IllustrationINTERIOR VEHICLE FIRE AROUND THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN. *AK
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 CAR WAS PARKED AND WENT UP INTO FLAMES FROM THE IGNITION SWITCE AREA. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NOTICED FIRE COMING FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, FIRE BURNT STEERING COLUMN. *AK
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, BLACK THICK SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. IT WAS THEN DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. *AK
VEHICLE PARK AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED AROUND THE IGNITION. *AK
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. TT CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE AND RAN IT FOR ABOUT 12 TO 15 MINUTES AT IDLE ABOUT AN HOUR LATER IT CAUGHT FIRE.*JB
ALTERNATOR SHORTS OUT, CAUSING WIRING HARNESS AND BATTERY TO BURN UP. *SKD
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT, CAUSING STEERING COLUMN FIRE. *SKD
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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