1985 Lincoln Town CAR: common problems

Owners of the 1985 Lincoln Town CAR filed 21 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and tires. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 21
involving a crash: 1

What fails most often

1 Electrical system 33% of all complaints
2 Tires 19% of all complaints
3 Engine and cooling 10% of all complaints
4 Steering 10% of all complaints
5 Structure 10% of all complaints
6 Equipment 5% of all complaints
7 Fuel system 5% of all complaints
8 Service brakes 5% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Electrical system: 7 complaints (33% of all).
Tires: 4 complaints (19% of all).
Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (10% of all).
Steering: 2 complaints (10% of all).
Structure: 2 complaints (10% of all).

Engines and transmissions

US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.

5 L · petrol · 8 cyl
automatic, 4-speed

Drive: RWD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 21 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

smoke, burning smell, fire6 · 29%
brake failure2 · 10%
stalls while driving2 · 10%
A/C or heater1 · 5%
engine failure or replacement1 · 5%
hesitation when accelerating1 · 5%
steering or power steering problems1 · 5%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Electrical system	7	0
Tires	4	0
Engine and cooling	2	0
Steering	2	0
Structure	2	0
Equipment	1	0
Fuel system	1	0
Service brakes	1	1
Vehicle speed control	1	0
Other	1	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

Brakes failed, causing accident. (new jersey state police report)
Service brakes · crash · 1996-05-02 · NHTSA complaint #503685
Tire failure: abnormal belt separation. Photo and tire is available. Sears guardsman, response xl, p215/75r15. 78615, dot#chhf244. Also, there were large cracks within the tread.
Tires · 2006-01-25 · NHTSA complaint #10148596
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.
Electrical system · 2003-09-16 · NHTSA complaint #10040014
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.
Tires · 2002-05-28 · NHTSA complaint #8010522
After driving my car home I immediately realized that this car was dring better than it ever had with out the hesitations. I then realized that this defect could have been effecting the operation of this car from day one.
Fuel system · 2001-01-25 · NHTSA complaint #739661
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.
Electrical system · 2001-01-10 · NHTSA complaint #877832
Engine failure resulted in engine fire (ohio traffic crash report).
Engine and cooling · 2000-04-26 · NHTSA complaint #551715
The hydraulic cylinders used to hold the hood up gave way, allowing the hood t0 fall down, almost injuring the owner. Dealer has not seen vehicle.
Structure · 1999-10-07 · NHTSA complaint #850210

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

19952
19967
19993
20001
20014
20023
20031
20061

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 8,077 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 22% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Town CAR has 95 complaints (35 years in the data). This year has 21, below average.

What to check before buying

Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.
Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 1985 Lincoln Town CAR?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, tires, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 21. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (29%), brake failure (10%), stalls while driving (10%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1985 Lincoln Town CAR?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 1985 Lincoln Town CAR from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 1985 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.