1991 Lincoln CONTINENTAL: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
104 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
120,226 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1991 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 104 complaints (17.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 12.5% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 8.7% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 6.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 5.8% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.9% |
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 | 18 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 16 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 8 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 5 |
| Suspension:Front:Springs:Air Suspension System | 5 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 18; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 16; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 8; Structure:Frame And Members: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 5; Suspension:Front:Springs:Air Suspension System: 5
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 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
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: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 100 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 | 29 |
| 1996 | 24 |
| 2000 | 27 |
| 2001 | 10 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
1995: 29; 1996: 24; 2000: 27; 2001: 10; 2002: 2; 2003: 4; 2004: 5; 2005: 2; 2006: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 13 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 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 10015037 · 2003-04-02 (April 2, 2003)
THE SUB FRAME DROPPED, WHICH CAUSED IMPROPER STEERING. THE DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRABLE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 107,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10015037 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020005 · 2003-05-16 (May 16, 2003)
WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. *NLM *TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020005 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021078 · 2003-06-05 (June 5, 2003)
FAILURE: 05-23-03 I WAS DRIVING ON I-475 NORTH IN THE FARTHEREST LEFT HAND LANE, WHEN THERE WAS A STALLING MOTION. IT WAS SO UNEXPECTED THAT IT MADE MY 10 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND MYSELF JUMP. I MANAGED TO SLOW DOWN IN TRAFFIC AND PULL TO THE RIGHT HAND EMERGENCY LANE. WHEN I TRIED PULLING BACK INTO TRAFFIC TO MAKE IT TO THE NEXT EXIT, THE LINCOLN WOULD NOT MOVE. LUCKILY, I HAD MY WORK CELLULAR TELEPHONE AND CALLED 911. 911 TRANSFERRED THE CALL TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, AND SOMEONE CAME TO TRY TO HELP. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 3 M…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021078 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032952 · 2003-08-16 (August 16, 2003)
TRANSMISSION SUDDEN FAILURE WITH NO WARNING. IT HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER WE EXITED THE FREEWAY.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 133,451 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032952 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053891 · 2004-01-13 (January 13, 2004)
REQUEST FOR DATABASE INFO WITH HISTORY RESOLUTION ATTEMPTS. *MR THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE 3.8 LITER V6 ENGINES. THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE ORIGINAL ALUMINUM HEADS FOR THE ENGINE HAD AN ADDITIONAL FLAW WHICH WAS A SHARPLY MACHINED TRANSITION LINE RUNNING THE FULL LENGTH OF THE HEADS, WHICH CAUSED THE HEADS TO CRACK ALONG THAT LINE WHEN OVERHEATED. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10053891 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10068792 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
PEELING PAINT AND HEAD GASKETS FAILED POSSIBLY A CRACKED HEAD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10068792 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10069980 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
I BLEW A HEAD GASKET & THE DCL WENT OUT. LINCOLN SAYS THAT THEY CANT REPLACE THIS PART (DCL)
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10069980 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070664 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
I HAD JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM A PRIVATE OWNER FOR MY SISTER TO DRIVE TO WORK. WELL NOT EVEN BEFORE WE GOT HOME THE MAIN EEC IV COMPUTER DIED SO THE CAR WOULD NOT RUN. ONCE WE FIGURED OUT IT WAS THE MAIN COMPUTER AND REPLACED IT IT RAN FINE. BUT WE STILL HAD TWO BAD FRONT AIR STRUTS TO FIX. AFTER ALL THAT SHE FINALLY GOT TO DRIVE IT TO WORK AND THE FIRST DAY SHE DROVE THE CAR SHE DID NOT EVEN MAKE IT HOME BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION JUST STOPPED WORKING. SO SHE IS OUT A CAR AND WE DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT. BECAUSE OF ALL THE OTHER CARS MY …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10070664 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 ↗97V025000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 1997-02-26 (February 26, 1997)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L ENGINES AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, IOWA, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. WATER CAN ACCUMULATE WITHIN THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE CONDUIT. IF ENOUGH WATER ACCUMULATES, IT COULD FREEZE WITHIN A LOW AREA OF THE CABLE ROUTING WHEN EXPOSED TO A LONG TERM COLD SOAK AT TEMPERATURES AT LEAST SEVERAL DEGREES BELOW FREEZING.
Consequence: DRIVER CONTROL OF VEHICLE SPEED USING THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM OR THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEM WOULD BE DIMINISHED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A BOOT TO THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE.
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 ↗