RoadVitals

1991 Lincoln Town Car Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
45
Latest Nov 12, 2014
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
29%
of 155 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1991 Lincoln Town Car submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 45 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

The 25 most recent of 45, in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed Nov 12, 2014
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DUE TO A BRAKE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,682.

NHTSA ID
10654455
Incident
Oct 3, 2014
Mileage
66,682 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 30, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATED 1991 LINCOLN TOWN CAR HAD ONLY 17,000 MILES ON IT. ON 8-25-05 HE FELT LIKE HIS BRAKES WERE LOW. HE WENT TO HAVE THEM INSPECTED AND THE CAR PASSED THE INSPECTION, BUT HE HAD THE BRAKES CHANGED ANYWAY. HE SMELLED THE BRAKES BURNING THAT DAY AS HE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE GARAGE. HE PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE ,AND DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL ABOUT A MONTH LATER WHEN HE SMELLED WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS THE BRAKES BURNING AGAIN. WHEN HE GOT IN TO DRIVEWAY, HE SAW FIRE UNDER THE WHEELS. HE PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. HAD HE NOT HAD THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER THE CAR WOULD HAVE BLOWN UP. THE GARAGE THAT FIXED THE BRAKES SAID THE CALIPER HUNG UP AND THAT WAS WHY THE FIRE HAPPENED. ALSO, THE CONSUMER THOUGHT THIS MAY BE A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKES THAT WOULD CAUSE THE CAR TO CATCH ON FIRE OR DID NOT FIX THE BRAKES PROPERLY. HE CALLED FORD, AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT WITHOUT A WARRANTY THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT THEY COULD DO, AND THEN THEY TOLD HIM THEY WOULD SUBMIT HIS COMPLAINT TO THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE IF THE CAR HAD ABS BRAKES BECAUSE THE CAR WAS A 1991 MODEL. HE THOUGHT IT DID BUT WAS NOT SURE. HE WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR. *AK

NHTSA ID
10138223
Incident
Aug 25, 2005
Mileage
17,478 mi
BrakesFuel system
Filed Mar 20, 2002

CONSUMER FOUND A CONSTANT LEAK UNDER VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR, AND DEALER FOUND OUT THAT FUEL LINE WAS CORRODED/ RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AS WELL AS THE BRAKE LINE. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO TO FAIL TO START, AFTER REPAIRS WERE FINISHED THE PROBLEM WITH STARTING THE CAR WAS REMEDIED. *JG *AK

NHTSA ID
8006018
Incident
Feb 1, 2002
BrakesEngine
Filed Feb 13, 2002

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND OFF ALL THE TIME, I BOUGHT THE CAR LAST YEAR AROUND OCTOBER 2001, THE OWNER TOLD ME HE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERS SEVERAL TIMES AND NOTHING THEY TOLD HIM NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR, I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM THAT PERSON AND ABOUT 4 MONTHS LATER THERE IS WATER INSIDE THE MOTOR, IT WAS RUNNING PERFECTLY FINE. ABOUT THE BRAKES, THERE IS A WIERD NOISE, IT'S NOT SQUEAKING, BUT WHEN YOU'RE AT A STOP SIGN AND YOU LET GO OF THE BREAK A LITTLE THERE IS AN UNUSUAL NOISE. I HAD THE CAR REPAIRED IN OCTOBER FOR THE HOOD LATCH RECALL, MOST OF THE PLACES WERE REALLY BAD ABOUT HELPING ME WITH THE RECALL, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CAR WAS TOO OLD. I FINALLY GOT IT FIXED, BUT CAN THE OTHER PLACES ACTUALLY REJECT MY CAR FOR BEING TO OLD? I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE ARE OTHER RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERS AND THEY SAID THAT THE OTHER RECALLS DON'T APPLY TO MY CAR. IS THAT CORRECT?

NHTSA ID
758179
Incident
Jan 10, 2002
AirbagsBody & structureBrakes+3 more
Filed Aug 30, 2001

RIGHT DOOR PANEL FAILED. *YH

NHTSA ID
562844
Incident
Oct 9, 1991
Brakes
Filed Oct 21, 2000

MECHANIC SAID HE DID NOT KNOW WHY THEY CRACKED...AND THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN ALL FOUR CRACK AT ONCE....

NHTSA ID
734862
Incident
Oct 20, 2000
Brakes
Filed Aug 7, 2000

THE BRAKES OCCASIONALLY FAIL CAUSING THE CAR TO PULL TO THE LEFT WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. DEALER TRACED CAUSE TO COLLAPSED BRAKE LINES. NLM

NHTSA ID
553551
Incident
Jul 21, 2000
BrakesDriver assistanceTransmission
Filed Sep 9, 1999

THE GROMET BROKE ON CABLES FOR TRANSMISSION. ONE CABLE FELL BEHIND THROTTLE BODY & CAUSED THROTTLE TO BECOME WIDE OPEN & VEHICLE ACCELERATED. ALSO, BRAKES FROZE. HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL. HAD CONTROL OF VEHICLE. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
847287
Incident
Aug 3, 1999
Brakes
Filed Dec 29, 1998

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH TURNS ON/OFF UNLESS DRIVER STEPS ON THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY.

NHTSA ID
781758
Brakes
Filed Aug 12, 1998

ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES ON ITS OWN. WHEN TRYING TO STOP INTERRMITTENTLY STAY/LOCK UP/ DRAG AND DOES NOT MOVE. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
826604
Incident
Jul 29, 1998
Brakes
Filed May 20, 1998

FRONT BRAKE CALIPER FAILED (LOCKED UP) CAUSING DAMAGE TO ROTOR.

NHTSA ID
535773
Brakes
Filed Jan 29, 1998

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE VEHICLE PULLS VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT NEVER ILLUMINATES.

NHTSA ID
528069
Brakes
Filed Dec 17, 1997

ANTI LOCK BRAKES LOCK UP AND GRAB CONTINUOUSLY.

NHTSA ID
526737
Incident
Dec 28, 1992
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Dec 5, 1997
Crash reported

AFTER PUTTING VEHICLE INTO THE DRIVE GEAR, THE THROTTLE STUCK, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO INCREASE SPEED, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. APPLIED BRAKES, BUT THEY DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING. *AK

NHTSA ID
817776
Incident
Feb 1, 1996
BrakesSteering
Filed Nov 25, 1997

ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED SEVERAL TIMES.

NHTSA ID
525478
Incident
Sep 20, 1996
BrakesHeating & air conditioningElectrical+1 more
Filed Nov 17, 1997

CONSUMER STOPPED TO GET TICKET FORM PARKING MACHINE, THEN HEARD GRINDING METAL NOISES AS HE TRIED TO MOVE AWAY. HE THEN NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT HEADED IN THE DIRECTION HE WAS STEERING. HE PULLED OVER AND WAITED FOR TOW TRUCK. TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID THAT THE TIE ROD WAS DRAGGING UNDERNEATH. WHEN T/T DRIVER WAS PULLING VEHICLE ONTO TRUCK THE LEFT WHEEL DRAGGED SIDE WAYS. THE DEALER LATER TOLD HIM THAT IT WAS ALSO THE RIGHT SIDE CLAMPS THAT CAME OFF, CAUSING THE PROBLEM. *AK VEHICLE EXPERIENCED WIRING PROBLEMS. AIR CONDITIONER DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED. RADIO FAILED. *SLC

NHTSA ID
819105
Incident
Nov 12, 1997
Brakes
Filed Oct 21, 1997

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE VEHICLE JUMPS AND WARPS. THE OWNER HAD THE BRAKES TURNED, AND REPLACED THE ROTORS AND THE BRAKE PADS AND SHOES. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
817292
Brakes
Filed Oct 6, 1997

CONSUMER STATE UPON APPLYING FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL THE BRAKES DO NOT RELEASE, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO LOCK UP. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID
816886
Brakes
Filed Aug 22, 1997

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, BRAKES CONSTANTLY VIBRATE DUE TO ABS BRAKE FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID
518463
Body & structureBrakesHeating & air conditioning+9 more
Filed Apr 17, 1997

ALARM TRUNK SENSOR SHORTED, CAUSING HORN TO FAIL.

NHTSA ID
516513
Brakes
Filed Apr 3, 1997

VACUUM BOOSTER CANISTER WORN OUT, CAUSING BRAKES TO LOCK UP.

NHTSA ID
516151
Incident
Jun 10, 1996
Brakes
Filed Mar 19, 1997

OWNER HAS ABS BRAKES, HE STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING HIS VEHICLE ALL FOUR WHEELS LOCKED UP, ALSO PEDAL WOULD NOT RELEASE UNTIL BRAKES WERE PUMPED 3-4 TIMES THEN THEY RELEASED. *AK

NHTSA ID
810172
Brakes
Filed Oct 18, 1996

BRAKE POWER BOOSTER REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
510210
Incident
Sep 27, 1996
Brakes
Filed Oct 4, 1996

WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKES PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, SOMETIMES CAR STOPS QUICKLY, DOESNT SLOW DOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID
803242
BrakesEngineInterior & seats
Filed Sep 24, 1996

ANTILOCK BRAKES LOCK UP INTERMITTENTLY.

NHTSA ID
509093
Incident
Sep 10, 1996

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .