Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIMOUSINES BUILT BY EMPIRE COACH. VEHICLE ALTERERS LABEL MAY BE MISSING OR INCOMPLETE.
Consequence
VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH PART 567.
Remedy
ADD COMPLIANCE LABEL.
1985 Lincoln Town Car Recalls
Recalls on record Updated July 2026
The 1985 Lincoln Town Car has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 544 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 24 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the tires. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
Complaints by component
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
1fires1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
2fires
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
1fires1injuries
TIRES
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
1injuries1deaths
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
2deaths
Total complaints24
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“Tire failure: abnormal belt separation. Photo and tire is available. Sears guardsman, response xl, p215/75r15. 78615, dot#chhf244. Also, there were large cracks within the tread.*ak”
“While driving at 32 mph, the engine stalled. The steering wheel locked and the brakes failed. Dealers notified.*ak consumer had a short in the wire. Her concern was that she couldn't stop the vehicle after a while. *ph *jb”
“Consumer is having the same issues as mentioned in recall 90 v 000 000 equipment: certification label. But, this vehicle not part of recall due to vin.”
“Spare tire had tread separation on it. 13ooo miles, 225/75r15. *ak micheln dot m 3dy d3nx 527. Monthly inspection of spare tire found air was escaping from tire. Took tire out of trunk and the area facing rear firewall was blown out, tire separation. Contacted michelin and reply was tire is old.…”
“Consumer was driving at approximately 20 mph when steering column exploded and caught on fire. Consumer pulled over ,and poured snow on it to take fire out. *ak”
“Consumer was driving at approximately 20 mph when steering column exploded and caught on fire. Consumer pulled over ,and poured snow on it to take fire out. *ak”
“I had always felt a sluggishness in the car when the gears were changing. Being it that this would always correct itself still I had an uncomfortable feeling when this happened. Yet it wasn't something that I constanly dwelled upon, until now. Several machanics made statements thea they had never…”
“Engine failure resulted in engine fire (ohio traffic crash report). *mjs”
Defect investigations
Investigation DP87029 Opened 1987-08-17 · closed 1987-10-23
SUDDEN ACCELERATION
SUDDEN ACCELERATION
Investigation PE88012 Opened 1988-01-15 · closed 1988-05-02
NON COLLISION FIRES
SUMMARY: ALLEGEDLY THE AXLE BEARINGS ON LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINES OVER-HEAT IGNITING COMBUSTIBLE COMPONENTS NEARBY.RECOMMENDATION: OPEN PE SEND LETTER TO FORD.===
Sources & methodology
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1985 Lincoln Town Car as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.