IllustrationSEAT BELTS WON'T RETRACT. IGNITION SWITCH IS FAULTY AND SHORTING OUT RADIO AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. WANTING TO PREVENT FIRE FROM HAPPENING, BY TAKING CARE OF THIS NOW.
1988 Lincoln Town Car
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1988 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: 8 of 99 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 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
8 crash reports31 fire reports6 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
39 reportsTHE IGNITION SWITCH GIVES SPARKS AND COULD IGNITE THE CAR. FORD ADMITS OTHER 1988 LINCOLN TOWN CARS HAVE A IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM AND REPLACES THEM. THEY HAVE NOT INCLUDED MY VIN ON THE DEFECT AND REPLACEMENT LIST; HOWEVER, IT IS DEFECTIVE AND COULD IGNITE A FIRE AT ANY TIME. *TR
THE RELAY THAT HOOKS TO THE BATTERY STARTER] BROKE. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO ACCLELERATE IN FULL THROTTLE. CONSUMER CAME TO A COMPLETED STOP, BUT HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO STOP THE ENGINE FROM RUNNING, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. RELAY # 1E9TZ-11450B.*AK
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED CAUSING A SMALL FIRE UNDER THE DASHBOARD. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
VEHICLE CUTS OFF A LOW SPEED WILL NOT START UNTIL IT SITS FOR A WHILE, THIS HAS HAPPEN MULT. TIMES, IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP A NUMBER OF TIMES , CAN NOT FIND THE CAUSE SEVERAL NEW PARTS HAVE BEEN PUT ON, TO NO AVAIL. *AK
I WOULD BE TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 60WITH MY FAMILY AND MY CAR WOULD SHUT OFF. I WOULD THEN PULL TO THE SIDE AND LET IT SIT FOR 20 MINUTES AND THEN IT WOULD RESTART UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN ''VERY DANGEROUS''. *AK
VEHICLE WILL STALL SUDDENDLY WHEN THE ENGINE GETS HOT. VEHICLE WILL RESTART, BUT IT HAS STALLED LEAVING CONSUMER IN DANGEROUS SITUATION. *AK THE DISTRIBUTOR MOUNTED TFHV MODULE IS TOO CLOSE TO THE HOT ENGINE. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STALL. *YH
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE FOR A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. I JUST FOUND OUT YESTERDAY ABOUT IT. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED IN REFERENCE TO THE RECALL. IT WASN'T UNTIL THE SWITCH SHORTED OUT MY RADIO WHICH I CAN NOT REPLACE UNTIL THE SWITCH IS REPLACED. THE FORD COMPANY SAID THAT THE RECALL WAS COMPLETE. I DON'T K…
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I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE FOR A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. I JUST FOUND OUT YESTERDAY ABOUT IT. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED IN REFERENCE TO THE RECALL. IT WASN'T UNTIL THE SWITCH SHORTED OUT MY RADIO WHICH I CAN NOT REPLACE UNTIL THE SWITCH IS REPLACED. THE FORD COMPANY SAID THAT THE RECALL WAS COMPLETE. I DON'T KNOW HOW IT CAN BE COMPLETE WHEN MY CAR WAS NEVER DONE. I HAVE A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH THAT IS SUPPLYING SHORTS THROUGH MY WIRING HARNESS THAT CONNECTS TO THE RADIO. I HAVE CHECKED IT BY TESTING THE POWER TO THE WIRING HARNESS (IGNITION/ACCESSORY) AND SOMETIMES IT HAS POWER AND THEN SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A RECALL THE IS COMPLETED WHEN MINE WAS NEVER DONE. WHAT CAN I DO SINCE IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT CAUSED THE BURNED OUT RADIO AND ALMOST A FIRE IN MY VEHICLE?*AK
ALTERNATOR FAILED REPLACED THREE TIMES. YH
VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND ELECTRICAL WIRING CAUGHT ON FIRE.HOOD/STEERING WHEEL/SEATS AND REAR TWO TIRES MELTED. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME OUT AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. *AK
Official recalls
596V071000 · Electrical System:ignition
Apr 25, 1996
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
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.
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.
87V131000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System
Aug 17, 1987
FUEL RAILS MAY BE BENT SO THAT NO. 5 INJECTOR CUPS ARE OUT OF DESIGN POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: BENT FUEL RAIL COULD CAUSE A FUEL LEAK, WHICH INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE FIRE.
Remedy: REPLACE FUEL RAIL ASSEMBLIES 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
2DP99004 · Sudden Acceleration
Opened Jul 29, 1999 · Closed Apr 6, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES' CRUISE CONTROL IS ENERGIZED WHENEVER THE IGNITION IS TURNED ON.IT IS ALLEGED THAT A SUDDEN ACCELERATION EVENT MAY OCCUR AS A RESULT.
PE89100 · Fuel Filler Pipe Spurting
Opened Mar 14, 1989 · Closed Jul 12, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
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