1991 Lincoln Town CAR Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe brake problems — a low or hard pedal, pulling to one side, and in a few accounts brake-area fires — along with throttle and speed-control complaints in which the car accelerates without input. Hood latch complaints recur even where recall repairs were reportedly done, and window, seat, and electrical faults show up on higher-mileage cars.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Brake pedal low, hard, or pulling to one side

   • 34 complaints (22%)
   • median 42,080 mi at 19.5 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2014

   Complaints describe a brake pedal that sinks or feels hard, braking that pulls the car hard to one side, and occasional lock-up or drag at the wheels. Several owners say the pedal went to the floor with little braking, and some report repeated rotor, pad, and line replacement without a lasting fix. Corroded or collapsed brake lines and booster-related faults are mentioned in a few accounts. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 17,000 up to roughly 175,000 miles, with many accounts on older, long-driven cars.

   What to check: Ask when the brake lines, hoses, and booster were last inspected, and have a shop check for rusted lines and even braking before purchase. Look for a brake warning light that stays off when it should be on.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Consumer found a constant leak under vehicle. Took vehicle in for repair, and dealer found out that fuel line was corroded/ rusted and needed to be replaced, as well as the brake line. This caused the car to to fail to start, after repairs were finished the problem with starting the car was remedied.”

   NHTSA complaint #8006018, filed 2002-03

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #817292, filed 1997-10
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Unexpected acceleration / throttle sticking

   • 15 complaints (10%)
   • median 27,000 mi at 13.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2014

   Owners describe the car speeding up on its own — at start-up, when shifted into gear, or while cruising — and brakes that did not stop it. Some accounts tie it to a stuck throttle or accelerator linkage, and a few mention cruise control that would not disengage from the brake pedal. Dealers reportedly replaced items such as the idle air control valve and cleaned the throttle body in some cases. Reported at various mileages and driving speeds; several accounts involve the car just after being started or put into gear.

   What to check: Before buying, check that the throttle and cruise-control cables move freely and return fully, and that the cable grommets are intact. Ask whether the throttle body or idle control valve has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #853459, filed 1999-11

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #852475, filed 1999-11
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Electrical faults, seat and wiring problems

   • 14 complaints (9%)
   • typically at 8.1 yrs old
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2005

   Complaints include seat memory and power seat failures, a seat that dropped off its track, and wiring that shorted or burned, including a headlight wire and an underhood fire near a front wheel. Owners also describe no-start conditions and the car slipping into reverse on its own after starting. Dealers reportedly replaced seat assemblies and diagnosed wiring faults. Reported on cars ranging from low mileage to nearly 180,000 miles, with several accounts on vehicles more than a decade old.

   What to check: Test all power seat functions and memory settings, check that every seat is solidly mounted, and have a shop inspect underhood wiring and connectors for chafing or heat damage.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle has gone through a series or repairs and replacements for electronic seats. Dealer---mayo motors---trexler town, pa---repaired vehicle six times, dates are between 5-28-92 through 6-14-95. Haldeman dealership repaired vehicle on 7-10-95 ,and will repair for second time on mar-12-98. These repairs were all done on the driver's side front seat.”

   NHTSA complaint #821897, filed 1998-03

   “While driving drivers seat fell off rail and into the rear passenger compartment. Mechanic said that the incident was caused by the pin hole that secured the driver's seat being worn through. Repairwork done at owners expense, approximately $320.00.”

   NHTSA complaint #836138, filed 1999-03
4. 4
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Hood latch releases while driving

   • 12 complaints (8%)
   • median 162,300 mi at 19.9 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2015

   Complaints describe the hood coming unlatched at highway speed, folding back against the windshield, and cracking or breaking it. Several owners say the hood latch recall work had already been completed on their car, and one said the dealer declined further repair at no cost. The hood latch recall history for this model year is the same part these accounts concern. Mostly described at highway speeds on older cars; one account was within a few hundred miles of recall work, others well past 150,000 miles.

   Recall 91V147000Recall 95V151000Recall 95V091000

   What to check: Open and close the hood several times and check that the secondary catch engages and that the striker plate is not corroded. Ask whether the hood latch recalls were completed and keep the latch and cable lubricated.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Consumer was driving when hood came open, owner had already had recall repair work done. Recall #91v147000. Failure caused damage to the windshield, vehicle only had 200 miles on it after recall work was completed.”

   NHTSA complaint #984599, filed 1996-05

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #828648, filed 1998-10
5. 5
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Power window regulators and motors failing

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report windows that stop moving, sometimes after a loud noise, and that then stay stuck up or down. Several say regulators or window motors were replaced, in some cases more than once on the same car. A separate wiper complaint describes wipers that park upright after being switched off. Described on cars of varying age; complaints do not consistently state mileage.

   What to check: Run every window up and down through its full travel, listening for grinding or slow spots, and test the wipers at all speeds, including where they park.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Whenever it was raining and windshield wipers were turned off, they would remain in an upright position. When turning windshield wipers back on, they would go down.”

   NHTSA complaint #893288, filed 2001-08

   “Lf/rr and lf/ft motor inside the door that operates the window failed, resulting in windows coming down and locking in position, replace two motors. Tt”

   NHTSA complaint #967423, filed 1995-06

Buying note. These are old cars, so condition matters more than the model itself: have the brakes and brake lines checked thoroughly, verify the hood latch recalls were done and that the latch works, and confirm the throttle linkage returns freely. Records of recent electrical and window repairs are worth asking for.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 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.