Safety ratings
1991 Lincoln Town Car 4-DR.
- Lane departure warningNo
- Forward collision warningNo
- Electronic stability controlNo
Crash test videos & photos
No public crash-test footage is available for this vehicle.
Recalls (5)
- SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINTCampaign 98V322000 · 16/12/1998
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.
Risk: IF THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, REDUCED STEERING CONTROL COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS (2).
- LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCHCampaign 95V091000 · 16/05/1995
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.
Risk: THIS CONDITION CAN REDUCE THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROAD INCREASING THE POTENTIAL OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HOOD INNER PANEL REINFORCEMENT AND A NEW, GALVANIZED HOOD LATCH STRIKER PLATE.
- LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCHCampaign 91V147000 · 10/09/1991
THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MAY NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE HOOD IS CLOSED.
Risk: IN THE EVENT THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH RELEASES WHEN THEVEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE HOOD COULD FLY UP, OBSTRUCTING THE OPERATOR'S VISION,AND INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Fix: INSTALL A NEW HOOD LATCHING ASSEMBLY.
- FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERYCampaign 91V008000 · 08/01/1991
DISTORTED FUEL LINES IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT MAY CONTACT THE STEERING COLUMN UNIVERSAL JOINT AND CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE FUEL LINE.
Risk: FUEL LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR FROM THE DAMAGED FLUID LINE AND,IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: REPOSITION FUEL LINE TO PREVENT CONTACT WITH UNIVERSAL JOINT; IF FUEL LINES ARE ALREADY DAMAGED, REPAIR OR REPLACE FUEL LINES.
- LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCHCampaign 95V151000 · 07/08/1995
THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MAY NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE HOOD IS CLOSED.
Risk: IN THE EVENT THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH RELEASES OR IS NOT PROPERLY LATCHED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE HOOD COULD FLY UP OBSTRUCTING THE OPERATOR'S VISION, AND INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY.
Owner complaints
Most-reported areas
- SERVICE BRAKES39
- HYDRAULIC37
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL17
- LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES14
- AIR BAGS13
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM13
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING13
- VISIBILITY8
Read individual complaints (50 most recent)
These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.
- 12/29/1998· EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH TURNS ON/OFF UNLESS DRIVER STEPS ON THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY.
- 12/26/2016· SEAT BELTS
DRIVERS SEAT BELT BUCKLE INOP....WILL NOT HOLD THE BELT IN TH E LOCKED POSITION, THEREFORE, SEAT BELT ENABLED IN CASE OF ACCIDENT.
- 12/23/1997· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED.
- 12/17/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ANTI LOCK BRAKES LOCK UP AND GRAB CONTINUOUSLY.
- 12/16/1996· AIR BAGSCrash
DURING FRONTAL IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
- 12/15/1995· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE FRONT HOOD LATCH RELEASED WHILE DRIVING AND BUSTED THE WINDSHEILD. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
- 12/09/1994· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash
ELECTRONIC ABS CONTROLLERS FAILED,CAUSING PUMP TO PRESSURIZE MASTER CYLINDER AT WRONG TIME AND BRAKES TO ENGAGE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT/INJURIES.
- 12/06/1999· AIR BAGS
AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING FAILED CAUSING WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. MJS
- 12/05/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash
AFTER PUTTING VEHICLE INTO THE DRIVE GEAR, THE THROTTLE STUCK, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO INCREASE SPEED, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. APPLIED BRAKES, BUT THEY DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING. *AK
- 12/01/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICFire
BRAKES WERE STICKING, OVERHEATED AND CAUGHT FIRE. TT
- 11/29/1999· SEAT BELTS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING A THREE-CAR CRASH, AT SPEEDS EXCEEDING 80-85 MPH. WHILE ATTEMPING TO SHIFT TO PARK, TO SHUT OFF VEHICLE, IT CAUGHT IN REVERSE AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE BACKWARDS, CRASHING INTO THREE MORE VEHICLES. BOTH AIRBAG'S EXPERIENCED NO DEPLOYMENT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK *YC
- 11/28/1999· UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NONE
- 11/25/1997· STEERING
STEERING COMPONENTS LOOSE.
- 11/25/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
FRONT BRAKES PULSATE WHEN BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS. *DSH
- 11/23/1998· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEFire
VEHICLE PARKED IN LOT. PEDESTRIAN NOTICED SMOKE FROM UNDER VEHICLE. FLAMES STARTED SHOOTING OUT. FIRE DEPT CALLED & PUT FLAMES OUT. TOLD FIRE ORIGINATED NEAR BRAKE LINE AREA. HAD VEHICLE TOWED. *AK
- 11/19/1996· VISIBILITY
MOONROOF LEAKS.
- 11/19/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire
CAR WAS PARKED AND OFF, THE PARKING LIGHT WAS ON AND BACK LIGHT WAS ON, CONSUMER MOVED CAR IN DRIVEWAY AND ONE HOUR LATER, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE DASHBOARD . *AK *SLC
- 11/17/1997· STEERING,PARKING BRAKE,EQUIPMENT
CONSUMER STOPPED TO GET TICKET FORM PARKING MACHINE, THEN HEARD GRINDING METAL NOISES AS HE TRIED TO MOVE AWAY. HE THEN NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT HEADED IN THE DIRECTION HE WAS STEERING. HE PULLED OVER AND WAITED FOR TOW TRUCK. TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID THAT THE TIE ROD WAS DRAGGING UNDERNEATH. WHEN T/T DRIVER WAS PULLING VEHICLE ONTO TRUCK THE LEFT WHEEL DRAGGED SIDE WAYS. THE DEALER LATER TOLD HIM THAT IT WAS ALSO THE RIGHT SIDE CLAMPS THAT CAME OFF, CAUSING THE PROBLEM. *AK VEHICLE EXPERIENCED WIRING PROBLEMS. AIR CONDITIONER DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED. RADIO FAILED. *SLC
- 11/12/2014· SERVICE BRAKESFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DUE TO A BRAKE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,682.
- 11/09/1995· WHEELS
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 25 MILES HE APPILED HIS BRAKES TO TURN LEFT AND THE DUST COVER ON LEFT BECAME VERY HOT HE THINKS THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE. TT
- 11/09/1995· STRUCTURE
EA91-021 WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD CONSUMERS HOOD POPPED UP ,SHE WAS UNABLE TO SEE HOW TO DRIVE. TT
- 11/07/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash
WHEN AUTO WAS STARTED AND WAS ENGAGED IN REVERSE THE ENGINE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AT HIGH SPEED-CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STOP AUTO W/BRAKE CAUSING AN AUTO ACCIDENT.
- 11/03/1999· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THE VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING. CONSUMER PUT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTURAL, AND THE VEHICLE KEPT GOING. THEN PUT THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AND THEN CAME TO A STOP. *AK
- 11/02/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE BRAKES LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. TT
- 11/02/1995· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CONSUMER CAN SMELL FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE THE FUEL LINE #91V00800 MFG #91S215. TT
- 10/27/1995· VISIBILITY
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR REPLACED. *SD
- 10/25/1995· VISIBILITY
DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW SWITCH DROPPED INSIDE THE DOOR PANEL, UNABLE TO OPEN OR CLOSE WINDOW. TT
- 10/24/1995· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash
THE ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CAUSED CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. TT
- 10/24/1995· STRUCTURE
RIGHT REAR GUSSETT ASSEMBLY FRAME BROKE. *SD
- 10/23/2000· TIRES
AFTER DRIVING LEFT REAR TIRE WAS FLAT. THEN, APPLIED AIR AND IT WENT FLAT AGAIN. TAKEN TO TECHNICIAN WHERE COULD NOT BE FIX IT BECAUSE THE SIDE WALLS WORE OUT. NEXT DAY RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. LINCOLN, TOWN CAR, 1991, P215/70R15, DOT BEM3NX71239. *AK
- 10/21/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MECHANIC SAID HE DID NOT KNOW WHY THEY CRACKED...AND THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN ALL FOUR CRACK AT ONCE....
- 10/21/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE VEHICLE JUMPS AND WARPS. THE OWNER HAD THE BRAKES TURNED, AND REPLACED THE ROTORS AND THE BRAKE PADS AND SHOES. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK
- 10/19/1997· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash
UPON APPLYING BRAKES, VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. *AK
- 10/18/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE PADS/CALIPERS REPLACED.
- 10/11/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKES ARE STICKING-THE FRONT BOOSTER MUST BE REPLACED. TT
- 10/11/1995· POWER TRAIN
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE, THE PARK GEAR WILL NOT ENGAGE. TT
- 10/11/1995· AIR BAGS
DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG MALFUNCTION, AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, DIAGNOSTIC MONITOR NEEDS REPLACING. TT *JB
- 10/07/1999· SEATSCrash
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN COLLISION. UPON IMPACT FRONT MOUNTING BOLT OF DRIVER'S SPLIT SEAT BROKE, CAUSING ENTIRE SEAT TO FALL BACKWARDS, AND RESULTED IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES, AND FEET WENT THROUGH WINDSHIELD. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
- 10/06/1998· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
MANUFACTURER'S RECALL # 91S-40/NHTSA RECALL 91V -147 & MANUFACTURER'S RECALL # 95S -14/NHTSA RECALL 95V- 091; VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR THE ABOVE RECALLS CONCERNING HOOD LATCHES. REPAIRS WERE DONE SOMETIMES IN THE YEAR 1992 AND AGAIN IN 1996. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN HOOD CAME UNLATCHED AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD, CAUSING A CRACK. CONSUMER BELIEVED THIS WAS A RECALL REPAIR FAILURE. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST IS PICKED UP BY THE CONSUMER. *AK
- 10/06/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
CONSUMER STATE UPON APPLYING FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL THE BRAKES DO NOT RELEASE, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO LOCK UP. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK
- 10/05/1995· STRUCTURE,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE HOOD FLEW UP AND DID DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD,TOP OF THE CAR,HOOD, AND BOTH FRONT FENDERS. TT APPROXIMATELY A YEAR LATER, CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 91V147 REGARDING HOOD LATCHES. *SLC
- 10/04/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKES PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, SOMETIMES CAR STOPS QUICKLY, DOESNT SLOW DOWN. *AK
- 10/02/2007· TIRES
WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROX. 35 MILES PER HOUR ON A LOCAL BRIDGE, MY RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. I DROVE A DISTANCE OF SEVERAL YARDS TO THE END OF THE BRIDGE WHERE I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER AND STOP. WHEN A VERY KIND POLICE OFFICER TRIED TO REMOVE THE DAMAGED TIRE, HE HAD TO STOP BECAUSE THE TIRE HAD SEPARATED LIKE A RECAPPED TIRE AND WOUND THE TORN PART AROUND THE BRAKE LINES AND AXLE. THE DAMAGES AND SERVICE CHARGES ARE ESTIMATED TO BE MORE THAN SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS. INITIALLY, THE SERVICE REPAIRMAN AT THE TIRE STORE (WHERE ALL OF THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED AND MOUNTED) INDICATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY SHOWED SIGNS OF "DRY-ROT." A SHORT TIME LATER, ANOTHER WORKER SAID ONLY THE DAMAGED TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME PROBLEMS WITH MICHELIN TIRES SOLD WITHIN THE LAST FEW YEARS. *TR
- 10/02/2001· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash
CONSUMER SHIFTED VEHICLE INTO PARK FROM DRIVE, WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCLERATED TO A HIGH SPEED, CONSUMER PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, HOWEVER VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A BANK, BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES, THE DRIVER SUSTAINED FACIAL INJURIES DUE TO THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG. *SLC
- 10/02/2000· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash
WHILE TURNING ON THE IGNITION CAR TOOK OFF INTO THE HOUSE, AND HIT ANOTHER CONSUMER, INJURING THEM. SEPT OF 1998, CONSUMER PUT CAR IN REVERSE AND CAR TOOK OFF BACKWARDS, CONSUMER HAD TO TURN OFF THE KEY TO STOP THE CAR.*AK
- 10/02/1995· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BATTERY REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES.
- 09/30/2005· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DT: THE CONTACT STATED 1991 LINCOLN TOWN CAR HAD ONLY 17,000 MILES ON IT. ON 8-25-05 HE FELT LIKE HIS BRAKES WERE LOW. HE WENT TO HAVE THEM INSPECTED AND THE CAR PASSED THE INSPECTION, BUT HE HAD THE BRAKES CHANGED ANYWAY. HE SMELLED THE BRAKES BURNING THAT DAY AS HE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE GARAGE. HE PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE ,AND DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL ABOUT A MONTH LATER WHEN HE SMELLED WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS THE BRAKES BURNING AGAIN. WHEN HE GOT IN TO DRIVEWAY, HE SAW FIRE UNDER THE WHEELS. HE PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. HAD HE NOT HAD THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER THE CAR WOULD HAVE BLOWN UP. THE GARAGE THAT FIXED THE BRAKES SAID THE CALIPER HUNG UP AND THAT WAS WHY THE FIRE HAPPENED. ALSO, THE CONSUMER THOUGHT THIS MAY BE A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKES THAT WOULD CAUSE THE CAR TO CATCH ON FIRE OR DID NOT FIX THE BRAKES PROPERLY. HE CALLED FORD, AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT WITHOUT A WARRANTY THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT THEY COULD DO, AND THEN THEY TOLD HIM THEY WOULD SUBMIT HIS COMPLAINT TO THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE IF THE CAR HAD ABS BRAKES BECAUSE THE CAR WAS A 1991 MODEL. HE THOUGHT IT DID BUT WAS NOT SURE. HE WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR. *AK
- 09/30/1997· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN STEPPING ON BRAKE TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL, DRIVING (65) MPH, THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN, BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. THIS SYSTEM REENGAGED ONCE THE DRIVER TOOK FOOT OFF BRAKE PEDAL. THE SWITCH ON THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE USED TO DISENGAGE SYSTEM. *AK
- 09/29/1995· STRUCTURE
HOOD FLEW OPEN WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, DAMAGING THE WINDSHIELD. TT
- 09/27/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE ABS SYSTEM HAS FAILED. WHEN YOU PRESS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE PEDAL IS HARD AND WILL NOT STOP THE CAR. EVERYTIME THE CAR HITS A BUMP THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON.