IllustrationWHILE DRIVING EASTBOUND US INTERSTATE 40 IN OKLAHOMA CITY,OK MY 1991 LINCOLN TOWNCAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AND STOPPED RUNNING, AFTER I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND PUT THE FIRE OUT, THE CAR WOULD NOT START BACK UP. THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA, LOOKING AS IF IT WAS UNDERNEATH THE CAR SOMEWHERE. *TR
1991 Lincoln Town Car
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1991 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: 9 of 155 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
20 crash reports14 fire reports11 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
19 reportsI HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH GETTING THIS CAR (1991 LINCOLN TOWN CAR) THROUGH INSPECTION OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS, DUE TO SMOKING BECAUSE OF EMISSIONS PROBLEMS. THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 100,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS PROBLEM STARTED, AND NOW HAS APPROXIMATELY 119,000 MILES ON IT. THIS YEAR, I HAVE MADE 4 ATTEMPTS TO GET THE CAR TO PASS T…
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I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH GETTING THIS CAR (1991 LINCOLN TOWN CAR) THROUGH INSPECTION OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS, DUE TO SMOKING BECAUSE OF EMISSIONS PROBLEMS. THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 100,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS PROBLEM STARTED, AND NOW HAS APPROXIMATELY 119,000 MILES ON IT. THIS YEAR, I HAVE MADE 4 ATTEMPTS TO GET THE CAR TO PASS THE INSPECTION, HOWEVER IT HAS FAILED DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM EACH TIME. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO MECHANICS, AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS' DEFECT WITH THESE PARTICULAR CARS. THEY STATE THAT THE VALVE SEALS GET HARD BECAUSE OF A FACTORY DEFECT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. HARDENED VALVE SEALS ALLOW OIL TO BY-PASS THE VALVE SEALS AND CAUSE THE CARS TO SMOKE. I FEEL THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPLACE THE VALVE SEALS IN MY CAR, AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THIS CAR, IF YOU CAN PLEASE STOP THE SMOKING, IT IS A GOOD CAR! THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. THIS CAUSED LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES. CONSUMER FOUND IN THE NHTSA WEB 28 COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND OFF ALL THE TIME, I BOUGHT THE CAR LAST YEAR AROUND OCTOBER 2001, THE OWNER TOLD ME HE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERS SEVERAL TIMES AND NOTHING THEY TOLD HIM NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR, I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM THAT PERSON AND ABOUT 4 MONTHS LATER THERE IS WATER INSIDE THE MOTOR, IT WAS RUNNING PERFECT…
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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND OFF ALL THE TIME, I BOUGHT THE CAR LAST YEAR AROUND OCTOBER 2001, THE OWNER TOLD ME HE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERS SEVERAL TIMES AND NOTHING THEY TOLD HIM NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR, I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM THAT PERSON AND ABOUT 4 MONTHS LATER THERE IS WATER INSIDE THE MOTOR, IT WAS RUNNING PERFECTLY FINE. ABOUT THE BRAKES, THERE IS A WIERD NOISE, IT'S NOT SQUEAKING, BUT WHEN YOU'RE AT A STOP SIGN AND YOU LET GO OF THE BREAK A LITTLE THERE IS AN UNUSUAL NOISE. I HAD THE CAR REPAIRED IN OCTOBER FOR THE HOOD LATCH RECALL, MOST OF THE PLACES WERE REALLY BAD ABOUT HELPING ME WITH THE RECALL, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CAR WAS TOO OLD. I FINALLY GOT IT FIXED, BUT CAN THE OTHER PLACES ACTUALLY REJECT MY CAR FOR BEING TO OLD? I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE ARE OTHER RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERS AND THEY SAID THAT THE OTHER RECALLS DON'T APPLY TO MY CAR. IS THAT CORRECT?
WHILE DRIVING ALONG 70MPH ALL OF A SUDDEN VEHICLE LOST POWER. THEN, IT PICKED UP AGAIN. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH, AND ALL OF SUDDEN LOST POWER. DIDN'T CONTACT DEALER OR MANUFACTURER. *AK
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHILE TURNED OFF. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. CAUSE HAS NEVER BEEN FOUND. *AK *ML
ABOUT 20 MINUTES AFTER PULLING IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE IGNITION OFF, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE WAS PUT ON BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOTALLED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN OIL SYSTEM FAILURE. DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE. *AK
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
INTERMITTENTLY, IN LOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE WILL STALL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Official recalls
598V322000 · 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).
95V151000 · Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch
Aug 7, 1995
THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MAY NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE HOOD IS CLOSED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH RELEASES OR IS NOT PROPERLY LATCHED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE HOOD COULD FLY UP OBSTRUCTING THE OPERATOR'S VISION, AND INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY.
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.
91V147000 · Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch
Sep 10, 1991
THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MAY NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE HOOD IS CLOSED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH RELEASES WHEN THEVEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE HOOD COULD FLY UP, OBSTRUCTING THE OPERATOR'S VISION,AND INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: INSTALL A NEW HOOD LATCHING ASSEMBLY.
91V008000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery
Jan 8, 1991
DISTORTED FUEL LINES IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT MAY CONTACT THE STEERING COLUMN UNIVERSAL JOINT AND CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE FUEL LINE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR FROM THE DAMAGED FLUID LINE AND,IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: REPOSITION FUEL LINE TO PREVENT CONTACT WITH UNIVERSAL JOINT; IF FUEL LINES ARE ALREADY DAMAGED, REPAIR OR REPLACE FUEL LINES.
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
1EA91021 · Hood Latch Failure
Opened Mar 29, 1991 · Closed Mar 16, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available