IllustrationACCELERATOR PEDAL GETS STUCK. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
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
What owners actually said
99 reportsHAD GOTTEN IN VEHICLE TO START IT WHEN IT BEGAN TO SHIFT GEARS AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. HAD FOOT ON BRAKES AT THE TIME. THE WHEELS WERE SPINNING REAL FAST. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK. *AK
HEADLAMP CONTROL SWITCH FAILED, RECALL ON COMPONENT HOWEVER VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO YEAR AND MODEL.
CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION. THIS PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY FAILURE OF A GROMET WHICH ALLOWS THE INTERNAL PARTS OF THE TRANSMISSION TO TEAR UP, RENDERING THE 3RD AND 4TH GEARS USELESS. TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO ASSIST. *AK
WHILE DRVING AT LOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WILL WITHOUT WARNING SPEED UP, OR WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
ENGINE FAILURE CAUSING FIRE. OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT.
TRANSMISSION FAILURE.
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO THE REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK
WHILE APPLYING BRAKES, THEY WOULD MAKE A CUTTING SOUND. TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED THAT FRONT DISC BRAKES NEEDED REPLACING. THE CALIPERS/ROTORS & SHOES WERE REPLACED DUE TO PLASTIC PISTON WEARING OUT IN A WEEK. *AK
THE REPLACEMENT SEAT BELT LATCH WAS ASSEMBLED BACKWARDS THEREFORE THE SEAT BELT OULD NOT BE ASSEMBLED/ PROPERLY INSTALLED. *AK
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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