There are 5 owner-reported lighting complaints for the 2003 Lincoln Town Carin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLICKER. AT FIRST IT WAS ALMOST UNNOTICABLE. GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE UNTIL I AM RELUCTANT TO DRIVE AFTER DARK. FIRST TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL THEN AFTER CHECKING VIN WAS TOLD DID NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE. THEN WAS TOLD THAT PART WAS RECALLED FOR FORD CROWN VIC AND MERC GRAND MARQUIS. PROBABLY THE SAME PART. THERE SEEMS TO BE A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM AND MINE SHOULD BE COVERED BY A RECALL. WAS ALSO TOLD THAT BEING BUILT IN CANADA COULD HAVE BEEN REASON FOR RECALL REFUSAL. UPDATED 09/15/15*LJ *CN
I RECENTLY PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED ON THE FIRST NIGHT DRIVE THAT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT(THE ONE AT THE TOP OF THE BACK WINDOW GLOWED BRIGHTLY OVER THE INSIDE OF THE WINDOW MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE TO THE REAR. WHEN IT RAINED AND THE BACK WINDOW WAS WET. THE PROBLEM WAS EVEN WORSE. UPON FEELING AROUND THE LIGHT I DISCOVERED 3/4 INCH SPACE BETWEEN THE LIGHT AND THE GLASS THUS LETTING THE LIGHT SPILL OUT. I CALLED THE LOCAL LINCOLN DEALER WHO AFTER EXAMINING IT SAID THEY WERE ALL LIKE THAT AND COULDN'T HELP ME. I CALLED FORD MOTOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND GOT THE SAME RESPONSE. I HAVE HAD TO PUT DUCT TAPE AROUND IT TO STOP THE LIGHT BUT I KNOW THIS SUMMER WHEN SUN GETS ON IT THE TAPE WILL NOT STICK AND LEAVE GLUE RESIDUE. I CAN RAISE THE CEILING (AND LIGHT ) UP AND DOWN 3/4 OF AN INCH BUT THEY SAY THATS THE WAY THEY WERE BUILT. IT'S DANGEROUS. I HAD A MERCURY BEFORE AND YOU COULDN'T EVEN TELL WHEN THE 3RD LITE WAS ONL.
THIS IS A DESIGN FEATURE; UNDER THE DASHBOARD WHERE THE STEERING COLUMN IS LOCATED ISN'T ENOUGH CLEARANCE WHEN DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO BRAKE, HE MUST SLIDE HIS FOOT SIDE WAYS TO NOT MAKE CONTACT WITH CONSOLE. ALSO, THIRD BRAKE LIGHT AT NIGHT ILLUMINATES BRIGHTLY. THE DRIVER DESCRIBES THE PROBLEM AS "BLINDING". *AK
LED HIGH-MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT CAUSES A DISTRACTING REFLECTION ON THE REAR WINDOW.
CONSUMER STATES THE INTERIOR MOUNTED REAR BRAKE LAMP'S SHIELD IS 3/4 INCHES FROM THE BACK WINDSHIELD. WHEN MOVING IN REVERSE LAMP CAUSING ENTIRE WINDSHIELD TO ILLUMINATE RED. CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO SEE OUT OF BACK WINDSHIELD AS A RESULT. TS
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026