10 of the 123 complaints about the 1988 Lincoln Town CAR are about the transmission — 8% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 85,000 miles.
10
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
POWER TRAIN
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.
NHTSA complaint #10650865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 LINCOLN TOWNCAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CLIP FROM THE THROTTLE BODY FRACTURED AND ACCELERATED THE VEHICLE TO 80 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY CLIP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000. THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR CABLE HAD TO REPLACED. UPDATED 04/25/11
NHTSA complaint #10370429 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR, ACCOMPANIED BY A SMELL OF HOT OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC SHOP WHERE THE SHOP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10161808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THROTTLE VALVE CONTROL CABLE GROMMET MADE OUT OF PLASTIC BROKE, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. MANUFACTURE ALSO PRODUCES A METAL GROMMET THAT WOULD LAST LONGER.
NHTSA complaint #865648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION. THIS PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY FAILURE OF A GROMET WHICH ALLOWS THE INTERNAL PARTS OF THE TRANSMISSION TO TEAR UP, RENDERING THE 3RD AND 4TH GEARS USELESS. TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO ASSIST.
NHTSA complaint #832291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #538831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #511319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DRIVING 25MPH APPLIED THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE; PUT IN PARK IN ORDER TO COME TO A STOP; ALSO REPAIRED TRANSMISSION/OVERDRIVE.
NHTSA complaint #803397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED INTO REVERSE.
NHTSA complaint #987259 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED INTO REVERSE.
NHTSA complaint #987259 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.