Defect
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
1988 Lincoln Town Car Recalls
Recalls on record Updated July 2026
The 1988 Lincoln Town Car has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 11,511,886 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 123 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
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.
Defect
SAFETY BELTS (TYPE 1 LAP BELTS) FOR REAR FACING SEATS WERE NOT INSTALLED.
Consequence
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.
Defect
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
Consequence
COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.
Remedy
INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
Defect
FUEL RAILS MAY BE BENT SO THAT NO. 5 INJECTOR CUPS ARE OUT OF DESIGN POSITION.
Consequence
BENT FUEL RAIL COULD CAUSE A FUEL LEAK, WHICH INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE FIRE.
Remedy
REPLACE FUEL RAIL ASSEMBLIES AS NECESSARY.
Complaints by component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
17fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
3crashes1fires2injuries1deaths
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
3fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
5fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
3fires
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
1fires
Total complaints123
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“Seat belts won't retract. Ignition switch is faulty and shorting out radio and other electrical components. Wanting to prevent fire from happening, by taking care of this now.”
“Seat belts won't retract. Ignition switch is faulty and shorting out radio and other electrical components. Wanting to prevent fire from happening, by taking care of this now.”
“Seat belts won't retract. Ignition switch is faulty and shorting out radio and other electrical components. Wanting to prevent fire from happening, by taking care of this now.”
“The ignition switch gives sparks and could ignite the car. Ford admits other 1988 lincoln town cars have a ignition switch problem and replaces them. They have not included my vin on the defect and replacement list; however, it is defective and could ignite a fire at any time. *tr”
“The ignition switch gives sparks and could ignite the car. Ford admits other 1988 lincoln town cars have a ignition switch problem and replaces them. They have not included my vin on the defect and replacement list; however, it is defective and could ignite a fire at any time. *tr”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1988 lincoln towncar. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph, the clip from the throttle body fractured and accelerated the vehicle to 80 mph. The contact was able to stop the vehicle by removing the key from the ignition. The vehicle was towed to a dealer…”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1988 lincoln towncar. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph, the clip from the throttle body fractured and accelerated the vehicle to 80 mph. The contact was able to stop the vehicle by removing the key from the ignition. The vehicle was towed to a dealer…”
“The transmission suddenly fails when in overdrive. This failure occurs on the highway at high speed and could cause an accident because the car goes out of control. *tr”
Defect investigations
Investigation DP99004 Opened 1999-07-29 · closed 2000-04-06
SUDDEN ACCELERATION
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES' CRUISE CONTROL IS ENERGIZED WHENEVER THE IGNITION IS TURNED ON.IT IS ALLEGED THAT A SUDDEN ACCELERATION EVENT MAY OCCUR AS A RESULT.
Investigation PE89100 Opened 1989-03-14 · closed 1989-07-12
FUEL FILLER PIPE SPURTING
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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 1988 Lincoln Town Car as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.