Model year record

1988 Lincoln Town CAR

5 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 123 owner complaints on file.

Lincoln Town CAR, 1981–1989 generation
Pictured: the 1981–1989 generation. Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 96V071000

Electrical system: ignition

Component
Electrical system: ignition
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
7,900,000
Reported to NHTSA
1996-04-25
Owners notified
1996-06-07

Defect description

THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

Recall campaignNHTSA 90V093000

Equipment: other: labels

Component
Equipment: other: labels
Manufacturer
EMPIRE COACH COMPANY
Vehicles affected
544
Reported to NHTSA
1990-05-09
Owners notified
1991-06-04

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIMOUSINES BUILT BY EMPIRE COACH. VEHICLE ALTERERS LABEL MAY BE MISSING OR INCOMPLETE.

Safety risk

VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH PART 567.

Manufacturer remedy

ADD COMPLIANCE LABEL.

Recall campaignNHTSA 90V050000

Seat belts: front: anchorage

Component
Seat belts: front: anchorage
Manufacturer
ROYALE LIMOUSINE MFRS.
Vehicles affected
223
Reported to NHTSA
1990-03-06
Owners notified
1991-02-22

Defect description

SAFETY BELTS (TYPE 1 LAP BELTS) FOR REAR FACING SEATS WERE NOT INSTALLED.

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer remedy

INSTALL SAFETY BELTS FOR REAR FACING SEATS.

Recall campaignNHTSA 87V139000

Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
3,600,000
Reported to NHTSA
1987-09-04
Owners notified
1987-10-12

Defect description

SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.

Safety risk

COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.

Manufacturer remedy

INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.

Recall campaignNHTSA 87V131000

Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
11,119
Reported to NHTSA
1987-08-17
Owners notified
1987-08-08

Defect description

FUEL RAILS MAY BE BENT SO THAT NO. 5 INJECTOR CUPS ARE OUT OF DESIGN POSITION.

Safety risk

BENT FUEL RAIL COULD CAUSE A FUEL LEAK, WHICH INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

REPLACE FUEL RAIL ASSEMBLIES AS NECESSARY.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Electrical system: ignition: switch22—
Vehicle speed control1485,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission985,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition6160,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood5—
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline4—
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly4—
Tires: tread/belt4—
Electrical system360,000 mi
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator3—
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash3160,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine3—
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery2112,000 mi
Engine260,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings2145,700 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly2—
Seat belts2115,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components2—
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal2—
Wheels2—
Electrical system: wiring1—
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor1—
Equipment: electrical1—
Exterior lighting: headlights1—
Exterior lighting: headlights: switch1—
Fuel system, gasoline1—
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system1—
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: injectors1—
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch1—
Power train145,000 mi
Seat belts: front: anchorage1—
Seat belts: rear/other1—
Seats: front assembly: recliner1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder1—
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar1—
Steering: column locking: anti-theft device1—
Structure: body1—
Structure: body: door: hinge and attachments1—
Structure: body: hood1—
Structure: body: hood: hinge and attachments1—
Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint1—
Tires: sidewall1—
Unknown or other1—
Vehicle speed control: linkages1—
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: rear window1—
Visibility: power window devices and controls1—
Visibility: windshield1—

The 1987 model has 3 times as many complaints as this one. The 1989 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Other Lincoln Town CAR model years

All Lincoln Town CAR recalls by year

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.