A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jan 1995peak 5Jun 2024
NHTSA investigations into the 1984 Lincoln Town CAR
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
PE89039Opened 9 Feb 1989Closed 13 Jun 1989PARKING BRAKE
PARKING BRAKE FAILURE
SUMMARY:THE SPRING UNDER INVESTIGATION CAUSES THE LATCHING PAWL TOENGAGE THE TEETH OF THE RATCHET WHEREBY THE PARKING BRAKE IS RETAINEDIN THE APPLIED POSITION.IF THE SPRING FAILS, THE PEDAL FOLLOWS THEOPERATORS FOOT BACK UP INTO THE RELEASED POSITION.FORD STATES THAT IT ISSUED THE BULLETIN IN ORDER TO INFORM DEALERSTHAT THE SPRING WAS NEWLY AVAILABLE AS A SEPARATE PART.PREVIOUSLY,IT WAS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE PARKING BRAKE CONTROL ASSEMBLY INORDER TO OBTAIN A NEW SPRING.SINCE THE FAILURE OF THE SPRING WILL NOT CAUSE THE PARKING BRAKE TOSUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY RELEASE AND SINCE THERE...
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Kenosha, WIFire
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 25 MPH, WHEN SMELLED SMOKE AND LOOKED UP AND SAW HEAVY SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE BRAKE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON.CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT PROBLEM. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #828274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wellston, OKFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE DASH AND UNDER THE HOOD. ELECTRICAL RELATED. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #985178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tacoma, WAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH CAUGHT FIRE TWICE.
NHTSA complaint #504306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oakdale, NYFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DRIVING VEHICLE, SHUT OFF, PULLED VEHICLE OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD, SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN, DRIVER & DAUGHTER GOT OUT, FLAMES ENGULFED VEHICLE .
NHTSA complaint #984434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jackson, MIFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #983367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EL Reno, OKFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY HEARD A "POP" VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING FROM DASHBOARD AND FIRE THEN CONSUMED STEERING COLUMN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #982992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 152,000 milesSaint Louis, MO
ENGINE
The contact owns a 1984 Lincoln Town Car. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact was able to pull the vehicle to the side of the roadway. The contact stated that the vehicle was able to be restarted. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or local dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 152,000.
NHTSA complaint #11594141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Spokane, WA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ENGINE STALLING WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #897108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wilmington, DE
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A FLAT IN WHICH THE RUBBER PEELED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE TIRE, CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY MANUFACTURER TO TAKE TIRES BACK TO RETAILER, CONSUMER WAS THEN ADVISED THAT THE PROBLEM RESULTED IN A DEFECT IN THE TIRE WALL, CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN THE RUBBER CAME OFF OF TIRE IT DENTED THE MOUNDINGS ON VEHICLE (ROYAL SEAL TIRES).
NHTSA complaint #560281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kenosha, WIFire
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 25 MPH, WHEN SMELLED SMOKE AND LOOKED UP AND SAW HEAVY SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE BRAKE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON.CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT PROBLEM. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #828274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Louisville, KY
TIRES
THE TIRES MANUFACTURED BY COOPER TIRE, SOLD UNDER NAME OF DEAN. (P 215/70R15) HAD BLOW OUTS, THE RIGHT FRONT AND LEFT FRONT TIRES BLEW OUT WITHIN A MILE APART.
NHTSA complaint #521693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Marco Island, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DURING VEHICLE OPERATION SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. AS A RESULT THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK CONSUMER REPLACED SWITCH. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #802438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wellston, OKFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE DASH AND UNDER THE HOOD. ELECTRICAL RELATED. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #985178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baltimore, MD
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH GETS OVERHEATED FROM REPEATED USE WHEN CAR STALLS.
NHTSA complaint #504239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tacoma, WAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH CAUGHT FIRE TWICE.
NHTSA complaint #504306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baltimore, MD
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
CAR CONTINUALLY STALLS. *DSH
NHTSA complaint #504239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oakdale, NYFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DRIVING VEHICLE, SHUT OFF, PULLED VEHICLE OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD, SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN, DRIVER & DAUGHTER GOT OUT, FLAMES ENGULFED VEHICLE .
NHTSA complaint #984434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jackson, MIFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #983367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EL Reno, OKFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY HEARD A "POP" VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING FROM DASHBOARD AND FIRE THEN CONSUMED STEERING COLUMN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #982992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EL Reno, OKFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY HEARD A "POP" VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING FROM DASHBOARD AND FIRE THEN CONSUMED STEERING COLUMN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #982992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tacoma, WAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE COUGHT FIRE CAUSED BY THE IGNITION SWITCH, PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #982924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tacoma, WAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE COUGHT FIRE CAUSED BY THE IGNITION SWITCH, PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #982924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pittsburg, PACrash1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FUEL THROTTLE STICKING, THERE WAS A SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #979752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pittsburg, PACrash1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FUEL THROTTLE STICKING, THERE WAS A SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #979752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Elizabeth, NJ
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE; BURN OUT THREE ENGINES THERE WAS SERVICE BULLETINS IN 1984. TT
NHTSA complaint #958391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.