1990 Lincoln Town CAR Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 63about this part
- Share
- 30%of 209 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 88,500miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 63 complaints about the electrical system of the 1990 Lincoln Town CAR, 30% of the 209 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 88,500 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 41 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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. ......... Consume rclaimed fire appeared to be due to mechanical failure in car , possibly brakes.”
NHTSA complaint #10104990, filed 2004-12, 101,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10125859, filed 2005-06, 40,000 miles“Dt: the consumer stated:on 5-19-04 his 1990 Lincoln Town Car burned while it was parked. Within a half of an hour the car was engulfed in flames. There were 3 different investigations done;. An electrical and and engineering investigation, and one done by the tampa fire department and found no exact fault. . He said there were a total of 3 other cars totaled, and 4 others damaged during the fire. The hood melted away. The car had only 76,000 miles on it and had been well maintained. He did submit maintenance reports to the insurance company, and was not liable for the fire.”
NHTSA complaint #10127122, filed 2005-06, 76,000 miles“On april 23, 2001 our Lincoln Town Car had been parked fro about ten minutes in an enclosed parking structure at supermarket when the engine compartment self-ignited. A major fire ensued but a passerby had called the fire department and the damage was limited to the total loss of our car. I have emailed Lincoln hq repeatedly since then to ask if they had any record of this unusual and potentially lethal problem. Each time they replied saying that they could not answer technical questions. …”
NHTSA complaint #745988, filed 2001-05“The contact stated while stopped at a red light, smoke was seen coming from underneath the hood. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and the hood was raised. Smoke and flames were spotted coming from the plug on the alternator. The battery was disconnected and the plug removed. The fire smothered and the vehicle was driven to an independent repair shop. The vehicle is currently under going inspection and repair.”
NHTSA complaint #10150925, filed 2006-02, 118,000 milesElectrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 3 | 23% |
| 2008 | 3 | 15% |
| 2007 | 4 | 5% |
| 2006 | 6 | 4% |
| 2005 | 8 | 7% |
| 2004 | 8 | 10% |
| 2003 | 8 | 4% |
| 2002 | 3 | 5% |
| 2001 | 9 | 6% |
| 2000 | 18 | 17% |
| 1999 | 13 | 9% |
| 1998 | 15 | 10% |
| 1997 | 16 | 5% |
| 1996 | 19 | 7% |
| 1995 | 21 | 13% |
| 1994 | 20 | 13% |
| 1993 | 43 | 24% |
| 1992 | 73 | 29% |
| 1991 | 15 | 10% |
| 1990 | 63 | 30% |
| 1989 | 42 | 47% |
| 1988 | 39 | 39% |
| 1987 | 17 | 53% |
| 1986 | 29 | 58% |
| 1985 | 7 | 33% |
| 1984 | 9 | 60% |
Other parts of the 1990 Lincoln Town CAR
31 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
21 complaintsBrakes
17 complaintsVehicle speed control
16 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
13 complaintsBody and structure
12 complaintsOther or unknown
11 complaintsSteering
11 complaintsAir bags
9 complaintsFuel system
9 complaintsSuspension
9 complaintsEquipment
4 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1990 Lincoln Town CAR
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology