1989 Lincoln Town CAR Problems
- Complaints
- 89filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 96,951miles, 3 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 5campaigns 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
- 18 mpgcombined, 5.0L 8-cyl RWD · 15 city / 22 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1989 Lincoln Town CAR (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Complaints on this model year skew heavily toward the electrical system, and a recurring theme is fire or smoke traced to the ignition switch and nearby wiring, often in a parked car with the ignition off. Owners also describe cruise control that engages, drops out, or sticks, and seat belts that fail to lock or retract. Many reports come from cars with well over 75,000 miles, so age and prior repair history matter as much as original design.
- Electrical system
Ignition switch short and dash/column fire
- 29 complaints (33%)
- median 76,000 mi at 15.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
- 21 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–2011
Owners describe smoke or flames coming from the steering column or under the dash, in some cases after the car was parked and shut off. Several say the ignition switch shorted internally, and one reports the starter engaging on its own while the engine was already running. Some complaints note the vehicle had not had recall work done, and one owner was told a dealer inspection was needed to qualify. Mileage is not usually stated in these reports; many describe cars that were already well used, and several fires occurred while parked with the ignition off.
What to check: Ask whether recall 96V071000 for the ignition switch was ever completed and keep the paperwork; if there is any burning smell, smoke, or odd key behavior, have the switch and column wiring inspected.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“After parking the vehicle and turning off the ignition, the consumer heard a popping sound. A few seconds passed and the consumer saw thick black smoke and a fire coming from the engine compartment. The fire was extinguished and the vehicle was taken to the dealer. The dealer informed the consumer that the problem may have been the wiring harness.”
NHTSA complaint #10044700, filed 2003-11, 76,000 miles“Vehicle caught on fire while parked in inside garage & ignition switch turned off. Property damage was due to fire. Consumer was informed vehicle was involved in manufacturer's. Recall # 95s-28 / NHTSA # 96v-071000 pertaining to an ingition switch which could experience an internal short circuit. Dealer/mfr was not notified at this time.”
NHTSA complaint #831393, filed 1998-11 - Vehicle speed control
Cruise control engages or drops out on its own
- 10 complaints (11%)
- typically at 8.6 yrs old
- 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–2001
Owners report cruise control that will not hold a set speed, disengages at random, or fails to engage at all, sometimes described as a long-running problem. A few describe unintended acceleration or a sticking gas pedal, in one case with the car leaving a garage and crossing a yard. One owner said a dealer mentioned an expired recall and paid for a repair that helped only briefly. Reports span a wide age range and rarely include mileage; several describe problems that returned within months of repair.
What to check: Test the cruise control at several speeds and check that the throttle linkage and cable move freely and return fully; ask whether the cruise servo or cable has been replaced.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Cruise control engages then disengages before attaining desired speed. It may not engage at all at any time, or it may disengage at any time. This has been an ongoing problem with this car for years. The dealer said there was a recall for this problem , but the recall was no longer in effect. I paid $1,000. For this repair and there was improvement for three or four months, then the problem reoccurred and continues today.”
NHTSA complaint #710512, filed 1999-08“After turning ignition and putting vehicle into drive vehicle took off and hit a store window. Driver applied brakes, and vehicle would not stop. No one has seen vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #878087, filed 2001-01 - Electrical system
Alternator and wiring fires
- 29 complaints (33%)
- median 76,000 mi at 15.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
- 28 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–2003
Several owners report smoke or fire from the engine compartment traced to the alternator or its wiring plug, sometimes discovered only after a no-start or a dead battery. One notes there was no warning that the alternator had stopped charging before the battery drained. Another describes a fire near the rear of the car attributed to a tail light area, and one truck-style complaint describes a wiring harness fire after shutdown. Reported on cars already in service for many years; mileage is mostly unstated, with one report near 76,000 miles.
What to check: Look for scorched or melted alternator connector plugs and chafed wiring, and have the charging system checked; ask whether the alternator or harness has been replaced.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“While the vehicle was parked for a few minutes, the vehicle smelled like smoke. When the comsumer got closer to it smoke was coming out from under the hood; the vehicle was towed to a shop, and the mechanic said the fire started at the alternator or the wires of the alternator. Vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted.”
NHTSA complaint #815303, filed 1997-08“Alernator is not charging the battery because the plug on the alternator caught fire. There is not indication that the alternator is not working until the battery dies or the alternator catches fire. Consumer contacted dealer.”
NHTSA complaint #843997, filed 1999-07 - Seat belts
Seat belts that do not lock or retract
- 8 complaints (9%)
- typically at 7.5 yrs old
- 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–2002
Owners describe front belts that fail to lock during a stop or turn and rear belts that retract fully into the retractor and cannot be pulled out for use. In two reports the belt did not restrain an occupant in a crash. Several say a dealer either dismissed the concern or told them it was the owner's responsibility. Complaints do not give mileage or age; both front and rear belts are involved, and some failures appeared within a short time of purchase.
What to check: Pull each belt out fully and check that it locks with a sharp tug and retracts smoothly, including the rear positions, and confirm whether the rear-facing seat belt recall 90V050000 applies to the vehicle.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Within a week of purchasing this vehicle I returned to the dealership and told the service manager the front seat belts were malfunctioning. The manager assured me they needed to feel the body weight of a person before they grabbed. After a recent accident in another vehicle in which a seat belt literally saved my life, I returned to the dealership on feb. 8, 2001. After a service man checked both front seat belts he stated they were both malfunctioning. I spoke to a phil lowe who told me he'd contact me later in the day. …”
NHTSA complaint #741052, filed 2001-02“Vehicle hit a 8-10 inch high concrete divider, passenger hit head on windshield. Seatbelt did not restrain her, she suffered head lacerations/ neck and back injuries. Driver was not wearing seatbelt due to medical reason, hit head on windshield. Damage to vehicle unknown. Jg”
NHTSA complaint #8012055, filed 2002-06
Buying note. Given the number of electrical fire reports, confirm recall 96V071000 was performed and inspect the ignition switch, column wiring, and alternator connector before buying. Also test the seat belts, cruise control, and transmission on a test drive, since those are the other recurring themes in owner complaints.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 31 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 89 consumer complaints for the 1989 Lincoln Town CAR. 3 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 96,951 miles. Of all complaints, 7 involved a crash, 38 a fire, 15 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
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 system42 47%
- Vehicle speed control12 13%
- Seat belts11 12%
- Engine cooling5 5.6%
- Steering5 5.6%
- Suspension3 3.4%
- Brakes2 2.3%
- Tires2 2.3%
- Exterior lighting1 1.1%
Also reported: Fuel system (1), Other or unknown (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).
Example complaints
Electrical system: “Purchased cream puff towncar in 1996. Mid 1997, vehicle began stalling after the engine reached operating temperature. Independant mechanic-no help. Ford dealer, spent almost $1,000.00 to replace several items. Each time, I told them to check the ignition module/coil pickup. Ford dealer said that wouldn't be the problem. Enroute back to the dealer for either the 3d or 4th time and totalled the automobile while attempting to keep it from stalling. My fault but I shouldn't have been fighting the car and going to the dealer in the first place. My father has a 1985 continental with only 30k miles. …”
NHTSA complaint #750296, filed 2001-08Vehicle speed control: “While driving vehicle suddenly acclerated. Brakes could not slow down vehicle, which almost caused a crash. Dealer and manufacturer indicated that they never had this type of problem. Please provide further information*ak.”
NHTSA complaint #868178, filed 2000-08Seat belts: “Rear seat belts would retract completely back into retractor area. Cannot pull belts out to use for rear passenger side. Took to dealer & was informed was owner's problem. Nothing they can do.”
NHTSA complaint #822044, filed 1998-03Transmission and drivetrain: “While driving the plastic cap on the transmission cable that connected to the throttle body broke. This mad it hard for the consumer to shift the transmission gears. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. The transmission was damaged due to the plastic clip breaking. The consumer had to pay to have the entire transmission replaced. The consumer believes this failure is a factory defect. The technician indicated that they were replacing the plastic caps with brass clips. The consumer request reimbursement for the cost to replace the transmission.”
NHTSA complaint #10075907, filed 2004-07, 96,951 milesMileage when problems were reported
0% of the 3 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 76,000 and 102,000 miles.
Complaints 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 1989 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 | 15 | 22 | 18 | $3,700 |
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
- 96V071000Apr 25, 1996Electrical system › IgnitionCovers: Lincoln Town CAR 1988–1989, Ford Thunderbird 1988–1993, Mercury Cougar 1988–1993 +12 more
The ignition switch could experience an internal short circuit.
- 90V133000Jul 27, 1990Equipment › Other › LabelsCovers: Lincoln Town CAR 1989–1990, Cadillac Brougham 1989–1990
Tire placard may contain incorrect gross vehicle weight ratings and tire information.
- 90V134000Jul 27, 1990Equipment › Other › LabelsCovers: Lincoln Town CAR 1989–1990, Cadillac Brougham 1989–1990
Gross vehicle weight ratings and tire information may be incorrect on labels.
- 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.
- 90V050000Mar 6, 1990Seat belts › Front › AnchorageCovers: Lincoln Town CAR 1986–1989, Cadillac Fleetwood 1985–1988
Safety belts (type 1 lap belts) for rear facing seats were not installed.
Recall details for the 1989 Lincoln Town CAR → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1989 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
What are the most common problems with the 1989 Lincoln Town CAR?
Complaints on this model year skew heavily toward the electrical system, and a recurring theme is fire or smoke traced to the ignition switch and nearby wiring, often in a parked car with the ignition off. The issues reported most often: Ignition switch short and dash/column fire; Cruise control engages or drops out on its own; Alternator and wiring fires.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1989 Lincoln Town CAR have?
NHTSA recorded 89 consumer complaints for the 1989 Lincoln Town CAR as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1989 Lincoln Town CAR is reported most often?
Electrical system is named most often, in 42 complaints (47% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control with 12.
Has the 1989 Lincoln Town CAR been recalled?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1989 Lincoln Town CAR get?
The EPA rates the 1989 Lincoln Town CAR (Town Car, 5.0L 8-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 15 city and 22 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,700 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1989 Lincoln Town CAR reported?
Among the 3 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 96,951 miles and the middle half falls between 76,000 and 102,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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.