1996 Lincoln CONTINENTAL: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
28 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
96,683 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 28 complaints (14.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 10.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 7.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.6% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 3.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices | 4 |
| Suspension | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 2 |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices:Exterior | 2 |
Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices: 4; Suspension: 3; Exterior Lighting: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 2; Steering:Rack And Pinion: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices:Exterior: 2
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 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 25 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 |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 1 |
| 2000 | 4 |
| 2001 | 11 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
1996: 1; 2000: 4; 2001: 11; 2002: 6; 2003: 1; 2004: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2009: 1
Pattern summary
Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10009226 · 2003-02-25 (February 25, 2003)
THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND SIDE VIEW MIRROR CONTAINED FILM WHICH RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009226 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10080648 · 2004-07-09 (July 9, 2004)
AUTOMOBILE DIMMING REARVIEW MIRROR IS NOT CLEAR,MELTING EFFECT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10080648 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10176773 · 2006-12-21 (December 21, 2006)
TL* - THE CONTACT IS CALLING REGARDING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06T023000. THE CONTACT STATES THAT HE TOOK HIS TIRES TO PEP BOYS THEY REFUSE TO PROVIDE HIM WITH FREE TIRES AND TOLD HIM HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TIRES AT A PRO-RATED RATE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT DUE TO THE RECALL HE SHOULD HAVE NOT BEEN CHARGE. THE CONTACT CAN PROVIDE A COPY OF THE INVOICE IF NEEDED.
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10176773 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10181149 · 2007-01-30 (January 30, 2007)
DEFECTIVE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM IN LINCOLN CONTINENTAL RESULTS IN EXTREMELY UNSTABLE AND UNSAFE DRIVING. BLOWN AIR BAG WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE RESULTED IN REAR END CRASHING DOWN AND LEAVING CAR INOPERABLE. FAULTY COMPRESSOR LEAVES THE CAR 12 INCHES DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LEFT AND RIGHT AND FRONT AND BACK. HEAD LIGHTS SHINE INTO THE SKY AND NOW INTO THE GROUND. DRIVING VEHICLE EXTREMELY UNSAFE ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. 3 YRS OF COMPLAINING TO FORD/LINCOLN - THEY WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM! GET THESE VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD BEFORE THEY CAUSE MAJOR RO…
Owner-reported narrative. 96,683 miles reported. Look up ODI 10181149 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10196008 · 2007-07-10 (July 10, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE RESTS 12 INCHES HIGHER ON ONE SIDE THAN THE OTHER, FROM THE FRONT END TO THE REAR. AS A RESULT, THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATE UPWARDS TOWARDS THE SKY OR DOWNWARDS INTO THE GROUND. HE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS GONE INTO AIR SHOCK, FORCING HIM TO LOSE CONTROL AND DRIVE OFF THE ROAD. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 160,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10196008 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10259427 · 2009-02-20 (February 20, 2009)
LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHT ON DRIVER'S SIDE WENT OUT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10259427 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 558855 · 2001-01-03 (January 3, 2001)
POWER STEERING GEAR FAILED. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 558855 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 567527 · 2002-09-18 (September 18, 2002)
CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION AT 30-40 MPH. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 567527 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
96V009000 · Exterior Lighting
Reported: 1996-01-23 (January 23, 1996)
A DEFECTIVE CONTROL MODULE IN THE "AUTOLAMP" SYSTEM CAN MALFUNCTION. IF THE "AUTOLAMP" SYSTEM IS BEING USED TO ACTIVATE THE EXTERIOR LIGHT (INCLUDING HEADLAMPS), THE HEADLAMPS COULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THIS WILL NOT OCCUR IF THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING IS TURNED ON MANUALLY BY THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.
Consequence: IF THE HEADLAMPS SHUT OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE IMPAIRED INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE "AUTOLAMP" CONTROL MODULE. OWNERS ARE INSTRUCTED TO USE THE MANUAL HEADLAMP SWITCH UNTIL THE CONTROL MODULE CAN BE REPLACED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V176000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Reported: 1996-09-18 (September 18, 1996)
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARK PAWL SHAFT MAY NOT BE FREE TO ROTATE AS INTENDED. IF THE PARK PAWL SHAFT DOES NOT ROTATE, IT WOULD PREVENT THE PARK PAWL FROM ENGAGING THE PARK GEAR WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER IS IN THE PARK POSITION.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AS IF IN NEUTRAL WITH THE SHIFT LEVER IN THE PARK POSITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE PARK PAWL SHAFT ROTATION AND THOSE SHAFTS WITH RESTRICTED ROTATION WILL BE REPLACED WITH A SHORTER SHAFT THAT WILL NOT RESTRICT ROTATION.
NHTSA campaign record ↗