1991 Lincoln Continental

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 203 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine and engine cooling › engine. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine24
002
Power Train › Automatic Transmission21
000
Suspension › Front › Springs › Air Suspension System11
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline11
030
Structure › Frame and Members10
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip9
000
Unknown or Other6
000
Vehicle Speed Control4
000
Suspension › Rear › Springs › Air Suspension System4
000
Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner4
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Structure › Frame and Members98V323000
Filed Dec 16, 19982,697,000 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. 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.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.

Vehicle Speed Control97V025000
Filed Feb 26, 1997212,700 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. 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.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL ADD A BOOT TO THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor91V134000
Filed Aug 6, 1991325,000 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. 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.

Remedy. REPLACE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH FULL CAST FRONT BRAKE ROTORS.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Dec 8, 200639,800 milesMI

1991 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL WITH 39,800 ORIGINAL OWNER MILES. HEAD GASKET BLEW. COOLANT COMING OUT OF EXHAUST PIPES. *NM

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Feb 15, 2005156,000 milesUT

AS I STARTED OFF FROM A STOP SIGN ON 7/21/04. I HEARD A LOUD SOUND FROM UNDER MY CAR. I GOT AND LOOKED UNDER THE CAR BUT COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING WRONG, SINCE IT WAS DARK, SO I GOT BACK IN AND STARTED OUT AGAIN BUT I DIDN'T HAVE ANY POWER STEERING. I REASONED SOMETHING HAD BROKEN IN THE POWER STEERING UNIT. SINCE I WAS ONLY TWO BLOCKS FROM HOME I DECIDED TO TRY TO LIMP THE CAR HOME. I GOT A FLASH LIGHT AND LOOKED UNDER THE CAR. I FOUND THE REAR OF THE SUB FRAME HAD BROKEN AWAY FROM THE BODY, AND WAS ONLY A COUPLE OF INCHES OFF THE GROUND. THE FRAME APPEARED TO BE HELD UP BY THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. I CALLED THE LINCOLN DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SUBFRAME OF MY CAR BUT IT WAS ONLY GOOD IN 25 STATES AND UTAH WAS NOT INCLUDED. I TALKED TO TWO PEOPLE AT FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND SAID THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME EITHER. THE RECALL WAS 98S36. I FEEL THAT THE FACT THAT MY SUBFRAME BROKE LOOSE AND I LOST MY STEERING SHOULD BE ENOUGH EVIDENCE OF A SAFETY ISSUE REGARDLESS OF WHEN OR WHERE IT OCCURRED. *AK THE LEFT MOUNTING BOLT PULLED THROUGH THE LOWER WASHER. *SC *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jan 10, 2005DC

1991 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***.*MR RECALL FOR MOTOR MOUNTS, SUB-FRAME SUPPORT PLATE, TRANSMISSION CABLE, AND MOUNT CORROSION. DEALERSHIP WILLING TO FIX SUB-FRAME PLATE AND CABLE, BUT WILL NOT FIX MOTOR MOUNTS, STATING THAT THE 6 YEAR OR 60,000 MILES HAS EXPIRED AND THAT THE CAR IS TOO OLD. PLEASE HELP INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER. *TT *NM

Suspension › Front › Springs › Air Suspension › Springs/Bags
Filed Jul 16, 2004MO

FRONT SUSPENSION WENT OUT. HAD IT REPAIRED AT AN INDEPENDENT DEALER, OVER 2000.00. NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS, REAR GOES OUT. THIS IS VERY UNFAIR TOO THE CONSUMER. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 15, 2004OR

PEELING PAINT AND HEAD GASKETS FAILED POSSIBLY A CRACKED HEAD

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 15, 2004LA

I BLEW A HEAD GASKET & THE DCL WENT OUT. LINCOLN SAYS THAT THEY CANT REPLACE THIS PART (DCL)

Power Train
Filed Jan 15, 2004WI

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 POOR SISTER HAS OWNED DRAINED US.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jan 13, 2004CA

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

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Aug 16, 2003133,451 milesWI

TRANSMISSION SUDDEN FAILURE WITH NO WARNING. IT HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER WE EXITED THE FREEWAY.*AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 5, 2003GA

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 MONTHS. THE ORIGINAL OWNERS WERE IN THEIR 70'S. PRIOR TO SELLING THE LINCOLN A MOTOR HAD BEEN INSTALLED. *AK

Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed May 16, 2003FL

WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. *NLM *TT

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Apr 2, 2003107,000 milesOH

THE SUB FRAME DROPPED, WHICH CAUSED IMPROPER STEERING. THE DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRABLE. *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Column Shift
Filed Mar 26, 2002OH

WHILE PUTTING THE SHIFT LEVER IN PARK THE SHIFT LEVER BROKE, AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN ANY GEAR. NLM

Vehicle Speed Control › LinkagesCrash
Filed Mar 6, 2002NY

WHILE PULLING UP DRIVEWAY WITH FOOT ON BRAKE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD, HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. BRAKES WOULD NOT HOLD.*AK

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Oct 26, 2001MI

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

Suspension › Front › Macpherson Strut
Filed Sep 10, 2001PA

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MCPHERSON STRUT, INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WOULD OVER INFLATE OR UNDER INFLATE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALERSHIP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO LOCATE CAUSE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Suspension › Front
Filed Aug 15, 2001AR

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Suspension › Rear › Springs › Air Suspension System
Filed Aug 6, 2001MA

REAR AIR SUSPENSION IN VEHICLE HAS FAILED.*AK

Steering
Filed Jul 9, 2001FL

STEERING WHEEL CONTINUED TURNING LEFT, UNASSISTED, INSTEAD OF RETURNING TO TDC WHEN GRIP PRESSURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL IS RELAXED. EXAMINATION DETERMINED CORROSION HAD CREATED A HOLE IN THE LEFT REAR CORNER COWEL PANEL IN SPIT OF RUST UNDERCOATING. ADDITIONAL RUST COVERED AN AREA OF THE UNDERBODY. ADVISE THAT THE REASON THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WAS ATTRIBUTED TO THE CORROSION DAMAGED LEFT REAR CORNER COWELL PANEL CAUSING THE ENGINE TO LURCH TO THE LEFT WHEN MAKING A 90 DEGREE LEFT TURN.

Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle BarCrash
Filed Jun 20, 2001IN

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND COULD NOT BE MANEUVERED TO THE LEFT, CAUSING A COLLISION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

20 of 203 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1991
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20207200Routine
201932300Routine
201819200Routine
201775400Routine
200233100Routine
200132200Routine
200063430Routine
199942320Routine
199872220Routine
199796230Routine
199648302Fatalities reported
199570250Routine
1994190521Fatalities reported
1993121420Routine
1992126360Routine
1991 — this page2033191Fatalities reported
19901585153Fatalities reported

Compare every Continental year →

Reading this record

1 death reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Dec 16, 1998. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.