IllustrationVEHICLE EXPERIENCES A PROBLEM WITH ROLLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. CONSUMER'S FOUR YEAR OLD CHILD MOVED THE SHIFTER OUT OF GEAR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL DOWN THE STREET. CAN NHTSA HELP OR PROVIDE ADDITION INFORMATION. *AK
1987 Lincoln Town Car
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1987 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: 3 of 32 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 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports14 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
32 reportsDEFECTIVE "O"-RINGS IN THE FUEL RAIL CAUSED A FUEL LEAK WHICH, IN TURN STARTED A FIRE IN UNDERHOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. OWNER REPAIRED VEHICLE HIMSELF, AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. *AK *ML
CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE, SMELLED BURNING, STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT ON FIRE,FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH, DEALER CLAIMS BAD IGINITION SWITCH WAS INSTALLED. *AK
THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLES BROKE. . *AK
COMBUSTIBLE GASOLINE WAS EXPELLED, FROM EITHER A BREACHED RUBBER HOSE OR QUICK CONNECT FITTING, INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSING FIRE.
WHILE CAR WAS IN PARK, CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE CAUSED BY INGITION SWITCH. *AK
ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT)
IGNITION CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK
VEHICLE FIRE. *SD
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. *SD
Official recalls
690V093000 · 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.
87V018000 · Steering:linkages:arm:idler And Attachment
Feb 19, 1987
No summary supplied.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DRIVER WOULD EXPERIENCE A CLUNKING NOISE ON TURNS AND ALOOSE FEELING IN THE STEERING WHEEL; STEERING CONTROL WOULD BE MAINTAINED.
Remedy: REPLACE IDLER ARM ASSEMBLY.
87V012000 · Steering:linkages:rod:relay:connecting
Feb 9, 1987
STEERING CENTERLINKS MAY BREAK AT A BEND LOCATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: STEERING CONTROL WOULD BE DIMINISHED, WITH REDUCEDCONTROL OF LEFT WHEEL ONLY AND CONSIDERABLE STEERING WHEEL FREE PLAY.
Remedy: REPLACE STEERING CENTERLINK.
86V142000 · Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood
Oct 24, 1986
WIRING HARNESS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT MAY BE MISROUTED AND SUBJECT TO DAMAGE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A SHORT CIRCUIT COULD OCCUR (DURING USE OR WHEN PARKED) WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: PROPERLY ROUTE WIRING HARNESSES, AS NECESSARY.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.