1993 Lincoln Town Car: problems, recalls and reliability
4 recalls and 176 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is electrical system (22% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Aug 2007
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 176 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“I was working on doing maintenance on my car. Next thing I know, there's a fire. I got it out quickly enough with the original extinguisher. The speed control harness, which had a recall at one point, is burned and a brake line busted. 9f924 is the number for the part. I do not know for certain if this was ever replaced. But it must have been hot enough to catch brake fluid on fire”Owner report · Service Brakes · Aug 2019
“Tl* the contact owns a 1993 lincoln town car. While driving 60 mph, the contact observed smoke emitting from the driver side of the dashboard and the fuse box. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was unavailable. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · Nov 2014
“Tl* the contact owns a 1993 lincoln town car. Once the vehicle was started, it began to make a jerking motion and all of the warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle stalled. The failures recurred multiple times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · Jul 2014
Show 7 more owner reports
“The car had been driven like every other day.the car had been parked in my drive way for about 3 to 4 hours.I was inside my house when I heard someone honking outside.when I looked out the window the car was smoking from under the hood.I got my phone and called 911.by time the fire department showed up the car was already in flames. *kb”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jun 2011
“I purchased a used 1993 lincoln town car on dec 17. On december 19 the vehicle caught fire in the garage. It had not been driven since purchase or stared. Fire caused severe damage to garage. Completely burned the car. Fire department came and the investigator stated it was speed control , since I just purchased the vehicle I was unaware of the recall. *tr”Owner report · Electrical System · Dec 2010
“Brake lights went out so we replaced the bulbs to no avail. Replaced the fuse and fixed the brake lights. Drove car to work and back thursday 1/28/10. Parked car in driveway at 7pm. Awoken at 3am to car engine completely in flames. Researched and found a recall NHTSA campaign id #: 99v124000. Damage to surrounding houses and nearby car. *tr”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Jan 2010
“Dash control module that controls vehicle speedometer and odometer causes all the digital dash the flash like strobe lights. Driver can determine speed of vehicle and odometer records intermittently. D car also has a smell og burning wires or plastic. *tr”Owner report · Electrical System · Jan 2010
“Vehicle engine burst into flames after being parked and shut off for about 5 minutes. Fire investigator believes a possible cause could be a defective cruise control switch (ford issued a recall regarding this issue. *tr”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Sep 2008
“Tl*the contact owns a 1993 lincoln town car. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign id number 07v336000 (vehicle speed control). The speed control switch was disconnected, but the part for the recall repair was unavailable. There had been no failure to date. The current mileage was 124,000. Updated 03/14/08. *lj”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Dec 2007
“Tl*the contact owns a 1993 lincoln town car. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign id number 07v336000 (vehicle speed control: cruise control). The dealer stated that the parts would be available in november of 2007. He called them a second time and was informed that the parts would not be available until possibly march of 2008. There had been no failure to date. The current mileage was 147,000. Updated 01/29/08 *bf”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Sep 2007
When filing, owners marked a crash in 13 of these complaints and injuries in 14 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 4 campaigns
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH CAN DEVELOP A RESISTIVE SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE. A FIRE IS POSSIBLE BOTH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING AND WHEN THE VEHICLE ENGINE IS OFF. ALSO, THE SHORT COULD DISABLE THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM OR CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHT FUSE TO OPEN.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH AND CONNECTOR SHELL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 20, 1999.
IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE REAR BRAKE LINE AT THE POINT AT WHICH THE EXTENDED BRAKE LINE FIRST BENDS AND EXTENDS OVER THE LEFT REAR WHEEL AREA OF THE FRAME. IF NOT INSTALLED WITH SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE, CHAFING OF THE BRAKE LINE CAN OCCUR IN AN AREA ADJACENT TO THE REAR FLOOR PAN.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE LINE FOR PROPER INSTALLATION AND/OR DAMAGE AND REPLACE AS NECESSARY. ALSO A PROTECTIVE BOOT OR SLEEVE OVER THE BRAKE LINE WILL BE INSTALLED.
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).
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
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 1993 Lincoln Town Car reliable?
NHTSA has 176 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 1993 Lincoln Town Car. The most complained-about area is electrical system (22% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1993 Lincoln Town Car problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 108,500 miles or less.
Does the 1993 Lincoln Town Car have open recalls?
4 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning electrical system. 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.