Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA about the 1987 Lincoln Town Car, and it carries 6 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 16 | 47% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 4 | 12% |
| Fuel system | 4 | 12% |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 6% |
| Seat belts | 2 | 6% |
| Tires | 1 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 3% |
| Power train | 1 | 3% |
| Power train | 1 | 3% |
| Steering | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
TOTAL TREAD SEPARATION FROM TIRE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 ..M.P.H. FRONT RIGHT TIRE. *TR
NHTSA complaint: 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 NO POL
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
WHILE DRIVING RADIATOR SUDDENLY STARTED TO LEAK FLUID. UPON THE LEAKAGE FROM THE RADIATOR VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY SHUT DOWN WITH NO WARNING. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
STRONG GASOLINE ODOR INSIDE CAR MOST NOTICEABLE WITH A WINDOW DOWN, HAVE CHECKED FOR LEAKS AND CAN'T FIND IT, SEEMS LIKE IT MAY BE COMING FROM BEHIND THE DASH. *JB
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
WHEN TURNING VEHICLE AT LESS THAN FIVE MILES AN HOUR, VEHICLE WENT INTO HIGH THROTTLE MODE, AND ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO JUMP CURB. BOTH FRONT TIRES WENT FLAT, KNOCKING DOWN 20 FEET WOODED
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
ONGOING TFI IGNITION MODULE PROBLEM, ALL IGNITION COMPONENTS REPLACED, TFI 3+ TIMES, STILL HAPPENS, CAR STALLS AND WON'T START. CALIFORNIA HAS DONE SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, WHEN ARE YOU!? NOW I HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH . CONSUMER NOTICED THAT TAILIGHTS HAD TURNED ON BY THEMSELVES. 1 WEEK PRIOR TO INCIDENT, RADIO HAD STARTED TO SMOKE AND THEN FAILED. PLEASE PRO
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
VEHICLE STALLS, FAILS TO START, AFTER FIRST 30 TO 45 MINS DRIVING DURING 95F PLUS OUTSIDE AIR TEMP, DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS, DALLAS, TX. TFI REPLACED TWICE, COIL REPLACED, TPS REPLACED, AND TUNE UP STILL HAS NOT RESOLVED
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 1987 Lincoln Town Car. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIMOUSINES BUILT BY EMPIRE COACH. VEHICLE ALTERERS LABEL MAY BE MISSING OR INCOMPLETE.
Risk: VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH PART 567.
Fix: ADD COMPLIANCE LABEL.
SAFETY BELTS (TYPE 1 LAP BELTS) FOR REAR FACING SEATS WERE NOT INSTALLED.
Risk: LACK OF RESTRAINTS COULD CONTRIBUTE TO OTHERWISE PREVENTABLE INJURY AND WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 209 AND 210.
Fix: INSTALL SAFETY BELTS FOR REAR FACING SEATS.
STEERING CENTERLINKS MAY BREAK AT A BEND LOCATION.
Risk: STEERING CONTROL WOULD BE DIMINISHED, WITH REDUCEDCONTROL OF LEFT WHEEL ONLY AND CONSIDERABLE STEERING WHEEL FREE PLAY.
Fix: REPLACE STEERING CENTERLINK.
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
Risk: COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.
Fix: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
| Reliability raw | 87 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 76 | good |
| Depreciation | 52 | average |
| Performance | 71 | good |
| Efficiency | 36 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 16 of them (47%). There are 6 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 87/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1987 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 71/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.