45 of the 123 complaints about the 1988 Lincoln Town CAR are about the electrical system — 37% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 115,000 miles.
45
Complaints
0
Crashes
32
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
NHTSA complaint #11010152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE IGNITION SWITCH GIVES SPARKS AND COULD IGNITE THE CAR. FORD ADMITS OTHER 1988 LINCOLN TOWN CARS HAVE A IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM AND REPLACES THEM. THEY HAVE NOT INCLUDED MY VIN ON THE DEFECT AND REPLACEMENT LIST; HOWEVER, IT IS DEFECTIVE AND COULD IGNITE A FIRE AT ANY TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10650860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
THE RELAY THAT HOOKS TO THE BATTERY STARTER] BROKE. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO ACCLELERATE IN FULL THROTTLE. CONSUMER CAME TO A COMPLETED STOP, BUT HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO STOP THE ENGINE FROM RUNNING, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. RELAY # 1E9TZ-11450B.
NHTSA complaint #10024618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED CAUSING A SMALL FIRE UNDER THE DASHBOARD. DEALER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #10022732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED CAUSING A SMALL FIRE UNDER THE DASHBOARD. DEALER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #10022732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE CUTS OFF A LOW SPEED WILL NOT START UNTIL IT SITS FOR A WHILE, THIS HAS HAPPEN MULT. TIMES, IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP A NUMBER OF TIMES , CAN NOT FIND THE CAUSE SEVERAL NEW PARTS HAVE BEEN PUT ON, TO NO AVAIL.
NHTSA complaint #736946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I WOULD BE TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 60WITH MY FAMILY AND MY CAR WOULD SHUT OFF. I WOULD THEN PULL TO THE SIDE AND LET IT SIT FOR 20 MINUTES AND THEN IT WOULD RESTART UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN ''VERY DANGEROUS''.
NHTSA complaint #735444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE FOR A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. I JUST FOUND OUT YESTERDAY ABOUT IT. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED IN REFERENCE TO THE RECALL. IT WASN'T UNTIL THE SWITCH SHORTED OUT MY RADIO WHICH I CAN NOT REPLACE UNTIL THE SWITCH IS REPLACED. THE FORD COMPANY SAID THAT THE RECALL WAS COMPLETE. I DON'T KNOW HOW IT CAN BE COMPLETE WHEN MY CAR WAS NEVER DONE. I HAVE A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH THAT IS SUPPLYING SHORTS THROUGH MY WIRING HARNESS THAT CONNECTS TO THE RADIO. I HAVE CHECKED IT BY TESTING THE POWER TO THE WIRING HARNESS (IGNITION/ACCESSORY) AND SOMETIMES IT HAS POWER AND THEN SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A RECALL THE IS COMPLETED WHEN MINE WAS NEVER DONE. WHAT CAN I DO SINCE IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT CAUSED THE BURNED OUT RADIO AND ALMOST A FIRE IN MY VEHICLE?
NHTSA complaint #733271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE WILL STALL SUDDENDLY WHEN THE ENGINE GETS HOT. VEHICLE WILL RESTART, BUT IT HAS STALLED LEAVING CONSUMER IN DANGEROUS SITUATION. *AK THE DISTRIBUTOR MOUNTED TFHV MODULE IS TOO CLOSE TO THE HOT ENGINE. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STALL.
NHTSA complaint #872828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR FAILED REPLACED THREE TIMES. YH
NHTSA complaint #547507 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND ELECTRICAL WIRING CAUGHT ON FIRE.HOOD/STEERING WHEEL/SEATS AND REAR TWO TIRES MELTED. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME OUT AND PUT THE FIRE OUT.
NHTSA complaint #842066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH BURNED MELTING WIRES. NO FIRE OCCURED.
NHTSA complaint #507157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT ON FIRE, REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH AND CONNECTOR, REPLACED WIPER SWITCH.
NHTSA complaint #510159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #506663 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE TWICE.
NHTSA complaint #515224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #506414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #507065 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT SPEED 40MPH, SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, STEERING COLUMN FIRE, ELECTRICAL SHORT, WILL PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #803259 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
THE 'CHARGE SYSTEM' WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY.
NHTSA complaint #507555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED FOR THREE DAYS. PLEASE GIVE MORE INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #800808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE IN STEERING COLUMN. RECEIVED RECALL LETTER, DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO GET SWTICH REPLACED. 96V 071000.
NHTSA complaint #986628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CAR WAS RUNNING FINE UNTIL RECALL WORK WAS DONE AND NOW THE CAR NO LONGER WORKS. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #986132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING THE AUTO, CONSUMER BEGINS TO SMELL A BURNING SMELL-PULLED OVER IN THE GAS STATION AND LIFTED HOOD AND FLAMES WERE THERE-NO INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #986172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH CAUGHT ON FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #985765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE TURNING ON THE IGNITION SWITCH. *AK CONSUMER STATES THERE WERE FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN BEFORE THEY HAD PULLED OVER, FORD HAS NOT BEEN VERY HELPFUL AS FAR AS GIVING ALLOWANCES FOR REPLACEMENT RENTAL OR TOWING. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #985702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
SMOKE ERUPTED FROM STEERING COLUMN WHEN DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO START CAR, STEERING COLUMN/WIRES PARTIALLY MELTED DUE TO SHORT IN IGNITION SWITCH. *DSH
NHTSA complaint #504253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #984746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD THEN THE CAR WAS PARKED AND WHEN OWNER CAME BACK IT WAS ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #983778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD THEN THE CAR WAS PARKED AND WHEN OWNER CAME BACK IT WAS ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #983778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #983733 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.