Recalls (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1990 Lincoln Town Car. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗FORD/LOWER CONTROL ARM
- Summary
- 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 1990-1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINE VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN SERVICED WITH EITHER A BALL JOINT CONTAINING THE ONE-PIECE BEARING OR A FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM CONTAINING A BALL JOINT WITH A ONE-PIECE BEARING. THE ONE-PIECE BEARING WITHIN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CAN WEAKEN SLOWLY DURING USE AND EVENTUALLY CRACK. THIS COULD RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE BALL AND CAP OF THE JOINT, ALLOWING THE CONTROL ARM TO DROP TO THE GROUND.
- Consequence
- IF THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, REDUCED STEERING CONTROL COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS (2).
STRUCTURE:HOOD ASSEMBLY:LATCHES
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- THIS CONDITION CAN REDUCE THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROAD INCREASING THE POTENTIAL OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HOOD INNER PANEL REINFORCEMENT AND A NEW, GALVANIZED HOOD LATCH STRIKER PLATE.
EQUIPMENT:TIRE RESERVE LOAD LABEL (GLOVE COMPARTME
- Summary
- TIRE PLACARD MAY CONTAIN INCORRECT GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATINGS AND TIRE INFORMATION.
- Consequence
- LIMOUSINES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 110 AND CONSUMERMIGHT UNKNOWINGLY OVERLOAD THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF PLACARD MISINFORMATION.
- Remedy
- INSTALL REVISED TIRE PLACARDS.
EQUIPMENT:CERTIFICATION LABEL
- Summary
- GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATINGS AND TIRE INFORMATION MAY BE INCORRECT ON LABELS.
- Consequence
- VEHICLES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH 49 CFR PART 567.
- Remedy
- INSTALL REVISED CERTIFICATION LABELS.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (209)
209 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 209 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 63 | 30.1% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 31 | 14.8% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 21 | 10% |
| Service brakes | 17 | 8.1% |
| Vehicle speed control | 16 | 7.7% |
| Visibility | 13 | 6.2% |
| Structure | 12 | 5.7% |
| Steering | 11 | 5.3% |
| Unknown or other | 11 | 5.3% |
| Air bags | 9 | 4.3% |
How 1990 compares with other Town Car years
Best and worst Town Car years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 50 | 4 |
| 1987 | 32 | 6 |
| 1988 | 99 | 5 |
| 1989 | 89 | 5 |
| 1990 | 209 | 4 |
| 1991 | 155 | 5 |
| 1992 | 249 | 4 |
| 1993 | 176 | 4 |
| 1994 | 155 | 5 |
| 1995 | 165 | 6 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 18 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,700
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 494 g/mi
- EPA class
- Large Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 18 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 L 8-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 / 22 / 18 | $3,700 | 494 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1990 Town Car for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1990 Lincoln Town Car FAQ
How many recalls does the 1990 Lincoln Town Car have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 98V322000 (suspension), 95V091000 (latch), 90V133000 (equipment), 90V134000 (equipment). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1990 Lincoln Town Car problems?
Owners filed 209 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (63), Engine and engine cooling (31), Latches/locks/linkages (21) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1990 Lincoln Town Car get?
EPA rates the 5 L 8-cyl · 4-speed automatic version at 15 city, 22 highway and 18 combined mpg.
How does the 1990 Town Car compare with other years?
Among the 1986–1995 Lincoln Town Car model years at least five years old, the 1987 drew the fewest complaints (32) and the 1992 the most (249). The 1990 drew 209. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.