Skip to content

1987 Lincoln Town Car Recalls, Complaints & Specs

6 safety recalls list the 1987 Lincoln Town Car, and owners have filed 32 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

6
safety recalls
32
owner complaints to NHTSA
2 / 14
complaints citing a crash / fire
19
MPG combined (EPA)

6 safety recalls for the 1987 Lincoln Town Car

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Labels (equipment)

    NHTSA 90V093000 Reported 544 vehicles potentially affected EMPIRE COACH COMPANY

    Vehicle description: limousines built by empire coach. Vehicle alterers label may be missing or incomplete.

    Remedy: Add compliance label.

  2. Anchorage (seat belts)

    NHTSA 90V050000 Reported 223 vehicles potentially affected ROYALE LIMOUSINE MFRS.

    Safety belts (type 1 lap belts) for rear facing seats were not installed.

    Remedy: Install safety belts for rear facing seats.

  3. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)

    NHTSA 87V139000 Reported 3,600,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Spring lock fuel line coupling may not be properly engaged.

    Remedy: Install retainer clips over the couplings to prevent coupling separation and fuel leakage.

  4. Idler and attachment (steering)

    NHTSA 87V018000 Reported 1,200 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Remedy: Replace idler arm assembly.

  5. Connecting (steering)

    NHTSA 87V012000 Reported 29,600 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Steering centerlinks may break at a bend location.

    Remedy: Replace steering centerlink.

  6. Electrical system: front underhood

    NHTSA 86V142000 Reported 19,811 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Wiring harness in the engine compartment may be misrouted and subject to damage. Consequence of defect: a short circuit could occur (during use or when parked) which could result in a vehicle fire.

    Remedy: Properly route wiring harnesses, as necessary.

32 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1987 Lincoln Town Car have filed 32 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a crash and 14 describe a fire. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 69,994 miles. Complaints peaked in 1996 with 16 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Total tread separation from tire while driving on the freeway at 65 ..m.p.h. Front right tire. *tr”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 15, 2009 · Tires

“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”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 13, 2004 · Electrical system

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1987 Lincoln Town Car. Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined19 mpg
City / Highway16 / 24
FuelRegular
EPA classLarge Cars
Engine8 cyl, 5 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Compare Lincoln Town Car model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Lincoln Town Car model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1977 Lincoln Town Car01
1978 Lincoln Town Car01
1980 Lincoln Town Car01
1981 Lincoln Town Car01
1982 Lincoln Town Car02
1983 Lincoln Town Car34
1984 Lincoln Town Car115
1985 Lincoln Town Car121
1986 Lincoln Town Car450
1987 Lincoln Town Car632
1988 Lincoln Town Car599
1989 Lincoln Town Car589
1990 Lincoln Town Car4209
1991 Lincoln Town Car5155
1992 Lincoln Town Car4249
1993 Lincoln Town Car4176
1994 Lincoln Town Car5155
1995 Lincoln Town Car6165
1996 Lincoln Town Car8259
1997 Lincoln Town Car6314
1998 Lincoln Town Car7154
1999 Lincoln Town Car5148
2000 Lincoln Town Car8108
2001 Lincoln Town Car5161
2002 Lincoln Town Car065
2003 Lincoln Town Car1201
2004 Lincoln Town Car083
2005 Lincoln Town Car3119
2006 Lincoln Town Car2143
2007 Lincoln Town Car384
2008 Lincoln Town Car320
2009 Lincoln Town Car35
2010 Lincoln Town Car313
2011 Lincoln Town Car36

Checking a specific 1987 Lincoln Town Car

How do I know if my 1987 Lincoln Town Car has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 6 campaigns currently list the 1987 Lincoln Town Car; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Lincoln dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 86V142000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Lincoln models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.