Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Lincoln town car. The contact stated after shifting the vehicle into drive, the vehicle experienced an unintended acceleration which resulted in a crash through the passenger's garage. The vehicle was not able to stop even when the brake pedal was depressed. The contact was able to regain control of the vehicle after the vehicle was put into park and the key was…
2007 Lincoln Town Car cruise control problems
severe 23 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
23
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
8crashes
5injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 23 cruise control complaints filed for the 2007 Lincoln Town Car, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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
Cruise control accounts for 27% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 6 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Unintended acceleration is the dominant complaint across these 2007 Lincoln Town Car reports, with the vehicle surging forward despite brake application in most cases. Dealers struggle to reproduce the failure, and no manufacturer recalls or fixes are documented—treat any pre-owned 2007 Town Car with serious caution.
The 23 complaints for 2007 Lincoln Town Car cruise-control cluster center on unintended acceleration, mostly occurring when the brake pedal is pressed. Owners describe the vehicle surging forward at speeds ranging from 2 to 45 mph, with several incidents resulting in crashes. Some drivers report needing to shift into neutral or pull an emergency brake to regain control. Three to four crashes are documented, including one at low speed in a garage causing personal injury.
Mileage at failure runs from 1,500 to 140,000 miles, though most incidents cluster in the first 50,000. The failure is intermittent—some owners experience it multiple times in a single day, others weeks apart. One driver noted five or six occurrences in one year of ownership.
Dealers replace transmission parts and ignition coils in isolated cases, but most dealership visits result in no diagnosis. One dealer installed a diagnostic monitor with kill switch; the failure did not recur with the monitor in place. Dealers often tell owners the brake or accelerator pedal is being misapplied; one owner explicitly rejects this claim, citing over one million miles of driving experience.
One complaint involves a floor mat caught under the accelerator pedal. Another cites pedal spacing too close together. One narrative specifically mentions cruise control as the cause of loss of control. No recalls or technical service bulletins are mentioned by any owner.
Same Lincoln Town Car cruise control reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended Acceleration While Braking
Vehicle accelerates when brake pedal is depressed, often severely. Occurs at low to moderate speeds (2–45 mph), in traffic, parking lots, and when attempting to come to a stop. Braking effort insufficient to stop the vehicle; some owners report needing both feet on brake or shifting to neutral.
When: Mileage range 1,500 to 140,000 miles; most commonly reported in early ownership (under 50k miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle surges or accelerates forward while brake pedal pressed; High engine revving when brake applied; Stopping distance extended (one report: two car-lengths); Emergency brake or neutral shift required to stop; Intermittent occurrence—sometimes several times in one day, sometimes weeks apart
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced transmission parts (one case) and ignition coils (one case); dealer unable to diagnose or duplicate failure in majority of cases. One vehicle equipped with diagnostic monitor/kill switch; failure did not persist with monitor installed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer referred owners to NHTSA Hotline or back to dealer; provided no assistance in several cases. No recalls or TSBs mentioned by owners.
Floor Mat Interference with Accelerator
Driver-side floor mat with single hook becomes caught under accelerator pedal, causing unintended acceleration. Owner reports needing to manually release mat while driving.
When: Approximately 48,270 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Floor mat frequently caught under accelerator pedal; Continuous manual release of mat required during driving
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer stated repair possible but at owner's expense. Owner believed manufacturer should be responsible.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer provided no assistance.
Cruise Control Malfunction / Loss of Vehicle Control
One narrative indicates loss of control specifically attributed to cruise control action. Vehicle cannot be regained without manual intervention.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of vehicle control; Inability to regain control due to cruise control operation
Engine Revving / High Idle Acceleration
Engine revs extremely high or accelerates at idle without driver input. Occurs intermittently and without identifiable cause.
When: Reported approximately every four days in one case
Symptoms owners cite: Engine revs to high RPM at idle; Acceleration without foot on accelerator; Intermittent, random occurrence
Synthesized from 23 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Lincoln town car. While depressing the brake pedal at low speeds to come to a stop, the vehicle inadvertently accelerated. In order to stop the vehicle, the contact had to shift from drive to neutral. The contact was unaware if any warning indicators were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The…
Unintended/Unexpected acceleration, even while brake pedal is pressed. Happens intermittently. Most scary time for me happened in Publix parking lot at crosswalk for pedestrians. I thought I was going to hit the pedestrians. There are two drivers for this car and has happened to both of us. Just now, [XXX] around [XXX] it happened again when the other driver was driving out of Subway…
On the ventura freeway in heavy traffic on nov 6,2008. Driving at about 30 miles per hour, traffic made it necessary to stop. The car, as it has done before, had unintended acceleration. This was about the fifth or sixth time it has happened in one year of my owning the car. The other times it happened, I had brought it back to the dealer and they replaced transmission parts the first time…
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Lincoln town car. When the contact depressed the brake pedal, the vehicle lurched forward, accelerated, and almost crashed into another vehicle. The failure occurred on two separate occasions. The vehicle was taken to diffee Ford Lincoln (1681 I-40, el reno, ok), but the cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2007 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 2007 Lincoln Town Car?
It's a meaningful issue. 23 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 18 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 14,000 and 48,270 miles, with the median around 36,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 14,000; a quarter make it past 48,270. 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/2007/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.