VehicleVerdict

1992 Lincoln Town Car problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 312 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 2.9 times the median Town Car year — the 1992 model ranks #3 of 34 Town Car years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Reports tied to this model year include one death and 14 injuries, per the complaint records themselves.

Electrical System leads the complaint categories with 84 reports (27% of the total).

312

NHTSA complaints

4

Recalls

7

Investigations

11

Crash-involved

109

Fires reported

14

Injuries

1

Deaths

—

NCAP overall

How does 1992 compare to other Town Car years?

Town Car NHTSA complaints by model year, 1992 highlighted395 complaints1977: 2 complaints1978: 1 complaints1980: 1 complaints1981: 1 complaints1982: 4 complaints1983: 6 complaints1984: 19 complaints1985: 24 complaints1986: 54 complaints1987: 40 complaints1988: 123 complaints1989: 97 complaints1990: 267 complaints1991: 278 complaints1992: 312 complaints1993: 226 complaints1994: 212 complaints1995: 241 complaints1996: 316 complaints1997: 395 complaints1998: 194 complaints1999: 203 complaints2000: 147 complaints2001: 207 complaints2002: 71 complaints2003: 242 complaints2004: 99 complaints2005: 161 complaints2006: 207 complaints2007: 114 complaints2008: 31 complaints2009: 6 complaints2010: 17 complaints2011: 11 complaints
Town Car NHTSA complaints by model year, 1992 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Town Car years to avoid →

What are the most common 1992 Lincoln Town Car problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Electrical System8427%
Engine5016%
Speed Control3913%
Brakes3712%
Visibility & Wipers144%
Transmission144%
Suspension124%
Seats124%
Airbags103%
Fuel System83%
Latches & Locks62%
Body & Structure52%
Other52%
Climate Control (A/C & Heat)41%
Lighting41%
Steering31%
Seat Belts31%
Tires & Wheels21%

Does the 1992 Lincoln Town Car have recalls?

4 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

07V336000Speed ControlAugust 3, 2007 · 3,600,000 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence

THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

99V124000Electrical SystemMay 19, 1999 · 262,695 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH CAN DEVELOP A RESISTIVE SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE. A FIRE IS POSSIBLE BOTH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING AND WHEN THE VEHICLE ENGINE IS OFF. ALSO, THE SHORT COULD DISABLE THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM OR CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHT FUSE TO OPEN.

Consequence

A FIRE CAN ORIGINATE IN THE LEFT FRONT UNDERHOOD AREA.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH AND CONNECTOR SHELL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 20, 1999.

98V322000SuspensionDecember 16, 1998 · 175,000 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 1996-1999 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE, FLEET, NATURAL GAS, AND 1996-1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINE VEHICLES THAT WERE PRODUCED WITH A LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CONTAINING A ONE PIECE BEARING; AND 1990-1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE, FLEET, AND NGV VEHICLES AND 1990-1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINE VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN SERVICED WITH EITHER A BALL JOINT CONTAINING THE ONE-PIECE BEARING OR A FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM CONTAINING A BALL JOINT WITH A ONE-PIECE BEARING. THE ONE-PIECE BEARING WITHIN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CAN WEAKEN SLOWLY DURING USE AND EVENTUALLY CRACK. THIS COULD RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE BALL AND CAP OF THE JOINT, ALLOWING THE CONTROL ARM TO DROP TO THE GROUND.

Consequence

IF THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, REDUCED STEERING CONTROL COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS (2).

95V151000Latches & LocksAugust 7, 1995 · 73,837 units

Defect

THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MAY NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE HOOD IS CLOSED.

Consequence

IN THE EVENT THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH RELEASES OR IS NOT PROPERLY LATCHED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE HOOD COULD FLY UP OBSTRUCTING THE OPERATOR'S VISION, AND INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“I OWN A VEHICLE REPAIR SHOP THAT A CUSTOMER CAR BURNED TO THE GROUND INSIDE THE SHOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.THE CUSTOMER COMPLAINT MATCHED THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 99V124000.THE CAR FIRE HAS SHUT DOWN MY BUSINESS FOR A MONTH AS OF NOW.DO I HAVE ANY RECORSE FROM FORD MOTOR CO.FOR DAMAGES DUE TO…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · December 8, 2000 · fire

“WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITHOUT ENGINE RUNNING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. FIRE WAS VERY HOT AND SEEMED TO FEED ON BRAKE FLUID. MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER HAD EXPLODED AND WAS BLOWN 20 FEET AWAY. THE BATTERY AND ELECTRICAL WIRING WERE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · fire

“THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR. AFTER CONTACTING A MECHANIC, WHO CAME OVER, HE CHECKED THE FUSES AND REPLACED THEM. THE CONSUMER WAS NOTIFIED BY HER NEIGHBOR THAT GARAGE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, AND HAD TO BREAK THE GARAGE DOOR OPEN TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. *AK…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Speed Control · August 4, 2004 · fire

“VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SUDDENLY BURST INTO FLAMES DUE TO A BRAKE LINE LEAK THAT WAS LEAKING FLUID ONTO EXHAUST. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK REFERENCED IN EA02-025”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · fire

“WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND QUIT WITHOUT WARNING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC DUE TO FUEL PUMP FAILURE. ALSO, TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE, CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL, RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED, AND SPORADIC MISS IN ENGINE DUE TO WIRES SHORTING OUT/ REPLACED WIRES.…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · January 1, 1999

1992 Lincoln Town Car — common questions

Is the 1992 Lincoln Town Car reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 312 complaints put the 1992 model at #3 of 34 Town Car years. It is one of the Town Car years to avoid.

What are the most common 1992 Town Car problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are electrical system (84 complaints), engine (50 complaints), speed control (39 complaints).

Does the 1992 Lincoln Town Car have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns affecting the 1992 Lincoln Town Car. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 1992 Lincoln Town Car under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 7 investigations into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Lincoln Town Car years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Town Car years to avoid are 1997, 1996, 1992, 1991, 1990, 2003, 1995, 1993, 1994, 2006, 2001, 1999, 1998, 2005. The cleanest record among Town Car years belongs to 1981.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.