Menu

1989 Lincoln Town CARProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 89 owner complaints about the 1989 Lincoln Town CAR, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 5 safety recalls.

52
CarFlaw IndexSolid year7% below the Town CAR median · #12 of 26 years by complaints
Safety recalls5Free fix at dealersOwner complaints8951 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage76kElectrical system, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 26, 2011. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1989 Lincoln Town CAR has problems

89 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system4231
Vehicle speed control123
Seat belts112
Power train61
Engine and engine cooling54
Steering53
Suspension31
Service brakes, hydraulic21
Tires20
3 other systems31

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

5 recalls

1989 Lincoln Town CAR recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Electrical system: ignition

Recall 96V-071 · Apr 25, 1996 · 7,900,000 vehicles

Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Other: labels

Recall 90V-133 · Jul 27, 1990 · 158 vehicles

Risk. LIMOUSINES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 110 AND CONSUMERMIGHT UNKNOWINGLY OVERLOAD THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF PLACARD MISINFORMATION.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 1 more recall
–no report yet

Front: anchorage

Recall 90V-050 · Mar 6, 1990 · 223 vehicles

Risk. LACK OF RESTRAINTS COULD CONTRIBUTE TO OTHERWISE PREVENTABLE INJURY AND WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 209 AND 210.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Lincoln.

Best & worst years

1989 vs. every other Town CAR year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Town CAR median. How we score

'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
In owners' words

What Town CAR owners report

Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

LETTER ON BEHALF OF CONCERN ABOUT THE 1996 RECALL ON LINCOLN TOWN CARS, HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW IS HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH ON HIS 1989 LINCOLN TOWN CAR; SEND INCOMING LTR WITH REPLY TO ATTN: ALLISON JACKSON/FOLEY *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE KEY DID NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. THE…
Complaint 10415676 · Jul 26, 2011
AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE AND TURNING OFF THE IGNITION, THE CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING SOUND. A FEW SECONDS PASSED AND THE CONSUMER SAW THICK BLACK SMOKE AND A FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER…
Complaint 10044700 · Nov 25, 2003 · 76,000 miles
AFTER STARTING THE IGNITION, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Complaint 983355 · Apr 23, 1996

Own a 1989 Town CAR?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.