MYRModel Year Report

1998 Lincoln Town CAR

● Typical for this model
1998 Lincoln Town CAR
RENDERED 2026-11-01T13:58:28.838Z

This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
154
Recalls
8

Campaigns on file for 1998

Investigations
5

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Engine and engine cooling

21% of complaints

Complaints per year

1980: 1 complaint 1980 1981: 1 complaint 1982: 2 complaints 1983: 4 complaints 1984: 15 complaints 1984 1985: 21 complaints 1986: 50 complaints 1987: 32 complaints 1988: 99 complaints 1988 1989: 90 complaints 1990: 209 complaints 1991: 157 complaints 1992: 249 complaints 1992 1993: 178 complaints 1994: 159 complaints 1995: 166 complaints 1996: 259 complaints 1997: 314 complaints 1998: 154 complaints 1998 154 1999: 148 complaints 2000: 108 complaints 2001: 161 complaints 2002: 65 complaints 2003: 201 complaints 2004: 83 complaints 2004 2005: 119 complaints 2006: 143 complaints 2007: 84 complaints 2008: 20 complaints 2008 2009: 5 complaints 2010: 13 complaints 2011: 6 complaints
1980: 1 complaint 1980 1981: 1 complaint 1982: 2 complaints 1982 1983: 4 complaints 1984: 15 complaints 1984 1985: 21 complaints 1986: 50 complaints 1986 1987: 32 complaints 1988: 99 complaints 1988 1989: 90 complaints 1990: 209 complaints 1990 1991: 157 complaints 1992: 249 complaints 1992 1993: 178 complaints 1994: 159 complaints 1994 1995: 166 complaints 1996: 259 complaints 1996 1997: 314 complaints 1998: 154 complaints 1998 154 1999: 148 complaints 2000: 108 complaints 2000 2001: 161 complaints 2002: 65 complaints 2002 2003: 201 complaints 2004: 83 complaints 2004 2005: 119 complaints 2006: 143 complaints 2006 2007: 84 complaints 2008: 20 complaints 2008 2009: 5 complaints 2010: 13 complaints 2010 2011: 6 complaints
1980: 1 complaint 1980 1981: 1 complaint 1982: 2 complaints 1982 1983: 4 complaints 1984: 15 complaints 1984 1985: 21 complaints 1986: 50 complaints 1986 1987: 32 complaints 1988: 99 complaints 1988 1989: 90 complaints 1990: 209 complaints 1990 1991: 157 complaints 1992: 249 complaints 1992 1993: 178 complaints 1994: 159 complaints 1994 1995: 166 complaints 1996: 259 complaints 1996 1997: 314 complaints 1998: 154 complaints 1998 154 1999: 148 complaints 2000: 108 complaints 2000 2001: 161 complaints 2002: 65 complaints 2002 2003: 201 complaints 2004: 83 complaints 2004 2005: 119 complaints 2006: 143 complaints 2006 2007: 84 complaints 2008: 20 complaints 2008 2009: 5 complaints 2010: 13 complaints 2010 2011: 6 complaints

1998: 154 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19801
19811
19822
19834
198415
198521
198650
198732
198899
198990
1990209
1991157
1992249
1993178
1994159
1995166
1996259
1997314
1998154
1999148
2000108
2001161
200265
2003201
200483
2005119
2006143
200784
200820
20095
201013
20116

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Engine and engine cooling

21% · 32 reports

Most commonly citing gasoline and manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe.

FIRE

Service brakes

14% · 22 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and air.

CRASHINJURY

Suspension

14% · 21 reports

Most commonly citing lower ball joint and front.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

While driving 20 MPH, the ball joint snapped. This caused the consumer to go into a ditch, which avoided a severe collision. Vehicle was towed to a dealership, who did not resolve the problem.

NHTSA ODI report, 2004-01-29

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Lincoln Town CAR. The contact stated that while completing a turn, the front driver's side control arm failed.

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-04-25

Visibility

10% · 16 reports

Most commonly citing windshield wiper/washer and windshield.

Structure

10% · 15 reports

Most commonly citing body and hinge and attachments.

Safety timeline

8 recalls · 5 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    1998-03-23Exterior lighting98V028000 Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The text and/or graphics for the vehicle headlamp aiming instructions provided in the owner guides are not sufficiently clear. This does not meet the…

    Remedy: Owner guides containing revised aiming instructions will be mailed to owners of these vehicles.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. I
    1998-09-25Preliminary evaluationClosed 1999-04-09 Fuel spit back during refueling
  3. R
    1999-01-18Suspension98V322000 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…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the lower control arm ball joints (2).

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. I
    1999-04-09Engineering analysisClosed 1999-05-04 Fuel spit back during refueling
  5. R
    2000-08-03Equipment00V200000 Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles have jacking instructions which, if followed, could cause the vehicle operator to place the jack on a frame weld when attempting to raise a…

    Remedy: Owners will be provided with a revised jack instruction and stowage card and jack warning label, as well as a supplement to the owner guide.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2000-09-28Seat belts00V157002 Vehicle description: passenger vehicles using aftermarket front passenger side seat belt assemblies that were sold by Ford parts departments from January 1, through June 13, 2000. These seat belt…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect these vehicles and replace the service seat belt assemblies that were installed in these vehicles from January 1 through June 13, 2000.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    2000-09-28Seat belts00V157001 Vehicle description: passenger vehicles using aftermarket driver's seat belt assemblies that were sold by Ford parts departments from January 1, through June 13, 2000. These seat belt assemblies…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect these vehicles and replace the service seat belt assemblies that were installed in these vehicles from January 1 through June 13, 2000.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    2001-01-10Tires00V356000 Vehicle description: certain limousines stretched over 60 inches fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS No. 109, "New pneumatic tires," And No. 110, "Tire selection and rims."

    Remedy: Dealers will replace all 5 tires (Including the spare tire) with michelin tires (225/70R16 107T reinforced white sidewall) with a sufficiently higher load rating. Owner notification began January…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. I
    2001-11-27SQClosed 2002-10-03 Post rear end collision fires
  10. I
    2002-08-22Defect petitionClosed 2002-12-04 Fuel-fed fires
  11. I
    2005-09-22Defect petitionClosed 2006-01-04 Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
  12. R
    2007-08-13Vehicle speed control07V336000 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…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  13. R
    2015-10-28Steering15E082000 Dorman Products, Inc.

    Remedy: Dorman will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering shaft, free of charge. The recall began on October 28, 2015. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492, option 5.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

1998 Lincoln Town CAR — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Engine and engine cooling: 32 reports on file for this year.
  • Service brakes: 22 reports on file for this year.
  • Suspension: 21 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 98V028000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 98V322000 · Suspension
  • Recall 00V200000 · Equipment
  • Recall 00V157002 · Seat belts
  • Recall 00V157001 · Seat belts
  • Recall 00V356000 · Tires
  • Recall 07V336000 · Vehicle speed control
  • Recall 15E082000 · Steering
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 1998 Lincoln Town CAR reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1998 Lincoln Town CAR is rated "typical".
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Lincoln Town CAR?
The most-reported component is engine and engine cooling, accounting for 21% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1998 Lincoln Town CAR have?
8 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-11-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.