Independent · Not affiliated with NHTSA or any automaker MethodologyData sourcesData refreshed Oct 6, 2026

1991 Lincoln Town Car: Problems, Recalls and MPG

What this means

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 1991 Lincoln Town Car, most recently filed December 1998. Owners have filed 155 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes.

Data summary generated from official records. Methodology Data: NHTSA, DOT, EPA · Refreshed Oct 6, 2026
Compare

Recalls (5)

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 1991 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 ↗
Listed for 1991 Lincoln Town Car. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 98V322000 Filed Dec 16, 1998

FORD/LOWER CONTROL ARM

Suspension · front · control arm · lower ball joint
Official NHTSA text
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).
Repair progress not yet reported175,000 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 98V322000
Listed for 1991 Lincoln Town Car. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 95V151000 Filed Aug 7, 1995

STRUCTURE:HOOD ASSEMBLY:LATCHES

Latches/locks/linkages · hood · latch
Official NHTSA text
Summary
THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MAY NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE HOOD IS CLOSED.
Consequence
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 VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY.
Repair progress not yet reported73,837 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 95V151000
Listed for 1991 Lincoln Town Car. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 95V091000 Filed May 16, 1995

STRUCTURE:HOOD ASSEMBLY:LATCHES

Latches/locks/linkages · hood · latch
Official NHTSA text
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.
Repair progress not yet reported142,800 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 95V091000
Listed for 1991 Lincoln Town Car. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 91V147000 Filed Sep 10, 1991

STRUCTURE:HOOD ASSEMBLY:LATCHES

Latches/locks/linkages · hood · latch
Official NHTSA text
Summary
THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MAY NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE HOOD IS CLOSED.
Consequence
IN THE EVENT THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH RELEASES WHEN THEVEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE HOOD COULD FLY UP, OBSTRUCTING THE OPERATOR'S VISION,AND INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy
INSTALL A NEW HOOD LATCHING ASSEMBLY.
Repair progress not yet reported72,000 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 91V147000
Listed for 1991 Lincoln Town Car. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 91V008000 Filed Jan 8, 1991

FUEL:FUEL LINES FITTINGS AND PUMP

Fuel system, gasoline · delivery
Official NHTSA text
Summary
DISTORTED FUEL LINES IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT MAY CONTACT THE STEERING COLUMN UNIVERSAL JOINT AND CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE FUEL LINE.
Consequence
FUEL LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR FROM THE DAMAGED FLUID LINE AND,IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy
REPOSITION FUEL LINE TO PREVENT CONTACT WITH UNIVERSAL JOINT; IF FUEL LINES ARE ALREADY DAMAGED, REPAIR OR REPLACE FUEL LINES.
Repair progress not yet reported26,000 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 91V008000

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 (155)

155 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The service brakes is mentioned most often.

20involved a crash
15involved a fire
14injuries reported
0deaths reported

As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.

Most-reported components

Complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1991 Lincoln Town Car, by component (top 10). One complaint can list several components, so these add up to more than 155.Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints · Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 · Report a data error

How 1991 compares with other Town Car years

Best and worst Town Car years →
1987198819891990199119921993199419951996
This year (1991)Other yearsStill collecting reports

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

18
mpg combined
15
city
22
highway
EPA annual fuel cost
$3,700
CO₂ tailpipe
494 g/mi
EPA class
Large Cars

What it costs you to run

$3,628per year
$302per month
833gallons a year

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

1991 Lincoln Town Car configurations with EPA data
Engine · transmissionDriveCity / Hwy / CombEPA $/yrCO₂ g/mi
4.6 L 8-cyl · 4-speed automaticRear-Wheel Drive15 / 22 / 18$3,700494

Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.

Used blue SUV on a sunny dealer lot with its hood open and a clipboard on the fender

Looking at a 1991 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.

All Town Car years

Where to next

1991 Lincoln Town Car FAQ

How many recalls does the 1991 Lincoln Town Car have?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns: 98V322000 (suspension), 95V151000 (latch), 95V091000 (latch), 91V147000 (latch), 91V008000 (fuel system). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.

What are the most common 1991 Lincoln Town Car problems?

Owners filed 155 complaints with NHTSA. Service brakes (43), Engine and engine cooling (19), Vehicle speed control (19) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.

What mpg does the 1991 Lincoln Town Car get?

EPA rates the 4.6 L 8-cyl · 4-speed automatic version at 15 city, 22 highway and 18 combined mpg.

How does the 1991 Town Car compare with other years?

Among the 1987–1996 Lincoln Town Car model years at least five years old, the 1987 drew the fewest complaints (32) and the 1996 the most (259). The 1991 drew 155. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.

How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes

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.
Was this report useful?Report a data error
My Garage
Save this car and we'll flag new recall campaigns next time you visit.