Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 263 complaints with NHTSA about the 1991 Lincoln Town Car, and it carries 5 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 51 | 19% |
| Visibility | 23 | 9% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 21 | 8% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 18 | 7% |
| Structure | 17 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 16 | 6% |
| Vehicle speed control | 16 | 6% |
| Air bags | 15 | 6% |
| Exterior lighting | 11 | 4% |
| Seats | 10 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
DRIVERS SEAT BELT BUCKLE INOP....WILL NOT HOLD THE BELT IN TH E LOCKED POSITION, THEREFORE, SEAT BELT ENABLED IN CASE OF ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE HOOD LATCH FRACTURED. AS A RESULT, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE FORC
NHTSA complaint: Latches/locks/linkages
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DUE TO A BRAKE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NO
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAI
NHTSA complaint: Engine
WHILE DRIVING EASTBOUND US INTERSTATE 40 IN OKLAHOMA CITY,OK MY 1991 LINCOLN TOWNCAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AND STOPPED RUNNING, AFTER I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND PUT THE FIRE OUT, THE CAR WOULD NOT START BACK UP. THE FIRE WAS
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROX. 35 MILES PER HOUR ON A LOCAL BRIDGE, MY RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. I DROVE A DISTANCE OF SEVERAL YARDS TO THE END OF THE BRIDGE WHERE I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER AND STOP. WHEN A VERY KIN
NHTSA complaint: Tires
DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY @ 55 MPH ( WINDY WITH 30 MPH GUSTS ) HOOD OPENED AND FOLDED UP OVER THE ROOF BOTH HOOD LATCHES WERE STILL LOCKED TO THE STRIKE PLATE FROM HOOD LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE
NHTSA complaint: Latches/locks/linkages
DT: THE CONTACT STATED 1991 LINCOLN TOWN CAR HAD ONLY 17,000 MILES ON IT. ON 8-25-05 HE FELT LIKE HIS BRAKES WERE LOW. HE WENT TO HAVE THEM INSPECTED AND THE CAR PASSED THE INSPECTION, BUT HE HAD THE BRAKES CHANGED ANY
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 1991 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.
DISTORTED FUEL LINES IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT MAY CONTACT THE STEERING COLUMN UNIVERSAL JOINT AND CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE FUEL LINE.
Risk: FUEL LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR FROM THE DAMAGED FLUID LINE AND,IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: REPOSITION FUEL LINE TO PREVENT CONTACT WITH UNIVERSAL JOINT; IF FUEL LINES ARE ALREADY DAMAGED, REPAIR OR REPLACE FUEL LINES.
CORROSION OF THE HOOD LATCH STRIKER PLATE CAUSES DETACHMENT OF THE PLATE FROM THE HOOD ASSEMBLY RESULTING IN AN UNEXPECTED OPENING OF THE HOOD WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN.
Risk: THIS CONDITION CAN REDUCE THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROAD INCREASING THE POTENTIAL OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HOOD INNER PANEL REINFORCEMENT AND A NEW, GALVANIZED HOOD LATCH STRIKER PLATE.
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-
Risk: IF THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, REDUCED STEERING CONTROL COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS (2).
THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MAY NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE HOOD IS CLOSED.
Risk: 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 VEHIC
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY.
| Reliability raw | 81 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 76 | good |
| Maintenance | 76 | good |
| Depreciation | 52 | average |
| Performance | 69 | good |
| Efficiency | 35 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 263 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 51 of them (19%). There are 5 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 81/100 (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 76/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1991 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 69/100. 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.