1985 Lincoln Town CAR Problems
- Complaints
- 21filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- —no mileage reported
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 17 mpgcombined, 5.0L 8-cyl RWD · 14 city / 22 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1985 Lincoln Town CAR (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 21 consumer complaints for the 1985 Lincoln Town CAR. The part named most often is electrical system, with 7 complaints (33% of the total), followed by tires (4) and engine cooling (2). Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 6 a fire, 2 an injury, 3 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Electrical system7 33%
- Tires4 19%
- Engine cooling2 9.5%
- Steering2 9.5%
- Body and structure2 9.5%
- Brakes1 4.8%
- Equipment1 4.8%
- Fuel system1 4.8%
- Other or unknown1 4.8%
- Vehicle speed control1 4.8%
Example complaints
Electrical system: “While driving at 32 MPH, the engine stalled. The steering wheel locked and the brakes failed. Dealers notified. Consumer had a short in the wire. Her concern was that she couldn't stop the vehicle after a while.”
NHTSA complaint #10040014, filed 2003-11Tires: “Spare tire had tread separation on it. 13ooo miles, 225/75r15. Micheln DOT m 3dy d3nx 527. Monthly inspection of spare tire found air was escaping from tire. Took tire out of trunk and the area facing rear firewall was blown out, tire separation. Contacted michelin and reply was tire is old. Photo attached. 1985 Lincoln Town Car.”
NHTSA complaint #8010522, filed 2002-05Steering: “Consumer was driving at approximately 20 MPH when steering column exploded and caught on fire. Consumer pulled over ,and poured snow on it to take fire out.”
NHTSA complaint #877832, filed 2001-01Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1985 Lincoln Town CAR version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Town Car RWD | 5.0L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 14 | 22 | 17 | $3,950 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 90V093000May 9, 1990Equipment › Other › LabelsCovers: Lincoln Town CAR 1983–1989, Cadillac Fleetwood 1983–1989
Vehicle description: limousines built by empire coach. Vehicle alterers label may be missing or incomplete.
Recall details for the 1985 Lincoln Town CAR → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
NHTSA investigations
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1985 Lincoln Town CAR.
Other model years of the Lincoln Town CAR
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 6 | 53,500 | 3 | — | 19 | — | Not enough data |
| 2010 | 13 | 94,000 | 3 | — | 19 | — | Not enough data |
| 2009 | 5 | 27,410 | 3 | — | 19 | — | Not enough data |
| 2008 | 20 | 43,200 | 3 | — | 18 | — | Falling |
| 2007 | 84 | 60,000 | 3 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2006 | 143 | 62,768 | 2 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2005 | 119 | 65,000 | 3 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 83 | 65,500 | 0 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 201 | 69,000 | 1 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 65 | 48,940 | 0 | — | 17 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2001 | 161 | 80,000 | 5 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2000 | 108 | 68,150 | 8 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 1999 | 148 | 100,000 | 5 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1998 | 154 | 84,000 | 7 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 1997 | 314 | 90,000 | 6 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1996 | 259 | 92,000 | 8 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 165 | 103,734 | 6 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 155 | 105,500 | 5 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 176 | 108,500 | 4 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 249 | 100,000 | 4 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 155 | 83,100 | 5 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1990 | 209 | 100,000 | 4 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1989 | 89 | 96,951 | 5 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1988 | 99 | 113,500 | 5 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1987 | 32 | 34,102 | 6 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1986 | 50 | 143,000 | 4 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1985 | 21 | — | 1 | — | 17 | — | Stable |
| 1984 | 15 | 152,000 | 1 | — | 16 | — | Rising |
All Lincoln Town CAR model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1985 Lincoln Town CAR have?
NHTSA recorded 21 consumer complaints for the 1985 Lincoln Town CAR as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1985 Lincoln Town CAR is reported most often?
Electrical system is named most often, in 7 complaints (33% of the total), followed by tires with 4.
Has the 1985 Lincoln Town CAR been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1985 Lincoln Town CAR get?
The EPA rates the 1985 Lincoln Town CAR (Town Car, 5.0L 8-cyl) at 17 mpg combined, 14 city and 22 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,950 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.