1983 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 1983 Lincoln Town car problems
Based on complaints from owners of the 1983 Lincoln Town Car, several common problems have been reported:
- Acceleration Problems: Some owners have reported acceleration issues where the car hesitates, loses power, and fails to speed up even with full throttle. These problems may be linked to faulty components like the fuel filter, throttle position sensor, or catalytic converter. Resolving these issues may involve replacing the faulty components or addressing more complex transmission, exhaust, or engine-related problems.
- Starting and Stalling: Owners have faced challenges with the car starting up but then stalling after a short period of running. This issue has persisted despite various part replacements like the muffler, fan clutch, thermostat, battery, spark plugs, and fuel filter. The engine may start but chug at a low rate before stalling, indicating ongoing problems with the vehicle's operation.
- Fuel Pump Malfunction: There have been suggestions that the fuel pump should be replaced to address starting issues, even though the shop handling the car did not initially identify this component as problematic. Despite hearing the fuel pump priming, there are suspicions that it might be malfunctioning, contributing to the car's starting and stalling difficulties.
These reported problems highlight a range of issues faced by owners of the 1983 Lincoln Town Car, from engine performance and acceleration concerns to starting and stalling issues. Addressing these issues may require thorough diagnostics, part replacements, and expert mechanical attention to ensure the optimal functioning of the vehicle.
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.
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 are Lincoln Town cars known for?
Throughout the 80's, the Town Car introduced many advanced luxury features, like six-way power seats, a keypad-based keyless entry system, and with the 1985 update, the Lincoln Town Car was the first Ford vehicle to feature a CD player.
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.
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).
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.
1983 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
- Latches/locks/linkages problems
- Steering problems
- Vehicle speed control problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1983 Lincoln Town car vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1983 Lincoln Town car complaints
The NHTSA has received 6 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1983 Lincoln Town car.
STEERING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2000-09-04
- VIN: 1LNBP96F1DY
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: TILT YOKE IN THE STEERING WHEEL BROKE, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL NOT TO LOCK IN PLACE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PART WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL, AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER'S COST. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1LNBP96F6DY
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: ENGINE STOPS OR REFUSES TO START.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1LNBP96F6DY
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: POOR ACCELERATION/FLOODING
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-01-12
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- VIN: 1LNBP93F2DY
- Components: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
- Summary: THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR DOES NOT STAY LOCKED IN THE OPEN POSITION. TT
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-01-12
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- VIN: 1LNBP93F2DY
- Components: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
- Summary: THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR DOES NOT STAY LOCKED IN THE OPEN POSITION. TT
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1995-06-21
- Fire: 1
- VIN: 1LNDP96F6DY
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, GASOLINE LEAK IN TOP AT ENGINE INTAKE CAUSED THE FIRE. *AK
1983 Lincoln Town car recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 3 recalls for different components of the 1983 Lincoln Town car.
- Manufacturer: EMPIRE COACH COMPANY
- Components: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
- Summary: 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.
- Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Components: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
- Summary: THE PARKING GEAR MAY NOT ENGAGE, EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE "PARK" POSITION. THIS OCCURS IF THE LINKAGE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION THAT ACTUATES THE PARK GEAR WAS IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. A PIN THAT RETAINS COMPONENTS ON A LINKAGE (ACTUATING) ROD COULD BREAK AND THE LINKAGE MAY NOT ENGAGE THE PARKING GEAR.
- Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PARKING PAWL ACTUATING ROD ASSEMBLY.
- Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Components: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
- Summary: THE SHIFT INDICATOR MAY NOT ACCURATELY REFLECT THE SHIFT SELECTOR POSITION. SOME VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH TRANSMISSION CONTROL SELECTOR TUBE RETAINING CLIPS THAT MAY NOT BE HARD ENOUGH. THE CLIP MAY LOOSEN OR FALL OFF, AND THE SELECTOR TUBE MAY BECOME DISPLACED.
- Remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SELECTOR TUBE RETAINING CLIP AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1983 Lincoln Town car problems:
1983 Town Car will not run - several repairs made, not sure where to ...
... problem. I purchased a 1983 Lincoln Town Car about a year and a half ago and although it appears to be in excellent condition, in reality it ...
Q&A: 1983 Lincoln Continental - Troubleshooting Tips & Expert Advice
Mar 21, 2015 ... No F-150s or Town Cars of the 80s had this sensor. No wonder parts house wants $300 and amazon wants $67.
My 83 mark VI stalls under hard acceleration! - Lincolns OnLine ...
May 2, 2006 ... My 83 mark VI stalls under hard acceleration! Town Car Archive. ... I have had the car since 1990 with minor problems only. ... 1986 Lincoln Town ...
Q&A: 1983 Lincoln Continental Mark VI - Engine Cranks but Won't ...
Oct 22, 2011 ... We are going to check 1 thing so I can direct you to the problem.
81 Lincoln Mark VI Stalls - Lincolns OnLine Message Forum
May 7, 2014 ... as I also have an EEC III 302 Lincoln (early 1983 Town Car), I have done some searching about this system, but information is hard to come by.
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