LINCOLN TOWN CAR · model year

1994 LINCOLN TOWN CAR

212 NHTSA complaints, 21 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1994LINCOLNTOWN CAR carries 212 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 21 crashes, 30 fires, 28 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 1994 TOWN CAR is vehicle speed control with 16 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (13) and seats (13). 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 1994 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.

212
Complaints
21
Crashes
30
Fires
28
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

212 filings

Crashes Reported

21 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL16
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION13
SEATS13
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP10
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE6
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING5
TIRES:TREAD/BELT5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION4
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS4

Recent Complaints

20230121FireENGINE

The car had a recall I didnt know about. It states the car may catch fire due to faulty part. I drove the vehicle home after work and parked it around 9:30 PM. The next morning a neighbor woke me up banging on my front door that my car was on fire. This was at 7 AM. The fire originated in the area close to the master cylinder like the recall states. Vehicle was a total loss. Not only that but it damaged the car it was parked behind.

20230121FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The car had a recall I didnt know about. It states the car may catch fire due to faulty part. I drove the vehicle home after work and parked it around 9:30 PM. The next morning a neighbor woke me up banging on my front door that my car was on fire. This was at 7 AM. The fire originated in the area close to the master cylinder like the recall states. Vehicle was a total loss. Not only that but it damaged the car it was parked behind.

20230121FireFORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

The car had a recall I didnt know about. It states the car may catch fire due to faulty part. I drove the vehicle home after work and parked it around 9:30 PM. The next morning a neighbor woke me up banging on my front door that my car was on fire. This was at 7 AM. The fire originated in the area close to the master cylinder like the recall states. Vehicle was a total loss. Not only that but it damaged the car it was parked behind.

20220912TIRES

The contact owns a 1994 Lincoln Town Car equipped with Goodyear Tires, Tire line: Assurance Comfortred Tread Touring, Tire size: 215/70/R15 DOT: PJ343912 and PJ340214. The contact stated that all four tires were showing signs of cracked sidewalls and treads. The contact stated that the failure was discovered while cleaning the tires. The contact stated that the tires were purchased new from Walmart on 10/31/2014. The tires were not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer for diagnosis or repairs. The manufacturer Goodyear was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the tires were too old as there was a 6-year warranty on cracking. There was no assistance offered. The tire failure mileage was unknown. The approximate vehicle mileage was 200,000.

Mileage: 200,000

20160525FireSERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ODOR OF BURNING RUBBER AND PLASTIC. THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED WITH SMOKE AND FLAMES. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BURNED BODY ON THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WAS ABOVE THE MASTER CYLINDER. NO REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V017000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL); HOWEVER, THE CONTACT HAD NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF THE RECALL AND THE VEHICLE HAD NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Mileage: 130,000

20140718FireENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, HE WAS MADE AWARE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND REMAINED IN THE CONTACT'S DRIVE WAY, WHICH WAS ADVISED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE STARTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BUT THE DIRECT ORIGINA OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

Mileage: 190,000

20130627SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PUMP IT REPEATEDLY. ADDITIONALLY, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS A REAR BRAKE SEAL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. *TR

Mileage: 200,000

20130627AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PUMP IT REPEATEDLY. ADDITIONALLY, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS A REAR BRAKE SEAL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. *TR

Mileage: 200,000

20120625FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1994 LINCOLN TOWN CAR, REGARDING A POTENTIAL UNDERHOOD FIRE RISK. CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. UPDATED 06/26/12 *BF THE CONSUMER SENT SUPPLIED THE RECALL NOTICE. RECALL# 07V336000. *JB

20090415FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH, WHICH CAUSED HIS VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE. THE SWITCH WAS NEVER REPLACED BECAUSE THE CONTACT NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. AFTER THE FIRE, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE SWITCH WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES AND FILED A REPORT. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

Mileage: 180,000

20090129SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

1994 LINCOLN TOWN CAR THE LOWER BALL JOINT ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR SUDDENLY BROKE IN HALF ALLOWING THE LOWER CONTROL ARM OF THE CAR TO FALL TO THE GROUND. FORTUNATELY, I WAS JUST PARKING WHEN IT HAPPENED. THEIR WAS NO WARNING OF A PROBLEM WITH THE BALL JOINT. THE CAR DROVE FINE. I UNDERSTAND THAT A RECALL EXISTS FOR THIS PROBLEM (98S37), BUT ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, MY CAR IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. OBVIOUSLY, IT SHOULD BE. *TR

Mileage: 244,857

20090129SUSPENSION:FRONT

1994 LINCOLN TOWN CAR THE LOWER BALL JOINT ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR SUDDENLY BROKE IN HALF ALLOWING THE LOWER CONTROL ARM OF THE CAR TO FALL TO THE GROUND. FORTUNATELY, I WAS JUST PARKING WHEN IT HAPPENED. THEIR WAS NO WARNING OF A PROBLEM WITH THE BALL JOINT. THE CAR DROVE FINE. I UNDERSTAND THAT A RECALL EXISTS FOR THIS PROBLEM (98S37), BUT ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, MY CAR IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. OBVIOUSLY, IT SHOULD BE. *TR

Mileage: 244,857

20081129SUSPENSION:FRONT

MY ELDERLY PARENTS WERE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE AT LOW SPEED WHEN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT FAILED. THE CONTROL ARM DROPPED, DUG INTO THE PAVEMENT AND RENDERED THE CAR OUT OF CONTROL. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO JACK UP THE CAR, SLIDE A DOLLY UNDER IT, TOW IT HOME, ETC. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS EXACT PROBLEM. A RECALL ADDRESSING THIS SERIOUS LIFE THREATENING DEFECT HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLES OF THE SAME MODEL, YEAR AND CONSTRUCTION; BUT, NOT ALL VIN WERE COVERED IN THE RECALL. AS OF THIS DATE NO WORK HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. *TR

20080903SEATS

THE LEFT FRONT AND RIGHT REAR DRIVER SEAT MOUNTING BRACKETS BROKE. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

20080515FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED AT HIS HOME. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS DUE TO VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE FAILED COMPONENT. HIS INSURANCE COMPANY WILL NOT ASSUME ANY LIABILITY FOR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 123,000. UPDATED 07/22/08 *BF UPDATED 07/22/08 *JB

Mileage: 123,000

20080513VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT SERVICED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, SHE ATTEMPTED TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL, BUT IT DID NOT WORK. THE CONTACT RETURNED TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH INSPECTED AND WAS INFORMED THAT A CHARGE WOULD APPLY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000.

Mileage: 80,000

20080424VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1994 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WITH A RECALL. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE HAS CALLED THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND KEEPS GETTING AN ANSWERING MACHINE AND NO ONE WILL RETURN HIS CALL. HE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *KB

20080410FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

1994 LINCOLN TOWN CAR MOTOR CAUGHT FIRE. CONSUMER STATES THAT HER MOTOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. SHE SAYS THAT FORD DOES NOT CARE. SHE WOULD LIKE FORD TO GIVE HER $500.00 FOR A NEW MOTOR. *KB THE FIRE MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO A FAULTY SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. *JB

20080410FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1994 LINCOLN TOWN CAR MOTOR CAUGHT FIRE. CONSUMER STATES THAT HER MOTOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. SHE SAYS THAT FORD DOES NOT CARE. SHE WOULD LIKE FORD TO GIVE HER $500.00 FOR A NEW MOTOR. *KB THE FIRE MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO A FAULTY SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. *JB

20080407VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1999 FORD EXPLORER AND 1994 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WITH SPEED CONTROL RECALL. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS DISCONNECTED BACK IN OCTOBER OF 2007. DEALER TOLD HIM THAT FORD HAS NOT SENT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS YET. *KB

Compare 1994LINCOLNTOWN CAR to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1994 LINCOLN TOWN CAR have?
The 1994 LINCOLN TOWN CAR has 212 NHTSA complaints, 21 crashes, 30 fires, 28 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 LINCOLN TOWN CAR?
The most-complained component for the 1994 LINCOLN TOWN CAR is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 16 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and SEATS.
Is the 1994 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.