1998 Lincoln CONTINENTAL: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
48 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
100,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 17 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 48 complaints (12.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 12.5% |
| Braking behavior | 6 | 12.5% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 12.5% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 6.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Seat Belts:Rear/Other | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Electrical System: 3; Seat Belts:Rear/Other: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 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 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 2
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 31 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 10 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
2000: 10; 2001: 5; 2002: 5; 2003: 8; 2004: 2; 2005: 5; 2006: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 4; 2012: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 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 10006531 · 2003-12-15 (December 15, 2003)
I HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT ACT UP ONLY WHEN THEY WANTED TO AND THE DEALERSHIP IS DECLINING THAT THEY EXIST. I HAVE HAD MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE FOR 3 WEEKS IN THE LAST MONTH AND THEY KEEP COMING UP WITH NOTHING. THEY ALSO CALLED ME IN AND WANTED TO KEEP MY CAR AND HAVE THE SERVICE MANAGER DRIVE IT FOR A FEW DAYS -IN WHICH HE ONLY DROVE 37 MILES, PRIOR TO THAT HE AND I DROVE THE CAR TO SEE IF ANYTHING STRANGE WOULD HAPPEN AND IT DID, WHICH NOW THEY SAY NOTHING IS WRONG AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETECT CUSTOMER'S CONCERNS. I HAD A MAJOR DISPUTE …
Owner-reported narrative. 250,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006531 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007400 · 2003-02-14 (February 14, 2003)
THE TIE ROD ON THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL SEPARATED, WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007400 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020974 · 2003-06-03 (June 3, 2003)
AUTO ACCELERATES WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP, OR WHEN IN DRIVE AND STANDING STILL. I HAVE REPORTED THIS DEFECT TO FOR SERVICE AND I WAS INFORMED THAT NO DEFECT WAS FOUND. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ON MANY OCCASIONS. I WAS ALSO INFORMED BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT NO TECHNICAL SUPPORT MEMOS WERE ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 31,195 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020974 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021026 · 2003-06-04 (June 4, 2003)
AUTO ACCELERATES WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP OR WHEN IN DRIVE AND STANDING STILL. I HAVE REPORTED THIS DEFECT FOR SERVICE AND WAS INFORMED THAT NO DEFECT WAS FOUND. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ON MANY OCCASIONS. I WAS ALSO INFORMED BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT NO TECHNICAL SUPPORT MEMOS WERE ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021026 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10028844 · 2003-07-22 (July 22, 2003)
THE AUTOMATIC DIMMING INSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR APEARS FROSTED OVER HALF OF THE GLASS DISTORTING THE VIEW TO THE REAR. THIS MIRROR WAS REPLACED LESS THAN ONE YEAR AGO FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM. RESEARCH ON THE INTERRNET INDICATES THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH LINCOLN CONTINENTALS OF MULTIPLE YEARS IN THE LATE 1990'S. THERE ARE NUMERIOUS INCIDENTS OF THIS DEFECT IN THE NHTSA COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE. FORD MOTOR CO APARENTLY HAS NO SOLUTION TO THIS DEFECT AS CURRENT REPLACEMENT MIRRORS FAIL AGIN IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR. I BELEIVE THIS DEFECT SHOULD …
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028844 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10029180 · 2003-07-25 (July 25, 2003)
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON A 1998 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED, WHICH RESULTED IN THE CAR STALLING OUT. THIS MADE STEERING AND BRAKING VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO POWER GOING TO THESE UNITS ON THE CAR. I WAS LUCKY AND THE TRAFFIC WAS VERY LIGHT AT THE TIME. THE SECOND FAILURE HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN A DRIVEWAY.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 96,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10029180 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040609 · 2003-09-23 (September 23, 2003)
SERVICE AND REPAIR OF 1998 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS UPSET THAT THE DEALER WAS STILL SERVICING THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS GOING ON THE SIXTH WEEK.*TS *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10040609 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044561 · 2003-12-03 (December 3, 2003)
THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE RETRACTOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. IT WAS LATER NOTICED THAT THE REAR LEFT SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE RETRACTOR WAS DEFECTIVE BUT WOULD ONLY REPLACE THE RETRACTOR AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. *AK THE REAR SEATS WEREN'T HARDLY OCCUPIED. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10044561 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
98V028000 · Exterior Lighting:Headlights
Reported: 1998-02-10 (February 10, 1998)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TEXT AND/OR GRAPHICS FOR THE VEHICLE HEADLAMP AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence: IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY BE CONFUSED BY THE AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES CAUSING THE HEADLAMPS TO BE IMPROPERLY AIMED.
Remedy: OWNER GUIDES CONTAINING REVISED AIMING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES.
NHTSA campaign record ↗