Safety ratings
1991 Lincoln Continental 4-DR.
- Lane departure warningNo
- Forward collision warningNo
- Electronic stability controlNo
Crash test videos & photos
No public crash-test footage is available for this vehicle.
Recalls (3)
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCampaign 97V025000 · 26/02/1997
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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: DEALERS WILL ADD A BOOT TO THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE.
- STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERSCampaign 98V323000 · 16/12/1998
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.
Risk: IF BOTH REAR CORNERS DROP, STEERING WOULD BECOME SUDDENLY VERY DIFFICULT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTORCampaign 91V134000 · 06/08/1991
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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: REPLACE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH FULL CAST FRONT BRAKE ROTORS.
Owner complaints
Most-reported areas
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING51
- SUSPENSION37
- POWER TRAIN35
- SERVICE BRAKES31
- HYDRAULIC30
- STRUCTURE19
- STEERING15
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM15
Read individual complaints (50 most recent)
These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.
- 12/31/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES, THE VEHICLE BRAKES FAILED TWICE. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE PRESSURE SWITCH IN THE ANTI-BRAKE SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED.*JB
- 12/29/1998· STEERING,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED FOUR TIMES ,AND CURRENTLY MOTOR MOUNTS WENT OUT AGAIN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SMOKE. ALSO,POWER STEERING FLUID IS LEAKING, AND VEHICLE IS JERKING. DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE FOUR TIMES. *AK
- 12/28/1998· SUSPENSION
THE AUTO IS EQUIPPED WITH AN AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM. AT VARIOUS TIMES OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS, THE AIR BAG IN EACH STRUT HAS FAILED. INSIDE EACH STRUT IS A "RUBBER"BAG THAT IS INFLATED BY A COMPRESSOR BASED ON ROAD CONDITIONS. I WAS INFORMED BY FORD, THAT THE BAG DETERIORATES OVER TIME CAUSING THE BAG TO TEAR OR IN ONE CASE EXPLODE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THIS CAUSED THE REAR OF THE CAR TO DROP SO LOW THAT IT WAS NOT DRIVEABLE. NOT A FUN EXPERIENCE WHILE DRIVING ALONG AT 60 MPH. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH NUMEROUS LINCOLN OWNERS THAT HAVE INCURRED SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR CARS, BUT FORD HAS NOT RESPONDED TO OUR COMPLAINTS. AT SOME POINT I WOULD EXPECT TO REPLACE A STRUT OR A SHOCK, BUT WHEN THE COST TO REPLACE AND INSTALL JUST "ONE" STRUT IS BETWEEN $800-$1000, I WOULD THINK THESE PARTS WOULD LAST MUCH LONGER AND BE MANUFACTURED TO WITHSTAND THE ELEMENTS. I BELIEVE FORD HAS FAILED ON THEIR PART TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, AND I AM SURE IF YOU INVESTIGATE THIS COMPLAINT, YOU WILL AGREE THAT DUE TO THE NUMBER OF FAILURES OF THIS COMPONENT SHOULD WARRANT SOME CONSIDERATION FOR A RECALL. IF FORD CAN ISSUE A RECALL FOR FAILURE OF THE FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM FOR LINCOLN CARS DUE TO CORROSION FROM THE ELEMENTS, I THINK THEY SHOULD ALSO ADDRESS THE SUSPENSION PROBLEMS.
- 12/23/1996· STRUCTURE
FRONT/REAR OF VEHICLE BOUNCES UP/DOWN.
- 12/21/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING ORIGINAL ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLEW. WERE BLOWING SMOKE & LEAKING FLUID. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC REPLACED ENGINE. HEAD GASKETS BLEW ON THE 2ND ENGINE ALSO & ENGINE WAS REPLACED ONCE AGAIN. *AK
- 12/16/1994· POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION REBUILT.
- 12/15/1999· POWER TRAIN
WHEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH THE VEHICLE DECREASED IN SPEED, WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. VEHICLE ALSO CONTINUED TO JERK. *AK
- 12/12/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ABS FAILURE; UPON STARTING UP ABS LIGHT FLASHES, WHEN PLACED INTO DRIVE POSITION, EXPERIENCED. INTERMITTENT ABS LOCK UP, AND REAPPEARENCE OF ABS LIGHT CONTINUOUS, PEDAL PULSATION, ALSO, MUST PLACE FOOT UNDER PEDAL, THEN PUMP UP BRAKES. *AK
- 12/12/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ABS FAILURE; UPON START UP ABS LIGHT FLASHES, AS SHOULD, BUT, WHEN LIGHT GOES OFF, EXPERIENCES INTERMITTENT BRAKE LOCK UP, WHEN ABS LIGHT REAPPEARS AND STAYS ON VEHICLE CAN BE DRIVEN, PEDAL PULSATES, MUST PUT FOOT UNDER PEDAL, THEN PUMP UP BRAKES.*AK
- 12/11/1995· AIR BAGS
NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG. ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT. TT
- 12/10/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
HEAD GASKETS FAILED.
- 12/09/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
HEAD GASKET FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RUN ROUGH AND LOOSE COOLANT. YH
- 12/09/1998· STEERINGFire
THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH POWER STEERING. WHILE DRIVING HEARD A POP, POWER STEERING WENT OUT, AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK
- 12/08/2006· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1991 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL WITH 39,800 ORIGINAL OWNER MILES. HEAD GASKET BLEW. COOLANT COMING OUT OF EXHAUST PIPES. *NM
- 12/08/1994· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
REPLACED FUEL FILTER.
- 12/01/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
FRONT DISC ROTORS ARE WARPING, PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING. TT
- 11/29/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
- 11/27/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire
ALTERNATOR FIRE.
- 11/22/1996· SEAT BELTS
SLOWED TO A STOP SIGN WHEN ENTIRE SEAT BELT UNIT DETACHED FROM FLOOR/ANCHORAGE WHILE USING A CHILD SAFETY SEAT. *AK
- 11/21/2000· STEERING
FAILURE OF POWER STEERING HOSE WHICH COULD CAUSE POWER STEERING FLUID TO FLOW ONTO EXHAUST PIPE. CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF TSB ISSUED BY MANUFACTURER, AND A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT ISSUED FOR THE SAME DEFECT.*AK
- 11/18/1999· SUSPENSION,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,STRUCTURE,EQUIPMENT
THE HYDRAULIC SHOCKS, FRONT AND BACK ALL BEFORE 110,000 MILES. (ABOUT $2000 TO FIX) THE AIR CONDITIONER. THE DCL LIGHT KEEPS GOING OFF. THE OIL LIGHT KEEPS GOING OFF. NO OIL IS NEEDED. THE FRONT END SHAKES VERY BADLY. THE REAR SUB MOUNTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE HEADLINER IN THE CAR IS DISENTERGRATING. THE TRUNK MOTOR WAS REPLACED AND IS DYING AGAIN. THE RADIO IS DEAD. MANY THINGS ARE WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT WAS ORIGINALLY FROM PENN.
- 11/18/1994· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS/PADS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL (91V-134). *AK
- 11/17/1998· AIR BAGSCrash
WAS DRVING VEHICLE ABOUT 35MPH, HIT A TREE HEAD ON, DEAD CENTER. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR & PAVEMENT DRY. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. IT RESULTED IN A FATALITY. *AK
- 11/07/1995· SEATS
VEHICLES HEAD REST DESIGN IS INSUFFICENT.THE HEADREST LAYS TOO FAR BACK ON SEAT.DOES NOT PROVIDE PROTECTION AGAINST WHIPLASH/INJURY. TT *JB
- 11/05/1998· UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE SEAT BELT LATCH REPLACED OR REPAIRED
- 11/03/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHEN VEHICLE'S RUNNING HOT, WOULD START TO MAKE NOISES. WATER WOULD COME OUT OF TAIL PIPE. MECHANIC SAID HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN & HAD A CRACKED ENGINE BLOCK. *AK *NLM
- 11/01/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN
SURVEY OF FORD DEALERS AND LOCAL REPAIR SHOPS INDICATE HEAD GASKET AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE VERY COMMON WITH 4.8L, V-6 ENGINES IN 1991 THROUGH 1997 CONTINENTAL, TARUS AND SABLE. FORD REFUSES TO ASSIST OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR FAILURES EXEPT 1994 RECALL ON ENGINE HEAD GASKET.*AK
- 10/27/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THIS IS A TYPICAL EXAMPLE OF FORD NOT COVERING THEIR CUSTOMERS FOR A DEFECT THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT FOR YEARS. THEY CLAIM THEY ARE COVERING 1994 AND NEWER VEHICLES, YET THE TSB 98-4-9 SPECIFICALLY STATES THEY HAVE BEEN FULLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM FROM 1988-1994 ON THESE CARS. I PURCHASED THE CAR USED FOR $3200, HAVE A LOAN ON IT, JUST SPENT $990 FOR THE HEAD GASKET, $400 TO GET THE PLATES AND TITLE TRANSFERRED, AND NOW I AM TOLD THE ENGINE WILL PROBABLY GO NEXT, WHICH IS COMMON FOR THIS CAR. FORD REFUSES TO SPEAK WITH ME ABOUT AN AGREEMENT. I GET THE "IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY" STORY. HEAD GASKETS ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST 120,000 MILES. MY VEHICLE HAS 72000 AT TIME OF HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT. I WANT FORD TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT!*AK
- 10/26/2001· STRUCTURE
VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NUMBER 98V323000. SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT HAS CRACKED DUE TO CORROSION, CAUSING REAR CORNERS OF VEHICLE TO DROP. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
- 10/22/1998· SUSPENSION
CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE REAR SUSPENSION; VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED/DIAGNOSED AND INSPECTED. HOWEVER, IT APPEARS REAR END CANNOT BE CORRECTED. *AK
- 10/21/1997· SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 5 MPH THE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM WENT OUT. AFTER THE SUSPENSION WENT, THE LEVEL RIDE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
- 10/21/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ABS, WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED COMPLETE LOSS OF EFFECTIVENESS , PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. *AK
- 10/20/1999· SUSPENSION,VISIBILITY,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY CAR SHAKES OR VIBRATES VERY BADLY, AND THE ENGINE CHECKLIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. ALSO, THERE IS AN ODOR THAT IS COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. *AK
- 10/18/2000· POWER TRAIN,EQUIPMENT
NO SUMMARY
- 10/18/1999· UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHEN I BOUGHT CAR, I NOTICED 2 AREAS (EACH ABOUT 4 IN. DIAMETER) OF SLIGHT PAINT DEGRADATION ON ROOF AT REAR. NOW, 2 YEARS LATER, SIZE OF DEGRADED AREAS HAS INCREASED TO 2X ORIGINAL SIZE, PAINT HAS CHALKED CONSIDERABLY AND DAMAGE IS MOVING DOWN THROUGH LAYERS TO BASE. ALSO HAVE NOTICED SAME PAINT TROUBLE STARTING TO OCCUR ON FRONT ROOF STRUTS (WHERE WINDSHIELD IS). I AM INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT IF OTHER OWNERS HAVE/ARE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR TROUBLE.
- 10/18/1999· AIR BAGS
AIR BAG WARNING LAMP CONSTANTLY FLASHES. IT FLASHES SIX TIMES, PAUSES THEN GOES THRU SAME PATTERN. SHOP MANUAL INDICATES THERE IS A FAULT WITH DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG (DIAGNOSIS OF FAILED COMPONENT(S)IS DETAILED STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE). MY UNDERSTANDING IS THIS IS NOT A SINGULAR PROBLEM BUT IS SYMPTOMATIC OF THIS MAKE, MODEL & YEAR OF VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS CHRONIC PROBLEM.
- 10/17/1995· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire
FIRE UNDER HOOD COMPARTMENT AGAINST THE FIRE WALL NEAR THE ENGINE. TT
- 10/15/1996· SUSPENSION
FRONT END SHAKES.
- 10/13/1995· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DOOR LATCHES ON THE FOUR DOORS ON VEHICLE HAVE FAILED AT TIMES, UNABLE TO OPEN DOORS FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. TT *SLC
- 10/12/2000· POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION FAILED.*ET
- 10/09/1996· SEATS
HEAD RESTRAINT IS POSITIONED TOO FAR BACK TO PROTECT DRIVER/PASSENGER FROM WHIPLASH IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT.
- 10/05/1999· SUSPENSION
FRONT AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM EXPLODED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, CAUSING THE FRONT END TO DROP DOWN ON THE FRONT TIRES, THERE WAS NO WAY TO STEER VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT. LINCOLN HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
- 10/04/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DUE TO IMPROPER HEAD GASKET FOR THE ENGINE, HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT TWICE AT 70 THOUSAND MILES AND AROUND 100 THOUSAND MILES. MANUFACTURER HAS REPLACED A RECALL FOR OTHER CAR MODELS FOR THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. DEALER HAS REPLACED HEAD GASKET AND ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
- 10/04/1995· VISIBILITY
PURCHASE CAR USED THERE IS GAS FUMES SMELL TOOK TO DEALER THE VENT NEEDED TO BE REROUTED . TT
- 10/01/1995· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
HEAD GASKETS REPLACED DUE TO LEAK. *SD
- 09/29/1999· POWER TRAIN
CONSUMER HAD TRANSMISSION OVERHAULED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEMS WAS THAT TRANSMISSION OIL WAS LEAKING ,AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO PROPER GEAR WHILE SHIFTING. *AK
- 09/27/1995· VISIBILITY
INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR FELL OFF WINDSHIELD. *SD
- 09/26/1997· STRUCTURE
RECALL 93V106002; THE DEALERSHIP IS CHARGING MR. NICOLETTI FOR HE RECALL WORK BECAUSE THEY SAY THAT THE VEHICLE WASN'T BROUGHT IN ON A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME. *AK
- 09/22/1999· POWER TRAIN
NO SUMMARY
- 09/21/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKES WOULD WORK FINE IN COLD WEATHER. AS SOON AS DISC HUBS GETS WARMED UP AFTER TRAVELING 50 MILES, THEY WOULD SMELL LIKE BURNING RUBBER. WOULD APPLY BRAKES & WOULD HAVE NO BRAKES. BEEN TO DEALER & MECHANIC CHANGED ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK