Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 15 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1984 Lincoln Town Car, most frequently naming the electrical, engine and tires & wheels categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 10 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1995 | 1 | 1 |
| Feb 1996 | 1 | 2 |
| Apr 1996 | 3 | 5 |
| May 1996 | 3 | 8 |
| Jun 1996 | 1 | 9 |
| Sep 1996 | 1 | 10 |
| Sep 1997 | 1 | 11 |
| Sep 1998 | 1 | 12 |
| Mar 2001 | 1 | 13 |
| Oct 2001 | 1 | 14 |
| Jun 2024 | 1 | 15 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
1 campaign cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govEQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
PARKING BRAKE FAILURE
SUMMARY:THE SPRING UNDER INVESTIGATION CAUSES THE LATCHING PAWL TOENGAGE THE TEETH OF THE RATCHET WHEREBY THE PARKING BRAKE IS RETAINEDIN THE APPLIED POSITION.IF THE SPRING FAILS, THE PEDAL FOLLOWS THEOPERATORS FOOT BACK UP INTO THE RELEASED POSITION.FORD STATES THAT IT ISSUED THE BULLETIN IN ORDER TO INFORM DEALERSTHAT THE SPRING WAS NEWLY AVAILABLE AS A SEPARATE PART.PREVIOUSLY,IT WAS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE PARKING BRAKE CONTROL ASSEMBLY INORDER TO OBTAIN A NEW SPRING.SINCE THE FAILURE OF THE SPRING WILL NOT CAUSE THE PARKING BRAKE TOSUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY RELEASE AND SINCE THERE IS ADEQUATE WARNINGOF THE FAILURE, NO SAFETY DEFECT TREND WAS FOUND.===
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
The contact owns a 1984 Lincoln Town Car. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact was able to pull the vehicle to the side of the roadway. The contact stated that the vehicle was able to be restarted. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or local dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 152,000.
ENGINE STALLING WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A FLAT IN WHICH THE RUBBER PEELED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE TIRE, CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY MANUFACTURER TO TAKE TIRES BACK TO RETAILER, CONSUMER WAS THEN ADVISED THAT THE PROBLEM RESULTED IN A DEFECT IN THE TIRE WALL, CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN THE RUBBER CAME OFF OF TIRE IT DENTED THE MOUNDINGS ON VEHICLE (ROYAL SEAL TIRES). *JB
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 25 MPH, WHEN SMELLED SMOKE AND LOOKED UP AND SAW HEAVY SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE BRAKE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON.CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT PROBLEM. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.
THE TIRES MANUFACTURED BY COOPER TIRE, SOLD UNDER NAME OF DEAN. (P 215/70R15) HAD BLOW OUTS, THE RIGHT FRONT AND LEFT FRONT TIRES BLEW OUT WITHIN A MILE APART.
DURING VEHICLE OPERATION SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. AS A RESULT THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK CONSUMER REPLACED SWITCH. *SLC
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE DASH AND UNDER THE HOOD. ELECTRICAL RELATED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
DRIVING VEHICLE, SHUT OFF, PULLED VEHICLE OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD, SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN, DRIVER & DAUGHTER GOT OUT, FLAMES ENGULFED VEHICLE . *AK
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
SUBJECT REGARDING CONTAMINATION FROM PRIOR TRANSMISSION CONCERNS OR EXCESS WEAR MAY BE TRAPPED IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLING SYSTEM. *TT
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
INFORMATION ON A NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHART. *YC
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
A NEW SILICONE GASKET AND SEALANT. *YC
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FLUID- TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *JD
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
TORQUE CONVERTER - LEAK TEST PROCEDURE - SERVICE TIP. *TW
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2011 | 6 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2010 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 45.8 |
| 2009 | 5 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2008 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 57.1 |
| 2007 | 84 | 3 | 1 | 60.0 |
| 2006 | 143 | 2 | 0 | 47.8 |
| 2005 | 119 | 3 | 0 | 52.7 |
| 2004 | 83 | 0 | 1 | 51.8 |
| 2003 | 201 | 1 | 4 | 48.6 |
| 2002 | 65 | 1 | 3 | 60.7 |
| 2001 | 161 | 6 | 6 | 66.7 |
| 2000 | 108 | 9 | 4 | 64.8 |
| 1999 | 148 | 6 | 4 | 64.7 |
| 1998 | 154 | 8 | 5 | 60.5 |
| 1997 | 314 | 8 | 7 | 59.6 |
| 1996 | 259 | 10 | 6 | 61.3 |
| 1995 | 165 | 9 | 6 | 65.1 |
| 1994 | 155 | 5 | 4 | 68.0 |
| 1993 | 176 | 4 | 7 | 73.8 |
| 1992 | 249 | 4 | 7 | 74.5 |
| 1991 | 155 | 5 | 1 | 62.8 |
| 1990 | 209 | 4 | 2 | 71.3 |
| 1989 | 89 | 5 | 0 | 65.8 |
| 1988 | 99 | 5 | 2 | 71.8 |
| 1987 | 32 | 6 | 0 | 65.8 |
| 1986 | 50 | 4 | 1 | 70.7 |
| 1985 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 63.3 |
| 1984Viewing | 15 | 1 | 1 | 61.6 |
| 1983 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 1982 | 2 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1980 | 1 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1978 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1977 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.