Total Complaints
40 filings
LINCOLN TOWN CAR · model year
1987 LINCOLN TOWN CAR
40 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1987LINCOLNTOWN CAR carries 40 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 16 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1987 TOWN CAR is electrical system:ignition with 7 filings, followed by electrical system:ignition:switch (5) and vehicle speed control (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 1987 TOWN CAR. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
40
Complaints
2
Crashes
16
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 7 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 5 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 1 |
| STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION) | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20090715TIRES
TOTAL TREAD SEPARATION FROM TIRE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 ..M.P.H. FRONT RIGHT TIRE. *TR
Mileage: 34,102
20031208FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
FOUR MINUTES AFTER THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF, BLACK SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE OWNER OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THE ALTERNATOR WAS ON FIRE. *AK A MECHANIC EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND NO POLICE REPORT WAS MADE. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE FORD TO RECALL ALL VEHICLES WITH THE SAME TYPE ALTERNATOR AND OTHER COMPONETS AS HIS. *PH
Mileage: 25,880
20030908ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING RADIATOR SUDDENLY STARTED TO LEAK FLUID. UPON THE LEAKAGE FROM THE RADIATOR VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY SHUT DOWN WITH NO WARNING. *AK
20030509FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
STRONG GASOLINE ODOR INSIDE CAR MOST NOTICEABLE WITH A WINDOW DOWN, HAVE CHECKED FOR LEAKS AND CAN'T FIND IT, SEEMS LIKE IT MAY BE COMING FROM BEHIND THE DASH. *JB
Mileage: 150,000
20010430CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN TURNING VEHICLE AT LESS THAN FIVE MILES AN HOUR, VEHICLE WENT INTO HIGH THROTTLE MODE, AND ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO JUMP CURB. BOTH FRONT TIRES WENT FLAT, KNOCKING DOWN 20 FEET WOODED FENCE, AND HIT HOUSE.*AK CONSUMER STATED PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE CRUISE CONTROL.*JB
20010423CrashELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ONGOING TFI IGNITION MODULE PROBLEM, ALL IGNITION COMPONENTS REPLACED, TFI 3+ TIMES, STILL HAPPENS, CAR STALLS AND WON'T START. CALIFORNIA HAS DONE SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, WHEN ARE YOU!? NOW I HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS ONGOING PROBLEM. DO I HAVE TO GET SERIOUSLY INJURED OR WHAT????????
20001012FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH . CONSUMER NOTICED THAT TAILIGHTS HAD TURNED ON BY THEMSELVES. 1 WEEK PRIOR TO INCIDENT, RADIO HAD STARTED TO SMOKE AND THEN FAILED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
20001012FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH . CONSUMER NOTICED THAT TAILIGHTS HAD TURNED ON BY THEMSELVES. 1 WEEK PRIOR TO INCIDENT, RADIO HAD STARTED TO SMOKE AND THEN FAILED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
20001012FireEQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH . CONSUMER NOTICED THAT TAILIGHTS HAD TURNED ON BY THEMSELVES. 1 WEEK PRIOR TO INCIDENT, RADIO HAD STARTED TO SMOKE AND THEN FAILED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
20000918ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE STALLS, FAILS TO START, AFTER FIRST 30 TO 45 MINS DRIVING DURING 95F PLUS OUTSIDE AIR TEMP, DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS, DALLAS, TX. TFI REPLACED TWICE, COIL REPLACED, TPS REPLACED, AND TUNE UP STILL HAS NOT RESOLVED PROBLEM. POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS ACCIDENT, INJURY, OR DEATH EXISTS WITH THIS PROBLEM AS VEHICLE STALLS WITH NO WARNING. ONCE STALL CONTITION EXISTS VEHICLE CANNOT BE STARTED FOR AT LEAST 1.5 TO 2 HOURS, UNTIL ENGINE HAS COOLED ENOUGH TO ALLOW FOR A RESTART. ENGINE TEMP GUAGE REMAINS IN NORMAL RANGE DURING THIS ENTIRE PROCESS. ALSO BOTH COOLANT TEMP SENSORS, GUAGE, AND COMPUTER COOLANT SENSOR, HAVE BEEN REPLACED.
20000914ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE STALLS, FAILS TO START, AFTER FIRST 30 TO 45 MINS DRIVING DURING 95F PLUS OUTSIDE AIR TEMP, DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS, DALLAS, TX. TFI REPLACED TWICE, COIL REPLACED, TPS REPLACED, AND TUNE UP STILL HAS NOT RESOLVED PROBLEM. POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS ACCIDENT, INJURY, OR DEATH EXISTS WITH THIS PROBLEM AS VEHICLE STALLS WITH NO WARNING. ONCE STALL CONTITION EXISTS VEHICLE CANNOT BE STARTED FOR AT LEAST 1.5 TO 2 HOURS, UNTIL ENGINE HAS COOLED ENOUGH TO ALLOW FOR A RESTART. ENGINE TEMP GUAGE REMAINS IN NORMAL RANGE DURING THIS ENTIRE PROCESS. ALSO BOTH COOLANT TEMP SENSORS, GUAGE, AND COMPUTER COOLANT SENSOR, HAVE BEEN REPLACED.
20000122FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE SITTING IN THE HOUSE CONSUMER HEARD A STRANGE NOISE THAT SOUDED LIKE A CAR STARTING. WHEN GOING TO INVESTIGATE CONSUMER THEN NOTICED THAT THE GARAGE WAS FULL OF SMOKE. CONSUMER OPENED CAR HOOD AND THERE WERE FLAMES COMING OUT. *AK
19991024POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
PLEASE SEND SIGNATURE FORM TO SEND TO MANUFACTURER
19991024ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
PLEASE SEND SIGNATURE FORM TO SEND TO MANUFACTURER
19991024VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
PLEASE SEND SIGNATURE FORM TO SEND TO MANUFACTURER
19991024EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
PLEASE SEND SIGNATURE FORM TO SEND TO MANUFACTURER
19991024UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PLEASE SEND SIGNATURE FORM TO SEND TO MANUFACTURER
19990929POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A PROBLEM WITH ROLLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. CONSUMER'S FOUR YEAR OLD CHILD MOVED THE SHIFTER OUT OF GEAR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL DOWN THE STREET. CAN NHTSA HELP OR PROVIDE ADDITION INFORMATION. *AK
19990209FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
DEFECTIVE "O"-RINGS IN THE FUEL RAIL CAUSED A FUEL LEAK WHICH, IN TURN STARTED A FIRE IN UNDERHOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. OWNER REPAIRED VEHICLE HIMSELF, AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. *AK *ML
19971113FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE, SMELLED BURNING, STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT ON FIRE,FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH, DEALER CLAIMS BAD IGINITION SWITCH WAS INSTALLED. *AK
Compare 1987LINCOLNTOWN CAR to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1987 LINCOLN TOWN CAR have?▼
The 1987 LINCOLN TOWN CAR has 40 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 16 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1987 LINCOLN TOWN CAR?▼
The most-complained component for the 1987 LINCOLN TOWN CAR is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 1987 LINCOLN TOWN CAR safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.