IllustrationPAINT FADED IN SPOTS ON ROOF AND TRUNK LID. *JB
1994 Lincoln Town Car
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1994 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: 38 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
15 crash reports26 fire reports13 injury reports
What owners actually said
155 reportsTHERE IS A PLASTIC HEADLIGHT COVER ON SEVERAL MODELS OF FORD PRODUCTS. THE PLASTIC COVER DISCOLORS WITH AGE AND CUTS DOWN ON THE LIGHT THAT IS EMITTED. IT APPEARS THAT THE DISCOLORATION GETS WORSE WITH AGE AND WILL ONE DAY BLOCK MOST OF THE LIGHT. LATER MODELS NOW HAVE A GLASS COVER THAT DOES NOT DISCOLOR. *JB
WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED TO THE GROUND. *JB REFERENCED IN EA02-025
REAR SUSPENSION DROP CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DROP LOWER TO THE GROUND. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL. PH
CONSUMER ADVISED THAT LEFT SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT CONNECTED TO WHEEL SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. DEALER ADVISED JOINT SEPARATED DUE TO LACK OF GREASE AT ASSEMBLY. *PH BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED AND ALIGNED THE FRONT END. NEEDED FRONT BRAKES REPLACED. CONSUMER DECLINED BRAKE REPAIRS. …
Read full complaint
CONSUMER ADVISED THAT LEFT SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT CONNECTED TO WHEEL SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. DEALER ADVISED JOINT SEPARATED DUE TO LACK OF GREASE AT ASSEMBLY. *PH BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED AND ALIGNED THE FRONT END. NEEDED FRONT BRAKES REPLACED. CONSUMER DECLINED BRAKE REPAIRS. *TT
THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE CONCERNING A 1994 LINCOLN TOWNCAR WITH 122000 MILES. THE DRIVERS SEAT LEFT FRONT SEAT BOLT THAT HOLDS THE SEAT TO THE ANGLE IRON FRAME PULLED OUT OF OR THROUGH THE METAL OF THE SEAT. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAG HAS NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED SO THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY EXTREME FORCE ON THE…
Read full complaint
THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE CONCERNING A 1994 LINCOLN TOWNCAR WITH 122000 MILES. THE DRIVERS SEAT LEFT FRONT SEAT BOLT THAT HOLDS THE SEAT TO THE ANGLE IRON FRAME PULLED OUT OF OR THROUGH THE METAL OF THE SEAT. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAG HAS NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED SO THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY EXTREME FORCE ON THE SEAT OTHER THAN DRIVING. I WEIGH 200 LBS. AND DO NOT BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED TO BE EXCESSIVE. I SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS A POSSIBLE DANGER FOR DRIVING AND IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT THE DRIVERS AND/OR PASSENGERS SEAT COULD TEAR ITSELF LOOSE CAUSING ADDITIONAL INJURIES. *TR
WHILE DRIVING THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT TO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE CAME DETACHED CAUSING THE SEAT TO BE MOBILE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR ABOUT 24 HOURS WHEN VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE, FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. NLM REFERENCED IN EA02-025
WHEN DRIVING AT 20/25MPH AND UPON APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, CONSUMER HEARD A VERY LOUD NOISE WHEN FRONT LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE END DROPPED DOWN. THIS WAS AS A RESULT OF LOWER CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT SEPARATING.THERE IS A RECALL 98V322000; BUT, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, THE LEFT REAR TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION, ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. TIRE SIZE 215715, NOT ORGINAL TIRE. DOT #P21570R15. *AK *SCC
Official recalls
507V336000 · 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.
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).
95V133000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Jul 11, 1995
IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE REAR BRAKE LINE AT THE POINT AT WHICH THE EXTENDED BRAKE LINE FIRST BENDS AND EXTENDS OVER THE LEFT REAR WHEEL AREA OF THE FRAME. IF NOT INSTALLED WITH SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE, CHAFING OF THE BRAKE LINE CAN OCCUR IN AN AREA ADJACENT TO THE REAR FLOOR PAN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE REAR BRAKE LINE CAN LEAK OR RUPTURE RESULTING IN REDUCED BRAKING CAPABILITY, LOSS OF REAR BRAKES, AND/OR LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID RESERVES IN THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE LINE FOR PROPER INSTALLATION AND/OR DAMAGE AND REPLACE AS NECESSARY. ALSO A PROTECTIVE BOOT OR SLEEVE OVER THE BRAKE LINE WILL BE INSTALLED.
94V152000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components
Aug 9, 1994
THE NUTS AND BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE REAR BRAKE ADAPTOR TO THE AXLE HOUSING FLANGE CAN LOOSEN AND EVENTUALLY SEPARATE. IF ONE OR MORE OF THE NUTS COME OFF THE BOLTS, DAMAGE TO THE PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY OR TO THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) SENSOR AND SENSOR RING (IF SO EQUIPPED) WILL OCCUR. IF ALL FOUR NUTS ON ONE END OF THE AXLE COME OFF THE BOLTS, DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC LINE OR THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE CAN OCCUR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: OCCURRENCE OF ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY AND POSSIBLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NEEDED, INSTALL NEW BOLTS. IF ANY OF THE FASTENERS ARE DISCONNECTED, THE PARKING BRAKE AND ABS COMPONENTS WILL BE INSPECTED AND SERVICED.
94V129000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages
Jul 12, 1994
THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSH ROD RETAINER (HAIRPIN CLIP) MAY BE MISSING OR NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED ON THE SERVICE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS CAN CAUSE DISENGAGEMENT OF THE BRAKE PUSHROD AND LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE RETAINER.
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
4EA02025 · 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.