1988 Lincoln TOWN CAR: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
66 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
113,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1988 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 66 complaints (24.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 12 | 18.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 10.6% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 6.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 4.5% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 3.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 3.0% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 16 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 5 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 4 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 2 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 16; Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Electrical System:Ignition: 5; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Tires:Tread/Belt: 4; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 3; Electrical System: 2; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 2
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 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 58 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 | 10 |
| 1996 | 30 |
| 2000 | 10 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
1995: 10; 1996: 30; 2000: 10; 2002: 4; 2003: 2; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2014: 2; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10022732 · 2003-06-10 (June 10, 2003)
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED CAUSING A SMALL FIRE UNDER THE DASHBOARD. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 160,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10022732 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024618 · 2003-06-20 (June 20, 2003)
THE RELAY THAT HOOKS TO THE BATTERY STARTER] BROKE. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO ACCLELERATE IN FULL THROTTLE. CONSUMER CAME TO A COMPLETED STOP, BUT HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO STOP THE ENGINE FROM RUNNING, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. RELAY # 1E9TZ-11450B.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 112,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024618 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10066775 · 2004-04-07 (April 7, 2004)
WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10066775 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10069717 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
FUEL SYSTEM: ELECTRIC RELAY TO FUEL PUMP FAILED 6/21/02--CAR HAD TO BE TOWED FOR REPAIR POWER WINDOWS: DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW MOTOR FAILED. WAS REPLACED IN FALL 2000 BY DEALER IN SEATTLE: "OLYMPIC LINCOLN MERCURY." PRESENTLY, SAME MOTOR FAILING AGAIN. ALSO, REAR PASSENGER WINDOW GEARS HAVE STRIPPED OUT--WINDOW MUST BE MANUALLY PULLED UP IF MISTAKENLY OPENED SUDDEN STALLING (APRIL 2002 TO PRESENT): HAD TO FIND ON INTERNET THAT "DISTRIBUTOR MODULE" WAS OVERHEATING AND CAUSING CAR TO STALL (ALL POWER LOST: NO STEERING, ONE PUSH ON …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10069717 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10125737 · 2005-06-19 (June 19, 2005)
NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. I CHECKED UNDER THE CAR AND NOTICED A STEADY DRIP OF GASOLINE FROM SOMEWHERE RIGHT BELOW THE CAR UNDERNEAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAR, DRIPPING OFF THE FRAME OF THE CAR IN THAT AREA.
Owner-reported narrative. 145,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125737 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10161808 · 2006-07-07 (July 7, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR, ACCOMPANIED BY A SMELL OF HOT OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC SHOP WHERE THE SHOP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 117,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161808 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10293199 · 2009-11-23 (November 23, 2009)
THE LINCOLN TOWN CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE A RENTAL HOME AND CAUGHT FIRE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10293199 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10340026 · 2010-06-22 (June 22, 2010)
1988 LINCOLN TOWNCAR. CONSUMER STATES BUSINESS SOLD FAULTY CAR PARTS RELATED TO A SAFETY DEFECT *TGW THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY HIS LOCAL MECHANIC THAT THE ORIGINAL UPPER BALL JOINTS HAD A TORN BOOT AND HE COULD NO LONGER GREASE IT. THE MECHANIC ALSO SUGGESTED REPLACING THE LOWER BALL JOINTS AS WELL. THE CONSUMER THEN ORDERED LOWER AND UPPER BALL JOINTS FROM AN ESTABLISHMENT AND HAD HIS LOCAL MECHANIC INSTALL THEM. ON MARCH 5, 2010, AS THE CONSUMER STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AT WHICH TIME THE RIGHT FRONT LOWER BALL JOI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10340026 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
5 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
87V131000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
Reported: 1987-08-17 (August 17, 1987)
FUEL RAILS MAY BE BENT SO THAT NO. 5 INJECTOR CUPS ARE OUT OF DESIGN POSITION.
Consequence: BENT FUEL RAIL COULD CAUSE A FUEL LEAK, WHICH INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE FIRE.
Remedy: REPLACE FUEL RAIL ASSEMBLIES AS NECESSARY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗87V139000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 1987-09-04 (September 4, 1987)
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗90V050000 · Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
Reported: 1990-03-06 (March 6, 1990)
SAFETY BELTS (TYPE 1 LAP BELTS) FOR REAR FACING SEATS WERE NOT INSTALLED.
Consequence: LACK OF RESTRAINTS COULD CONTRIBUTE TO OTHERWISE PREVENTABLE INJURY AND WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 209 AND 210.
Remedy: INSTALL SAFETY BELTS FOR REAR FACING SEATS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗90V093000 · Equipment:Other:Labels
Reported: 1990-05-09 (May 9, 1990)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIMOUSINES BUILT BY EMPIRE COACH. VEHICLE ALTERERS LABEL MAY BE MISSING OR INCOMPLETE.
Consequence: VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH PART 567.
Remedy: ADD COMPLIANCE LABEL.
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V071000 · Electrical System:Ignition
Reported: 1996-04-25 (April 25, 1996)
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
NHTSA campaign record ↗