1986 Lincoln CONTINENTAL: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
7 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
90,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1986 model year. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 7 complaints (28.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 28.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Hydraulic | 1 |
| Suspension:Front | 1 |
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Hydraulic: 1; Suspension:Front: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 6 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 | 5 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
1995: 5; 1996: 1; 2006: 1
Pattern summary
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 481764 · 1995-02-16 (February 16, 1995)
FUEL LINE FIRE OCCURED AFTER SMELLING GASOLINE. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481764 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 482617 · 1995-03-20 (March 20, 1995)
SEATBACK CONSISTED OF A STAMPED METAL FRAME WITH OPENING IN CENTER AND NO SUPPORTIVE STRUCTURE, DRIVER FELL THROUGH IT UPON IMPACT, RESULTING IN INJURY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482617 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 505641 · 1996-06-19 (June 19, 1996)
SEAT BELT BUCKLE STUCK, UNABLE TO RELEASE SEAT BELT. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 505641 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 958642 · 1995-01-12 (January 12, 1995)
BRAKING MECHANISM HAS FAILED. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 958642 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 961807 · 1995-03-13 (March 13, 1995)
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BACK BROKE DURING ACCIDENT DRIVER WENT THROUGH THE SEAT. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 961807 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 971535 · 1995-09-02 (September 2, 1995)
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE FRONT SUSPENSION WENT OUT THERE WAS NO WARNING . TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 971535 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
5 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
85V115000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 1985-09-19 (September 19, 1985)
AN ALUMINUM CASTING FLASH ON THE FACE OF THE THROTTLE BODY MAY BREAK OFF AND BECOME TRAPPED BETWEEN THE THROTTLE PLATE AND THE BORE IN THE THROTTLE BODY. CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: THROTTLE MAY FAIL TO RETURN TO IDLE POSITION WHEN RELEASED AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REMOVE EXCESS CASTING FLASH.
NHTSA campaign record ↗86V023000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Reported: 1986-02-10 (February 10, 1986)
WIRING CONNECTIONS IN AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR TO THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR FLUID LEVEL SENSORS WERE REVERSED AND FAIL TO INDICATE LOW FLUID LEVELS AS SPECIFIED BY FMVSS 105, HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SENSOR WILL NOT TRANSMIT SIGNAL TO BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WHEN THE FLUID LEVEL IS LESS THAN ONE FOURTH FULL. WITHOUT THIS WARNING SIGNAL THE FLUID LEVEL MAY DECREASE TO THE POINT WHERE PARTIAL OR COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKE WOULD BE EXPERIENCED AND MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: RE-CONFIGURE WIRING TO THE FLUID LEVEL SENSOR CONNECTOR.
NHTSA campaign record ↗86V108000 · Electrical System:Ignition
Reported: 1986-08-08 (August 8, 1986)
THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER MAY HANG UP AND NOT FULLY RETURN TO THE "ON" POSITION FROM THE "START" POSITION AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE. IF THIS OCCURS, THE ENGINE WILL REMAIN RUNNING, BUT THE BATTERY CURRENT TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM SUPPLY MOTOR WILL BE INTERRUPTED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: WITH POWER TO MOST ACCESSORIES AND THE BRAKE SYSTEM SUPPLY MOTOR INTERRUPTED, THE POWER ASSIST TO THE FRONT BRAKE WILL BE LOST AND AFTER ABOUT 10 TO 15 NORMAL BRAKE STOPS, LOSS OF REAR BRAKE FUNCTION WILL RESULT, CAUSING INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. HOWEVER, THE INSTRUMENT BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE PRIOR TO REDUCED BRAKING CAPABILITY AND IF WARNING IS NOT HEEDED, AN ACCIDENT MAY OCCUR.
Remedy: REPLACE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDERS WITH REVISED DESIGN CYLINDERS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗86V109000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Hydraulic
Reported: 1986-08-08 (August 8, 1986)
UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, CONTACTS IN BRAKE SYSTEM RELAY COULD REMAIN CLOSED, CAUSING THE BRAKE PUMP MOTOR TO RUN CONTINUOUSLY, CAUSING IT TO OVERHEAT AND EVENTUALLY FAIL. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SHOULD THE BRAKE SUPPLY MOTOR FAIL, THE POWER ASSIST TO THE FRONT BRAKES WILL BE LOST, AND AFTER ABOUT 10 TO 15 NORMAL BRAKE STOPS, LOSS OF REAR BRAKE FUNCTION WILL RESULT, CAUSING INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. HOWEVER, THE INSTRUMENT BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE PRIOR TO REDUCED BRAKING CAPABILITY AND IF WARNING IS NOT HEEDED, AN ACCIDENT MAY OCCUR.
Remedy: REPLACE PUMP MOTOR RELAYS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗87V139000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 1987-09-04 (September 4, 1987)
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
Consequence: COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.
Remedy: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗