IllustrationWHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE IS STALLED AND CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. IGNITION SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACE THREE TIMES. *AK
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Town Car years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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
What owners actually said
21 reportsCONSUMER 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…
Read full complaint
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
ELECTRICAL SHORT, STEERING COLUMN FIRE, VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AND PARKED AND RETURN VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SAW WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN, DROVE TO HOUSE, AFTER ARRIVING HOME, SMOKE STOPPED. *AK
IGNITION FIRE. *AK
IGNITION FIRE. *AK
BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT. (NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE REPORT) *DSH
THE CAR BURNED UP FROM THE HARNESS UNDER THE DASH. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
CAR ACCELERATES TO 70 MPH FOR NO REASON BEFORE IT WARMS UP. IT STAYS AT THIS SPEED UNTIL YOU GO ABOUT 25 MILES.PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES FROM DEFECTIVE CATALYTIC EXHAUST SYSTEM, CAUSING INJURY/DEATH. *SKD
Official recalls
190V093000 · 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
2PE88012 · 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