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2007 Lincoln Town Car Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2007 Lincoln Town Car has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 5 recurring issue clusters, led by “Water leak into floorboard.” Lincoln uses Ford's Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor: it tracks how the vehicle is actually driven and calls for oil service when needed — up to 10,000 miles or 12 months on normal duty, much sooner with towing or repeated short trips. EcoBoost-powered Aviators and Nautilus models are turbocharged: heat is their maintenance story, so oil quality and cooling-system health matter more than on the old naturally aspirated V8s. Traditional V8 Navigators and Town Cars are long-interval machines — 100,000-mile plugs — that mostly reward fluid discipline.

Save this car as:

No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2007 Lincoln Town Car.

Reported to NHTSA

Water leak into floorboard

STRUCTURE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER

4 NHTSA complaints · 2013-07 → 2022-01

“My 07 Lincoln only has around 80,000 miles on it and has water leaks causing water to pool in the floor boards thereby causing the potential for rust, electrical issues and the hazards that could result therefrom”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11449040
“WATER ACCUMULATES ON FLOOR FRONT AND REAR. PASSENGER SIDETHE CAR CAN BE IN MOTION OR STATIONARY DURING RAIN OR GOING THROUGH CAR WASH”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10970379
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A WATER LEAK IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10567119

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Uncontrolled power seat movement

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS, SERVICE BRAKES

2 NHTSA complaints · 2013-06 → 2014-09

“WHEN THE ELECTRIC SEAT SWITCH WAS PUSHED TO MOVE THE SEAT FORWARD THE SEAT DID NOT STOP WHEN THE SWITCH WAS RELEASED IT CONTINUED COMPLETELY FORWARD TRAPPING MY WIFE BETWEEN THE SEAT AND STEERING WHEEL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10639644
“WHEN KEY IS INSERTED IN IGNITION, THE SEAT SLAMS FORWARD INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND THEN REVERSES SLAMMING TO EXTREME BACK POSITION AND THEN REVERSES REPEATING ACTION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10519939

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Unintended acceleration despite brake application

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

39 NHTSA complaints · 2007-02 → 2025-07

“The contact owns a 2007 Lincoln Town Car. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the driver pressed the accelerator pedal the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration, causing the vehicle's speed to suddenly increase above 65 MPH”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11674612
“I WAS STOPPED AND ENTERING A TURN. THERE WAS NO ICE ON THE PAVEMENT. AS I TURNED LEFT THE CAR ACCELERATED AND THE BRAKES BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. THE CAR SPUN AND HIT A FIRE HYDRANT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10499578
“I PURCHASED THE 2007 TOWNCAR ON 6/24/08, WITH 14,500 MILES. THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN MY SHOE IS HALF ON THE BRAKE AND THE PEDAL WILL GO DOWN TO WHERE THE GAS PEDAL IS. THIS HAS HAPPENED 6 OR 7 TIME ALREADY, THE HARDER YOU PRESS THE BRAKE THE FASTER YOU GO”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10240252

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Steering shaft and column failure

STEERING

18 NHTSA complaints · 2013-10 → 2023-12

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, A SNAP SOUND WAS HEARD AND THE STEERING WHEEL FRACTURED. THE STEERING WHEEL MOVED IN CIRCLES AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10911127
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH, THEN THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL DETACHED WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10959498
“I WAS TRAVELING WEST ON 64 ON 8\13\15 . THERE WAS A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC BUT I WAS EXPERIENCING NO PROBLEMS UNTIL MY CAR BEGIN TO SWERVE BACK AND FORTH AND I WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN THE LANE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10763990

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag non-deployment and warning light

AIR BAGS

7 NHTSA complaints · 2007-04 → 2022-01

“HAD AN ACCIDENT AND AS A RESULT THE AIRBAG NOTIFICATION LIGHT STAYS ON. LIGHT SUPPOSE TO INDICATE THAT THE AIRBAG INFLATED. IT DID NOT INFLATE DURING ACCIDENT. ACCIDENT WAS ON A CITY STREET AND IT WAS IN MOTION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11020495
“MY FATHER WAS INVOLVED IN AN T-BONE ACCIDENT WHICH TOTALED BOTH VEHICLES. NOT ONE OF HIS AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I UNDERSTAND THE FRONT NOT DEPLOYING BUT NEITHER OF THE SIDE BAGS DEPLOYED AS WELL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10649872
“I WAS RECENTLY IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN BALTIMORE, MD. AND WHEN I GOT HIT MY AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH MY CAR TOOK A HUGE HIT TO THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10463115

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (Oil-Life Monitor)

Every 10,000 mi

Change when the Oil-Life Monitor calls it — up to 10,000 miles or 12 months. EcoBoost engines (Aviator 3.0T): use the specified synthetic and don't stretch the monitor; turbos cook marginal oil.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate every 7,500 miles. Heavy Navigators shift a lot of weight — even wear is a ride-quality item, not just a tire-budget item.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 10,000 mi

Inspect pads, rotors, and parking brake at every oil service. Town Car livery duty and Navigator towing both count as severe service for brakes.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 150,000 mi

Ford schedules the 10-speed (10R80) and 6-speed automatics at 150,000 miles normal duty — but 60,000 miles with towing or livery use, which describes many Lincolns. Mercon ULV / the specified Mercon type only.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 100,000 mi

V8 Navigator and Town Car: 100,000-mile plugs. EcoBoost V6 (Aviator, Nautilus 2.7T): commonly around 60,000 miles — check your year's guide; turbo engines run shorter plug lives.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace every 30,000 miles per Ford's schedule; sooner in dusty climates.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Rear Differential Fluid (RWD/4WD)

Every 60,000 mi

Navigator, Aviator RWD, and Town Car: replace rear axle fluid around 60,000 miles with towing or livery duty (150,000 normal per Ford). Limited-slip axles need the friction modifier.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.

Serpentine / Accessory Belt

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect from 60,000 miles; replace on cracking. The 5.4L Navigator's belt also drives the cooling fan clutch on some years — a failure overheats fast.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 20,000 mi

Replace every 20,000 miles where equipped. (2004-era Town Cars predate cabin filters; modern Lincolns locate it behind the glovebox.)

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Coolant Replacement

Every 100,000 mi

Motorcraft Orange (OAT) on modern models: first change around 10 years / 200,000 miles per Ford, though shops commonly refresh by 100,000. Older green-coolant V8s: every 5 years. Never mix chemistries.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Battery Test & Service

Every 25,000 mi

Test annually after year 3. Feature-heavy Lincolns (air suspension compressors, power everything) expose weak batteries as electrical gremlins first.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

65 crashes 1990–2024

How the 65 occupant deaths break down

43

driver deaths

22

passenger deaths

65

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2007 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

19

complaints mentioning a crash

1

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2007 Lincoln Town Car reflects Lincoln's published service intervals and the Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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