2002 Lincoln CONTINENTAL: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
33 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
60,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 18 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 33 complaints (15.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 18.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 9.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.0% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 3.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 3 |
| Suspension | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 |
| Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs | 2 |
Unknown Or Other: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 3; Suspension: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Seat Belts: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs: 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 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 15 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2002: 6; 2003: 6; 2004: 6; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 2; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10003943 · 2003-01-29 (January 29, 2003)
THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 65 MPH, HOWEVER AS HE WAS GOING DOWN A HILL HE NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 80 MPH. THE DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT WAS THE WAY THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKED.*JB PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003943 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011436 · 2003-03-26 (March 26, 2003)
THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT CONTROL THE MAXIMUM SPEED WHEN GOING DOWN HILL. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 65 BUT THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 80 MPH. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED THIS WAY. *AK *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011436 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020416 · 2003-05-13 (May 13, 2003)
NO SUMMARY. INFORMATION ON ODI #768869.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020416 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023597 · 2003-06-23 (June 23, 2003)
2002 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. FRONT AIR DAM MADE OF BRITTLE PLASTIC AND BREAKS IF IT TOUCHES ANYTHING. THIS VEHICLE HAS 8500 MILES AND TWO AIR DAMS HAVE BROKEN. LINCOLN/MERC DEALER REPLACED ONE BUT REFUSES TO REPLACE ANOTHER. CUSTOMER SERVICE SAYS THE DAMAGE IS DUE TO "DRIVER CARELESSNESS" AND REFUSES TO REPLACE. THIS ITEM IS EXTREMELY FRAGILE AND HAS NO "GIVE". THE DEALER AT FIRST STATED THAT "THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM" WITH THE CONTINENTAL BUT NOW STATES IT IS THE "CUSTOMERS FAULT". THE DEALER ALSO STATES THAT DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE COULD OCCU…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023597 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037942 · 2003-10-01 (October 1, 2003)
DURING BRIGHT DAY LIGHT HOURS SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE DUE TO THE COLOR OF THE NEEDLE AND THE DIAL'S BACKGROUND. THE NEEDLE IS DULL RED, AND THE BACKGROUND IS BLACK. THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE SUN MAKES THE NEEDLE FADE AWAY. THE PANEL AND NEEDLES FUNCTION PROPERLY ON DAYS IT'S NOT SO BRIGHT. THE CONSUMER HAD THE DEALER PAINT THE DIAL NEEDLE WHITE BUT THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM DUE TO THE TINTED PLASTIC COVER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 26,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037942 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039082 · 2003-09-17 (September 17, 2003)
THE NHTSA WEB SITE WON'T LET ME LOOK UP MY CAR (HTTP://WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/IVOQ/). MY CAR IS A 2002 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. WITHIN THE 2002 LINCOLN, THE ONLY MODEL ON WHICH THE SYSTEM PERMITS INQUIRIES IS THE TOWN CAR. WHAT ABOUT THE 2002 CONTINENTAL? WHAT ABOUT THE 2002 LS? REGARDS, CHUCK KIRKPATRICK. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10039082 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10054469 · 2004-01-20 (January 20, 2004)
ENGINE COMPARTMENT EMITS LOUD NOISE AND 'STEAM' WHEN IN SLOW TRAFFIC OR WHEN IDLING. TROUBLE TRACED TO FAULTY AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR WHICH HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THIS WAS THE THIRD OCCURANCE IN 1 MONTH. THIS TIME THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND LEFT US STUCK IN TRAFFIC.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10054469 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10069276 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
WHEN GOING DOWN A HILL WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON THE CAR KEEPS PICKING UP SPEED.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10069276 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.