RoadVitals

1991 Lincoln Town Car Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
20
Latest Apr 22, 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.
13%
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 the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. 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. 20 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 engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Apr 22, 2014
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10584206
Incident
Oct 7, 2003
Mileage
27,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 10, 2010
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING EASTBOUND US INTERSTATE 40 IN OKLAHOMA CITY,OK MY 1991 LINCOLN TOWNCAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AND STOPPED RUNNING, AFTER I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND PUT THE FIRE OUT, THE CAR WOULD NOT START BACK UP. THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA, LOOKING AS IF IT WAS UNDERNEATH THE CAR SOMEWHERE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10298870
Incident
Jan 9, 2010
Engine
Filed Jun 9, 2005

I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH GETTING THIS CAR (1991 LINCOLN TOWN CAR) THROUGH INSPECTION OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS, DUE TO SMOKING BECAUSE OF EMISSIONS PROBLEMS. THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 100,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS PROBLEM STARTED, AND NOW HAS APPROXIMATELY 119,000 MILES ON IT. THIS YEAR, I HAVE MADE 4 ATTEMPTS TO GET THE CAR TO PASS THE INSPECTION, HOWEVER IT HAS FAILED DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM EACH TIME. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO MECHANICS, AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS' DEFECT WITH THESE PARTICULAR CARS. THEY STATE THAT THE VALVE SEALS GET HARD BECAUSE OF A FACTORY DEFECT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. HARDENED VALVE SEALS ALLOW OIL TO BY-PASS THE VALVE SEALS AND CAUSE THE CARS TO SMOKE. I FEEL THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPLACE THE VALVE SEALS IN MY CAR, AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THIS CAR, IF YOU CAN PLEASE STOP THE SMOKING, IT IS A GOOD CAR! THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NHTSA ID
10124833
Incident
Jun 6, 2005
Mileage
119,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 3, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. THIS CAUSED LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES. CONSUMER FOUND IN THE NHTSA WEB 28 COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
10071993
Incident
May 3, 2004
Mileage
55,000 mi
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
Engine
Filed Mar 6, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ALONG 70MPH ALL OF A SUDDEN VEHICLE LOST POWER. THEN, IT PICKED UP AGAIN. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH, AND ALL OF SUDDEN LOST POWER. DIDN'T CONTACT DEALER OR MANUFACTURER. *AK

NHTSA ID
858028
Incident
Mar 5, 2000
Engine
Filed Jan 8, 1999
Fire reported

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHILE TURNED OFF. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. CAUSE HAS NEVER BEEN FOUND. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
833231
Engine
Filed Sep 22, 1998
Fire reported

ABOUT 20 MINUTES AFTER PULLING IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE IGNITION OFF, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE WAS PUT ON BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOTALLED. *AK

NHTSA ID
828115
Incident
Sep 12, 1998
Engine
Filed Aug 18, 1998

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN OIL SYSTEM FAILURE. DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE. *AK

NHTSA ID
826887
Incident
Aug 5, 1998
Engine
Filed Feb 24, 1998
Fire reported

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
821648
Incident
Nov 7, 1997
Engine
Filed May 13, 1997

INTERMITTENTLY, IN LOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE WILL STALL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
812223
Incident
Jun 1, 1996
Body & structureBrakesHeating & air conditioning+9 more
Filed Apr 17, 1997

ALARM TRUNK SENSOR SHORTED, CAUSING HORN TO FAIL.

NHTSA ID
516513
EngineSteering
Filed Mar 4, 1997

WHILE DRIVNG THE VEHCLE ABOUT (35) MPH THE SERPENTINE BELT BROKE AND CAUSED ALL POWER IN VEHICLE TO BE LOST. CAR BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE BELT AND THE TENSIONER HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
809682
Incident
Mar 3, 1997
EngineVisibility
Filed Nov 19, 1996

ENGINE REPLACED NOISE WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE GEAR.

NHTSA ID
602288
Incident
Aug 1, 1995
BrakesEngineInterior & seats
Filed Sep 24, 1996

ANTILOCK BRAKES LOCK UP INTERMITTENTLY.

NHTSA ID
509093
Incident
Sep 10, 1996
Body & structureBrakesHeating & air conditioning+4 more
Filed Aug 23, 1996

BRAKE ROTORS WARPED.

NHTSA ID
505792
Incident
May 13, 1996
Engine
Filed Nov 2, 1995

CONSUMER CAN SMELL FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE THE FUEL LINE #91V00800 MFG #91S215. TT

NHTSA ID
974402
Incident
Apr 15, 1995
EngineVisibility
Filed Oct 27, 1995

OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACED. *SD

NHTSA ID
487429
Incident
Oct 17, 1995
BrakesElectricalEngine+3 more
Filed Oct 2, 1995

LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT FAILED.

NHTSA ID
488573
Incident
Jul 12, 1993
Body & structureBrakesHeating & air conditioning+9 more
Filed Jul 18, 1995

REAR AIR SPRINGS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, CAUSING REAR OF VEHICLE TO BE RAISED HIGHER THAN FRONT END. *SD

NHTSA ID
484881
Incident
Jun 3, 1993

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 .