1990 Lincoln TOWN CAR: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10005139 · 2003-02-02 (February 2, 2003)
ON FEBRUARY 1, 2003, KIMBERLY LOVE WAS DRIVING A 1990 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WITH FAYE LOVE(PASSENGER). WHILE DRIVING EAST ON INTERSTATE 26 IN COLUMBIA, SC AT 60 MILES PER HOUR, THE HOOD FLEW UP, SHATTERING THE WINDSHIELD. THE HOOD WAS BENT AND THE FRONT WINDOW SHATTERED. THE LATCH IS BROKEN ALSO. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE SHAKEN BUT ABLE TO PULL TO SAFETY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 160,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005139 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 10019186 · 2003-05-23 (May 23, 2003)
ON MAY 9TH MY CAR ENGINE BURST IN TO FLAMES WHILE PARKED AND OFF.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019186 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 10028622 · 2003-07-19 (July 19, 2003)
THIS CAR IS ABOUT A PIECE OF JUNK. PAINT IS ALMOST GONE, 3 OF 4 POWER WINDOWS DONT WORK, WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR HAS QUIT TWICE, REAR SUSPENSION FAILED, RADIO NON-FUNCTIONAL, MESSAGE CENTER SAYS THAT IT IS -76 DEGREES AT MOST TIMES WITH 400 MILES UNTIL EMPTY (NOT TRUE). *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10028622 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 10111467 · 2005-02-14 (February 14, 2005)
CONSUMER REPORTED THAT ALL FOUR DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. ONE OF THE VEHICLE WINDOWS HAD TO BE LEFT OPEN TO GAIN ENTRANCE INTO THE VEHICLE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMERTHAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10111467 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10125859 · 2005-06-20 (June 20, 2005)
DT: CONSUMER HAD A 1990 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WHICH CAUGHT ON FIRE. WHEN CONSUMER CAME HOME HE PARKED THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE, WENT INSIDE AND ATE, THEN A NEIGHBOR POUNDED AT DOOR TO LET HIM KNOW HIS HOUSE WAS ON FIRE. THE POLICE, FIRE DEPARTMENT, FIRE MARSHAL AND INSURANCE ADJUSTERS CAME OUT AND COULDN'T FIND THE REASON THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE BURNED WITH SUCH INTENSITY THAT PIECES LEFT WERE CHARRED AND NOTHING REMAINED. A FEW FIREMEN WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL DUE TO THE FIRE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125859 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
90V133000 · Equipment:Other:Labels
Reported: 1990-07-27 (July 27, 1990)
TIRE PLACARD MAY CONTAIN INCORRECT GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATINGS AND TIRE INFORMATION.
Consequence: LIMOUSINES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 110 AND CONSUMERMIGHT UNKNOWINGLY OVERLOAD THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF PLACARD MISINFORMATION.
Remedy: INSTALL REVISED TIRE PLACARDS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗90V134000 · Equipment:Other:Labels
Reported: 1990-07-27 (July 27, 1990)
GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATINGS AND TIRE INFORMATION MAY BE INCORRECT ON LABELS.
Consequence: VEHICLES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH 49 CFR PART 567.
Remedy: INSTALL REVISED CERTIFICATION LABELS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗95V091000 · Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch
Reported: 1995-05-16 (May 16, 1995)
CORROSION OF THE HOOD LATCH STRIKER PLATE CAUSES DETACHMENT OF THE PLATE FROM THE HOOD ASSEMBLY RESULTING IN AN UNEXPECTED OPENING OF THE HOOD WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN REDUCE THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROAD INCREASING THE POTENTIAL OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HOOD INNER PANEL REINFORCEMENT AND A NEW, GALVANIZED HOOD LATCH STRIKER PLATE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗98V322000 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
Reported: 1998-12-16 (December 16, 1998)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 1996-1999 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE, FLEET, NATURAL GAS, AND 1996-1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINE VEHICLES THAT WERE PRODUCED WITH A LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CONTAINING A ONE PIECE BEARING; AND 1990-1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE, FLEET, AND NGV VEHICLES AND 1990-1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINE VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN SERVICED WITH EITHER A BALL JOINT CONTAINING THE ONE-PIECE BEARING OR A FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM CONTAINING A BALL JOINT WITH A ONE-PIECE BEARING. THE ONE-PIECE BEARING WITHIN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CAN WEAKEN SLOWLY DURING USE AND EVENTUALLY CRACK. THIS COULD RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE BALL AND CAP OF THE JOINT, ALLOWING THE CONTROL ARM TO DROP TO THE GROUND.
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, REDUCED STEERING CONTROL COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS (2).
NHTSA campaign record ↗