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1986 Lincoln Town Car

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1986 Lincoln Town Car do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 86.5.

About this comparison →
50Owner complaints

Model-year median: 86.5

4Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
4
198315
198421
198550
198632
198799
198889
1989
Compare all Town Car years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
29Power Train
3Structure
3Vehicle Speed Control
3Engine And Engine Cooling
2
All reported categories
Fuel System, Gasoline
2Unknown Or Other
2Wheels
2Seat Belts
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Steering
1Tires
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: 2 of 50 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 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports26 fire reports3 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control

STARTED CAR AFTER IT HAD SET FOR THREE DAY, PUT IT IN REVERSE, TOUCHED GAS PEDAL TO BACK UP AND SUDDENLY THE CAR SHOT BACKWARDS LIKE A ROCKET, GOING AT AN UNCONTROLABLE RATE OF SPEED, BRAKING DID NOT EFFECT IT. FINALLY AFTER SHOVING IN PARK AND TURNING IGNITION OFF, IT CAME TO REST AT REAR OF A BUILDING ON SOME METAL PIPES SURR…

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STARTED CAR AFTER IT HAD SET FOR THREE DAY, PUT IT IN REVERSE, TOUCHED GAS PEDAL TO BACK UP AND SUDDENLY THE CAR SHOT BACKWARDS LIKE A ROCKET, GOING AT AN UNCONTROLABLE RATE OF SPEED, BRAKING DID NOT EFFECT IT. FINALLY AFTER SHOVING IN PARK AND TURNING IGNITION OFF, IT CAME TO REST AT REAR OF A BUILDING ON SOME METAL PIPES SURROUNDING AN OUTSIDE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT. IT HAD RUN OVER ANOTHER UNIT AND FLATTENED IT. THE REAR FENDERS AND BUMPER OF THE CAR WAS DAMAGED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #708135

Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 1996
Vehicle Speed Control

THE ENGINE SURGES WITHOUT WARNING AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #982543

Mileage unknown · Aug 18, 1995
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHEN ENGAGING INTO GEAR, THERE WAS A SUDDEN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE. TT

NHTSA ODI #970720

Official recalls

4

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.

85V123000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift

Oct 7, 1985

INCORRECT BOLTS WERE USED IN THE TRANSMISSION LINKAGE ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THE TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR LEVER ON THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD BE ON THE WRONG TRANSMISSION FUNCTION. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE DRIVER WOULD FIND THEIR CAR IN A GEAR OTHER THAN THE ONE INDICATED BY SHIFT LEVER INDICATOR. THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF THE CAR IS LEFT UNATTENDED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: REPLACE THE SHIFT LINKAGE TRUNNION, GROMMET AND ADJUSTMENT BOLT.

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

1

PE88012 · Non Collision Fires

Opened Jan 15, 1988 · Closed May 2, 1988

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

SUMMARY: ALLEGEDLY THE AXLE BEARINGS ON LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINES OVER-HEAT IGNITING COMBUSTIBLE COMPONENTS NEARBY.RECOMMENDATION: OPEN PE SEND LETTER TO FORD.===