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1990 Lincoln Town Car

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Town Car years

Owner complaints for the 1990 Lincoln Town Car are substantially higher than 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: 7 of 209 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 63 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

22 crash reports64 fire reports10 injury reports

What owners actually said

209 reports
Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2001
Steering

SHIFT LEVER DOES NOT SHIFT TO PARK. GEAR SHIFT WAS SLOPPY AND WOULD WOULD UP AND DOWN. STEERING COLUMN WAS TAKEN APART AND THE HOUSING TUBE THAT HOLDS THE STEERING LEVER INSIDE COLUMN HAD BROKEN IN HALF. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED.

NHTSA ODI #9003269

Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2001
Exterior LightingLatches/locks/linkagesVisibilityCrash

HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY - ON CHRISTMAS DAY HOOD FLEW UP INTO THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO GET SMASHED, THE HOOD WAS COMPLETELY BENT IN HALF, AND DAMAGED WAS DONE TO THE ROOF. MY FAMILY AND I WERE TERRIFIED AND I WAS VERY HAPPY THAT MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING. IF HE DIDN'T DRIVE I AM SURE THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL CAR AC…

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HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY - ON CHRISTMAS DAY HOOD FLEW UP INTO THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO GET SMASHED, THE HOOD WAS COMPLETELY BENT IN HALF, AND DAMAGED WAS DONE TO THE ROOF. MY FAMILY AND I WERE TERRIFIED AND I WAS VERY HAPPY THAT MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING. IF HE DIDN'T DRIVE I AM SURE THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL CAR ACCIDENT. AS THIS HAPPENED, CAR SWERVED INTO LANE TO LEFT AND WE WERE SIDE-SWIPED BY A VAN. THE VAN DID NOT STOP, NO ONE STOPPED. WE WERE THERE FOR QUITE AWHILE BUT NO POLICE CAME. WE JUST WANTED TO GET HOME. OTHER OBVIOUS DAMAGE WAS THE DRIVERS FRONT END. TOOK TO SALVAGE YARD BECAUSE WE WERE NOT AWARE OF THE SAFETY RECALL AND THAT IT WAS NOT DONE ON THIS CAR. THIS CAR HAD NO COLLISION ON IT BECAUSE IT WAS "OLDER" DID FINALLY REPORT TO INSURANCE JUST TO HAVE ON RECORD. IF WE KNEW ABOUT THE RECALL ON THIS I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY 2 & 4 YEAR OLD SONS IN THIS "SAFE" CAR. I WOULD HAVE DONE DIRECTLY TO DEALER IF I KNEW ABOUT RECALL. HAVE TRIED GOING THROUGH DEALER RECENTLY AND CALLING LINCOLN'S 800# TO SPEAK WITH THEIR CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT. NO ONE IS CLAIMING ANY KIND OF RESPONSIBILITY AND YET IN MY MIND WE WERE ALMOST KILLED. I NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER ABOUT THE RECALL. ONLY THE PREVIOUS OWNERS APPARANTLY RECEIVED ONE. I'M SURE LINCOLN WOULD PAY ATTENTION IF SOMEONE WAS KILLED DUE TO A SAFETY RECALL. HOW CAN I GET LINCOLN TO MAKE MY CAR SAFE AND REIMBURSE ME FOR MONEY I DID PAY OUT DUE TO THIS OCCURRENCE -- THEY WON'T EVEN LOOK AT THE PART OF THE CAR THAT WAS RECALLED BECAUSE I HAD GONE TO A SALVAGE YARD TO HAVE HOOD REPLACED, WINDSHIELD REPLACED AND FRONT END DRIVERS HEADLIGHT REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #748689

Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2001
Steering

SHIFT ROD HOUSING BROKE IN HALF,INSIDE OF STEERING COLUMN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #747760

Mileage unknown · May 27, 2001
Electrical SystemFire

ON APRIL 23, 2001 OUR LINCOLN TOWN CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FRO ABOUT TEN MINUTES IN AN ENCLOSED PARKING STRUCTURE AT SUPERMARKET WHEN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT SELF-IGNITED. A MAJOR FIRE ENSUED BUT A PASSERBY HAD CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE TOTAL LOSS OF OUR CAR. I HAVE EMAILED LINCOLN HQ REPEATEDLY SIN…

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ON APRIL 23, 2001 OUR LINCOLN TOWN CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FRO ABOUT TEN MINUTES IN AN ENCLOSED PARKING STRUCTURE AT SUPERMARKET WHEN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT SELF-IGNITED. A MAJOR FIRE ENSUED BUT A PASSERBY HAD CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE TOTAL LOSS OF OUR CAR. I HAVE EMAILED LINCOLN HQ REPEATEDLY SINCE THEN TO ASK IF THEY HAD ANY RECORD OF THIS UNUSUAL AND POTENTIALLY LETHAL PROBLEM. EACH TIME THEY REPLIED SAYING THAT THEY COULD NOT ANSWER TECHNICAL QUESTIONS. THEY REFERRED ME TO THE LOCAL DEALER, WHOSE SERVICE MANAGER I HAD ALREADY SPOKEN TO, AND WHO HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT THERE MAY BE MORE TO THIS?*AK

NHTSA ODI #745988

Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2001
TiresInjury

WHILE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT THE SPARE TIRE T125/80R16, DOT FNTA2XHX150 LOCATED IN TRUNK OF 1990, LINCOLN, TOWN CAR EXPLODED. THIS EXPLOSION OF SPARE TIRE RESULTED IN TRUNK OF VEHICLE, RAISING 1 1/2 INCHES ABOVE NORMAL LEVEL AND A CHUNK OF GLASS AND REAR VIEW MIRROR, TO FALL FROM FRONT WINDSHIELD. *AK CONSUMER WAS TOL…

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WHILE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT THE SPARE TIRE T125/80R16, DOT FNTA2XHX150 LOCATED IN TRUNK OF 1990, LINCOLN, TOWN CAR EXPLODED. THIS EXPLOSION OF SPARE TIRE RESULTED IN TRUNK OF VEHICLE, RAISING 1 1/2 INCHES ABOVE NORMAL LEVEL AND A CHUNK OF GLASS AND REAR VIEW MIRROR, TO FALL FROM FRONT WINDSHIELD. *AK CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY A MICHELIN REPRESENTATIVE THAT AGE AND TEMPERATURE WOULD CAUSE A SPARE TIRE TO FAIL, THAT THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED PERIODICALLY, ONE PERSON WAS INJURED DUE TO FAILURE. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #886515

Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 2001
Electrical SystemFire

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #742478

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2001
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS CUT ON AND OFF ERRATICLY DURING RAIN STORMS. LINCOLN CUTOMER SERVICE HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #882904

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

AFTER PARKING VEHICLE FOR 20 MINUTES IN DRIVEWAY CONUSMER NOTICED A POPPING NOISE. VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE DEPARTMENT. FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT FIRE OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #882886

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #882874

Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE, POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. NLM

NHTSA ODI #559769

Official recalls

4

98V322000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

Dec 16, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 1996-1999 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE, FLEET, NATURAL GAS, AND 1996-1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINE VEHICLES THAT WERE PRODUCED WITH A LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CONTAINING A ONE PIECE BEARING; AND 1990-1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE, FLEET, AND NGV VEHICLES AND 1990-1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINE VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN SERVICED WITH EITHER A BALL JOINT CONTAINING THE ONE-PIECE BEARING OR A FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM CONTAINING A BALL JOINT WITH A ONE-PIECE BEARING. THE ONE-PIECE BEARING WITHIN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CAN WEAKEN SLOWLY DURING USE AND EVENTUALLY CRACK. THIS COULD RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE BALL AND CAP OF THE JOINT, ALLOWING THE CONTROL ARM TO DROP TO THE GROUND.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, REDUCED STEERING CONTROL COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS (2).

95V091000 · Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch

May 16, 1995

CORROSION OF THE HOOD LATCH STRIKER PLATE CAUSES DETACHMENT OF THE PLATE FROM THE HOOD ASSEMBLY RESULTING IN AN UNEXPECTED OPENING OF THE HOOD WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN REDUCE THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROAD INCREASING THE POTENTIAL OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HOOD INNER PANEL REINFORCEMENT AND A NEW, GALVANIZED HOOD LATCH STRIKER PLATE.

90V133000 · Equipment:other:labels

Jul 27, 1990

TIRE PLACARD MAY CONTAIN INCORRECT GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATINGS AND TIRE INFORMATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: LIMOUSINES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 110 AND CONSUMERMIGHT UNKNOWINGLY OVERLOAD THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF PLACARD MISINFORMATION.

Remedy: INSTALL REVISED TIRE PLACARDS.

90V134000 · Equipment:other:labels

Jul 27, 1990

GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATINGS AND TIRE INFORMATION MAY BE INCORRECT ON LABELS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: VEHICLES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH 49 CFR PART 567.

Remedy: INSTALL REVISED CERTIFICATION LABELS.

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

EA91021 · Hood Latch Failure

Opened Mar 29, 1991 · Closed Mar 16, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

There is no summary currently available

PE91018 · Hood Latch Failure

Opened Nov 27, 1990 · Closed Mar 29, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

There is no summary currently available