Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 99 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1988 Lincoln Town Car, most frequently naming the electrical, driver assistance and engine categories. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 27 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 | 3 | 3 |
| Feb 1995 | 2 | 5 |
| Apr 1995 | 1 | 6 |
| May 1995 | 1 | 7 |
| Jun 1995 | 1 | 8 |
| Nov 1995 | 2 | 10 |
| Feb 1996 | 2 | 12 |
| Mar 1996 | 1 | 13 |
| Apr 1996 | 10 | 23 |
| May 1996 | 3 | 26 |
| Jun 1996 | 8 | 34 |
| Jul 1996 | 5 | 39 |
| Aug 1996 | 6 | 45 |
| Oct 1996 | 2 | 47 |
| Nov 1996 | 3 | 50 |
| Dec 1996 | 1 | 51 |
| Jan 1997 | 1 | 52 |
| Feb 1997 | 3 | 55 |
| Mar 1997 | 1 | 56 |
| Sep 1997 | 1 | 57 |
| Oct 1997 | 2 | 59 |
| Nov 1997 | 1 | 60 |
| Feb 1998 | 2 | 62 |
| Aug 1998 | 2 | 64 |
| Sep 1998 | 1 | 65 |
| Dec 1998 | 1 | 66 |
| Jan 1999 | 1 | 67 |
| May 1999 | 1 | 68 |
| Jun 1999 | 1 | 69 |
| Jul 1999 | 3 | 72 |
| Sep 1999 | 1 | 73 |
| Jun 2000 | 2 | 75 |
| Jul 2000 | 1 | 76 |
| Sep 2000 | 1 | 77 |
| Oct 2000 | 4 | 81 |
| Nov 2000 | 2 | 83 |
| Feb 2002 | 1 | 84 |
| Apr 2002 | 1 | 85 |
| Sep 2002 | 2 | 87 |
| Jun 2003 | 2 | 89 |
| Jan 2004 | 1 | 90 |
| Apr 2004 | 1 | 91 |
| Jun 2005 | 1 | 92 |
| Jul 2006 | 1 | 93 |
| Nov 2009 | 1 | 94 |
| Jun 2010 | 1 | 95 |
| Dec 2010 | 1 | 96 |
| Oct 2014 | 2 | 98 |
| Jul 2017 | 1 | 99 |
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.
5 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.govELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
SUDDEN ACCELERATION
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES' CRUISE CONTROL IS ENERGIZED WHENEVER THE IGNITION IS TURNED ON.IT IS ALLEGED THAT A SUDDEN ACCELERATION EVENT MAY OCCUR AS A RESULT.
FUEL FILLER PIPE SPURTING
===
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
SEAT BELTS WON'T RETRACT. IGNITION SWITCH IS FAULTY AND SHORTING OUT RADIO AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. WANTING TO PREVENT FIRE FROM HAPPENING, BY TAKING CARE OF THIS NOW.
THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILS WHEN IN OVERDRIVE. THIS FAILURE OCCURS ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEED AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE CAR GOES OUT OF CONTROL. *TR
THE IGNITION SWITCH GIVES SPARKS AND COULD IGNITE THE CAR. FORD ADMITS OTHER 1988 LINCOLN TOWN CARS HAVE A IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM AND REPLACES THEM. THEY HAVE NOT INCLUDED MY VIN ON THE DEFECT AND REPLACEMENT LIST; HOWEVER, IT IS DEFECTIVE AND COULD IGNITE A FIRE AT ANY TIME. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 LINCOLN TOWNCAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CLIP FROM THE THROTTLE BODY FRACTURED AND ACCELERATED THE VEHICLE TO 80 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY CLIP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000. THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR CABLE HAD TO REPLACED. UPDATED 04/25/11
1988 LINCOLN TOWNCAR. CONSUMER STATES BUSINESS SOLD FAULTY CAR PARTS RELATED TO A SAFETY DEFECT *TGW THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY HIS LOCAL MECHANIC THAT THE ORIGINAL UPPER BALL JOINTS HAD A TORN BOOT AND HE COULD NO LONGER GREASE IT. THE MECHANIC ALSO SUGGESTED REPLACING THE LOWER BALL JOINTS AS WELL. THE CONSUMER THEN ORDERED LOWER AND UPPER BALL JOINTS FROM AN ESTABLISHMENT AND HAD HIS LOCAL MECHANIC INSTALL THEM. ON MARCH 5, 2010, AS THE CONSUMER STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AT WHICH TIME THE RIGHT FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED AND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL JAMMED BACK INTO THE FENDER WELL. THE COMPANY REPLACED THE BALL JOINT, BUT WOULD NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE OTHER EXPENSES THE CONSUMER INCURRED. *JB
THE LINCOLN TOWN CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE A RENTAL HOME AND CAUGHT FIRE. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR, ACCOMPANIED BY A SMELL OF HOT OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC SHOP WHERE THE SHOP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.
NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. I CHECKED UNDER THE CAR AND NOTICED A STEADY DRIP OF GASOLINE FROM SOMEWHERE RIGHT BELOW THE CAR UNDERNEAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAR, DRIPPING OFF THE FRAME OF THE CAR IN THAT AREA.
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
TRANSFER SERVICE TIPS FOR THE FRONT WIPER MOTOR MOUNT BRACKET AND DEPRESSED PARK OUTPUT ARM. *TT
INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *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
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 |
| 1988Viewing | 99 | 5 | 2 | 71.8 |
| 1987 | 32 | 6 | 0 | 65.8 |
| 1986 | 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.