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1987 Lincoln Town Car

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1987 Lincoln Town Car do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 86.5.

About this comparison →
32Owner complaints

Model-year median: 86.5

6Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
15
198421
198550
198632
198799
198889
1989209
1990
Compare all Town Car years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
17Engine And Engine Cooling
4Fuel System, Gasoline
4Equipment
2Power Train
2
All reported categories
Seat Belts
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Steering
1Tires
1Unknown Or Other
1Visibility
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: 3 of 32 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 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports14 fire reports0 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

17 reports
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25,880 miles · Jan 13, 2004
Electrical SystemFire

FOUR MINUTES AFTER THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF, BLACK SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE OWNER OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THE ALTERNATOR WAS ON FIRE. *AK A MECHANIC EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND NO POLICE REPORT WAS MADE. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE FORD TO RECALL ALL VEHICLES WITH THE SAME TYPE ALTERNATOR AND OTHER C…

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FOUR MINUTES AFTER THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF, BLACK SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE OWNER OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THE ALTERNATOR WAS ON FIRE. *AK A MECHANIC EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND NO POLICE REPORT WAS MADE. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE FORD TO RECALL ALL VEHICLES WITH THE SAME TYPE ALTERNATOR AND OTHER COMPONETS AS HIS. *PH

NHTSA ODI #10050168

Mileage unknown · Apr 14, 2001
Electrical SystemCrash

ONGOING TFI IGNITION MODULE PROBLEM, ALL IGNITION COMPONENTS REPLACED, TFI 3+ TIMES, STILL HAPPENS, CAR STALLS AND WON'T START. CALIFORNIA HAS DONE SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, WHEN ARE YOU!? NOW I HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS ONGOING PROBLEM. DO I HAVE TO GET SERIOUSLY INJURED OR WHAT????????

NHTSA ODI #744068

Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2000
Electrical SystemEquipmentFire

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH . CONSUMER NOTICED THAT TAILIGHTS HAD TURNED ON BY THEMSELVES. 1 WEEK PRIOR TO INCIDENT, RADIO HAD STARTED TO SMOKE AND THEN FAILED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #872813

Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2000
Electrical System

VEHICLE STALLS, FAILS TO START, AFTER FIRST 30 TO 45 MINS DRIVING DURING 95F PLUS OUTSIDE AIR TEMP, DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS, DALLAS, TX. TFI REPLACED TWICE, COIL REPLACED, TPS REPLACED, AND TUNE UP STILL HAS NOT RESOLVED PROBLEM. POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS ACCIDENT, INJURY, OR DEATH EXISTS WITH THIS PROBLEM AS VEHICLE STALLS WITH NO…

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VEHICLE STALLS, FAILS TO START, AFTER FIRST 30 TO 45 MINS DRIVING DURING 95F PLUS OUTSIDE AIR TEMP, DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS, DALLAS, TX. TFI REPLACED TWICE, COIL REPLACED, TPS REPLACED, AND TUNE UP STILL HAS NOT RESOLVED PROBLEM. POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS ACCIDENT, INJURY, OR DEATH EXISTS WITH THIS PROBLEM AS VEHICLE STALLS WITH NO WARNING. ONCE STALL CONTITION EXISTS VEHICLE CANNOT BE STARTED FOR AT LEAST 1.5 TO 2 HOURS, UNTIL ENGINE HAS COOLED ENOUGH TO ALLOW FOR A RESTART. ENGINE TEMP GUAGE REMAINS IN NORMAL RANGE DURING THIS ENTIRE PROCESS. ALSO BOTH COOLANT TEMP SENSORS, GUAGE, AND COMPUTER COOLANT SENSOR, HAVE BEEN REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #730224

Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 2000
Electrical SystemFire

WHILE SITTING IN THE HOUSE CONSUMER HEARD A STRANGE NOISE THAT SOUDED LIKE A CAR STARTING. WHEN GOING TO INVESTIGATE CONSUMER THEN NOTICED THAT THE GARAGE WAS FULL OF SMOKE. CONSUMER OPENED CAR HOOD AND THERE WERE FLAMES COMING OUT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #852478

Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 1999
Electrical SystemEquipmentPower Train

PLEASE SEND SIGNATURE FORM TO SEND TO MANUFACTURER

NHTSA ODI #713778

Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 1997
Electrical SystemFire

CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE, SMELLED BURNING, STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT ON FIRE,FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH, DEALER CLAIMS BAD IGINITION SWITCH WAS INSTALLED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #818999

Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

WHILE CAR WAS IN PARK, CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE CAUSED BY INGITION SWITCH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #986017

Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 1996
Electrical System

ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT)

NHTSA ODI #506369

Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

IGNITION CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #985687

Official recalls

6

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.

87V018000 · Steering:linkages:arm:idler And Attachment

Feb 19, 1987

No summary supplied.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: DRIVER WOULD EXPERIENCE A CLUNKING NOISE ON TURNS AND ALOOSE FEELING IN THE STEERING WHEEL; STEERING CONTROL WOULD BE MAINTAINED.

Remedy: REPLACE IDLER ARM ASSEMBLY.

87V012000 · Steering:linkages:rod:relay:connecting

Feb 9, 1987

STEERING CENTERLINKS MAY BREAK AT A BEND LOCATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: STEERING CONTROL WOULD BE DIMINISHED, WITH REDUCEDCONTROL OF LEFT WHEEL ONLY AND CONSIDERABLE STEERING WHEEL FREE PLAY.

Remedy: REPLACE STEERING CENTERLINK.

86V142000 · Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood

Oct 24, 1986

WIRING HARNESS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT MAY BE MISROUTED AND SUBJECT TO DAMAGE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A SHORT CIRCUIT COULD OCCUR (DURING USE OR WHEN PARKED) WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: PROPERLY ROUTE WIRING HARNESSES, 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.