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U.S. public vehicle records

1987 Lincoln TOWN CAR problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

25 owner complaints analyzed

6 distinct recall campaigns

34,102 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1987 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System:Ignition is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 25 complaints (24.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation312.0%
Electrical and battery issues312.0%
Steering behavior14.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System:Ignition
6
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
4
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
2
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly
2
Vehicle Speed Control
2
Electrical System
1
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
1
Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System:Ignition6
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch4
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood2
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly2
Vehicle Speed Control2
Electrical System1
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator1
Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers1

Electrical System:Ignition: 6; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 4; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
2
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9992
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 22 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995
3
1996
13
2000
3
2001
2
2003
2
2004
1
2009
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
19953
199613
20003
20012
20032
20041
20091

1995: 3; 1996: 13; 2000: 3; 2001: 2; 2003: 2; 2004: 1; 2009: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System:Ignition leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 500806 · 1996-01-18 (January 18, 1996)

INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 500806 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 730224 · 2000-09-05 (September 5, 2000)

VEHICLE STALLS, FAILS TO START, AFTER FIRST 30 TO 45 MINS DRIVING DURING 95F PLUS OUTSIDE AIR TEMP, DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS, DALLAS, TX. TFI REPLACED TWICE, COIL REPLACED, TPS REPLACED, AND TUNE UP STILL HAS NOT RESOLVED PROBLEM. POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS ACCIDENT, INJURY, OR DEATH EXISTS WITH THIS PROBLEM AS VEHICLE STALLS WITH NO WARNING. ONCE STALL CONTITION EXISTS VEHICLE CANNOT BE STARTED FOR AT LEAST 1.5 TO 2 HOURS, UNTIL ENGINE HAS COOLED ENOUGH TO ALLOW FOR A RESTART. ENGINE TEMP GUAGE REMAINS IN NORMAL RANGE DURING THIS ENTIRE PROCESS. …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 730224 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 501977 · 1996-03-06 (March 6, 1996)

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT)*SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 501977 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 979115 · 1996-02-12 (February 12, 1996)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FIRE CAUSED BY THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE HOOD CATCHING FIRE. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 979115 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 872813 · 2000-10-12 (October 12, 2000)

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH . CONSUMER NOTICED THAT TAILIGHTS HAD TURNED ON BY THEMSELVES. 1 WEEK PRIOR TO INCIDENT, RADIO HAD STARTED TO SMOKE AND THEN FAILED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 872813 at NHTSA ↗