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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 →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

What owners actually said

99 reports
115,000 miles · Jul 23, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineSeat Belts

SEAT BELTS WON'T RETRACT. IGNITION SWITCH IS FAULTY AND SHORTING OUT RADIO AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. WANTING TO PREVENT FIRE FROM HAPPENING, BY TAKING CARE OF THIS NOW.

NHTSA ODI #11010152

45,000 miles · Oct 28, 2014
Power TrainCrashInjury

THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILS WHEN IN OVERDRIVE. THIS FAILURE OCCURS ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEED AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE CAR GOES OUT OF CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10650865

60,000 miles · Oct 28, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineFire

THE IGNITION SWITCH GIVES SPARKS AND COULD IGNITE THE CAR. FORD ADMITS OTHER 1988 LINCOLN TOWN CARS HAVE A IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM AND REPLACES THEM. THEY HAVE NOT INCLUDED MY VIN ON THE DEFECT AND REPLACEMENT LIST; HOWEVER, IT IS DEFECTIVE AND COULD IGNITE A FIRE AT ANY TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10650860

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…

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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 · Jun 22, 2010
Suspension

1988 LINCOLN TOWNCAR. CONSUMER STATES BUSINESS SOLD FAULTY CAR PARTS RELATED TO A SAFETY DEFECT *TGW THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY HIS LOCAL MECHANIC THAT THE ORIGINAL UPPER BALL JOINTS HAD A TORN BOOT AND HE COULD NO LONGER GREASE IT. THE MECHANIC ALSO SUGGESTED REPLACING THE LOWER BALL JOINTS AS WELL. THE CONSUMER THEN ORDERED …

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1988 LINCOLN TOWNCAR. CONSUMER STATES BUSINESS SOLD FAULTY CAR PARTS RELATED TO A SAFETY DEFECT *TGW THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY HIS LOCAL MECHANIC THAT THE ORIGINAL UPPER BALL JOINTS HAD A TORN BOOT AND HE COULD NO LONGER GREASE IT. THE MECHANIC ALSO SUGGESTED REPLACING THE LOWER BALL JOINTS AS WELL. THE CONSUMER THEN ORDERED LOWER AND UPPER BALL JOINTS FROM AN ESTABLISHMENT AND HAD HIS LOCAL MECHANIC INSTALL THEM. ON MARCH 5, 2010, AS THE CONSUMER STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AT WHICH TIME THE RIGHT FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED AND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL JAMMED BACK INTO THE FENDER WELL. THE COMPANY REPLACED THE BALL JOINT, BUT WOULD NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE OTHER EXPENSES THE CONSUMER INCURRED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10340026

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

117,000 miles · Jul 7, 2006
Power Train

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR, ACCOMPANIED BY A SMELL OF HOT OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC SHOP WHERE THE SHOP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10161808

145,700 miles · Jun 19, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. I CHECKED UNDER THE CAR AND NOTICED A STEADY DRIP OF GASOLINE FROM SOMEWHERE RIGHT BELOW THE CAR UNDERNEAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAR, DRIPPING OFF THE FRAME OF THE CAR IN THAT AREA.

NHTSA ODI #10125737

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

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004
EquipmentFuel System, GasolineVisibility

FUEL SYSTEM: ELECTRIC RELAY TO FUEL PUMP FAILED 6/21/02--CAR HAD TO BE TOWED FOR REPAIR POWER WINDOWS: DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW MOTOR FAILED. WAS REPLACED IN FALL 2000 BY DEALER IN SEATTLE: "OLYMPIC LINCOLN MERCURY." PRESENTLY, SAME MOTOR FAILING AGAIN. ALSO, REAR PASSENGER WINDOW GEARS HAVE STRIPPED OUT--WINDOW MUST BE MAN…

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FUEL SYSTEM: ELECTRIC RELAY TO FUEL PUMP FAILED 6/21/02--CAR HAD TO BE TOWED FOR REPAIR POWER WINDOWS: DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW MOTOR FAILED. WAS REPLACED IN FALL 2000 BY DEALER IN SEATTLE: "OLYMPIC LINCOLN MERCURY." PRESENTLY, SAME MOTOR FAILING AGAIN. ALSO, REAR PASSENGER WINDOW GEARS HAVE STRIPPED OUT--WINDOW MUST BE MANUALLY PULLED UP IF MISTAKENLY OPENED SUDDEN STALLING (APRIL 2002 TO PRESENT): HAD TO FIND ON INTERNET THAT "DISTRIBUTOR MODULE" WAS OVERHEATING AND CAUSING CAR TO STALL (ALL POWER LOST: NO STEERING, ONE PUSH ON BRAKES--I WAS ENDANGERED) NOTICE FROM FORD, THOUGHT THEY KNOW THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING AND FATALITIES HAD BEEN REPORTED. (THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN TO REPAIR SHOPS ABOUT IT, BUT NOT TO CONSUMERS.) I WAS STRANDED 3 TIMES, HAVING TO ABANDON THE CAR, THEN HAVE IT TOWED TWICE FOR REPAIRS. NEW "MODULE" SEEMED TO HAVE RESOLVED ISSUE--READ ON. OCT 15, 2002: CAR QUIT SUDDENLY, AT IDLE, WHEN STOPPED IN TURN LANE, WAITING TO TURN ACROSS DANGEROUS HIGHWAY. WOULD NOT START--HAD TO BE TOWED. NOV 27/02: ELECTRICAL ISSUES NIGHTLY DRAINING 1 WEEK OLD BATTERY. CAR HAS BEEN GONE OVER BY ELECTRICAL SPECIALIST, ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP, ALSO THE LOCAL FORD AGENCY--"NO CODES," BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. CAR DEAD AGAIN TODAY AFTER RETURNING FROM REPAIR SHOP YESTERDAY. WHAT TO DO? WHAT TO DO? CAR HAS 115,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN EXCELLENTLY MAINTAINED. EXCELLENTLY!

NHTSA ODI #10069717

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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