1989 LINCOLN TOWN CAR — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

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N/A

Safety Rating

97

Owner Complaints

8 Crashes 39 Fires

5

Recalls

ACTIVE RECALL

0

Service Bulletins

0

Investigations

Overview of the 1989 LINCOLN TOWN CAR

The 1989 LINCOLN TOWN CAR has received a total of 97 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 5 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE. The most commonly reported problems involve the Electrical Systemignitionswitch (21 complaints), Vehicle Speed Control (12 complaints), and Electrical Systemignition (11 complaints).

Recalls for the 1989 LINCOLN TOWN CAR

NHTSA has recorded 5 recalls for the 1989 LINCOLN TOWN CAR, potentially affecting up to 7,901,083 vehicles.

Recall 96V071000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

| 7,900,000 vehicles affected

Defect: THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

View full details →

Recall 90V093000 — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

| 544 vehicles affected

Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIMOUSINES BUILT BY EMPIRE COACH. VEHICLE ALTERERS LABEL MAY BE MISSING OR INCOMPLETE.

Consequence: VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH PART 567.

Remedy: ADD COMPLIANCE LABEL.

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Recall 90V050000 — SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

| 223 vehicles affected

Defect: SAFETY BELTS (TYPE 1 LAP BELTS) FOR REAR FACING SEATS WERE NOT INSTALLED.

Consequence: LACK OF RESTRAINTS COULD CONTRIBUTE TO OTHERWISE PREVENTABLE INJURY AND WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 209 AND 210.

Remedy: INSTALL SAFETY BELTS FOR REAR FACING SEATS.

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Recall 90V133000 — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

| 158 vehicles affected

Defect: TIRE PLACARD MAY CONTAIN INCORRECT GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATINGS AND TIRE INFORMATION.

Consequence: LIMOUSINES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 110 AND CONSUMERMIGHT UNKNOWINGLY OVERLOAD THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF PLACARD MISINFORMATION.

Remedy: INSTALL REVISED TIRE PLACARDS.

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Recall 90V134000 — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

| 158 vehicles affected

Defect: GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATINGS AND TIRE INFORMATION MAY BE INCORRECT ON LABELS.

Consequence: VEHICLES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH 49 CFR PART 567.

Remedy: INSTALL REVISED CERTIFICATION LABELS.

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Owner Complaints for the 1989 LINCOLN TOWN CAR

97 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1989 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.

Electrical Systemignitionswitch
Complaints: 21 15 Fires 1 Injury
Vehicle Speed Control
Complaints: 12 3 Crashes 2 Injuries
Electrical Systemignition
Complaints: 11 1 Crash 3 Fires
Electrical Systemalternatorgeneratorregulator
Complaints: 4 4 Fires
Electrical Systemwiringinteriorunder Dash
Complaints: 4 4 Fires
Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline
Complaints: 4 4 Fires
Seat Beltsfrontbuckle Assembly
Complaints: 4
Seat Beltsfrontretractor
Complaints: 4 2 Crashes 3 Injuries
Power Trainautomatic Transmission
Complaints: 3
Electrical Systemwiring
Complaints: 2 2 Fires
Electrical Systemwiringfront Underhood
Complaints: 2 1 Fire 2 Injuries
Seat Belts
Complaints: 2
Seat Beltsfrontanchorage
Complaints: 2
Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slip
Complaints: 2 1 Crash 2 Injuries
Suspensionmultiple Axle
Complaints: 2 1 Fire
Electrical System
Complaints: 1 1 Fire
Engine And Engine Cooling
Complaints: 1
Exterior Lighting
Complaints: 1
Fuel System Gasoline
Complaints: 1 1 Fire
Power Train
Complaints: 1
Power Traindrivelinedriveshaft
Complaints: 1 1 Fire
Power Trainmanual Transmission
Complaints: 1
Steering
Complaints: 1 1 Crash 7 Injuries
Steering Steering Wheelhandle Bar
Complaints: 1 1 Fire
Steeringgear Box Other Than Rack And Pinion
Complaints: 1
Steeringlinkagestie Rod Assembly
Complaints: 1
Steeringrack And Pinion
Complaints: 1 1 Fire
Suspensionrear
Complaints: 1
Tiressidewall
Complaints: 1
Tirestreadbelt
Complaints: 1
Unknown Or Other
Complaints: 1
Vehicle Speed Controllinkages
Complaints: 1
Visibilitypower Window Devices And Controls
Complaints: 1

Most Recent Complaints

#10415676 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | | N/A miles
LETTER ON BEHALF OF CONCERN ABOUT THE 1996 RECALL ON LINCOLN TOWN CARS, HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW IS HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH ON HIS 1989 LINCOLN TOWN CAR; SEND INCOMING LTR WITH REPLY TO ATTN: ALLISON JACKSON/FOLEY *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE KEY DID NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER LEARNED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THE PROBLEM, BUT THE PREVIOUS OWNERS WERE NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WHEN THEY SOLD THE VEHICLE TO THE CONSUMERS BROTHER-IN-LAW. *JB
#10323516 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | | 500,800 miles
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SCREW INSIDE THE REFLECTIVE CONE OF THE BULB WAS LOOSE WHICH CAUSED THE BULB TO SHATTER AND FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO SELL THE CONTACT A NEW BULB INSTEAD OF REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 500,800.
#10081815 | SUSPENSION:REAR | | 102,000 miles
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH REAR SUSPENSION FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE REAR END DROPPED AT LEAST ONE FOOT TO THE GROUND. *AK
#10075907 | POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | | 96,951 miles
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.*AK 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. *NM
#10044700 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | | 76,000 miles Fire
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. *JB *NLM

View all Electrical Systemignitionswitch complaints →

Safety Rating for the 1989 LINCOLN TOWN CAR

NHTSA has not yet tested the 1989 LINCOLN TOWN CAR in its New Car Assessment Program.

Technical Service Bulletins for the 1989 LINCOLN TOWN CAR

No technical service bulletins have been reported for this vehicle.

NHTSA Investigations for the 1989 LINCOLN TOWN CAR

There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.

Other Model Years of the LINCOLN TOWN CAR

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Other LINCOLN Models

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