Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIMOUSINES BUILT BY EMPIRE COACH. VEHICLE ALTERERS LABEL MAY BE MISSING OR INCOMPLETE.
Consequence
VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH PART 567.
Remedy
ADD COMPLIANCE LABEL.
1983 Lincoln Town Car Recalls
Recalls on record Updated July 2026
The 1983 Lincoln Town Car has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 134,706 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the latches/locks/linkages. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
Defect
THE PARKING GEAR MAY NOT ENGAGE, EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE "PARK" POSITION. THIS OCCURS IF THE LINKAGE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION THAT ACTUATES THE PARK GEAR WAS IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. A PIN THAT RETAINS COMPONENTS ON A LINKAGE (ACTUATING) ROD COULD BREAK AND THE LINKAGE MAY NOT ENGAGE THE…
Remedy
DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PARKING PAWL ACTUATING ROD ASSEMBLY.
Defect
THE SHIFT INDICATOR MAY NOT ACCURATELY REFLECT THE SHIFT SELECTOR POSITION. SOME VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH TRANSMISSION CONTROL SELECTOR TUBE RETAINING CLIPS THAT MAY NOT BE HARD ENOUGH. THE CLIP MAY LOOSEN OR FALL OFF, AND THE SELECTOR TUBE MAY BECOME DISPLACED.
Remedy
THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SELECTOR TUBE RETAINING CLIP AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.
Complaints by component
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
2injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1fires
STEERING:COLUMN
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
Total complaints6
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“Tilt yoke in the steering wheel broke, causing steering wheel not to lock in place. Manufacturer notified, and informed consumer that part was not under a recall, and any repairs would be at consumer's cost. Please provide any further details. *ak”
“The passenger side door does not stay locked in the open position. Tt”
“The passenger side door does not stay locked in the open position. Tt”
“Engine compartment fire, gasoline leak in top at engine intake caused the fire. *ak”
“Engine stops or refuses to start.”
“Poor acceleration/flooding”
Defect investigations
Investigation PE89039 Opened 1989-02-09 · closed 1989-06-13
PARKING BRAKE FAILURE
SUMMARY:THE SPRING UNDER INVESTIGATION CAUSES THE LATCHING PAWL TOENGAGE THE TEETH OF THE RATCHET WHEREBY THE PARKING BRAKE IS RETAINEDIN THE APPLIED POSITION.IF THE SPRING FAILS, THE PEDAL FOLLOWS THEOPERATORS FOOT BACK UP INTO THE RELEASED POSITION.FORD STATES THAT IT ISSUED THE BULLETIN IN ORDER TO INFORM…
Sources & methodology
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1983 Lincoln Town Car as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.