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U.S. public vehicle records

Lincoln CONTINENTAL problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1,070 owner complaints analyzed

46 distinct recall campaigns

71,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1969 to 2020 model years. Data snapshot: . 236 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 132 of 1,070 complaints (12.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior11811.0%
Steering behavior837.8%
Transmission and shifting817.6%
Electrical and battery issues545.0%
Engine operation312.9%
Fuel system concerns90.8%

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.

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
132
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
63
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
56
Unknown Or Other
54
Vehicle Speed Control
50
Electrical System
44
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
39
Suspension
39
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine132
Power Train:Automatic Transmission63
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline56
Unknown Or Other54
Vehicle Speed Control50
Electrical System44
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip39
Suspension39

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 132; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 63; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 56; Unknown Or Other: 54; Vehicle Speed Control: 50; Electrical System: 44; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 39; Suspension: 39

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
36
25,000 to 49,999
43
50,000 to 74,999
45
75,000 to 99,999
40
100,000 to 149,999
54
150,000 and above
18
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00036
25,000 to 49,99943
50,000 to 74,99945
75,000 to 99,99940
100,000 to 149,99954
150,000 and above18

Under 25,000: 36; 25,000 to 49,999: 43; 50,000 to 74,999: 45; 75,000 to 99,999: 40; 100,000 to 149,999: 54; 150,000 and above: 18

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (54). 834 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
138
1996
111
2000
205
2001
138
2002
90
2003
69
2004
50
2005
26
2006
17
2007
12
2008
16
2009
13
2010
5
2011
10
2012
9
2013
2
2014
11
2015
4
2016
2
2017
5
2018
5
2019
14
2020
10
2021
10
2022
11
2023
26
2024
17
2025
22
2026
22
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
1995138
1996111
2000205
2001138
200290
200369
200450
200526
200617
200712
200816
200913
20105
201110
20129
20132
201411
20154
20162
20175
20185
201914
202010
202110
202211
202326
202417
202522
202622

1995: 138; 1996: 111; 2000: 205; 2001: 138; 2002: 90; 2003: 69; 2004: 50; 2005: 26; 2006: 17; 2007: 12; 2008: 16; 2009: 13; 2010: 5; 2011: 10; 2012: 9; 2013: 2; 2014: 11; 2015: 4; 2016: 2; 2017: 5; 2018: 5; 2019: 14; 2020: 10; 2021: 10; 2022: 11; 2023: 26; 2024: 17; 2025: 22; 2026: 22

Pattern summary

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 118 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 83 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 81 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 490806 · 1996-01-01 (January 1, 1996)

ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL. *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 490806 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10172589 · 2006-11-03 (November 3, 2006)

I OWN A 1986 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL THAT HAS A RECALL LISTED FOR THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, 86V109000. THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE PUMP HAS FAILED AND MIDAS TOLD ME ABOUT THIS RECALL AND SAID I SHOULD HAVE FORD FIX IT. I WENT TO SCHAUMBURG LINCOLN MERCURY IN SCHAUMBURG, ILLINOIS - AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL. I CALLED FORD DIRECTLY AND THEY DENIED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL. YET, ON THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY SAFETY ADMIN SIGHT THE RECALL FORD NOW DENIES EXISTS, IS IN FACT LISTED. MY VEHICLE HAS HAD THE FUEL SYSTEM RECALL REPAIRED, WHICH FORD ADMITS, BUT NEV…

Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172589 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 501022 · 1996-01-29 (January 29, 1996)

POWER STEERING FAILED. *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 501022 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 729752 · 2000-08-31 (August 31, 2000)

THE MOUNTS BETWEEN THE BODY AND SUBFRAME BELIEVED TO BE CALLED THE BODY INSULATORS WHICH HOLD THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION IN PLACE FAILED DUE TO ERROSION. THE MOUNTING BOLTS PULLED THROUGH THE RETAINIG WASHER AND THE RUBBER MOUNT ALLOWING THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION TO FALL ONTO THE GROUND. BOTH REAR MOUNTS FAILED AND IN THE PROCESS DISCONNECTED THE STEERING LINKAGE AT THE SLIP JOINT UNDER THE DASH WHICH ALLOWS FOR THE TILT STEERING. THIS STEERING JOINT COMPLETLY SEPARATED BECAUSE OF THE DISTANCE ALLOWED TO TRAVEL FROM THE ASSEMBLY FALLING. …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 729752 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10283456 · 2009-09-09 (September 9, 2009)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1983 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR DOES NOT ACCURATELY REFLECT THE SHIFT SELECTOR POSITION. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY AND A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SELECTOR TUBE RETAINING CLIP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE NOTIFIED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL # 83V017000, POWER TRAIN, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; LEVER AND LINKAGE COLUMN SHIFT, AND A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT SINCE THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED HE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10283456 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 753701 · 2001-10-26 (October 26, 2001)

I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 25 MPH WHEN I NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. I DROVE HOME ABOUT 5 MILES. KNOWING A LITTLE ABOUT CARS I LIFTED THE HOOD TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE LEVEL WAS FINE BUT THE FLUID LOOKED A LITTLE DARK TO ME. I SMELLED THE FLUID AND IT SMELLED BURNT. THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN FINE UP TO THAT POINT SO I LOOKED AROUND TO SEE IF I COULD SEE ANYTHING ELSE WRONG. I NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL CABLE THAT ATTACHES TO THE THROTTLE WAS HANGING LOOSE. I TOOK OUT MY SHOP MANUAL AND COPIED THE PAGE WITH THE LINKAGE …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 753701 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 863218 · 2000-06-07 (June 7, 2000)

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. CAUSE OF FIRE WAS AN OFF-MARKET BATTERY CALLED AUTO CRAFT WHICH OVERHEATED. ENGINE COMPONENTS ALL WERE COMPLETELY DAMAGED, AS WELL AS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *AK *ML

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 863218 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 983410 · 1996-04-24 (April 24, 1996)

ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK IN THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983410 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 960741 · 1995-02-28 (February 28, 1995)

VEHICLE STALLS OUT WITH NO WARNING AT ANY GIVEN TIME. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 960741 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 562199 · 2001-07-23 (July 23, 2001)

THE IGNITION MODULE ON VEHICLE BECAME INOPERATIVE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL AS CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, THE IGNITION MODULE FAILED DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT, ITS LOCATION BEING ON THE DISTRIBUTOR.*YD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 562199 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 856244 · 2000-02-04 (February 4, 2000)

VEHICLE WOULD START UP INTERMITTENTLY. NOTICED A LOSS OF FUEL WHILE DRIVING. CHECKED RELAY, AND TRACED IT BACK TO THE GAS TANK. THERE WAS AN EXPOSED WIRE IN THE GAS TANK. IF WIRES CAME LOOSE, IT COULD START A FIRE. CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER SAID THIS WAS A NORMAL FEATURE IN ALL VEHICLES. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 856244 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 722902 · 2000-05-19 (May 19, 2000)

FUEL LINE FROM GAS TANK TO ENGINE IS LEAKING AT RIGHT DOOR PILLAR UNDRBODY. INSPECTION REVEALS THE GAS LINE TO BE PLASTIC OF SOME TYPE, AND THE LEAK IS AT THE JUNCTION OF WHERE 2 LENGHTS OF FUEL LINE ARE JOINED TOGETHER AT THE FACTORY. IMMINENT FIRE HAZARD. HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE ON MECURY SABLES AND FORD TAURUS' SECOND PROBLEM, REAR SWAY BAR, REAR SWAY BAR IS ATTACHED TO THE BODY, BUT THE 2 SUSPENSION LINKS THAT ATTACH TO THE ENDS OF THE SWAY BAR ARE BROKEN OR RUSTED. VEHICLE HANDLES DIFFENTLY WHILE MANUEVERING, FEEL THIS TO BE MAJOR C…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 722902 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2017
4
2018
2
2019
3
2020
2
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20174
20182
20193
20202

2017: 4; 2018: 2; 2019: 3; 2020: 2

Year-by-year records

Lincoln CONTINENTAL model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
196901Not available
197401Not available
197512+1
197711Not available
197902Not available
198110Not available
198211+1
198312+1
1984420
19851020
198675+3
198771-4
1988579+8
1989804-5
1990723-1
199110430
19926030
1993694+1
19941105+1
1995451-4
1996282+1
1997671-1
19984810
1999392+1
2000613+1
2001321-2
2002330-1
2017754Not available
2018192-2
2019323+1
202072-1