1989 Lincoln Town Car
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Lincoln › Town Car › 1989
These records cover every 1989 Lincoln Town Car. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
5 recalls name the 1989 Lincoln Town Car. Newest first.
The ignition switch could experience an internal short circuit.
Risk and remedy
Risk
This condition could cause overheating, smoke, and possibly fire in the steering column area of the vehicle.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the ignition switch.
Tire placard may contain incorrect gross vehicle weight ratings and tire information.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Limousines would not comply with fmvss 110 and consumermight unknowingly overload the vehicle because of placard misinformation.
Remedy
Install revised tire placards.
Gross vehicle weight ratings and tire information may be incorrect on labels.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Vehicles would not comply with 49 cfr part 567.
Remedy
Install revised certification labels.
Vehicle description: limousines built by empire coach. vehicle alterers label may be missing or incomplete.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Vehicles do not comply with part 567.
Remedy
Add compliance label.
Safety belts (type 1 lap belts) for rear facing seats were not installed.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Lack of restraints could contribute to otherwise preventable injury and would not comply with fmvss 209 and 210.
Remedy
Install safety belts for rear facing seats.
Owner complaints
89 complaints7 involved a crash38 involved a fire15 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Electrical system › Ignition
Letter on behalf of concern about the 1996 recall on lincoln town cars, his brother-in-law IS having electrical problem with the ignition switch on his 1989 lincoln town car; send incoming ltr with reply to attn: allison jackson/foley *tgw the consumer stated the key did not operate properly. The…
Letter on behalf of concern about the 1996 recall on lincoln town cars, his brother-in-law IS having electrical problem with the ignition switch on his 1989 lincoln town car; send incoming ltr with reply to attn: allison jackson/foley *tgw the consumer stated the key did not operate properly. The consumer learned a recall had been issued for the problem, but the previous owners were not aware of the problem when they sold the vehicle to the consumers brother-in-law. *Jb
- Exterior lighting
Tl*the contact owns a 1998 lincoln town car. While driving approximately 65 mph, the contact stated that the screw inside the reflective cone of the bulb was loose which caused the bulb to shatter and fail. The vehicle was taken to the dealership where the dealer attempted to sell the contact a new…
Tl*the contact owns a 1998 lincoln town car. While driving approximately 65 mph, the contact stated that the screw inside the reflective cone of the bulb was loose which caused the bulb to shatter and fail. The vehicle was taken to the dealership where the dealer attempted to sell the contact a new bulb instead of repair the problem. The vin was unavailable. The current and failure mileages were approximately 500,800.
- Suspension › Rear
While driving 35 mph rear suspension failed. As a result, the rear end dropped at least one foot to the ground. *Ak
- Power train › Manual transmission
While driving the plastic cap on the transmission cable that connected to the throttle body broke. This mad it hard for the consumer to shift the transmission gears. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.*ak the transmission was damaged due to the plastic clip breaking. the…
While driving the plastic cap on the transmission cable that connected to the throttle body broke. This mad it hard for the consumer to shift the transmission gears. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.*ak the transmission was damaged due to the plastic clip breaking. the consumer had to pay to have the entire transmission replaced. the consumer believes this failure IS a factory defect. the technician indicated that they were replacing the plastic caps with brass clips. the consumer request reimbursement for the cost to replace the transmission. *nm
- Electrical system › Wiring
After parking the vehicle and turning off the ignition, the consumer heard a popping sound. a few seconds passed and the consumer saw thick black smoke and a fire coming from the engine compartment. the fire was extinguished and the vehicle was taken to the dealer. the dealer informed the consumer that the problem may have been the wiring harness. *jb *nlm
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Consumer states that it IS hard to start up vehicle due to the ignition switch. Cause unknown. Dealer notified.*jb
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor
While making a turn at 10 mph consumer ran through a medium and seat belts never locked in place, passenger almost went through the windshield.*ak *jg
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor
Vehicle hit a 8-10 inch high concrete divider, passenger hit head on windshield. Seatbelt did not restrain her, she suffered head lacerations/ neck and back injuries. Driver was not wearing seatbelt due to medical reason, hit head on windshield. Damage to vehicle unknown.*ak jg
- Power train › Driveline › Driveshaft
Consumer states that after he heard a loud sound and saw a smoke, fire shot out from the rear of the vehicle, fire department are suggesting that the tail shift malfunction which caused fire (ohio traffic police report# 10-91-158). *yd
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Possible engine failure resulted in fire under the hood (ohio traffic crash report). nlm
- Seat belts · Visibility › Power window devices and controls
Rear driver side and front passenger windows failed. *tt
- Electrical system › Ignition
While driving, the starter solenoid self activated and slammed the starter gear into the flywheel immediately disabling the car, this had caused the flywheel to break and ruined the starter, consumer was told he also needed to replace the ignition and when taking out the old switch, the parts fell…
While driving, the starter solenoid self activated and slammed the starter gear into the flywheel immediately disabling the car, this had caused the flywheel to break and ruined the starter, consumer was told he also needed to replace the ignition and when taking out the old switch, the parts fell out into pieces, now that the ignition switch has been replaced the air conditioner works when it had quit a couple weeks prior, consumer IS now aware of recall 96v071 and feels this recall was the cause of these problems. *slc
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak
- Electrical system › Ignition
Purchased cream puff towncar in 1996. mid 1997, vehicle began stalling after the engine reached operating temperature. independant mechanic-no help. ford dealer, spent almost $1,000.00 to replace several items. each time, I told them to check the ignition module/coil pickup. ford dealer said…
Purchased cream puff towncar in 1996. mid 1997, vehicle began stalling after the engine reached operating temperature. independant mechanic-no help. ford dealer, spent almost $1,000.00 to replace several items. each time, I told them to check the ignition module/coil pickup. ford dealer said that wouldn't be the problem. enroute back to the dealer for either the 3D or 4TH time and totalled the automobile while attempting to keep it from stalling. my fault but I shouldn't have been fighting the car and going to the dealer in the first place. my father has a 1985 continental with only 30K miles. same problem with the ignition module which he just replaced. just heard that ford knew about this problem the whole time. of course I can't prove now the module was bad since the car was totalled going back to the dealer. I just wanted to add my 2 cents.*ak
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Within a week of purchasing this vehicle I returned to the dealership and told the service manager the front seat belts were malfunctioning. The manager assured me they needed to feel the body weight of a person before they "grabbed." after a recent accident in another vehicle in which a seat…
Within a week of purchasing this vehicle I returned to the dealership and told the service manager the front seat belts were malfunctioning. The manager assured me they needed to feel the body weight of a person before they "grabbed." after a recent accident in another vehicle in which a seat belt literally saved my life, I returned to the dealership on feb. 8, 2001. After a service man checked both front seat belts he stated they were both malfunctioning. I spoke to a phil lowe who told me he'd contact me later in the day. That afternoon mr.lowe called me and simply stated "there was nothing he could do for me." therefore, because I was lied to ten years earlier when I was told the belts were fine, I've been driving this vehicle without the benefit of a seat belt even though I faithfully "buckled up."*ak
- Vehicle speed control › Linkages
Vehicle suddenly accelerates and will not stop until IS turned off.*ak
- Power train
The odometer miles are not accurate, it IS reading more mileage than what the consumer IS putting on the vehicle. *slc
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip · Vehicle speed control
After turning ignition and putting vehicle into drive vehicle took off and hit a store window. driver applied brakes, and vehicle would not stop. No one has seen vehicle. *ak
- Tires › Sidewall
Sidewall of firestone (215/70r15) tire blewout while drivng, consumer request reimbursement. Nlm *ts
- Electrical system › Ignition
Vehicle intermittently stalling while driving. Dealer was not notified at this time. *ak engine cuts off after driving for about 10 minutes. the manufacturers states it IS being evaluated. *yh
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip · Vehicle speed control
While driving vehicle suddenly acclerated. Brakes could not slow down vehicle, which almost caused a crash. dealer and manufacturer indicated that they never had this type of problem. please provide further information*ak.
- Unknown or other
The paint system over the hood, roof and trunk are all failing. the top color coat IS flaking off which IS a concern with little children eating the flakes. I have hear cars having primer and color coat incompatibilty problems before with recalls being issued but I was not able to locate a recall…
The paint system over the hood, roof and trunk are all failing. the top color coat IS flaking off which IS a concern with little children eating the flakes. I have hear cars having primer and color coat incompatibilty problems before with recalls being issued but I was not able to locate a recall for my car. was a recall ever issued? other lincoln owners I spoke with seemed to think so? No safety defect listed in summary. *ak
- Electrical system › Alternator/generator/regulator
No summary listed for abov evehicle. *ak
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Vehicle caught fire near steering wheel, under the dash due to an electrical short in the ignition switch. Dealer has vehicle. *ak *ML
- Vehicle speed control
Cruise control engages then disengages before attaining desired speed. It may not engage at all at any time, or it may disengage at any time. This has been an ongoing problem with this car for years. The dealer said there was a recall for this problem , but the recall was no longer in effect. I…
Cruise control engages then disengages before attaining desired speed. It may not engage at all at any time, or it may disengage at any time. This has been an ongoing problem with this car for years. The dealer said there was a recall for this problem , but the recall was no longer in effect. I paid $1,000. For this repair and there was improvement for three or four months, then the problem reoccurred and continues today.
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 6092191Some cars equipped with factory installed moonroof may exhibit a booming or buffeting noise while traveling at speeds greater than 40 mph when the moonroof IS open.
- 6090087Information on identifying non-approved / alternate refrigerants which could cause safety, and performance concerns if installed in ford a/c systems.
- 6089681Subject on a wire harness terminal repair kit available for repairing electrical wiring harnesses.
- 3020103Unknown
- 636080Transfer service tips for the front wiper motor mount bracket and depressed park output arm.
- 623988Information regarding transmission fluid usage charts. *Slc
- 623944Some vehicles may exhibit heater core leaks. *Slc
- 616522Subject regarding contamination from prior transmission concerns or excess wear may be trapped in the transmission fluid cooling system.
- 613234Information regarding tsb 98-5a-12 (transaxle/transmission/transfer case-vehicles towed behind recreational vehicles-recommended guidelines) does not list towing information for certain model vehicles. *Mjs
- 612203Information regarding the new transmission cooler flusher- service tip. *Mjs
- 609598Some vehicles equipped with factory installed moonroof may exhibit a booming or buffeting noise while traveling at speeds greater than 40 mph when the moonroof IS open.
- 608431Information on the new flush and fill tool available through rotunda.
- 606420Ford motor company now recommends sae 5W-30 viscosity grade for servicing any ford gasoline-powered vehicle regardless of model year.
- 601343A new silicone gasket and sealant.
- 601312Information on a buzzing or rattle noise from the exhaust system.
- 601269Announcing the ford oem air conditioning retrofit kit availability.
- 601238Information on a new transmission fluid usage chart.
- 601012The use of petroleum-based grease as a lubricant in servicing disc brakes IS no longer acceptable.
- 51945Fluid- transmission fluid usage charts.
- 50997Transaxle - torque converter replacement guidelines and torque converter/transaxle cooling system cleaning procedures - service tip.
- 50940Windshield and interior glass - fog/film.
- 50908Torque converter - leak test procedure - service tip.
- 50905Wiring - electrical diode identification and service replacements.
- 46478The use of petroleum-based grease as a lubricant in servicing disc brakes IS no longer acceptable because it may be incompatible with the rubber material used in the disc brake system. If petroleum-based grease IS used to lubricate any part of the disc brake system, it could cause rubber parts to swell if lubricant contacts the rubber material.
- 41025A revised service windshield wiper motor IS now available.
- 39900Roughness concern during brake application.
- 39717Wiper motor replacement - upgraded service kits.
- 39237Revised wiper motor.
- 39222New torque-to-yield cylinder head bolt kit.
Every Lincoln Town Car model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.