1990 Lincoln Town Car problems
Owners have filed 267 complaints about the 1990 Lincoln Town Car with NHTSA. Electrical system accounts for 27.7% of them — the clear leader, ahead of engine and engine cooling at 12%.
Complaints267
Crashes30
Fires75
Injuries16
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Electrical system 27.7% · 74
Engine and engine cooling 12.0% · 32
Latches/locks/linkages 8.2% · 22
Service brakes, hydraulic 7.5% · 20
Vehicle speed control 6.0% · 16
Visibility 5.6% · 15
Structure 4.9% · 13
Steering 4.5% · 12
Severity
Of those complaints, 30 describe a crash, 75 describe a fire and 16 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 16 model years of the Lincoln Town Car in this data, 1990 sits 5th by complaint volume. 1997 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 6 in the last three years against 38 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 100,500 miles.
In owners' own words
Sometimes while driving vehicle, smelled electrial wires burning, windows would lock up, air conditioner would stop, also the key cannot be removed from ignition switch, electrical wires seemed to short out.*Ak consumer states the problem appears to be in the ignition switch, a terrible noise was heard and consumer feels this was due to the switch engaged while the motor was running. *Slc Electrical system
Consumer parked the vehicle in the garage and it caught on fire, and in minutes was engulfed in flames. Consumer contacted the fire department. The vehicle burned completely. The fire department noted that the fire started under the hood. *Ak......... Consume rclaimed fire appeared to be due to mechanical failure in car , possibly brakes. Electrical system · reported at 101,000 miles
After one hour and 10 minutes vehicle caught on fire inside consumer's garage which set the house on fire and resulted in total property damage. Local fire department informed consumer that the fire originated under the hood, cause unknown at this the time. Electrical system
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…
Other Lincoln Town Car years
1991 278 complaints · 20.5% service brakes, hydraulic 1992 312 complaints · 26.6% electrical system 1993 226 complaints · 19.5% electrical system 1994 212 complaints · 13.2% engine and engine cooling 1995 241 complaints · 23.7% service brakes, hydraulic 1996 316 complaints · 29.7% engine and engine cooling