1981 Lincoln Town car problems
The Lincoln Town Car is a model line of full-size luxury sedans that was marketed by the Lincoln division of the American automaker Ford Motor Company. Deriving its name from a limousine body style, Lincoln marketed the Town Car from 1981 to 2011, with the nameplate previously serving as the flagship trim of the Lincoln Continental. Produced across three generations for thirty model years, the Town Car was marketed directly against luxury sedans from Cadillac and Chrysler.
Marketed nearly exclusively as a four-door sedan (a two-door sedan was offered for 1981 only), many examples of the Town Car were used for fleet and livery (limousine) service. From 1983 to its 2011 discontinuation, the Town Car was the longest car produced by Ford worldwide, becoming the longest mass-production car sold in North America from 1997 to 2011. While not a direct successor of the Town Car, the Lincoln MKS would become the longest American sedan until 2016 (overtaken by the Cadillac CT6).
From 1980 until 2007, the Lincoln Town Car was assembled in Wixom, Michigan, (Wixom Assembly) alongside the Lincoln Continental, LS, and Mark VI, VII, and VIII. After Wixom's closure, Town Car production moved to Southwold, Ontario, (St. Thomas Assembly) alongside the similar Ford Crown Victoria and the Mercury Grand Marquis. The final Lincoln Town Car was produced on August 29, 2011.
Within the Lincoln model line, the Town Car was not directly replaced; the nameplate was used from 2012 to 2019 to denote livery/limousine/hearse variants of the Lincoln MKT. For 2017, the revived Continental replaced the MKS, closely matching the Town Car in wheelbase and width.
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Common 1981 Lincoln Town car problems
Based on complaints from owners of the Lincoln Town Car 1981, common problems reported include:
- Vehicle Control Problems: The 1981 Lincoln Town Car has been associated with vehicle control issues, such as unexpected jerking or acceleration, brake failures, and cruise control malfunctions. These problems can pose serious safety risks, with reports of accidents linked to these issues. Symptoms may include acceleration hesitation, power loss, and faulty components like the fuel filter or throttle position sensor.
- Transmission Weakness: The Automatic Overdrive (AOD) transmission in the Lincoln Town Car 1981 has been identified as a potential weak spot. This transmission vulnerability can lead to performance issues and may require costly repairs or replacements.
- General Reliability Concerns: While the Lincoln Town Car is known for its reliability, the 1981 model year has been associated with various complaints, including air leaks, coolant leaks, and blown-out spark plugs. These issues can impact the overall performance and longevity of the vehicle, requiring regular maintenance and potential repairs.
These problems highlight the importance of regular maintenance and prompt attention to any signs of malfunction in the Lincoln Town Car 1981 to ensure optimal performance and safety on the road.
Are Lincoln Town cars reliable?
The Lincoln Town Car is an extremely reliable vehicle, ranking 2nd out of 30 cars in its class, according to RepairPal. With proper maintenance, it can last over 250,000 miles with little to no problems.
What year is the best Lincoln Town Car?
Lincoln Town Cars built between 1990 -1997 were the best cars ever made as far as the above rating criteria are concerned. Even after 25+ years, the cars hold up very well mechanically, in appearance, and features. My favorite is the 1997 model as it is the most modern car of this range.
Why did they stop making Lincoln Town Car?
Although remaining Lincoln's top-selling model, calendar-year sales declined each year for the Town Car between 1986 and 1989. This decline was mostly blamed on its aging design and the increased popularity of the Continental which had been fully redesigned for 1988.
What is a Lincoln Town Car worth?
Prices for a used Lincoln Town Car currently range from $2,900 to $24,990, with vehicle mileage ranging from 41,906 to 198,705. Find used Lincoln Town Car inventory at a TrueCar Certified Dealership near you by entering your zip code and seeing the best matches in your area.
Are Lincoln Town cars reliable?
Lincoln Town Car Reliability Rating Breakdown. The Lincoln Town Car Reliability Rating is 4.0 out of 5.0, which ranks it 2nd out of 30 for luxury fullsize cars. The average annual repair cost is $635 which means it has average ownership costs.
Is Lincoln Town Car a safe car?
The Town Car boasts a record Five-Star federal safety rating in five categories for four years in a row (2003-06).
What year is the best Lincoln Town Car?
Lincoln Town Cars built between 1990 -1997 were the best cars ever made as far as the above rating criteria are concerned. Even after 25+ years, the cars hold up very well mechanically, in appearance, and features. My favorite is the 1997 model as it is the most modern car of this range.
Why did they stop making Lincoln Town Car?
Although remaining Lincoln's top-selling model, calendar-year sales declined each year for the Town Car between 1986 and 1989. This decline was mostly blamed on its aging design and the increased popularity of the Continental which had been fully redesigned for 1988.
1981 Lincoln Town car car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Lincoln Town car problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Engine and engine cooling problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1981 Lincoln Town car vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1981 Lincoln Town car complaints
The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1981 Lincoln Town car.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1NLCM81W3MY
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: INTERMITTENT STALLING.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1981 Lincoln Town car problems:
1981 Lincoln Town Car Review - Carsurvey.org
Faults: Smog Control Unit. Stock Muffler rotted out. Passenger door handle broke. Normal wear and tear. General Comments: I love it.
81 Town Car hesitation/stumble, need CFI experts! - Lincolns ...
Dec 25, 2007 ... ... 1981 Town Car problems. This is legally my ... One of the only issues with the car is ... and welcome! 1986 Lincoln Town Car
SOLVED: Transmission slipping in high gear - 1981-1989 Lincoln ...
Jun 3, 2012 ... Walter, I would first make sure that all your fluids are at proper level. Also, have the Towncar placed on an analyzer, ie.
2004 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate With Only 35k miles. Should I grab ...
Sep 3, 2023 ... Typical low-mileage old car problems: rotted gaskets and seals, clogged catalytic converter, transmission destroyed due to no fluid changes.
Why are there so many electrical problems with the 2002 Lincoln ...
Aug 31, 2018 ... If a 1981 Lincoln Town Car is getting 10 plus volts to the distributor but no amps, what could cause this? In some of the older cars there ...
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