IllustrationDURLON VERTEX P21570R15 REPLACEMENT. WHILE DRIVING TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED. TIRE STAYED INFLATED.*AK TWO OF THE TIRES SEPARATED COMPLETELY. THEY WERE MANUFACTURED BY BRIDGESTONE-FIRESTONE. *JG
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
Tires complaints
5 reportsTIRE TREAD SEPARATION. *AK
GOODYEAR AQUATRED TIRES EXPERIENCE RUMBLING, ONE DEALER STATED THE TIRES ARE EXPERIENCING TREAD SEPARATION. *SLC
THIS IS MY SECOND REPORT ON THESE TIRES. SEE ODI NUMBER 731196 FOR FAILURE REPORT ON BOTH FRONT TIRES. THIS REPORT IS ON THE REAR RIGHT TIRE. THE RIGHT REAR TIRE FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY AT 60MPH WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A SMOOTH DRY PAVEMENT. THE OUTER SIDE WALL FAILED COMPLETELY. DIGITAL PHOTOS OF THE FAILED TIRE ARE AVAILA…
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THIS IS MY SECOND REPORT ON THESE TIRES. SEE ODI NUMBER 731196 FOR FAILURE REPORT ON BOTH FRONT TIRES. THIS REPORT IS ON THE REAR RIGHT TIRE. THE RIGHT REAR TIRE FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY AT 60MPH WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A SMOOTH DRY PAVEMENT. THE OUTER SIDE WALL FAILED COMPLETELY. DIGITAL PHOTOS OF THE FAILED TIRE ARE AVAILABLE. THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WAS LOCATED ON THE INSIDE OR BLACKWALL SIDE OF THE TIRES: 85288 IN RAISED LETTERS AND 8H2298 IN A RECESSED BOX WITH ROUNDED CORNERS. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR REQUIRE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE WRITE, CALL OR EMAIL. BEST REGARDS FROM THE SUNSHINE STATE. S/S P.J. STAGER (DOT NUMBER: CC60 TIRESIZE: P215/70R15)
THE TWO FRONT TIRES FAILED AFTER APPROXIMATELY 23,000 MILES OF WEAR. THE LEFT FRONT WAS WORN THROUGH ONE SET OF STEEL BELTS FOR APPROXIMATELY 1/5 OF THE TIRE CIRCUMFERENCE. THE LEFT FRONT WAS WORN THROUGH THE TREAD FOR APPROIMATELY 1/5 OF THE TIRE CIRCUMEFERENCE. BOTH AREAS OF ABNORMAL WEAR WERE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TIRE…
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THE TWO FRONT TIRES FAILED AFTER APPROXIMATELY 23,000 MILES OF WEAR. THE LEFT FRONT WAS WORN THROUGH ONE SET OF STEEL BELTS FOR APPROXIMATELY 1/5 OF THE TIRE CIRCUMFERENCE. THE LEFT FRONT WAS WORN THROUGH THE TREAD FOR APPROIMATELY 1/5 OF THE TIRE CIRCUMEFERENCE. BOTH AREAS OF ABNORMAL WEAR WERE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TIRES WHEN LOOKING FORWARD FROM THE DRIVERS SEAT. DIGITAL PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE FO THE FAILED TIRES. THE TIRES WERE BALANCED AND THE FRONT END WAS REALIGNED WHEN THE TIRES WERE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE IS MAINTAINED IN A GOOD STATE OF REPAIR AND IS NOT SUBJECT TO ABUSE. THE FAILED TIRES WERE REPLACED ON A PRO-RATED BASIS AT THE PINT OF PURCHASE. THE FRONT END WAS ALSO RELAIGNED. UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT PROVIDED WITH ANY QUANTITATIVE INFORMATION ON THIS FRONT END ALIGNMENT SO CAN ONLY CONCLUDE THAT NO UNUSUAL OR ABNORMAL CONDITIONS EXISTED. THE ORIGNAL SYMPTOM WAS AN INCREASING LEVEL OF VEHICLE VIBRATION PRIMARILY WHEN DECELERATING THROUGH 30 MPH. THE FOLLOWING ADDTIONAL INFORMATION WAS LOCATED ON THE INSIDE OR BLACKWALL SIDE OF THE TIRES: 85288 IN RAISED NUMBERS AND 8H2298 IN A RECESSED BOX WITH ROUNDED CORNERS. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR REQUIRE ADDTIONAL INFORMATION OR COPIES OF THE PHOTOS OF THE FAILED TIRES, PLEASE CONTACT ME. BEST REGARDS FROM THE SUNSHINE STAE. S/S P>J> STAGER. *AK( DOT NUMBER: CC60 TIRE SIZE: P215/70R15 )
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
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