehicles not registered in corrosion states and not included in Safety Recall 13S08, where operation in high corrosion areas for an extended period may lead to corrosion in the lower intermediate steering shaft swing link. This may result in a compressed upper intermediate steering shaft and separation from the steering column, which can result in a loss of steering control. Vehicles covered under 13R01 that were inspected or repaired without replacement of the lower intermediate shaft, and have relocated to high corrosion areas, may experience subsequent corrosion of the lower inte

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin TSB160072 Apr 2016

Inpected or repaired under 13R01 - Requests for recall service action under 13S08

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin RP-13R01 Sep 2014

FORD: THE LOWER INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT, HAS CORROSION OF SWING LINK JOINTS, COMBINED WITH COLLAPSED UPPER INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT, RESULTING IN STEERING COLUMN SEPARATION AND LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. MODEL 2005-2011 CROWN VICTORIA, GRAND MARQUIS, TOWN CAR. UPDATED 04/23/14 UPDATED 07/10/15 UPDATED 7/15/15

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin RP-13-R-01 Oct 2013

FORD: SWING LINK JOINTS ON LOWER INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT, HAS CORROSION, AND COMBINED WITH COLLAPSED UPPER INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT, ON SOME VEHICLES, CAUSES STEERING COLUMN TO SEPARATE, LEADING TO STEERING CONTROL LOSS. MODEL 2005-2011 CROWN VICTORIA, GRAND MARQUIS, TOWN CAR.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin 052613 Jan 2005

LIGHT STEERING EFFORTS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.

The failure pattern owners describe

Owners report steering column lock-up and intermediate shaft failure as the dominant issue. The lower shaft can fail, then the upper shaft fails months later—a pattern suggesting incomplete original repair or defective replacement parts. One owner had their vehicle inspected and declared safe under recall 13V385000 on 11/18/13, then the steering locked solid while driving to the dealer for repair work three months later.

Several vehicles developed steering column separation from the bearing during low-speed driving and reversing. A few owners discovered their VINs were excluded from recall 14V704000 despite having matching failure modes. One dealer wanted $2,600 to correct an improperly performed recall repair.

Rack and pinion replacement under the recall sometimes led to loud steering noise afterward. A tie rod failure at 55,000 miles caused loss of control. One unusual complaint involved foot pedal adjustment retracting away from the driver at highway speed, putting the brakes out of reach.

Recall parts availability was a problem—owners waited over two months for parts, some turned to independent mechanics when dealers couldn't deliver timely service, and one was denied reimbursement for out-of-pocket repairs.

Same Lincoln Town Car steering reports on nearby years: 2007

Failure modes owners describe

Steering column lock-up / intermediate shaft failure

Lower and/or upper intermediate shaft components fail, causing the steering wheel to seize solid or become unable to turn. The column assembly can separate from its bearing.

When: 69,104 to 186,000 miles; failures reported during turns, reversing, and normal driving

Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locked up solid mid-turn; Steering wheel seized while in reverse; Steering column coming apart; Unpredictable locking

Repairs/costs cited: Lower shaft replacement alone proved insufficient; upper shaft assembly failed 14 months later. Complete upper and lower shaft replacement required. One dealer quoted $2,600 to correct an incomplete initial recall repair.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Related to NHTSA recalls 13V385000 and 14V704000 (steering). Some VINs were excluded from recall 14V704000 despite similar failures. Incomplete repair protocols resulted in repeat failures.

Power steering malfunction and column separation

Power steering system fails concurrent with steering column structural failure, causing loss of steering control and column detachment from bearing.

When: 135,000 miles and higher

Symptoms owners cite: Power steering malfunctioned while driving and parking; Steering column separated from lower bearing; Manifold plate detached into steering shaft

Repairs/costs cited: Steering shaft replacement required. One vehicle at 135,000 miles was not repaired because VIN was not included in recall 13V385000.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 13V385000 coverage gaps; some vehicles excluded despite failure modes matching recall criteria.

Rack and pinion noise after recall repair

Loud steering noise develops shortly after rack and pinion replacement under recall 13V385000, suggesting improper installation or defective replacement component.

When: 107,301 miles; noise appeared post-repair

Symptoms owners cite: Loud noise from steering wheel after recall repair

Repairs/costs cited: Rack and pinion was replaced under recall but not repaired after noise developed.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 13V385000 (steering); repair performed but follow-up service not documented.

Tie rod failure

Front passenger side tie rod failed, causing immediate loss of vehicle control and crash at low speed.

When: 55,000 miles

Symptoms owners cite: Passenger side front tie rod failed; Loss of vehicle control; Crash at 20 mph

Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to insurance repair shop for repairs; failure had not recurred at 65,000 miles.

Foot pedal adjustment (seat/pedal assembly)

Power pedal adjustment mechanism malfunctions during driving, causing sudden and uncommanded retraction away from driver, rendering brake and accelerator pedals unreachable.

When: At highway speed, approximately 45 mph

Symptoms owners cite: Uncommanded retraction of foot pedal adjustment to maximum distance; Pedals moved out of driver reach; Nearly impossible to activate brakes or accelerator

Repairs/costs cited: Driver manually disengaged seat belt and slid under dash to reach pedals; used control switch to restore position.

Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.

What owners are reporting 0 most recent

Had steering 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 steering problem on the 2006 Lincoln Town Car?

It's a meaningful issue. 13 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.

At what mileage does the steering typically fail?

Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 75,811 and 135,000 miles, with the median around 110,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 75,811; a quarter make it past 135,000. 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 $700 for steering 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 steering?

Yes — 2 active recall(s) cover steering issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.

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.