1991 Lincoln Town Car: problems, recalls and reliability
5 recalls and 155 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is service brakes, hydraulic (21% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Dec 1998
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 155 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Drivers seat belt buckle inop....will not hold the belt in th e locked position, therefore, seat belt enabled in case of accident.”Owner report · Seat Belts · Dec 2016
“Tl*the contact owns a 1991 lincoln town car. The contact stated that while driving at 65 mph, the contact heard a loud noise and discovered that the hood latch fractured. As a result, the windshield cracked from the force of the hood and a bungee cord was used in order to keep the hood secured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that NHTSA campaign number: 95v151000 (latches/locks/linkages) was previously performed. The failure mileage was 174,600.”Owner report · Latches/Locks/Linkages · Jan 2015
“Tl* the contact owns a 1991 lincoln town car. The contact stated that due to a brake failure, the vehicle caught on fire. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 66,682.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Oct 2014
Show 7 more owner reports
“While driving eastbound us interstate 40 in oklahoma city,ok my 1991 lincoln towncar caught on fire and stopped running, after I pulled off the highway and put the fire out, the car would not start back up. The fire was coming from the engine area, looking as if it was underneath the car somewhere. *tr”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jan 2010
“Driving on expressway @ 55 mph ( windy with 30 mph gusts ) hood opened and folded up over the roof both hood latches were still locked to the strike plate from hood luckily was able to pull over to the emergency lane replaced hood and struts with used ones ( from a 1993 / safer? ) still have old hood and plate available. *jb”Owner report · Latches/Locks/Linkages · Mar 2006
“Dt: 1991 ford lincoln town car. While driving the car turned on the air conditioning and about 15 to 20 minutes later saw fire coming out from underneath the hood, surrounding the right front wheel. Pulled off the road, by that time the car had a large fire. The consumer put the fire out by throwing water on it. After looking at the car saw that all the wires were melted around where the wheel was, and also there was a melted rubber. A friend inspected the car. He cut a wire that let the consumer drive the car home. Where it was parked. There was a short circuit in the wiring system. The car has not been repaired. *ak”Owner report · Electrical System · Jul 2005
“While turning left vehicle was rear ended. Upon impact driver and passenger seats broke. Both driver and passenger sustained minor injuries. Vehicle was towed to a garage. *ak”Owner report · Seats · Jul 2004
“While driving 65 mph vehicle stalled. This caused loss of steering and brakes. Consumer found in the NHTSA web 28 complaints on the same problem. *ak”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · May 2004
“Tl* the contact owns a 1991 lincoln town car. The contact stated that while driving various speeds, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and the contact crashed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 27,000. The VIN was unknown.”Owner report · Engine · Oct 2003
“Car would not start on numerous attempts, battery fine, new starter. When started by repairman from under hood, car immediately started moving down the street in reverse with no driver, nearly hitting telephone pole. Somehow slipped into reverse on its own, yet key could be removed with each previous attempt to start it. *ak”Owner report · Electrical System · Feb 2002
When filing, owners marked a crash in 20 of these complaints and injuries in 14 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 5 campaigns
THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MAY NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE HOOD IS CLOSED.
Remedy: INSTALL A NEW HOOD LATCHING ASSEMBLY.
CORROSION OF THE HOOD LATCH STRIKER PLATE CAUSES DETACHMENT OF THE PLATE FROM THE HOOD ASSEMBLY RESULTING IN AN UNEXPECTED OPENING OF THE HOOD WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HOOD INNER PANEL REINFORCEMENT AND A NEW, GALVANIZED HOOD LATCH STRIKER PLATE.
DISTORTED FUEL LINES IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT MAY CONTACT THE STEERING COLUMN UNIVERSAL JOINT AND CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE FUEL LINE.
Remedy: REPOSITION FUEL LINE TO PREVENT CONTACT WITH UNIVERSAL JOINT; IF FUEL LINES ARE ALREADY DAMAGED, REPAIR OR REPLACE FUEL LINES.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 1996-1999 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE, FLEET, NATURAL GAS, AND 1996-1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINE VEHICLES THAT WERE PRODUCED WITH A LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CONTAINING A ONE PIECE BEARING; AND 1990-1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE, FLEET, AND NGV VEHICLES AND 1990-1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINE VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN SERVICED WITH EITHER A BALL JOINT CONTAINING THE ONE-PIECE BEARING OR A FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM CONTAINING A BALL JOINT WITH A ONE-PIECE BEARING. THE ONE-PIECE BEARING WITHIN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CAN WEAKEN SLOWLY DURING USE AND EVENTUALLY CRACK. THIS COULD RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE BALL AND CAP OF THE JOINT, ALLOWING THE CONTROL ARM TO DROP TO THE GROUND.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS (2).
THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MAY NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE HOOD IS CLOSED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY.
How other years compare
Check your exact Town Car by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1991 Lincoln Town Car reliable?
NHTSA has 155 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on record for the 1991 Lincoln Town Car. The most complained-about area is service brakes, hydraulic (21% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1991 Lincoln Town Car problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 83,100 miles or less.
Does the 1991 Lincoln Town Car have open recalls?
5 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.