IllustrationELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE STEERING COLUMN TO BURN. *AK
1986 Lincoln Town Car
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1986 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: 2 of 50 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 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports26 fire reports3 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
29 reportsFIRE IN THE DASHBOARD AREA WHILE PARKED AT THE DEALER, POSSIBLE DUE TO IGNITION SHORT. *AK
DROVE OUT OF PARKING LOT, ABOUT 1 TO 3 MINUTES LATER, SMOKE POURED OUT OF STEERING COLUMN, AROUND GEAR SHIFT LEVER; MINUTES LATER, CAR ENGULFED WITH FLAMES. *A
IGNITION FIRE. *AK
CAR WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY THREE MINUTES A LITTLE SMOKE STARTED TO COME FROM AROUND THE STEERING, RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE. *AK
EXPERIENCED FIRE IN FRONT DASH. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE, ELECTRICAL WIRES AROUND STEERING WHEEL CAUGHT FIRE. TT
WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED BURNING SMELL AND SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN AND DASH, DUE TO FRONT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING HARNESS FIRE. TT
NOTICE D SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN IN THE DASH BOARD AREA, RESULTING IN FIRE TOTALLING THE VEHICLE. TT
Official recalls
490V093000 · 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.
90V050000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
Mar 6, 1990
SAFETY BELTS (TYPE 1 LAP BELTS) FOR REAR FACING SEATS WERE NOT INSTALLED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LACK OF RESTRAINTS COULD CONTRIBUTE TO OTHERWISE PREVENTABLE INJURY AND WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 209 AND 210.
Remedy: INSTALL SAFETY BELTS FOR REAR FACING SEATS.
87V139000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Sep 4, 1987
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.
Remedy: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
85V123000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift
Oct 7, 1985
INCORRECT BOLTS WERE USED IN THE TRANSMISSION LINKAGE ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THE TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR LEVER ON THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD BE ON THE WRONG TRANSMISSION FUNCTION. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE DRIVER WOULD FIND THEIR CAR IN A GEAR OTHER THAN THE ONE INDICATED BY SHIFT LEVER INDICATOR. THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF THE CAR IS LEFT UNATTENDED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: REPLACE THE SHIFT LINKAGE TRUNNION, GROMMET AND ADJUSTMENT BOLT.
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
1PE88012 · 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.===