CarVerify

Lincoln Towncar Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Lincoln Towncar car check

Is the Lincoln Towncar reliable? We analysed 3,290 real MOT tests across 431 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Lincoln Towncar? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 3,290 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
69.4%
Typical Mileage
128,422mi
Annual Mileage
4,016mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
34yrs

The Lincoln Towncar is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, brake pipe excessively corroded and track rod end ball joint has excessive play. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Lincoln Towncar.

Lincoln Towncar Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Lincoln Towncar. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Lincoln Towncar MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Lincoln Towncar to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

69.2%
2007
72.5%
2004
75.7%
2003
72.6%
2002
73.6%
2001
67.9%
2000
69.1%
1999
70%
1998
68.8%
1997
64.9%
1996
64.6%
1995
65.8%
1994
70.5%
1992

Lincoln Towncar Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Lincoln Towncar fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 226
Brake pipe excessively corroded 218
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 165
parking brake recording little or no effort 130
fog lamp not working 119
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 93
position lamp(s) not working 69
suspension has excessive play in a upper suspension ball joint 64
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 64
Ball joint has excessive play 57

Lincoln Towncar Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Lincoln Towncar owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
1,658 mi/yr
Typical
4,016 mi/yr
Average
5,806 mi/yr
Heavy usage
7,551 mi/yr

Lincoln Towncar MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Lincoln Towncar year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2007 52 69.2% 44,725 107,110 118,834
2004 149 72.5% 79,474 133,958 168,556
2003 74 75.7% 76,378 110,899 140,273
2002 84 72.6% 110,238 138,220 170,022
2001 330 73.6% 100,278 123,625 178,620
2000 436 67.9% 98,964 143,610 189,125
1999 447 69.1% 111,948 154,444 191,772
1998 414 70.0% 93,177 126,438 163,107
1997 276 68.8% 92,474 123,656 156,919
1996 305 64.9% 83,793 123,274 157,210
1995 178 64.6% 128,516 153,616 193,116
1994 146 65.8% 105,126 134,764 172,529
1992 139 70.5% 27,928 71,000 104,546

How Long Does a Lincoln Towncar Last?

Based on 431 Lincoln Towncar vehicles on UK roads.

Average
13.0 years
Median
11.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
34 years

Lincoln Towncar Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Lincoln Towncar MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
128,422 mi
75th Percentile
167,594 mi
95th Percentile
256,606 mi
Max Recorded
866,604 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Lincoln Towncar

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2003

75.7% MOT pass rate from 74 tests

Year to avoid
1995

64.6% MOT pass rate from 178 tests

The best year to buy a used Lincoln Towncar is 2003, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 75.7% across 74 tests. The 1995 model year has the lowest pass rate at 64.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Lincoln Towncar Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Lincoln Towncar THIS CAR 69.4% 3,290 128,422 mi 34 yrs
Lincoln Town Car Auto 72.1% 7,129 123,648 mi 31 yrs
Lincoln Town Car 73.7% 2,774 113,266 mi 38 yrs
Lincoln Navigator 76.1% 2,452 78,614 mi 28 yrs
Volkswagen Passat SE Nav TDI 88.3% 2,749 55,554 mi — yrs

Compared to the Lincoln Town Car Auto (72.1% pass rate) and the Lincoln Town Car (73.7% pass rate), the Lincoln Towncar trails behind on MOT reliability.

Found a Lincoln Towncar you like?

Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.

Check a specific Lincoln Towncar

Should you buy a used Lincoln Towncar?

The Lincoln Towncar has an overall MOT pass rate of 69.4% across 3,290 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Lincoln Towncar are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (226 recorded failures), brake pipe excessively corroded (218), and track rod end ball joint has excessive play (165). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Lincoln Towncar owner drives around 4,016 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Lincoln Towncar models stay on UK roads for around 34 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Lincoln Towncar — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Lincoln Towncar reliable?
Based on 3,290 MOT tests, the Lincoln Towncar has a 69.4% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Lincoln Towncar?
The most common MOT failures are parking brake: efficiency below requirements, brake pipe excessively corroded, and track rod end ball joint has excessive play. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Lincoln Towncar do per year?
The typical Lincoln Towncar does around 4,016 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Lincoln Towncar last?
Most Lincoln Towncar models stay on UK roads for around 34 years based on our analysis of 431 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Lincoln Towncar?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Lincoln Towncar?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Lincoln Towncar is 2003 with a 75.7% pass rate across 74 tests.