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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.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

Suspension complaints

1 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2010
Suspension

1988 LINCOLN TOWNCAR. CONSUMER STATES BUSINESS SOLD FAULTY CAR PARTS RELATED TO A SAFETY DEFECT *TGW THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY HIS LOCAL MECHANIC THAT THE ORIGINAL UPPER BALL JOINTS HAD A TORN BOOT AND HE COULD NO LONGER GREASE IT. THE MECHANIC ALSO SUGGESTED REPLACING THE LOWER BALL JOINTS AS WELL. THE CONSUMER THEN ORDERED …

Read full complaint

1988 LINCOLN TOWNCAR. CONSUMER STATES BUSINESS SOLD FAULTY CAR PARTS RELATED TO A SAFETY DEFECT *TGW THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY HIS LOCAL MECHANIC THAT THE ORIGINAL UPPER BALL JOINTS HAD A TORN BOOT AND HE COULD NO LONGER GREASE IT. THE MECHANIC ALSO SUGGESTED REPLACING THE LOWER BALL JOINTS AS WELL. THE CONSUMER THEN ORDERED LOWER AND UPPER BALL JOINTS FROM AN ESTABLISHMENT AND HAD HIS LOCAL MECHANIC INSTALL THEM. ON MARCH 5, 2010, AS THE CONSUMER STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AT WHICH TIME THE RIGHT FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED AND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL JAMMED BACK INTO THE FENDER WELL. THE COMPANY REPLACED THE BALL JOINT, BUT WOULD NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE OTHER EXPENSES THE CONSUMER INCURRED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10340026

Official recalls

5

96V071000 · 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

2

DP99004 · 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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