RecallMyCar

1989 Lincoln Town Car Recalls, Complaints & Specs

5 safety recalls list the 1989 Lincoln Town Car, and owners have filed 89 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

5
safety recalls
89
owner complaints to NHTSA
7 / 38
complaints citing a crash / fire
18
MPG combined (EPA)

5 safety recalls for the 1989 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. Ignition (electrical system)

    NHTSA 96V071000 Reported 7,900,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    The ignition switch could experience an internal short circuit.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the ignition switch.

  2. Labels (equipment)

    NHTSA 90V133000 Reported 158 vehicles potentially affected LIMOUSINE WERKS, INC.

    Tire placard may contain incorrect gross vehicle weight ratings and tire information.

    Remedy: Install revised tire placards.

  3. Labels (equipment)

    NHTSA 90V134000 Reported 158 vehicles potentially affected LIMOUSINE WERKS, INC.

    Gross vehicle weight ratings and tire information may be incorrect on labels.

    Remedy: Install revised certification labels.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

89 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1989 Lincoln Town Car have filed 89 complaints with NHTSA; 7 describe a crash and 38 describe a fire. Reports cite 15 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 193,938 miles. Complaints peaked in 1996 with 32 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“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 re”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 26, 2011 · Electrical system

“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”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 2, 2010 · Exterior lighting

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1989 Lincoln Town Car. Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined18 mpg
City / Highway15 / 22
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 1989 Lincoln Town Car

How do I know if my 1989 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. 5 campaigns currently list the 1989 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 90V050000).

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.