1990 Lincoln TOWN CAR problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
128 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
100,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1990 model year. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 128 complaints (10.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 10.2% |
| Braking behavior | 9 | 7.0% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 6.3% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 5.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 3.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 2.3% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch | 14 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 10 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 7 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 7 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 6 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch: 14; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 10; Vehicle Speed Control: 8; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 7; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 7; Air Bags:Frontal: 6; Unknown Or Other: 6; Electrical System: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 121 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 45 |
| 1996 | 33 |
| 2000 | 19 |
| 2001 | 15 |
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 1 |
1995: 45; 1996: 33; 2000: 19; 2001: 15; 2002: 7; 2003: 4; 2004: 1; 2005: 3; 2006: 1
Pattern summary
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 13 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 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 10127122 · 2005-06-30 (June 30, 2005)
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED:ON 5-19-04 HIS 1990 LINCOLN TOWN CAR BURNED WHILE IT WAS PARKED. WITHIN A HALF OF AN HOUR THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THERE WERE 3 DIFFERENT INVESTIGATIONS DONE;. AN ELECTRICAL AND AND ENGINEERING INVESTIGATION, AND ONE DONE BY THE TAMPA FIRE DEPARTMENT AND FOUND NO EXACT FAULT. . HE SAID THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 3 OTHER CARS TOTALED, AND 4 OTHERS DAMAGED DURING THE FIRE. THE HOOD MELTED AWAY. THE CAR HAD ONLY 76,000 MILES ON IT AND HAD BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. HE DID SUBMIT MAINTENANCE REPORTS TO THE INSURANCE COMPAN…
Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10127122 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10150925 · 2006-02-22 (February 22, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE HOOD WAS RAISED. SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE SPOTTED COMING FROM THE PLUG ON THE ALTERNATOR. THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED AND THE PLUG REMOVED. THE FIRE SMOTHERED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY UNDER GOING INSPECTION AND REPAIR.
Owner-reported narrative. 118,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10150925 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007020 · 2000-10-14 (October 14, 2000)
STALLING ON INTERSTATE AND CITY DRIVING WHEN TEMPERATURE GETS VERY HOT. LOSING THE POWER IN BRAKES AND THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE'S STEERING. THE CAR CAN BE STARTED AGAIN WHEN IT HAS COOLED DOWN. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS. *AK *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*734325
Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007020 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10104990 · 2004-12-16 (December 16, 2004)
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. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 101,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10104990 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 505415 · 1996-06-12 (June 12, 1996)
POWER STEERING FAILED 4 TIMES. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 505415 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025463 · 2003-07-05 (July 5, 2003)
VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING ON HOT DAYS WHILE DRIVING.AND WHEN DRIVEN ON HOT DAYS AND IS PARKED WILL NOT START AGAIN , UNLESS IT COOLS DOWN. REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE , WHICH I WAS TOLD WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION IN CALIFORNIA. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10025463 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 802446 · 1996-09-16 (September 16, 1996)
VEHICLE HAD SUDDEN UNWANTED ACCELERATION WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE.THE BRAKING SYSTEM WOULD NOT OVERRIDE, CAR KEPT ACCELERATING.*AK CONSUMER WROTE IN STATING THIS IS NOT HER VEHICLE. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 802446 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 880001 · 2001-02-07 (February 7, 2001)
WHILE DRIVING TRSANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO FAULTY BUSHINGS WITHIN TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY. *AK THE TRANSMISSION WAS DETERMINED TO HAD BEEN DAMAGED DUE TO FAILURE OF PLASTIC BUSHING. *YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 880001 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8011654 · 2002-06-12 (June 12, 2002)
INSTRUMENTAL PANEL IS NOT LEGIBLE IN THE DAY TIME. UNABLE TO SEE HOW FAST VEHICLE IS GOING, AND HOW FULL GAS TANK IS. *AK *YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8011654 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 970335 · 1995-08-14 (August 14, 1995)
THE FUEL PUMP MAKES NOISE DEALER SAY IT WAS GOING BAD . TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 970335 at NHTSA ↗