LincolnTown Car2000Overview/lincoln/town-car/2000/base/

2000 Lincoln Town Car

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2000 Town Car.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2000 Lincoln Town Car is a passenger car fitted with a four-speed automatic transmission and an engine requiring 5.0 quarts of 5W-20 API oil. It returns EPA fuel economy ratings of 16 mpg city, 23 mpg highway, and 18 mpg combined. Within the model’s 1990–2011 complaint history, this year accumulated 133 owner grievances—well below the 1997 peak of 328 yet substantially above the 2009 low of 5—while drawing nine recalls and logging air bags as its primary complaint category.

Model year201120102009200820072006200520042000

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque85-105 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy16/23/18 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 65 ex. Limo · 650 ex. Limo CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 65 ex. Limo · 650 ex. Limo CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP225-60SR16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7-J inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length215.4 in
Overall width78.3 in
Overall height57.9 in
Wheelbase117.7 in
Curb weight4015 lb
Track (front / rear)63.4 / 65.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)56/44

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 23 / 18 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume112 cu ft
Cargo volume21 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Town Car of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

9.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.30 sec — 2000 Cartier L Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2000Cartier L Sedan 4.6L V89.30 sec16.90 sec200 hpRWD
1998Signature Series Touring Sedan 4.6L V87.90 sec16.10 sec205 hpRWD
2003Cartier Sedan 4.6L V89.50 sec16.80 sec239 hpRWD
2005BPS (Ballistic Protection Series) Sedan 4.6L V812.00 sec18.60 sec239 hpRWD
2011Signature Limited Fleet Sedan 4.6L V88.10 sec16.10 sec239 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.0 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 85-105 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 19.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.0 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts114-121 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts18.0 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts14.0-16.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug19.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts85-105 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub221 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)802.5 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)12.5 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)755 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)75 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerMotorcraft
Spark Plug Gap0.052-0.056 in
Spark Plug Torque11.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity2.38 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity7.50 oz
Optional BCI Group Number65 Optional and Limo
Optional BCI Cranking Performance850 Optional and Limo cca
Standard BCI Group Number65 ex. Limo

Service checks

Pressure Test16 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief16 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188-195 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)30.0-45.0
Injector Primary Resistance11-18 ohms

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket147 ft-lbs / 20 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle85-105 ft-lbs / 50 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.039 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.00035 in / 0.0004 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.063 in / 0.56 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.063 in / 0.56 in
Rotor Minimum Machining1.01 in / 0.52 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 100,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · PCV Valve (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission Filter (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2000 Lincoln Town Car sits in a favorable position within the generation's complaint arc, which peaked at 328 complaints in 1997 and declined steadily through 1998 (161), 1999 (160), and 2000 (133) before a brief uptick in 2001 (174). However, the recall count tells a more cautionary story: 2000 saw nine recalls, a sharp increase from the prior two years (seven and six, respectively) and the highest figure since 1996's ten, suggesting that while owners were reporting fewer issues, federal regulators identified a significant number of safety-related defects requiring action. The top complaint areas — Air Bags and Electrical System (tied at 13 each), followed by Vehicle Speed Control (10) and Engine & Engine Cooling (9) — align with the 13 crash complaints and 10 fire complaints on record, though the data does not specify root causes for any of these categories. TSBs dropped from 160 in 1999 to 108, indicating fewer documented technical service issues, but the elevated recall and fire complaint figures remain a concern relative to the quieter 2002 model year (65 complaints, one recall). Overall, the 2000 is a reasonable buy given its below-average complaint volume, but a prospective owner should verify that all nine recalls have been completed and pay particular attention to the air bag and electrical systems during a pre-purchase inspection.

9
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
108
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
4
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
133
Owner complaints
13 involved a crash · 10 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 133 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags13
Electrical System13
Vehicle Speed Control10
Engine & Engine Cooling9
Suspension7
Unknown Or Other7
Visibility6
Equipment6

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 9 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

15E082000SteeringReported 06/10/2015

Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain model Dorman Steering Shafts, part number 425-359, Solutions Steering Shafts, part number 7-0359, and OE Solutions Steering Shafts, part number 425-359, manufactured… Remedy: Dorman will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering shaft, free of charge. The recall began on October 28, 2015. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at…

00V200000Equipment:Mechanical:Integrated Jack/Leveler/StabilizerReported 18/07/2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES HAVE JACKING INSTRUCTIONS WHICH, IF FOLLOWED, COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE OPERATOR TO PLACE THE JACK ON A FRAME WELD WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RAISE A REAR WHEEL. IF THE… Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A REVISED JACK INSTRUCTION AND STOWAGE CARD AND JACK WARNING LABEL, AS WELL AS A SUPPLEMENT TO THE OWNER GUIDE.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 108 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB 20-22332020-07-13StructureThis article supersedes TSB 19-2026 to update the vehicle model years affected. Some 2000…
TSB 19-20262019-02-07StructureSome 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels…
TSB 19-20262019-02-07StructureSome 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels…
CSP 08B042008-05-15Fuel System, GasolineFORD/LINCOLN MERCURY: CERTAIN 1992-2001 MODEL YEAR CROWN VICTORIA, GRAND MARQUIS, AND…
072122007-10-01Engine And Engine CoolingSOME 1997-2008 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4.6L 2V, 5.4L 2V, OR 6.8L 2V ENGINE--SPARK PLUG…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Town Car. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2000 Town Car take?

5.0 qt of 5W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2000 Town Car have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 9 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Town Car get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 23 highway / 18 combined mpg.