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U.S. public vehicle records

1989 Lincoln CONTINENTAL problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

80 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

133,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1989 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 20 of 80 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1113.8%
Electrical and battery issues67.5%
Steering behavior56.3%
Transmission and shifting22.5%
Fuel system concerns11.3%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
20
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
7
Vehicle Speed Control
6
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
5
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
5
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
4
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
4
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
4
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly20
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine7
Vehicle Speed Control6
Power Train:Automatic Transmission5
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip5
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator4
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch4
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline4

Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 20; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 7; Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 5; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 4; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 4

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 78 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995
30
1996
30
2000
6
2001
4
2002
5
2003
3
2004
1
2008
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
199530
199630
20006
20014
20025
20033
20041
20081

1995: 30; 1996: 30; 2000: 6; 2001: 4; 2002: 5; 2003: 3; 2004: 1; 2008: 1

Pattern summary

Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 481547 · 1995-02-28 (February 28, 1995)

ANTILOCK VALVE BLOCK REPLACED DUE TO VEHICLE PULLING TO RIGHT WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. *AW

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481547 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 484251 · 1995-07-24 (July 24, 1995)

ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED. *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484251 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 505266 · 1996-06-10 (June 10, 1996)

BATTERY REPLACED. *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 505266 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 505632 · 1996-06-19 (June 19, 1996)

ELECTRICAL BURNING ODOR. *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 505632 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10224542 · 2008-04-15 (April 15, 2008)

THE SUBFRAME ON OUR 1989 CONTINENTAL RUSTED THROUGH WHICH ALLOWS THE ENGINE TO FALL ONTO THE STEERING GEAR AND PREVENTS STEERING. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 230,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10224542 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 484811 · 1995-08-03 (August 3, 1995)

UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S KNEE JAMMED INTO TILT STEERING COLUMN LEVER, CAUSING PERMANENT DAMAGE. 8AW

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484811 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 970436 · 1995-08-15 (August 15, 1995)

AT 65,000 TRANSMISSION BLEW PURCHASE CAR USED . TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 970436 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 971692 · 1995-09-07 (September 7, 1995)

REPLACE THE FRONT STRUT WAS REPLACED THREE AND THE REAR WAS REPLACED TWO TIMES THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES THE POWER STEERING AND CV JOINT REPLACE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 971692 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 985293 · 1996-06-05 (June 5, 1996)

VEHICLES FUEL SENDER FUSING HOT WIRE IN FUEL TANK WAS BURNED OUT.DEALER DOESNT KNOW HOW THE CAR DID NOT BLOW UP. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 985293 at NHTSA ↗