1986 Lincoln Town Car Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1986 Lincoln Town Car, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical2449.0%
- Interior & seats510.2%
- Transmission36.1%
- Driver assistance36.1%
- Fuel system36.1%
- Body & structure36.1%
- Other / unspecified24.1%
- Engine24.1%
- Brakes12.0%
- Seat belts12.0%
- Steering12.0%
- Tires & wheels12.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
THE IGNITION SWITCH IS TEMPERAMENTAL AND THE VEHICLE IS STALLING. *SLC
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
CAR WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY THREE MINUTES A LITTLE SMOKE STARTED TO COME FROM AROUND THE STEERING, RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE. *AK
EXPERIENCED FIRE IN FRONT DASH. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 SHIFT SELECTOR IS PUT IN DRIVE IT READS OVERDRIVE/OVERDRIVE READS NEUTRAL.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
STARTED CAR AFTER IT HAD SET FOR THREE DAY, PUT IT IN REVERSE, TOUCHED GAS PEDAL TO BACK UP AND SUDDENLY THE CAR SHOT BACKWARDS LIKE A ROCKET, GOING AT AN UNCONTROLABLE RATE OF SPEED, BRAKING DID NOT EFFECT IT. FINALLY AFTER SHOVING IN PARK AND TURNING IGNITION OFF, IT CAME TO REST AT REAR OF A BUILDING ON SOME METAL PIPES SURROUNDING AN OUTSIDE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT. IT HAD RUN OVER ANOTHER UNIT AND FLATTENED IT. THE REAR FENDERS AND BUMPER OF THE CAR WAS DAMAGED. *AK
THE ENGINE SURGES WITHOUT WARNING AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND THE ROOF CAME OFF .*AK
WHILE DRIVING THE ROOF FLEW OFF. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
LEFT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING.
RIGHT REAR WHEEL SHEARED OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT. (NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE REPORT)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
PAINT PEELING, EMISSIONS BAD.
VEHICLE FIRE. *DH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVER'S SIDE LAP/SHOULDER BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE, AND COULD NOT GET THE PERSON OUT, HAD TO CUT THE SEAT BELT.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .