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
134,000 miles · Jun 19, 2003
Seats
I WAS DRIVING MY 1992 LINCOLN TOWNCAR WHEN SUDDENLY THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT FLEW UP FROM THE FRONT, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. UPON EXAMINATION, I DISCOVERED THE BOLTS ON THE FLOOR WHICH ATTACH TO THE STEEL HOUSING OF THE SEAT WERE NO LONGER ATTACHED. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS A BOLT PROBLEM, BUT UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION DISC…
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I WAS DRIVING MY 1992 LINCOLN TOWNCAR WHEN SUDDENLY THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT FLEW UP FROM THE FRONT, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. UPON EXAMINATION, I DISCOVERED THE BOLTS ON THE FLOOR WHICH ATTACH TO THE STEEL HOUSING OF THE SEAT WERE NO LONGER ATTACHED. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS A BOLT PROBLEM, BUT UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION DISCOVERED THE STEEL HOUSING UNDER THE SEAT PAD COVER WHICH THE BOLTS ATTACH TO HAD RIPPED OPEN, RELEASING THE BOLTS. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10023361
Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2002
Suspension
CONSUMER STATES BALL JOINTS BROKE. NLM
NHTSA ODI #8019824
Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
CONSUMER STATES WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED SUDDENLY THE BRAKE PEDAL DOES NOT FULLY RECOVER. CONSUMER HAS TO RECOVER BRAKE PEDAL MANUALLY. NLM ALSO IF THE CRUISE CONTROL IS SET AND THE VEHICLE IS GOING DOWN A GRADE THE BRAKES WILL SET BUT WILL NOT RECOVER BY THEMSELVES. *YH
NHTSA ODI #8019822
Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2002
Suspension
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BALL JOINT FAILURE. *MRTHERE IS A RECALL REGARDING THE BALL JOINTS 98V322. CONSUMER WANTS THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE BALL JOINTS HAVE NOT FAILED, CONSUMER IS BEING CAUTIOUS. *JG
NHTSA ODI #8019632
Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE BRAKE PROBLEMS. CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED SUDDENLY THE PEDAL DOES NOT RECOVER AND HAS TO BE PHYSICALLY PULLED BACK TO OPERATING POSITION. *MR
NHTSA ODI #8019631
Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline
FOR PAST 4 TO 5 YEARS, IN HOT WEATHER (CAR ENGINE NOT RUNNING HOT ON GAUGE) WHEN DRIVING FOR SOME TIME, GAS FUMES BECOME VERY VERY PERSISTANT IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHEN STOPPED AT STOP LIGHT, EVEN WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN. YOU CAN HEAR A BOILING SOUND FROM THE GAS TANK. WHEN PUT CAR IN THE HOME GARAGE IT IS REALLY BAD. WHEN …
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FOR PAST 4 TO 5 YEARS, IN HOT WEATHER (CAR ENGINE NOT RUNNING HOT ON GAUGE) WHEN DRIVING FOR SOME TIME, GAS FUMES BECOME VERY VERY PERSISTANT IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHEN STOPPED AT STOP LIGHT, EVEN WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN. YOU CAN HEAR A BOILING SOUND FROM THE GAS TANK. WHEN PUT CAR IN THE HOME GARAGE IT IS REALLY BAD. WHEN RELEASE THE GAS CAP SLOWLY IT HAS SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE AND KEEPS RELEASING PRESSURE FOR A LONG TIME. THE GAS IS BOILING. I HAVE ASKED THE LINCOLN OF MANY OCCASIONS ABOUT THE SMELL AND HAVE HAD IT CHECKED AGAIN JUST RECENTLY AND THEY FIND NOTHING WRONG AND JUST SAY TO KEEP GAS TANK FULL IN THE SUMMER. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND SEEMS TO HAVE GOTTEN WORSE IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #763423
Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2002
Seats
THE FIRST TIME THE SEAT FRAME BROKE WAS 04/29/97 @ 30952 MILES. EACH TIME THE SEAT BROKE, IT WAS AROUND 40,000 MILES TIME AROUND 40,000 MILES.
NHTSA ODI #758048
Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2002
Electrical SystemFire
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
NHTSA ODI #756078
Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury
BRAKES ARE ROUGH AND SLIP WHEN APPLIED. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP PROPERLY.*AK
NHTSA ODI #754121
Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES SUDDENLY LEFT FRONT WHEEL WILL LOCK UP. ALSO, COULDN'T DRIVE VEHICLE OVER 45-50 MPH BECAUSE FRONT WHEEL. ABS LIGHT CONTINOUSLY STAYED ON. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER HAS NOT REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. *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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