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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.

About this comparison →
99Owner complaints

Model-year median: 86.5

5Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
21
198550
198632
198799
198889
1989209
1990155
1991
Compare all Town Car years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
39Vehicle Speed Control
17Power Train
9Engine And Engine Cooling
7Fuel System, Gasoline
7
All reported categories
Seat Belts
7Tires
5Structure
4Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Visibility
3Engine
2Exterior Lighting
2Steering
2Wheels
2Equipment
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Seats
1Suspension
1Unknown Or Other
1

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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

17 reports
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85,000 miles · Dec 13, 2010
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 LINCOLN TOWNCAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CLIP FROM THE THROTTLE BODY FRACTURED AND ACCELERATED THE VEHICLE TO 80 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT H…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 LINCOLN TOWNCAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CLIP FROM THE THROTTLE BODY FRACTURED AND ACCELERATED THE VEHICLE TO 80 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY CLIP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000. THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR CABLE HAD TO REPLACED. UPDATED 04/25/11

NHTSA ODI #10370429

Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 2009
Vehicle Speed ControlFire

THE LINCOLN TOWN CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE A RENTAL HOME AND CAUGHT FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10293199

Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10066775

112,000 miles · Jun 20, 2003
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

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

NHTSA ODI #10024618

Mileage unknown · Jul 19, 2000
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

THROTTLE VALVE CONTROL CABLE GROMMET MADE OUT OF PLASTIC BROKE, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. MANUFACTURE ALSO PRODUCES A METAL GROMMET THAT WOULD LAST LONGER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #865648

Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2000
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY VEHICLE RAPIDLY SURGED BACKWARDS, AND THEN SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INTO THE GARAGE DOOR. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #864366

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 1999
Vehicle Speed ControlInjury

ATTORNEY PETITION TO INVESTIGATE SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF 1988 LINCOLN TOWN CAR, WHICH ACCELERATED AND RESULTED IN DEATH OF ONE CHILD AND AMPUTATION OF OTHER CHILD. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER). MJS

NHTSA ODI #547625

Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control

ACCELERATOR PEDAL GETS STUCK. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #840900

Mileage unknown · May 18, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control

HAD GOTTEN IN VEHICLE TO START IT WHEN IT BEGAN TO SHIFT GEARS AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. HAD FOOT ON BRAKES AT THE TIME. THE WHEELS WERE SPINNING REAL FAST. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #836154

Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 1998
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRVING AT LOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WILL WITHOUT WARNING SPEED UP, OR WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #828320

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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