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1985 Lincoln Town Car

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1985 Lincoln Town Car do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 86.5.

About this comparison →
21Owner complaints

Model-year median: 86.5

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
2
19824
198315
198421
198550
198632
198799
1988
Compare all Town Car years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
7Tires
4Engine And Engine Cooling
2Steering
2Structure
2
All reported categories
Equipment
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Unknown Or Other
1Vehicle Speed Control
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 0 of 21 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports6 fire reports2 injury reports

Structure complaints

2 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 1999
Structure

THE HYDRAULIC CYLINDERS USED TO HOLD THE HOOD UP GAVE WAY, ALLOWING THE HOOD T0 FALL DOWN, ALMOST INJURING THE OWNER. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #850210

Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 1999
Structure

CONSUMER HAD A SICK PASSENGER IN BACK SEAT , DROVE TO HOSPITAL , WENT TO UNLOCK DOORS BY THE AUTOMATIC SYSTEM NEXT TO DRIVER , BUT IT WAS INOPERATIVE. NEXT, CONSUMER WENT TO OPEN THE BACK DOOR MANUALLY, BUT IT WILL NOT OPEN ON EITHER SIDE. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL SICK PASSNEGER TO THE FRONT SEAT IN ORDER TO GET HIM OUT. DEFECT C…

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CONSUMER HAD A SICK PASSENGER IN BACK SEAT , DROVE TO HOSPITAL , WENT TO UNLOCK DOORS BY THE AUTOMATIC SYSTEM NEXT TO DRIVER , BUT IT WAS INOPERATIVE. NEXT, CONSUMER WENT TO OPEN THE BACK DOOR MANUALLY, BUT IT WILL NOT OPEN ON EITHER SIDE. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL SICK PASSNEGER TO THE FRONT SEAT IN ORDER TO GET HIM OUT. DEFECT CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #833140

Official recalls

1

90V093000 · Equipment:other:labels

May 9, 1990

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIMOUSINES BUILT BY EMPIRE COACH. VEHICLE ALTERERS LABEL MAY BE MISSING OR INCOMPLETE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH PART 567.

Remedy: ADD COMPLIANCE LABEL.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

PE88012 · Non Collision Fires

Opened Jan 15, 1988 · Closed May 2, 1988

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

SUMMARY: ALLEGEDLY THE AXLE BEARINGS ON LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINES OVER-HEAT IGNITING COMBUSTIBLE COMPONENTS NEARBY.RECOMMENDATION: OPEN PE SEND LETTER TO FORD.===

DP87029 · Sudden Acceleration

Opened Aug 17, 1987 · Closed Oct 23, 1987

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

SUDDEN ACCELERATION