IllustrationINSTUMENT PANEL FADES OUT. *AK
1992 Lincoln Town Car
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Town Car years
Owner complaints for the 1992 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
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: 29 of 249 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 73 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
11 crash reports93 fire reports11 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
73 reportsVEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE ATTACHED TO THE HOUSE. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. IT DID CAUSES PROPERTY DAMAGE TO THE HOUSE. A FORD REPRESENTATIVE/FIRE DEPT. REPRESENTATIVE, AND THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR AGREED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSE BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.*AK
1992 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WAS DRIVEN FROM MY HOME TO THE POST OFFICE AND BACK TOTAL MILEAGE .03 MILES. TOTAL RUN TIME OF VEHICLE ABOUT 5 MINUTES. SHUT CAR OFF WENT INTO THE HOUSE, 1 HOUR LATER CAR CAUGHT FIRE COMPLETE LOSE OF CAR, DAMAGE TO HOUSE AND A STORAGE SHED. *JB
CONSUMER HEARD SMOKE DETECTOR GO OFF AND DISCOVERED THE DOWNSTAIRS BASEMENT DEN OF THE HOME WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE, CONSUMER FOUND THE CAUSE OF FIRE WAS DUE TO A FIRE THAT IGNITED UNDER THE VEHICLES HOOD, CONSUMER HAD RECALL REPAIRS 99V124 COMPLETED ON VEHICLE PRIOR TO FIRE , POSSIBLE CAUSE OF FIRE. *SLC
VEHICLE WAS PARKED. HEARD A SOUND LIKE ELECTRIC MOTOR RUNNING. WAS GOING TO CHECK WHEN HORN STARTED BLOWING. OPENED DOOR WITH KEY. SMOKE WAS HEAVY INSIDE VEHICLE. WHEN AIR HIT INSIDE, FLAMES SHOT OUT. ALONG RIGHT HAND SIDE NOTICED FLAMES ON DASHBOARD. NEIGHBOR CONTACTED FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY PUT FLAMES OUT. FIREMAN INDICATE…
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VEHICLE WAS PARKED. HEARD A SOUND LIKE ELECTRIC MOTOR RUNNING. WAS GOING TO CHECK WHEN HORN STARTED BLOWING. OPENED DOOR WITH KEY. SMOKE WAS HEAVY INSIDE VEHICLE. WHEN AIR HIT INSIDE, FLAMES SHOT OUT. ALONG RIGHT HAND SIDE NOTICED FLAMES ON DASHBOARD. NEIGHBOR CONTACTED FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY PUT FLAMES OUT. FIREMAN INDICATED POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL WIRING WAS THE CAUSE OF FIRE.*AK *SLC
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
I OWN A VEHICLE REPAIR SHOP THAT A CUSTOMER CAR BURNED TO THE GROUND INSIDE THE SHOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.THE CUSTOMER COMPLAINT MATCHED THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 99V124000.THE CAR FIRE HAS SHUT DOWN MY BUSINESS FOR A MONTH AS OF NOW.DO I HAVE ANY RECORSE FROM FORD MOTOR CO.FOR DAMAGES DUE TO THERE DEFECT? *AK REFERENCED IN…
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I OWN A VEHICLE REPAIR SHOP THAT A CUSTOMER CAR BURNED TO THE GROUND INSIDE THE SHOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.THE CUSTOMER COMPLAINT MATCHED THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 99V124000.THE CAR FIRE HAS SHUT DOWN MY BUSINESS FOR A MONTH AS OF NOW.DO I HAVE ANY RECORSE FROM FORD MOTOR CO.FOR DAMAGES DUE TO THERE DEFECT? *AK REFERENCED IN RQ01-002
DRIVING 40MPH WHEN VEHICLE STALLED OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. TOWED TO DEALER & NOTHING WAS FOUND BY MECHANIC. VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BY MECHANIC. STALLED A SECOND TIME & WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER 30 MINUTES. THIS WOULD HAPPENED AT LEAST 3-4 TIMES SINCE AT THE DEALER. STALLING PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. HAD REPAIRS DONE ON VE…
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DRIVING 40MPH WHEN VEHICLE STALLED OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. TOWED TO DEALER & NOTHING WAS FOUND BY MECHANIC. VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BY MECHANIC. STALLED A SECOND TIME & WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER 30 MINUTES. THIS WOULD HAPPENED AT LEAST 3-4 TIMES SINCE AT THE DEALER. STALLING PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. HAD REPAIRS DONE ON VEHICLE & HAS NOT STALLED SINCE THEN.*AK.*ET
CAR WAS PARKED AT SHOPPING CENTER. WHILE SHOPPING THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE. THE CAR WAS LOCKED AND NOT RUNNING. THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASHBOARD, DRIVER' S SIDE. CAR WAS COMPLETELY TOTALLED. WE HAD TO PAY LARGE DEDUCTABLE AND LOST CAR PHONE AND OTHER VALUABLES. CONTACTED FORD BY CERTIFIED LETTER AND THEY TOLD US IT WAS NO…
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CAR WAS PARKED AT SHOPPING CENTER. WHILE SHOPPING THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE. THE CAR WAS LOCKED AND NOT RUNNING. THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASHBOARD, DRIVER' S SIDE. CAR WAS COMPLETELY TOTALLED. WE HAD TO PAY LARGE DEDUCTABLE AND LOST CAR PHONE AND OTHER VALUABLES. CONTACTED FORD BY CERTIFIED LETTER AND THEY TOLD US IT WAS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AND TO FILE WITH OUR INSURANCE. WE HAVE BEEN HEARING OTHER STORIES OF THIS MODEL CATCHING FIRE WHILE PARKED AND NOT RUNNING. WANT TO KNOW IF FORD IS TAKING A PRO-ACTIVE POSITION ON THIS OR IF YOUR AGENCY IS PURSUING FURTHER. RC. *AK REFERENCED IN RQ01-002
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE IN RESIDENTIAL GARAGE AND WAS DAMAGED DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT AT THE ENGINE AREA. YH
Official recalls
407V336000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Aug 3, 2007
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
99V124000 · Electrical System
May 19, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH CAN DEVELOP A RESISTIVE SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE. A FIRE IS POSSIBLE BOTH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING AND WHEN THE VEHICLE ENGINE IS OFF. ALSO, THE SHORT COULD DISABLE THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM OR CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHT FUSE TO OPEN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A FIRE CAN ORIGINATE IN THE LEFT FRONT UNDERHOOD AREA.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH AND CONNECTOR SHELL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 20, 1999.
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).
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.
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
7EA02025 · Speed Control Deactivation Switch Fires
Opened Sep 6, 2002 · Closed Jun 30, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
BASED ON THE LOW RATE OF FIRE INCIDENTS (2.5 INCIDENTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES SOLD) WHERE FAILURE OF THE SCDS IS INVOLVED AND THE AGE OF THE VEHICLES ? 7 TO 11 YEARS ? A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
DP02007 · FUEL-FED Fires
Opened Aug 22, 2002 · Closed Dec 4, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
THE FARS DATA SHOWS THAT THE RISK OF FIRE FROM IMPACT IN ALL DIRECTIONS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IS THE SAME AS ALL OTHER SEDANS.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE NOT OVER REPRESENTED WITH RESPECT TO THE RISK OF FIRE IN REAL-WORLD HIGH-ENERGY CRASHES.A FURTHER DISCUSSION OF ISSUES RELATED TO POST CRASH FIRES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IS SET OUT IN THE CLOSING REPORT FOR SQ 01-014 AND THAT REPORT IS IN THE DOCKET FOR THIS PETITION.AFTER REVIEWING THE PETITION AND ITS SUPPORTING MATERIALS, AS WELL AS INFORMATION FURNISHED BY FORD AND GM, AND INFORMATION WITHIN THE AGENCY'S POSSESSION FROM PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS AND OTHER RELATED ACTIONS,NHTSA HAS CONCLUDED THAT FUTHER INVESTIGATION CONCERNING POST-CRASH FIRES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IS NOT LIKELY TO LEAD TO A DECISION THAT THE VEHICLES CONTAIN A SAFETY DEFECT.
SQ01014 · Post Rear End Collision Fires
Opened Nov 27, 2001 · Closed Oct 3, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage
There is no summary currently available
RQ01002 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened Sep 20, 2001 · Closed Sep 6, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
No summary supplied.
EA99006 · Under Hood Fires
Opened Mar 11, 1999 · Closed May 19, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
ALLEGED THAT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IN THE AREA OF THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WELL AND THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER
PE98055 · Under Hood Fires
Opened Oct 27, 1998 · Closed Mar 11, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
ALLEGED ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IN THE AREA OF THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WELL AND THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINER.
PE93086 · Hood FLY-UP While Driving
Opened Oct 1, 1993 · Closed Feb 28, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available