1990 Lincoln CONTINENTAL problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
72 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
58,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1990 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 72 complaints (13.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 6 | 8.3% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 6.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.4% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.4% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 10 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 8 |
| Suspension:Front:Springs:Air Suspension System | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 |
| Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly | 3 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 10; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 8; Suspension:Front:Springs:Air Suspension System: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Air Bags: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 70 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 25 |
| 1996 | 20 |
| 2000 | 16 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
1995: 25; 1996: 20; 2000: 16; 2001: 7; 2002: 1; 2004: 2; 2005: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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 480891 · 1995-01-23 (January 23, 1995)
TIE ROD BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL/ROD MOVING BACK AND FORTH SEVERED GAS LINE. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480891 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 483718 · 1995-08-22 (August 22, 1995)
STEERING WHEEL FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 483718 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 724168 · 2000-06-18 (June 18, 2000)
THE TEMPERATURE AND SYSTEM CHECK SYSTEM ON MY DASHBOARD GAVE ME NO INDICATION THAT THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING. THE MECHANIC WHO WORKED ON AT THE MADISON TN BP SERVICE STATION SAID MY CAR SAID THAT HE WAS HAVING SEVERAL LINCOLN HAVING THE SAME TYPE PROBLEM ONE WAS IN RIGHT NEXT TO MINE AT THE TIME IT WAS WORKING ACORDING TO HIS COMPUTER MY GAUGES WORKED THEY JUST DIDNT SENSE ANY OVERHEATING I HAVE SPENT TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS TO CORRECT A BLOWN HEAD GASKET TWO FUEL INJECTORS AND A THERMOSTAT WATERPUMP AND TWO SPARK PLUGS AND TWO OXYGEN SENSORS ALL DU…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 724168 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 724211 · 2000-06-19 (June 19, 2000)
MY SON AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE WAS AND IS A COLLEGE STUDENT FROM A SINGLE PARENT HOUSEHOLD AND I AM DISABLED. THE DEALER DID NOT AT ANY TIME ADVISE MY SON THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ANY RECALLS OR PROBLEMS. WE HAVE SPENT WELL OVER $2000.00 IN REPAIRS, THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED 7-8 TIMES. THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON CONTINUOUSLY, THEE RIDE CONTROL ALARM COMES ON CONTINUOUSLY, THE SUSPENSION HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE, PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON CONTINUOUSLY AS WELL AS THE CHARGE SYSTEM, WE HAVE HAD IT IN AND OUT OF DEALERSHIP. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 724211 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10069823 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
I PURCHASED A 1990 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL IN DECEMBER 2002, AND NOTICED THAT DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE REVS VERY HIGH AND THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE THE OVERDRIVE. I ALSO NOTICED THAT SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE OR DRIVE TO RVERSE, THERE IS A DELAY IN THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGING THE APPROPRIATE GEAR. BEFORE I DECIDED TO TAKE MY CAR TO A DEALER TO GET THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED, I CHECKED THE FLUID TO ENSURE THAT THE LEVEL WAS CORRECT, AND TO CHECK THE COLOR OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. BOTH WERE FOUND TO BE IN GOOD ORDER. THEN I CHECK…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10069823 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 735881 · 2000-11-06 (November 6, 2000)
I ALSO HAVE A STALLING PROBLEM THAT A DEALER SAID HE CAN NOT FIND. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 735881 at NHTSA ↗