LincolnTown Car2011Overview/lincoln/town-car/2011/base/

2011 Lincoln Town Car

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2011 Town Car.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2011 Lincoln Town Car is a passenger car that pairs a six-quart oil capacity on 5W-20 with a four-speed automatic transmission and EPA fuel economy ratings of 16 city, 24 highway, and 19 combined mpg. Within a complaint history stretching from 1990 to 2011 — a 1997 peak of 328 reports and a 2009 low of just five — this model year draws only six owner complaints, with steering as the most-cited area and three recalls on file. That places the 2011 entry at the calm end of a two-decade arc, where researchers tracking the Town Car's reliability trajectory will find it a useful final-year data point rather than a cautionary outlier.

Model year201120102009200820072006200520042003

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity6.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy16/24/19 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 Long Wheel Base · 750 Long Wheel Base 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 Long Wheel Base · 750 Long Wheel Base CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP225-60R17OEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 24 / 19 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume109 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.

8.1 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.10 sec — 2011 Signature Limited Fleet Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2011Signature Limited Fleet Sedan 4.6L V88.10 sec16.10 sec239 hpRWD
2005BPS (Ballistic Protection Series) Sedan 4.6L V812.00 sec18.60 sec239 hpRWD
2003Cartier Sedan 4.6L V89.50 sec16.80 sec239 hpRWD
2000Cartier L Sedan 4.6L V89.30 sec16.90 sec200 hpRWD
1998Signature Series Touring Sedan 4.6L V87.90 sec16.10 sec205 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 6.0 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 100 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

Automatic Transmission FluidFord Mercon LV
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity13
Engine CoolantUSE FORD PREMIUM GOLD COOLANT
Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity6.0 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs7.4 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts59 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts60-64 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts18 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts14.8 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug19.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug19.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8
Spark Plug ManufacturerMotorcraft
Spark Plug Gap0.052-0.056 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing10

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.44 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity7.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number65 Long Wheel Base
Standard BCI Cranking Performance750 Long Wheel Base cca
Optional BCI Group Number65 Short Wheel Base

Service checks

Pressure Test16 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief16 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188-195 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)20.0-60.0
Injector Primary Resistance11-18 ohms
Engine Oil Pressure20-45 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM2500 rpm
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket18 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle50 ft-lbs
Brake ApplicationWITH FN3 (16 inch) CALIPER PR NOS. 1LH/1ZG
Torque Caliper to Bracket27 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle118 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.039 in
Brake ApplicationWITH FN3 (16 inch) CALIPER PR NOS. 1LH/1ZG
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118 ft. lbs., Step 2: 33 ft. lbs. Step 3: 9018 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
117 ft. lbs., Step 2: 32 ft. lbs., Step 3: 10517 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
189 ft. lbs., step 2: 360 degrees, step 3: 37 ft. lbs., step 4: 9089 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs at 105,000 mi; coolant every 45,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 45,000 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.

At 7,500 miCabin Air Filter (inspect)
Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miBrake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Driveshaft (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (inspect)
Every 20,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Temperature Controlled Seat Air Filter (replace)
Every 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 100,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
At 105,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Drive Belt (replace) · Transmission Fluid & 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 2011 Lincoln Town Car sits at the very end of its generation, with a federal complaint count of just 6—the lowest in the entire record, alongside 2009’s 5—marking a dramatic decline from the model’s peak of 328 complaints in 1997. Recalls held steady at 3 for the fourth consecutive year, while investigations remained at zero, a pattern unbroken since 2005 except for a single 2007 probe. Technical service bulletins also plateaued at 20, matching 2010 and far below the triple-digit TSB volumes of the mid-1990s, indicating a highly mature design with few emerging issues. The sparse complaint areas for 2011, including steering mentions and a single report combining air bags, seat belts, and vehicle speed control, do not point to any systemic defect, and the data does not specify root causes. With only 2 crash-related complaints and no fire complaints, this model year represents the culmination of a long refinement arc where early-generation problems were largely eliminated. For a used purchase, the 2011 Town Car is an exceptionally solid choice, offering the lowest complaint volume in the entire dataset.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
20
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
6
Owner complaints
2 involved a crash · 0 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 6 complaints on record, top 5 components.

Steering2
Steering,Unknown Or Other1
Air Bags,Seat Belts,Vehicle Speed Control1
Steering,Air Bags,Service Brakes1
Tires1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

14V704000Steering:Rack And Pinion:Pinion ShaftReported 05/11/2014

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria, 2005-2011 Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles manufactured March 23, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and 2005-2011 Lincoln Town Car vehicles… Remedy: Ford will notify the owners of vehicles whose repair records reflect that the upper intermediate steering shaft was repaired during the course of the prior recall 13V-385. Dealers…

13V385000SteeringReported 29/08/2013

Ford is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria (including Crown Victoria Police Interceptors), Mercury Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Car vehicles. The affected vehicles are currently registered or… Remedy: Ford will notify owners and dealers will replace the lower intermediate shaft, free of charge. The upper intermediate shaft and steering column lower bearing will be inspected to…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 20 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SSM 546012026-02-23Electrical SystemFord and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory…
SSM 524762024-04-24EquipmentAll accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the…
DOR-L2Q6V-102019-09-18Electrical SystemThis SKU is a Radiator Fan. The customer communication requested return of unsold…
SSM 481302019-08-09VisibilitySome 2010-2020 vehicles may exhibit distorted glass with a subtle orange peel pattern or…
SSM 479762019-05-10Power TrainOn vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission it is imperative that the converter…

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 2011 Town Car take?

6.0 qt of 5W-20 API MEETING FORD SPECIFICATION WSS-M2C945-A, per the factory manual.

Does the 2011 Town Car have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 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 / 24 highway / 19 combined mpg.