1990 Lincoln CONTINENTAL: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 10099488 · 2004-11-05 (November 5, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT THE VEHICLE BEING IMPACTED. WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED IT SHATTERED THE DRIVER'S GLASSES, REDUCING HIS VISIBILITY. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT, WENT UP AND EMBANKMENT 20 FEET, AND LANDED 70 FEET DOWN THE ROAD. DRIVER SUSTAINED SERIOUS BURNS TO BACK, NECK AND HAND. THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE (EMS) HAD TO PEEL THE AIR BAG OFF THE DRIVER'S FACE, NECK, AND HAND. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10099488 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10112015 · 2005-02-23 (February 23, 2005)
NOT WORKING. NO SUMMARY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10112015 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 478152 · 1995-01-02 (January 2, 1995)
BOTH OUTER CV BOOTS BROKEN. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 478152 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 480700 · 1995-01-18 (January 18, 1995)
TIE RODS BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480700 at NHTSA ↗
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 483581 · 1995-08-31 (August 31, 1995)
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 483581 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 ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
91V134000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
Reported: 1991-08-06 (August 6, 1991)
FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE SEVERE CORROSION IF OPERATED IN AREAS WHERE CALCIUM CHLORIDE AND SODIUM CHLORIDE ARE USED EXTENSIVELY.
Consequence: SEVERELY CORRODED ROTORS MAY FRACTURE OR SEPARATE NEARTHE INNER EDGES OF THE BRAKE DISCS RESULTING IN REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS,HIGHER THAN NORMAL PEDAL EFFORTS, LOUD GRINDING NOISES, AND MODERATE PULLS WHENTHE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS MAY INCREASE MINIMUMSTOPPING DISTANCES, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH FULL CAST FRONT BRAKE ROTORS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗97V174000 · Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
Reported: 1997-10-07 (October 7, 1997)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT OUTBOARD SEATING POSITION SEAT BELT BUCKLES MAY NOT LATCH OR UNLATCH.
Consequence: THESE CONDITIONS COULD REDUCE SEAT BELT USAGE INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT OUTBOARD SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES.
NHTSA campaign record ↗98V323000 · Structure:Frame And Members
Reported: 1998-12-16 (December 16, 1998)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGNIA, AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR LOWER SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT CAN EXPERIENCE STRESS CORROSION CRACKING IF SUBJECTED TO LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALTS. THIS CAN RESULT IN FRACTURE AND LOSS OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT ATTACHMENT. DETACHMENT OF THE BODY MOUNTS AT THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ALLOWS THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME TO DROP.
Consequence: IF BOTH REAR CORNERS DROP, STEERING WOULD BECOME SUDDENLY VERY DIFFICULT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗