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
What owners actually said
249 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
AS AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER AND FIRE INVESTIGATOR, MYSELF AND OTHER FIRE INVESTIGATORS ARE EXPERIENCING A RASH OF FIRES LATELY IN 1992 AND 1993 LINCOLN TOWNCARS. FIRES SEEM TO ORIGINATE IN THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. IN MOST INSTANCES, THE VEHICLES ARE PARKED FOR 30 MINUTES TO AN HOUR BEFORE FIRE IS …
Read full complaint
AS AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER AND FIRE INVESTIGATOR, MYSELF AND OTHER FIRE INVESTIGATORS ARE EXPERIENCING A RASH OF FIRES LATELY IN 1992 AND 1993 LINCOLN TOWNCARS. FIRES SEEM TO ORIGINATE IN THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. IN MOST INSTANCES, THE VEHICLES ARE PARKED FOR 30 MINUTES TO AN HOUR BEFORE FIRE IS NOTICED. WE HAVE SEEN APPROXIMATELY 15 SUCH OCCURRENCES. WE ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE WHAT THE FAILURE MECHANISM MAY BE.
NHTSA ODI #781555
Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 1998
Suspension
IN THE PAST TWO YEAR THE ENTIRE SUSPENSION SYSTEM HAS BEEN REPLACED.
NHTSA ODI #780919
Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 1998
Seats
SEAT ANCHOR FAILED.
NHTSA ODI #534412
Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 1998
StructureInjury
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH, HIT GUARDRAIL AND VEHICLE SPLIT IN HALF DUE TO A DEFECT IN WELDS. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES.
NHTSA ODI #533188
Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 1998
Power Train
TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO SLIP INTO NEUTRAL WHILE TRAVELING AT NORMAL SPEEDS.
NHTSA ODI #531543
Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 1998
Fuel System, GasolineFire
ELECTRONIC COMPONENT ON DRIVERS SIDE FENDER WELL OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT CATCHES FIRE.
NHTSA ODI #531503
Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 1998
Electrical SystemFire
ELECTRONIC COMPONENT ON DRIVERS SIDE FENDER WELL OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT CATCH FIRE.
NHTSA ODI #531502
Mileage unknown · Feb 25, 1998
Electrical SystemFire
HAD PARKED VEHICLE. SON NOTICED SMOKE FROM UNDER HOOD. FIRST IT WAS WHITE. THEN LATER TURNED BLACK. FINALLY SAW FLAMES. HOOD DID NOT COME UP. FIRE DEPT CALLED & PUT FLAMES OUT. BLACKNESS SURROUNDED ENGINE AREA. INSURANCE COMPANY HAS VEHICLE. *AK REFERENCED IN EA02-025
NHTSA ODI #821667
Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 1998
Seat Belts
SEAT BELT BUCKLE INSERT MISSING IN BACK SEAT.
NHTSA ODI #530997
Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 1998
Power Train
TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND VEHICLE IS LOSING POWER. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. *AK
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.
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.
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).
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
7
EA02025 · 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
1992 Lincoln Town Car Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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