AI Damage1988 Lincoln Town CAR: common problems
Owners of the 1988 Lincoln Town CAR filed 99 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and vehicle speed control. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 99
- involving a crash
- 8
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 39% of all complaints
- 2 Vehicle speed control 17% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 9% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 7% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel system 7% of all complaints
- 6 Seat belts 7% of all complaints
- 7 Tires 5% of all complaints
- 8 Structure 4% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 39 complaints (39% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 17 complaints (17% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 9 complaints (9% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 7 complaints (7% of all).
- Fuel system: 7 complaints (7% 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 99 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 39 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 17 | 4 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Tires | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Wheels | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The transmission suddenly fails when in overdrive. This failure occurs on the highway at high speed and could cause an accident because the car goes out of control.
While parked in driveway vehicle rapidly surged backwards, and then suddenly accelerated into the garage door. Cause unknown.
Seat belt failed to restrain driver during collision, resulting in the seat belt choking the driver/impact with steering wheel/seat back broke.
Steering column failed, causing accident/injuries/deaths.
While driving brakes failed more than three times.please descri be details.
Consumer stopped at drive thru window stop and car accelerated causing an accident car was totaled . Tt windshield broke in accident.
Seat belts won't retract. Ignition switch is faulty and shorting out radio and other electrical components. Wanting to prevent fire from happening, by taking care of this now.
1988 lincoln towncar. Consumer states business sold faulty car parts related to a safety defect the consumer was advised by his local mechanic that the original upper ball joints had a torn boot and he could no longer grease it. The mechanic also suggested replacing the lower ball joints as well.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 3,592 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 10% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Town CAR has 95 complaints (35 years in the data). This year has 99, about average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Other years of this model
- Town CAR 19834 sources
- Town CAR 198415 sources
- Town CAR 198521 sources
- Town CAR 198650 sources
- Town CAR 198732 sources
- Town CAR 198989 sources
- Town CAR 1990209 sources
- Town CAR 1991155 sources
- Town CAR 1992249 sources
- Town CAR 1993176 sources
- Town CAR 1994155 sources
- Town CAR 1995165 sources
- Town CAR 1996259 sources
- Town CAR 1997314 sources
- Town CAR 1998154 sources
- Town CAR 1999148 sources
- Town CAR 2000108 sources
- Town CAR 2001161 sources
- Town CAR 200265 sources
- Town CAR 2003201 sources
- Town CAR 200483 sources
- Town CAR 2005119 sources
- Town CAR 2006143 sources
- Town CAR 200784 sources
- Town CAR 200820 sources
- Town CAR 20095 sources
- Town CAR 201013 sources
- Town CAR 20116 sources
- Town CAR 999916 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1988 Lincoln Town CAR?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, vehicle speed control, powertrain. Total complaints: 99. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (35%), seat belts (7%), unintended acceleration (4%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1988 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 1988 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 1988 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.