IllustrationSTRAPS THAT HOLD FUEL TANK IN PLACE HAVE BEEN RUBBING ON TANK, FUEL TANK IS LEAKING DUE TO THAT. *AK THE TANK NEEDS REPLACING. *YH
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.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →50Owner complaints
Model-year median: 86.5
4Recall campaignsView recall details →
1InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
1986 Lincoln Town Car
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 50 owner complaints · 4 recall campaigns · 1 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Electrical System: 29 reports
- Power Train: 3 reports
- Structure: 3 reports
- Vehicle Speed Control: 3 reports
- Engine And Engine Cooling: 2 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
- 90V093000 — Equipment:other:labels
- 90V050000 — Seat Belts:front:anchorage
- 87V139000 — Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
- 85V123000 — Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Town Car years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
2 reportsGAS TANK LEAKS DUE TO STRAPS BETWEEN GAS TANKS RUBBING, CAUSING HOLES IN TANKS. (OTHER VEHICLE ON 481139) *SKD
Recall campaigns
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 ↗
Defect 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.===
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.