FaultScore

FaultScore report

1985 Lincoln Town CAR problems

Owners have filed 24 complaints about the 1985 Lincoln Town CAR with NHTSA between 1995 and 2006. The largest single group is the electrical system.

Not graded

Too few complaints, or too short a model run, to compare fairly.

How this is worked out

The numbers

24

Complaints

1

Crashes reported

8

Fires reported

3

Injuries reported

2 complaints report a death.

How 1985 compares with every other Lincoln Town CAR

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1985 Lincoln Town CAR

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Electrical System 8 33.3%

0 crashes, 6 fires

Tires 5 20.8%
Body & Structure 2 8.3%
Steering 2 8.3%

0 crashes, 1 fires

Engine & Cooling 2 8.3%

0 crashes, 1 fires

Other & Unspecified 1 4.2%
Equipment & Accessories 1 4.2%
Fuel & Propulsion 1 4.2%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 1 4.2%
Brakes 1 4.2%

1 crashes, 0 fires

When owners complained

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.

Jul 1995 peak 5 Jan 2006

NHTSA investigations into the 1985 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.

PE88012 Opened 15 Jan 1988 Closed 2 May 1988 SUSPENSION

NON COLLISION FIRES

SUMMARY: ALLEGEDLY THE AXLE BEARINGS ON LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINES OVER-HEAT IGNITING COMBUSTIBLE COMPONENTS NEARBY.RECOMMENDATION: OPEN PE SEND LETTER TO FORD.===

DP87029 Opened 17 Aug 1987 Closed 23 Oct 1987 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

SUDDEN ACCELERATION

SUDDEN ACCELERATION

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Bepere, WI Fire 1 injured

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

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.

NHTSA complaint #877832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bepere, WI Fire 1 injured

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

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.

NHTSA complaint #877832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Beaver Falls, PA Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE FAILURE RESULTED IN ENGINE FIRE (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS

NHTSA complaint #551715 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bekburg, IA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

ELECTRICAL SHORT, STEERING COLUMN FIRE, VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AND PARKED AND RETURN VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #985216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Coventry, CT Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT. (NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE REPORT) *DSH

NHTSA complaint #503685 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gaithersburg, MD Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

IGNITION FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #983330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Dallas, TX

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

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.

NHTSA complaint #10148596 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LOS Angeles, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

WHILE DRIVING AT 32 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE BRAKES FAILED. DEALERS NOTIFIED.*AK CONSUMER HAD A SHORT IN THE WIRE. HER CONCERN WAS THAT SHE COULDN'T STOP THE VEHICLE AFTER A WHILE. *PH

NHTSA complaint #10040014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grand View, NY

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

SPARE TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION ON IT. 13OOO MILES, 225/75R15. *AK MICHELN DOT M 3DY D3NX 527. MONTHLY INSPECTION OF SPARE TIRE FOUND AIR WAS ESCAPING FROM TIRE. 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.

NHTSA complaint #8010522 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cherry Hill, NV

TIRES

FIRESTONE,215/70/R15, TIRE UNRAVELED, COMPLETELY SEPERATED.

NHTSA complaint #563499 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Philadelphia, PA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

CONSUMER IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AS MENTIONED IN RECALL 90 V 000 000 EQUIPMENT: CERTIFICATION LABEL. BUT, THIS VEHICLE NOT PART OF RECALL DUE TO VIN.

NHTSA complaint #8009688 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cherry Hill, NJ

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

TIRE UNRAVELLED AND TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED.

NHTSA complaint #9004750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cherry Hill, NV

TIRES

FIRESTONE,215/70/R15, TIRE UNRAVELED, COMPLETELY SEPERATED.

NHTSA complaint #563499 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sanger, CA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM

I HAD ALWAYS FELT A SLUGGISHNESS IN THE CAR WHEN THE GEARS WERE CHANGING. BEING IT THAT THIS WOULD ALWAYS CORRECT ITSELF STILL I HAD AN UNCOMFORTABLE FEELING WHEN THIS HAPPENED. YET IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT I CONSTANLY DWELLED UPON, UNTIL NOW. SEVERAL MACHANICS MADE STATEMENTS THEA THEY HAD NEVER KNOWN OF AN INTAKE MANIFOLD TO EXPLODE. THIS IS WHEN I STARTED TO THINK ABOUT THINGS THAT HAD HAPPENED IN THE PAST. ONCE THE MECHANIC HAD REMOVED THIS UNIT HE MENTIONED THAT THIS UNIT HAD MANY DEFECTS IN IT. THERE WERE THIN SPOTS AND THICK SPOTS THAT VARIED THROUGH OUT THIS UNIT. ONE BEING WHERE THIS UNIT HAD EXPLODED, LEAVING A HOLE IN IT THE SIZE OF A BULLET, YET IT WASN'T A BULLET HOLE. 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. ONE DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THE PARTS WERE OBSOLETE, THEREFORE I WOULD HAVE TO SCRAP IT. ONCE I FOUND MANY PARTS ON THE INTERNET I KNEW THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. THIS PARTICULAR PART SELDOM WORE OUT UNLESS IT WAS FACTORY DEFECTIVE, I FELT BETTER. NOT BECAUSE OF THE DEFECT ITSELF, BUT TO KNOW THAT MY COMPLAINT FOR ALL THESE YEARS HAD NOT BEEN A FIGMENT OF MY IMAGINATION, JUSTIFIED MY COMPLAINTS TO THE MANUFACTURER. I KNOW THE CAR IS OLD AS I HAVE BEEN REMINDED OF MORE TIMES THAN I CARE TO MENTION. MUST KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER CONSUMERS THAT WENT THROUGH THIS SAME ORDEAL. I'M CURIOUS BECAUSE I HAD ALWAYS BRAGGED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THIS CAR WAS THE LESS TROUBLESOME CAR I HAD EVER OWNED, UNTIL THIS LITTLE TIDBIT POPPED UP. BELIEVE IT OR NOT THE MILAGE ON IT IS ORIGINAL MILES. A SIXTEEN YEAR OLD CAR WITH LESS THAN ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND MILES ON IT, AND STILL CRANKS ON THE FIRST TURN OF THE KEY!

NHTSA complaint #739661 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bepere, WI Fire 1 injured

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

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.

NHTSA complaint #877832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bepere, WI Fire 1 injured

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

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.

NHTSA complaint #877832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Beaver Falls, PA Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE FAILURE RESULTED IN ENGINE FIRE (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS

NHTSA complaint #551715 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bowie, MD

STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

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.

NHTSA complaint #850210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Houston, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE IS STALLED AND CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. IGNITION SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACE THREE TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #838602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mokena, IL

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

CONSUMER HAD A SICK PASSENGER IN BACK SEAT , DROVE TO HOSPITAL , WENT TO UNLOCK DOORS BY THE AUTOMATIC SYSTEM NEXT TO DRIVER , BUT IT WAS INOPERATIVE. NEXT, CONSUMER WENT TO OPEN THE BACK DOOR MANUALLY, BUT IT WILL NOT OPEN ON EITHER SIDE. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL SICK PASSNEGER TO THE FRONT SEAT IN ORDER TO GET HIM OUT. DEFECT CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA complaint #833140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bekburg, IA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

ELECTRICAL SHORT, STEERING COLUMN FIRE, VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AND PARKED AND RETURN VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #985216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Coventry, CT Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT. (NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE REPORT) *DSH

NHTSA complaint #503685 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Aurora, CO

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SAW WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN, DROVE TO HOUSE, AFTER ARRIVING HOME, SMOKE STOPPED.

NHTSA complaint #983557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gaithersburg, MD Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

IGNITION FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #983330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Meridian, MS Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

IGNITION FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #983332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kingwood, TX Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

THE CAR BURNED UP FROM THE HARNESS UNDER THE DASH. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #982917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kingwood, TX Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

THE CAR BURNED UP FROM THE HARNESS UNDER THE DASH. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #982917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

South Bend, IN

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CAR ACCELERATES TO 70 MPH FOR NO REASON BEFORE IT WARMS UP. IT STAYS AT THIS SPEED UNTIL YOU GO ABOUT 25 MILES.PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA complaint #978068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Memphis, TN 2 killed

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

CARBON MONIXIDE EMITTED FROM AIR CONDITIONER, RESULTING IN TWO DEATHS.

NHTSA complaint #480652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Canton, MS 1 injured 1 killed

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES FROM DEFECTIVE CATALYTIC EXHAUST SYSTEM, CAUSING INJURY/DEATH. *SKD

NHTSA complaint #489817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.