Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 50 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1986 Lincoln Town Car, most frequently naming the electrical, interior & seats and transmission categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 20 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 1995 | 2 | 2 |
| Mar 1995 | 1 | 3 |
| Aug 1995 | 3 | 6 |
| Apr 1996 | 8 | 14 |
| May 1996 | 5 | 19 |
| Jun 1996 | 4 | 23 |
| Jul 1996 | 3 | 26 |
| Aug 1996 | 1 | 27 |
| Sep 1996 | 2 | 29 |
| Oct 1996 | 1 | 30 |
| Nov 1996 | 1 | 31 |
| Dec 1996 | 1 | 32 |
| Jan 1997 | 2 | 34 |
| May 1997 | 1 | 35 |
| Aug 1997 | 1 | 36 |
| Jul 1998 | 1 | 37 |
| Aug 1998 | 1 | 38 |
| Oct 1998 | 1 | 39 |
| Dec 1998 | 1 | 40 |
| Jul 1999 | 1 | 41 |
| Sep 1999 | 1 | 42 |
| Jul 2000 | 1 | 43 |
| Oct 2000 | 1 | 44 |
| Nov 2000 | 1 | 45 |
| Mar 2001 | 1 | 46 |
| Apr 2002 | 1 | 47 |
| Jul 2003 | 1 | 48 |
| Nov 2004 | 1 | 49 |
| Aug 2008 | 1 | 50 |
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.
4 campaigns 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
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
NON COLLISION FIRES
SUMMARY: ALLEGEDLY THE AXLE BEARINGS ON LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINES OVER-HEAT IGNITING COMBUSTIBLE COMPONENTS NEARBY.RECOMMENDATION: OPEN PE SEND LETTER TO FORD.===
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
CAR WAS PARKED WITH TRANSMISSION SELECTOR IN PARK POSITION WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE CAR JUMPED OUT OF PARK AND BEGIN TO ROLL AWAY. WHEN THE CAR HIT ANOTHER CAR AND CAME TO REST, THE TRANSMISSION INDICATOR WAS IN REVERSE POSITION. *TR
WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION THERE WAS A CRACKING NOISE FOLLOWED BY SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN THE HOOD WAS POPPED THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE CENTER OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, AND INDICATED IT MAY HAVE BEEN SOMETHING ELECTRICAL THAT CAUSED THE FIRE. *AK
PAINT PEELING, EMISSIONS BAD.
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WAS LURCHING, THEN CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE TIRES. DEALER DETERMINED THAT RIGHT FRONT BRAKE WAS LOCKED UP, CALIPER AND BRAKE HOSE WERE REPLACED. *AK
STRAPS THAT HOLD FUEL TANK IN PLACE HAVE BEEN RUBBING ON TANK, FUEL TANK IS LEAKING DUE TO THAT. *AK THE TANK NEEDS REPLACING. *YH
THE IGNITION SWITCH IS TEMPERAMENTAL AND THE VEHICLE IS STALLING. *SLC
MODEL POWER PRIMA ATERMARKET TIRE SIZE P21570R15 WITH 30,000 MILES WITH 80,000 MILE WARRANTY. DRIVER'SFRONT TIRE BELT BROKE INSIDE THE TIRE, CAUSING TIRE TO GO OUT OF ROUND. CONSUMER HAD TO BUY 2 BRAND NEW TIRES BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS UNDRIVEABLE.*AK DOT #H288YPE1513. *SLC
CAR BURST INTO FLAMES. *AK
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC
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 REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT
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 |
| 1986Viewing | 50 | 4 | 1 | 70.7 |
| 1985 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 63.3 |
| 1984 | 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.