IllustrationWHEN AT A LIGHT OR TRYING TO PARK THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATES. *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
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
17 reportsDRIVING 25MPH APPLIED THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE; PUT IN PARK IN ORDER TO COME TO A STOP; ALSO REPAIRED TRANSMISSION/OVERDRIVE. *AK
THROTTLE STUCK, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT. *DH
AT A RED LIGHT, AS SOON AS FOOT WAS OFF THE BRAKE, CAR ACCELERATED, HIT BRAKES CAR WOULD NOT STOP, LET CAR RUN INTO RAMP TO STOP. PLESAE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
CONSUMER WAS WAITING AT DRIVE UP WINDOW CAR WENT INTO SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE CAR WAS IN PARK WINDSHIELD WAS SHATTERED . TT
CONSUMER STOPPED AT DRIVE THRU WINDOW STOP AND CAR ACCELERATED CAUSING AN ACCIDENT CAR WAS TOTALED . TT WINDSHIELD BROKE IN ACCIDENT. *SLC
THROTTLE BODY/AIR BY PASS FAILURE, RESULTED IN INTERMITTENT SUDDEN ACCLERATION, ALSO PREVENTED CRUISE CONTROL FROM DISENGAGING. *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
===