Complaints
54
Crashes
4
Fires
27
Injuries
4
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1986 Lincoln Town Car Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#112 complaints
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
Fires:11
#27 complaints
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
Fires:5
#35 complaints
Electrical System:Ignition
Fires:3
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1986 Lincoln Town Car.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 12 | — | 11 | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 7 | — | 5 | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 5 | — | 3 | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 3 | — | 3 | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 2 | — | 2 | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 1 | — | — | — |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
11
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
5
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
3
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
3
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Module
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheel Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Door
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1986 Lincoln Town Car. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Lincoln Town Car Years
1986 Lincoln Town Car — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1986 Lincoln Town Car reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1986 Lincoln Town Car has 54 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical System:Ignition:Switch with 12 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1986 Lincoln Town Car?
Top reported problems: Electrical System:Ignition:Switch (12 complaints); Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash (7 complaints); Electrical System:Ignition (5 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
How safe is the 1986 Lincoln Town Car?
NHTSA complaints for the 1986 Lincoln Town Car include 4 crash-related reports, 27 fire reports, 4 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1986 Lincoln Town Car have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1986 Lincoln Town Car as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1986 Lincoln Town Car?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Lincoln Town Car reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1986 Lincoln Town Car
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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