1989 Lincoln Town Car problems & reliability
89 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1989 Lincoln Town Car. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
6 complaints report injuries (15 injured).
Federal crash records (FARS 2020–2023): 1989 Lincoln Town Car vehicles were involved in 4 fatal crashes with 3 occupant deaths. Involvement counts are not adjusted for how many are on the road and do not imply fault or a vehicle defect.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 42 | 47% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 | 13% |
| Seat Belts | 11 | 12% |
| Power Train | 6 | 7% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 5 | 6% |
| Steering | 5 | 6% |
| Suspension | 3 | 3% |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 2% |
| Tires | 2 | 2% |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 1% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“Letter on behalf of concern about the 1996 recall on lincoln town cars, his brother-in-law is having electrical problem with the ignition switch on his 1989 lincoln town car; send incoming ltr with reply to attn: allison jackson/foley *tgw the consumer stated the key did not operate properly. The consumer learned a…”
Electrical System · filed Jul 26, 2011
“Tl*the contact owns a 1998 lincoln town car. While driving approximately 65 mph, the contact stated that the screw inside the reflective cone of the bulb was loose which caused the bulb to shatter and fail. The vehicle was taken to the dealership where the dealer attempted to sell the contact a new bulb instead of…”
Exterior Lighting · filed Apr 2, 2010
“While driving 35 mph rear suspension failed. As a result, the rear end dropped at least one foot to the ground. *ak”
Suspension · filed Jul 13, 2004
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
29 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 1989 Lincoln Town Car. The 10 most recent:
Transfer service tips for the front wiper motor mount bracket and depressed park output arm. *tt
02107 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 27, 2002
Information regarding transmission fluid usage charts. *slc
01157 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 6, 2001
Some vehicles may exhibit heater core leaks. *slc
01156 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 6, 2001
Subject regarding contamination from prior transmission concerns or excess wear may be trapped in the transmission fluid cooling system. *tt
002310 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Nov 13, 2000
Information regarding the new transmission cooler flusher- service tip. *mjs
0015 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 10, 2000
Subject on a wire harness terminal repair kit available for repairing electrical wiring harnesses. *tt
99222 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 18, 1999
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
13400 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 1, 1999
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
7312 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 1, 1999
Information on identifying non-approved / alternate refrigerants which could cause safety, and performance concerns if installed in ford a/c systems. *tt
99196 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 20, 1999
Information on the new flush and fill tool available through rotunda. *tt
99152 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 26, 1999
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
No NHTSA recall campaigns name the 1989 Lincoln Town Car in our current data. Recalls may apply only to certain VIN ranges — always confirm with a VIN check.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 1989 Lincoln Town Car?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.