1991 Lincoln Continental

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

PEELING PAINT AND HEAD GASKETS FAILED POSSIBLY A CRACKED HEAD

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

REAR AIR SUSPENSION IN VEHICLE HAS FAILED.*AK

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.

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

THE AIR SUSPENSION HAS STOPPED WORKING, THE CAR ALMOST RESTS ON THE TIRES. *AK

IN THE MONTH OF JUNE IN 2000,THE CAR DROPPED TO THE GROUND,WE PUT IT IN THE SHOP TO HAVE IT FIXED WHICH COST ABOUT $700,AND AGAIN IN FEBRUARY 2001 THE CAR DROPPED AGAIN,I HAVE NOT HAD IT REPAIRED,I AM LOOKING FOR A RECALL,I SEE MANY OTHER CARS SAME MAKE MODEL AND YEAR WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL.*AK

THIS IS THE THIRD(3) CONTINENTAL WE HAVE OWNED AND AIR SUSPENSION HAS FAILED OF ALL THREE. THE 3.8 CUI MOTOR IN THIS CAR AND OTHER FORD MODELS HAS BENN NOTORIOUS FOR LEAKING HEAD GASKETS. *AK

AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILED. *SLC

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

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

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

NO SUMMARY

TRANSMISSION FAILED.*ET

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

THE CAR DOESN'T SHOCKS, SPRINGS, OR STRUTS ONLY AIR BAGS WHICH CONTROLS THE STEERING AS WELL AS THE RIDE OF THE CAR ONCE THE BAGS GETS A HOLE OR LEAKS THE CAR DROPS TO THE TIRES THE CAR BOUNCES ALL OVER THE PLACE MAKING IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT ANY SPEED ABOVE 20 MILES PER HOUR. THE REPAIR IS BY DEALER ONLY ASKING PRICE BETWEEN 1800 TO 2000. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW A COMPANY THOUGHT THAT A PLASTIC BAG WOULD HOLD UP A CAR WEIGHT OF OVER 4000LBS AND I WAS NEVER TOLD ABOUT AIR BAGS IN PLACE OF SPRINGS OR SHOCKS ON THE CAR I NOW HAVE A CAR THAT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND CAR PAYMENTS TO MAKE ON A UNSAFE CAR. *AK

1991 LINCOLN CONTINENTALS ARE REPORTED BY ALL REPAIR SHOPS IN THIS AREA TO HAVE KNOWN HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS ALONG WITH REAR STRUT AND AIR SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. MANY PEOPLE ARE LOSING THEIR SHIRTS AND FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO HANDLE THIS PROBLEM. THEY HAVE RECALLED 1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTALS BUT HAVE NOT ADDRESSED ANY EARLIER YEARS.*AK

JUST RETURN FROM SHOPPING PULLED UP INTO THE DRIVEWAY, WENT INSIDE THE HOUSE, ALL OF A SUDDEN AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER INDICATED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. CHECKED AIR VAC SYSTEM.*AK

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH AIR SUSPENSION. HAD TO REPLACE TWO AIR SUSPENSION SHOCKS DUE TO FAILURE. REPAIRS MADE AT AN INDEPENDENT SHO.P. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PARTS WERE NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY, NOR RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED THREE TIMES IN 23 MONTHS.

EXPERIENCED A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND COULD NOT OPERATE THE VEHICLE

MECHANIC SAID ENGINE WAS NOT EQUIPPED TO BE IN THE CAR . WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY EVERYTHING FROZE AND CONSUMER WAS STUCK. RECALL ON THE 1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL MENTIONED THE SAME PROBLEM AS CONSUMER WAS HAVING ON HER 1991 VEHICLE. YET, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. VEHICLE HAS UNDER 100000 MILES ON IT. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS DETERMINED THAT ENGINE INTERLOCK WAS THE CAUSE OF VEHICLE'S UNEXPECTED SHUTDOWN. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SAGS WHEN PARKED. NLM

AIR CONDITIONER'S COMPRESSOR SEIZED, WAS GLOWING RED & FAN BELT WAS BURNING. ALSO, SERPENTINE BELT & UNIT WAS BRIGHT RED. HAD A SHORT WARNING PRIOR TO PROBLEM. CONSUMER WAS SMELLING SOMETHING BURNING. PULLED OVER & CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 55 MPH, NOTICED SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER OF A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK *ML

A/C COMPRESSOR FAILED. *MJS

THE DEFECTIVE HOOD LATCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE CAUSING IT TO FLY UP SMASHING THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING. NLM

POWER BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PERFORM POORLY. NLM

AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM LEAKED, CAUSING REAR END TO GO DOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PART WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL, AND REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER'S COST. *AK

WHEN TURNING ON THE HEATER TO DEFROST WINDSHIELD THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE HEAT. *MJS

SHORTLY AFTER COMPLETE TRANSMISSION, MOTOR MOUNTS, AND POWER STEERING REPLACED,THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS FAILED, ONCE AGAIN CONTRBUTING TO A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT. WHILE RTURNING HOME FROM BABTSITTING MY GRANDDAUGHTER I WAS ALARMED BY DRIVERS GOING THE OPPOSITE WAY BEEPING AT ME. ONE FINALLY ROLLED DOWN HIS WINDOW AND YELLED THAT I WAS SMOKING SO BADLY I WAS BLOCKING EVERYONES VIEW. I LOOKED BACK TO SEE A DENSE CLOUD OF STEAM COVERING BOTH LANES OF TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. CARS WERE AT A STANDSTILL UNTIL THE STEAM DISSIPATED. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT DOWN. WATER WAS POURING OUT OF ONE OF THE DUAL EXHAUST PIPES. A MOTORIST STOPPED AND OFFERED A LIFT BUT I WAS ONLY A FEW BLOCKS FROM HOME. HE WENT ON TO TELL ME HIS SISTER HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO HER WINDSTAR MINIVAN ON A TRIP TO MAINE AND THE CAR WAS ONLY 45 THOUSAND MILES OLD. HE SAID IT WAS DEFINITELY MY HEAD GASKET, WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE CORRECT. HE ALSO SAID THAT THE FORD 3.8 LITER ENGINE IS A DEFECTIVE DISASTER ESPECIALLY WHEN USED WITH FRONT WHEEL DRIVE. WITH RESPECT TO THE UNDERDASH ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IT WAS A DISTRACTING WARNING CHIME AND OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR WHICH WOULD BEEP WITHOUT PROPER CAUSE ON AN INTERMITTANT BASIS. OIL PRESSURE WAS INDEED OKAY AND THE SENDING UNIT WAS REPLACED TO NO AVAIL. ONLY WHEN AN ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS REPLACED DID THIS LONGSTANDING DISTRACTION GO AWAY. MY SON-IN-LAW IN OCTOBER OF '99 TOOK OUT THE ORIGINAL CLUSTER WHICH HAD THE ODOMETER READING OF 64740 ORIGINAL MILES AND REPLACED IT WITH

THE SUSPENSION AIR RIDE SYSTEM FAILED REPEATEDLY. YH

THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WHEN I BOUGHT THE LINCOLN IN 1995, WITH 47,746 MILES. ANOTHER TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IN FEB. OF 1997 WITH 68,982 MILES ON THE CAR. THE FORD MOTOR CO. SAID THE ONE YR. WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE CAR NOW HAS 94,000 MILES AND BEGINS TO SOUND AS IF ANOTHER TRANSMISSION IS NEEDED. DO YOU SMELL A RAT? *AK

BLOWN HEAD GASKET, TALK TO 5 DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOPS ALL SAID TYPICAL OF THE 3.8L V6, THE MAN WHO SOLD ME THE VEHICLE KNOW THEIR WAS SOME PROBLEM ,HE DROPPED THE PRICE FROM $5995 TO $3950.