IllustrationSPEED CONTROL SYSTEM AND DEACTIVATION SWITCH STOP WORKING ON 260 MILE TRIP TO SAVANNAH, GA, AND CAR CAUGHT FIRE BY ITSELF 5 HOURS AFTER PARKED UNDER PRIVATE SURVEILLANCE CITY OF SAVANNAH PARKING BUILDING. FIRE BEGUN UNDERHOOD-LEFT FRONT. HOOD MELTED,CAR DESTROYED BY FIRE-TOTAL LOSS. *LA
1993 Lincoln Town Car
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Town Car years
Owner complaints for the 1993 Lincoln Town Car are substantially higher than 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: 32 of 176 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 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
13 crash reports56 fire reports10 injury reports
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
37 reportsTHE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. THE ALLEGED CAUSE WAS THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH WHICH CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL FIRE UNDER THE CAR. *JB REFERENCED IN EA02-025
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHEN ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FIRE DEPT SAID THE SPEED CONTROL MODULE OVER THE LEFT WHEEL STARTED THE FIRE AND/OR DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. TS SCC REFERENCED IN EA02-025
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKES APPLIED-LOCKED THROTTLE AT HALF WAY-WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT ACCIDENT-SPEED CONTROL CABLE WAS HOLDING THROTTLE OPEN-HAD TO DISCONNECT SPEED CONTROL CABLE FROM LINKAGE.
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY SPEED ENGINE WILL LOSE POWER WHILE CONSUMER STEPS ON GAS PEDAL, BUT ENGINE WILL NOT ACCELERATE. SOMETIMES WILL SHUTDOWN/ STALL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.*AK
CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE INTO DRIVE GEAR WITH FOOT STILL ON BRAKES WHEN IT SUDDENLY TOOK OFF, BEGAN TO ACCELERATE , CONSUMER TRIED TO SHIFT INTO PARK, BUT GEAR WOULD NOT ACCEPT IT. CONSUMER THAN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE ,COULD HEAR ENGINE STILL RACING ,AND FINALLY TURNED OFF ENGINE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. 2. ALSO, VEHICLE WOULD GO…
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CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE INTO DRIVE GEAR WITH FOOT STILL ON BRAKES WHEN IT SUDDENLY TOOK OFF, BEGAN TO ACCELERATE , CONSUMER TRIED TO SHIFT INTO PARK, BUT GEAR WOULD NOT ACCEPT IT. CONSUMER THAN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE ,COULD HEAR ENGINE STILL RACING ,AND FINALLY TURNED OFF ENGINE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. 2. ALSO, VEHICLE WOULD GO INTO REVERSE ON ITS OWN. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. *AK
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE IT WAS PARKED WITH ENGINE TURNED OFF. A WITNESS STATED THAT FIRE HAD STARTED IN FRONT LEFT SIDE ABOVE LEFT FRONT TIRE. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. CONSUMER STATED THAT RECALL 99V124000/ SPEED CONTROL SWITCH REPAIRS WERE DONE IN MAY 1999, WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FIRE. *AK *ML REFERENCED IN EA02-0…
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VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE IT WAS PARKED WITH ENGINE TURNED OFF. A WITNESS STATED THAT FIRE HAD STARTED IN FRONT LEFT SIDE ABOVE LEFT FRONT TIRE. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. CONSUMER STATED THAT RECALL 99V124000/ SPEED CONTROL SWITCH REPAIRS WERE DONE IN MAY 1999, WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FIRE. *AK *ML REFERENCED IN EA02-025
CONSUMER HAD RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. BUT, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE PROPERLY, NOR GIAVE A SASTIFACTORY EXPLANATION TO CONSUMER. *AK
DEALER NEVER HAS THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL THAT WAS SENT TO THE CONSUMER. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. DRIVER PRESSED THE BRAKES, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. BUT, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUS EOF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Official recalls
407V336000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Aug 3, 2007
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
99V124000 · Electrical System
May 19, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH CAN DEVELOP A RESISTIVE SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE. A FIRE IS POSSIBLE BOTH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING AND WHEN THE VEHICLE ENGINE IS OFF. ALSO, THE SHORT COULD DISABLE THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM OR CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHT FUSE TO OPEN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A FIRE CAN ORIGINATE IN THE LEFT FRONT UNDERHOOD AREA.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH AND CONNECTOR SHELL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 20, 1999.
98V322000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
Dec 16, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 1996-1999 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE, FLEET, NATURAL GAS, AND 1996-1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINE VEHICLES THAT WERE PRODUCED WITH A LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CONTAINING A ONE PIECE BEARING; AND 1990-1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE, FLEET, AND NGV VEHICLES AND 1990-1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINE VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN SERVICED WITH EITHER A BALL JOINT CONTAINING THE ONE-PIECE BEARING OR A FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM CONTAINING A BALL JOINT WITH A ONE-PIECE BEARING. THE ONE-PIECE BEARING WITHIN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CAN WEAKEN SLOWLY DURING USE AND EVENTUALLY CRACK. THIS COULD RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE BALL AND CAP OF THE JOINT, ALLOWING THE CONTROL ARM TO DROP TO THE GROUND.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, REDUCED STEERING CONTROL COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS (2).
95V133000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Jul 11, 1995
IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE REAR BRAKE LINE AT THE POINT AT WHICH THE EXTENDED BRAKE LINE FIRST BENDS AND EXTENDS OVER THE LEFT REAR WHEEL AREA OF THE FRAME. IF NOT INSTALLED WITH SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE, CHAFING OF THE BRAKE LINE CAN OCCUR IN AN AREA ADJACENT TO THE REAR FLOOR PAN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE REAR BRAKE LINE CAN LEAK OR RUPTURE RESULTING IN REDUCED BRAKING CAPABILITY, LOSS OF REAR BRAKES, AND/OR LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID RESERVES IN THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE LINE FOR PROPER INSTALLATION AND/OR DAMAGE AND REPLACE AS NECESSARY. ALSO A PROTECTIVE BOOT OR SLEEVE OVER THE BRAKE LINE WILL BE INSTALLED.
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
7EA02025 · Speed Control Deactivation Switch Fires
Opened Sep 6, 2002 · Closed Jun 30, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
BASED ON THE LOW RATE OF FIRE INCIDENTS (2.5 INCIDENTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES SOLD) WHERE FAILURE OF THE SCDS IS INVOLVED AND THE AGE OF THE VEHICLES ? 7 TO 11 YEARS ? A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
DP02007 · FUEL-FED Fires
Opened Aug 22, 2002 · Closed Dec 4, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
THE FARS DATA SHOWS THAT THE RISK OF FIRE FROM IMPACT IN ALL DIRECTIONS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IS THE SAME AS ALL OTHER SEDANS.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE NOT OVER REPRESENTED WITH RESPECT TO THE RISK OF FIRE IN REAL-WORLD HIGH-ENERGY CRASHES.A FURTHER DISCUSSION OF ISSUES RELATED TO POST CRASH FIRES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IS SET OUT IN THE CLOSING REPORT FOR SQ 01-014 AND THAT REPORT IS IN THE DOCKET FOR THIS PETITION.AFTER REVIEWING THE PETITION AND ITS SUPPORTING MATERIALS, AS WELL AS INFORMATION FURNISHED BY FORD AND GM, AND INFORMATION WITHIN THE AGENCY'S POSSESSION FROM PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS AND OTHER RELATED ACTIONS,NHTSA HAS CONCLUDED THAT FUTHER INVESTIGATION CONCERNING POST-CRASH FIRES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IS NOT LIKELY TO LEAD TO A DECISION THAT THE VEHICLES CONTAIN A SAFETY DEFECT.
SQ01014 · Post Rear End Collision Fires
Opened Nov 27, 2001 · Closed Oct 3, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage
There is no summary currently available
RQ01002 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened Sep 20, 2001 · Closed Sep 6, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
No summary supplied.
EA99006 · Under Hood Fires
Opened Mar 11, 1999 · Closed May 19, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
ALLEGED THAT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IN THE AREA OF THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WELL AND THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER
PE98055 · Under Hood Fires
Opened Oct 27, 1998 · Closed Mar 11, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
ALLEGED ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IN THE AREA OF THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WELL AND THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINER.
PE93086 · Hood FLY-UP While Driving
Opened Oct 1, 1993 · Closed Feb 28, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available