Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1990 Lincoln Town Car, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system63
- Engine and engine cooling31
- Latches/locks/linkages21
- Service brakes, hydraulic17
- Vehicle speed control16
- Visibility13
- Structure12
- Steering11
- Unknown or other11
- Air bags9
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 14 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1990 Lincoln Town Car failed the safety check 0.56% of the time — 51% less often than the average 1990 passenger car (1.16%). Median odometer at inspection: 92,893 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
0 cars built in 1990 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 2 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In New Zealand
1 1990 cars are on the New Zealand register.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1990 Lincoln Town Car.
| 1998251 22 Dec 1998 | Suspension Note: 1996-99 crown victoria police, fleet and ngv and lincoln town car limousine equipped with a lower control arm ball joint containing a one piece bearing an… |
| 1995078 14 May 1995 | Structure THE HOOD LATCH STRIKER PLATE MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE HOOD ASSEMBLY RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT OPENING OF THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING. THIS COULD REDUCE THE DRI… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
TIRE PLACARD MAY CONTAIN INCORRECT GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATINGS AND TIRE INFORMATION.
GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATINGS AND TIRE INFORMATION MAY BE INCORRECT ON LABELS.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Lincoln told its dealers about the 1990 Lincoln Town Car: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 636080 | TRANSFER SERVICE TIPS FOR THE FRONT WIPER MOTOR MOUNT BRACKET AND DEPRESSED PARK OUTPUT ARM. *TT |
| 623988 | INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC |
| 623944 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC |
| 622660 | THIS INFORMATION IS A SUPPLEMENT TO THE WIPER SYSTEM SERVICE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE WORKSHOP MANUALS. THIS SERVICE INFORMATION IS INTENDED AS AN AID TO ASSIST IN DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR OF ERRATIC WIPER SYSTEM CONDITIONS. *TT |
| 618546 | SUBJECT REGARDING CLIMATE CONTROL - EATC - BLOWER MOTOR CONTROL SERVICE TIPS. *JB |
| 616522 | SUBJECT REGARDING CONTAMINATION FROM PRIOR TRANSMISSION CONCERNS OR EXCESS WEAR MAY BE TRAPPED IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLING SYSTEM. *TT |
| 613234 | INFORMATION 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 |
| 612203 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS |
| 609598 | SOME 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. *TT |
| 6092191 | SOME 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. *TT |
| 6090087 | INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT |
| 6089681 | SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT |
| 608431 | INFORMATION ON THE NEW FLUSH AND FILL TOOL AVAILABLE THROUGH ROTUNDA. *TT |
| 606460 | EXPERIENCING A WHINE / BUZZ TYPE NOISE IN THE SPEAKERS OF THE ENTERTAINMENT RADIO OR TWO-WAY RADIO ON VEHICLES WITH AN IN-TANK ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP. *TT |
| 606420 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY NOW RECOMMENDS SAE 5W-30 VISCOSITY GRADE FOR SERVICING ANY FORD GASOLINE-POWERED VEHICLE REGARDLESS OF MODEL YEAR. *TT |
| 601343 | A NEW SILICONE GASKET AND SEALANT. *YC |
| 601341 | EXPERIENCING A WHINING / BUZZING NOISE IN THE SPEAKERS OF THE ENTERTAINMENT RADIO OR TWO-WAY RADIO. *TT |
| 601269 | ANNOUNCING THE FORD OEM AIR CONDITIONING RETROFIT KIT AVAILABILITY. *YC |
| 601238 | INFORMATION ON A NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHART. *YC |
| 601012 | THE USE OF PETROLEUM-BASED GREASE AS A LUBRICANT IN SERVICING DISC BRAKES IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE. *YC |
| 51987 | FUEL ECONOMY- CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS VERSUS VEHICLE USAGE. *JD |
| 51945 | FLUID- TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *JD |
| 50997 | TRANSAXLE - TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES AND TORQUE CONVERTER/TRANSAXLE COOLING SYSTEM CLEANING PROCEDURES - SERVICE TIP. *TW |
| 50940 | WINDSHIELD AND INTERIOR GLASS - FOG/FILM. *TW |
| 50908 | TORQUE CONVERTER - LEAK TEST PROCEDURE - SERVICE TIP. *TW |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
HOOD LATCH FAILURE
HOOD LATCH FAILURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation