RoadVitals

1992 Lincoln Town Car Electrical Problems

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

Data refreshed

Electrical 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.
66
Latest May 13, 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.
27%
of 249 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.
49
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1992 Lincoln Town Car submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 66 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 electrical

The 25 most recent of 66, in the owner's own words

Electrical
Filed May 13, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ID
10588143
Incident
Apr 29, 2014
Mileage
75,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 25, 2008
Fire reported

OUR 1992 LINCOLN TOWN CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE INSIDE OUR SHOP. THE CAR WAS OFF WITH THE KEYS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10249755
Incident
Nov 25, 2008
Mileage
67,656 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Sep 26, 2007
Fire reported

1992 LINCOLN TOWN CAR RECALL WAS RECEIVED AFTER THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS ALREADY DESTROYED . CUSTOMER STATES THAT SHE BELIEVES THAT FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE THEY ARE THE REASON HER CAR BURNED UP. *KB

NHTSA ID
10204909
Incident
Apr 15, 2006
Electrical
Filed Feb 26, 2007

PARKED CAR. ATTEMPTED TO START CAR AND THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS LIT AS NORMAL, BUT THE STARTER DID NOT START. AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS CAR MOTOR TURNED OVER BUT BECAUSE I LET OFF STARTING TOO SOON CAR DID NOT START AND PROBLEM RESUMED. BATTERY GOOD. STARTER GOOD. FUSES GOOD. IGNITION SWITCH GOOD. THIS IS THE SECOND 1992 TOWN CAR IN WHICH THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED. BOTH CARS HAVE OVER 100,000 MILES. *NM

NHTSA ID
10183522
Incident
Feb 24, 2007
Mileage
106,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 1, 2006
Fire reported

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THERE WERE TWO LOUD BANGS. THE CONTACT LOOKED INTO THE DRIVEWAY, AND SAW THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FLAMES WERE LOCATED ON THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BURNED COMPLETELY, AND THE HEAT FROM THE FIRE BURNED THE SIDE OF A RECREATIONAL VEHICLE WHICH WAS PARKED ALONGSIDE THE FIRST VEHICLE. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT AND A FIRE REPORT PROCESSED AT THE SCENE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON NHTSA RECALL # 99V124000 WHICH PERTAINS TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA ID
10172353
Incident
Oct 26, 2006
Mileage
174,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 5, 2005
Fire reported

DT: HAD PARKED VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE GARAGE AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE . THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME OUT, THEY THOUGHT IT STARTED FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION. INSURANCE COMPANY INFORMED CONSUMER TO CONTACT NHTSA.*AK

NHTSA ID
10127495
Incident
May 11, 2005
Electrical
Filed Jun 20, 2005
Fire reported

DT: FRIDAY NIGHT AT 1:00 AM CALLERS CAR BURNED UP. HE HAD NO PROBLEM THAT DAY WITH THE CAR. DEALER OR MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. CALLER DID NOT KNOW WHAT STARTED THE FIRE.*AK CONSUMER'S NEIGHBOR CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT AND SAID THAT THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE LOWER PART OF THE ENGINE. *SB

NHTSA ID
10125769
Incident
Jun 18, 2005
Mileage
141,463 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 2, 2005
Fire reported

I PARKED 1992 LINCOLN TOWN CAR EXECUTIVE SERIES @ WORK @ 7:30 AM ON 6/1/05. ABOUT 4:30 PM ON THE SAME DAY, OFFICE EMPLOYEES NOTIFIED ME MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. CAR WAS NOT DRIVEN OR TOUCHED THE ENTIRE PERIOD OF ELAPSED TIME FROM 7:30 AM TO 4:30 PM. I NOTICED THE USA TODAY WEBSITE DATED 6/2/05 WITH AN ARTICLE OF 1992 TOWN CARS CATCHING ON FIRE BECASUE OF CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH MALFUNCTION MANUFACTURED BY TEXAS INSTRUMENTS AND FORD MOTOR CO. CAR APPEARS TO BE TOTALED ALTHOUGH LOCAL FORD DEALER HAS NOT CONFIRMED THIS YET.

NHTSA ID
10123957
Incident
Jun 1, 2005
Mileage
71,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 2, 2005
Fire reported

DT: WHILE AT WORK ABOUT 6:45-7:00 A.M OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE IN DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE WAS REGULARLY SERVICED. NO RECALL INFORMATION WAS RECEIVED. FIRE BEGAN IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT UNDER HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY, AND HAD NOT DRIVEN IN THREE DAYS. OWNER STATED THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE, BUT WAS NOT SURE. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED, AND THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. BUT OWNER WAS UNSURE WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION ON THE FIRE. OWNER HAS NOT CONTACTED FORD BUT WILL DO SO.*AK

NHTSA ID
10123901
Incident
May 28, 2005
Mileage
113,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed May 18, 2005
Fire reported

THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR. AFTER CONTACTING A MECHANIC, WHO CAME OVER, HE CHECKED THE FUSES AND REPLACED THEM. THE CONSUMER WAS NOTIFIED BY HER NEIGHBOR THAT GARAGE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, AND HAD TO BREAK THE GARAGE DOOR OPEN TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. *AK THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD GONE OUT. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10117628
Incident
Aug 4, 2004
Mileage
87,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 22, 2004
Fire reported

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE ATTACHED TO THE HOUSE. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. IT DID CAUSES PROPERTY DAMAGE TO THE HOUSE. A FORD REPRESENTATIVE/FIRE DEPT. REPRESENTATIVE, AND THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR AGREED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSE BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.*AK

NHTSA ID
10094087
Incident
Oct 31, 2002
Mileage
5,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 22, 2004
Fire reported

1992 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WAS DRIVEN FROM MY HOME TO THE POST OFFICE AND BACK TOTAL MILEAGE .03 MILES. TOTAL RUN TIME OF VEHICLE ABOUT 5 MINUTES. SHUT CAR OFF WENT INTO THE HOUSE, 1 HOUR LATER CAR CAUGHT FIRE COMPLETE LOSE OF CAR, DAMAGE TO HOUSE AND A STORAGE SHED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10082483
Incident
Jul 21, 2004
Mileage
21 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 1, 2002
Fire reported

CONSUMER HEARD SMOKE DETECTOR GO OFF AND DISCOVERED THE DOWNSTAIRS BASEMENT DEN OF THE HOME WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE, CONSUMER FOUND THE CAUSE OF FIRE WAS DUE TO A FIRE THAT IGNITED UNDER THE VEHICLES HOOD, CONSUMER HAD RECALL REPAIRS 99V124 COMPLETED ON VEHICLE PRIOR TO FIRE , POSSIBLE CAUSE OF FIRE. *SLC REFERENCED IN EA02-025

NHTSA ID
756078
Incident
Dec 14, 2001
Electrical
Filed Aug 20, 2001
Fire reported

VEHICLE WAS PARKED. HEARD A SOUND LIKE ELECTRIC MOTOR RUNNING. WAS GOING TO CHECK WHEN HORN STARTED BLOWING. OPENED DOOR WITH KEY. SMOKE WAS HEAVY INSIDE VEHICLE. WHEN AIR HIT INSIDE, FLAMES SHOT OUT. ALONG RIGHT HAND SIDE NOTICED FLAMES ON DASHBOARD. NEIGHBOR CONTACTED FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY PUT FLAMES OUT. FIREMAN INDICATED POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL WIRING WAS THE CAUSE OF FIRE.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
894757
Incident
Jul 30, 2001
Electrical
Filed Jan 4, 2001
Fire reported

I OWN A VEHICLE REPAIR SHOP THAT A CUSTOMER CAR BURNED TO THE GROUND INSIDE THE SHOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.THE CUSTOMER COMPLAINT MATCHED THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 99V124000.THE CAR FIRE HAS SHUT DOWN MY BUSINESS FOR A MONTH AS OF NOW.DO I HAVE ANY RECORSE FROM FORD MOTOR CO.FOR DAMAGES DUE TO THERE DEFECT? *AK REFERENCED IN RQ01-002

NHTSA ID
738787
Incident
Dec 8, 2000
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Oct 17, 2000

DRIVING 40MPH WHEN VEHICLE STALLED OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. TOWED TO DEALER & NOTHING WAS FOUND BY MECHANIC. VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BY MECHANIC. STALLED A SECOND TIME & WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER 30 MINUTES. THIS WOULD HAPPENED AT LEAST 3-4 TIMES SINCE AT THE DEALER. STALLING PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. HAD REPAIRS DONE ON VEHICLE & HAS NOT STALLED SINCE THEN.*AK.*ET

NHTSA ID
873225
Incident
Mar 27, 1998
Electrical
Filed Apr 27, 2000
Fire reported

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE IN RESIDENTIAL GARAGE AND WAS DAMAGED DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT AT THE ENGINE AREA. YH

NHTSA ID
551986
Incident
Nov 26, 1998
Electrical
Filed Apr 19, 2000
Fire reported

CONSUMER BELIEVES RECALLED SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH CAUSED VEHICLE FIRE WHICH TOTALED THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 99V-124. NLM REFERENCED IN EA02-025

NHTSA ID
551940
ElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 27, 2000
Fire reported

AFTER PARKING VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY, 15 MINUTES LATER, VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE DUE TO POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE. ALSO,THE DRIVEWAY AND THE HOUSE WERE DAMAGED DUE TO THE FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT FIRE OUT. MAMUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK THE CONSUMER FOUND WHERE THERE WAS A RECALL (99V124) REGARDING THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH, THE RECALL STATES THAT THE SWITCH COULD SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT AND RESULT IN A FIRE. *SLC REFERENCED IN RQ01-002

NHTSA ID
859202
Incident
Mar 24, 2000
Electrical
Filed Feb 17, 2000
Fire reported

PARKED VEHICLE & TURNED IT OFF. LATER, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. HAD NO PRIOR WARNING. FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLED & PUT FLAMES OUT. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT THE PROBLEM WAS ELECTRICAL. INSURANCE TOTALED VEHICLE. *AK REFERENCED IN EA02-025

NHTSA ID
857151
Incident
Jan 16, 2000
Electrical
Filed Feb 7, 2000

SOMETIMES WHEN STARTING CAR WILL NOT START, CONSUMER SAYS IT'S NOT THE STARTER. BUT, FEELS THAT IT MAY BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAD TO BE TOWED ON ONE OCASION BECAUSE CAR WOULD NOT START. *AK

NHTSA ID
856373
Incident
Jan 20, 2000
Electrical
Filed Jan 4, 2000
Fire reported

CONSUMERS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A UNDERHOOD FIRE WHICH TOTALLY DESTOYED VEHICLE AND CAUSED SOME DAMAGE TO HOME ALSO. THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH WAS RECALL FOR POSSIBLE SHORT THAT COULD RESULT IN FIRE, HOWEVER CONSUMER DIDN'T RECIEVE NOTICE. NLM REFERENCED IN EA02-025

NHTSA ID
550250
Incident
Dec 13, 1999
Electrical
Filed Nov 9, 1999
Fire reported

TEN MINUTES AFTERING PARKING VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY IT EXPLODED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE IGNITION WAS IN THE OFF POSITION WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
852736
Incident
Oct 25, 1999
Driver assistanceElectricalFuel system+1 more
Filed Nov 9, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND QUIT WITHOUT WARNING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC DUE TO FUEL PUMP FAILURE. ALSO, TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE, CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL, RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED, AND SPORADIC MISS IN ENGINE DUE TO WIRES SHORTING OUT/ REPLACED WIRES. *AK

NHTSA ID
848976
Incident
Jan 1, 1999
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Nov 8, 1999

VEHICLE RECALL NOT ABLE TO BE COMPLETED DUE TO DEALERSHIP PROBLEM (99V-124). MJS

NHTSA ID
548970

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.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .