1992 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. THESE VEHICLES ARE ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, IOWA, MINNESOTA, NEBRASKA, NORTH DAKOTA, AND SOUTH DAKOTA. THE VEHICLES INVOLVED ARE 1992-1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES WITH 3.0L ENGINES; 1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ WITH 2.3L ENGINES; 1992-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.8L ENGINES; 1994-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.0L ENGINES AND 1992-1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL VEHICLES WITH 3.8L ENGINES. DURING HIGH WINDS, HEAVY, BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW, AND LOW TEMPERATURES, THE ENGINE COOLING FAN CAN BECOME BLOCKED OR FROZEN WITH SNOW. THE FAN MOTOR MAY NOT ROTATE AND COULD OVERHEAT.

Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE SMOKE OR FLAMES FROM THE FAN AND/OR SHROUD, THE FAN ELECTRICAL WIRING, OR THE FAN MOTOR RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ELECTRICAL JUMPER HARNESS CONTAINING AN AUTOMATIC RESETTING CIRCUIT BREAKER TO PROTECT THE FAN MOTOR LOW SPEED CIRCUITRY FROM OVERHEATING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE STEERING ABILITY SEIZED. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR SUB-MOUNT FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I AM USING MY CRUISE CONTROL AND STEP ON THE BRAKE TO DISENGAGE IT THAT THE CAR ACTUALLY SPEEDS UP. I HAVE TO STEP ON THE BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES TO GET IT TO DISENGAGE. IT IS QUITE SCARY. *TR

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH A FIRE STARTED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

HERE IS THE LIST OF PROBLEMS I'VE HAD WITH THIS CAR. 1.PURCHASED FROM BOB MULLEN AUTO BATAVIA NY MILAGE: 58702 ,JUNE 3RD 1999 2.RETURNED CAR 10 DAYS LATER , AC DIDN'T WORK, DEALER REPIRED AT HIS COST OF $500. 3.JAN 2000 REPAIR EXHAUST SYSTEM. MY SHARE OF BILL $514.00 4. 4/28/2000 MONROE MUFFLER, WORK ON FRONT END AIR SUSPENSION, $370 5. 7/28/2000 ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED, COST $152 FOR NEW SWITCHES 6. 9/15/2000 TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALER ABS WASN'T WORKING ESTIMATE TO REPAIR..$826, HAD DEALER DISARM ABS 7. DGL ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. HAD TO TAKE CAR TO LINCOLN DEALER,,ESTIMATED COST TO FIX ALL THE THINGS DISCOVERED TO BE BAD, $3480. TOLD THEM I'D TAKE MY CHANCES 8. 4/9/2001 TOOK CAR AGAIN TO MONROE MUFFLER FOR RIGHT AIR SUSPENSION REPLACEMENT, COST $638.... 9. 4/23/2001 CAR RETURNED TO COLE MUFFLER MUFFLERS ROTTED OUT ALREADY WERE REPLACED WITH NEW ONES PLUS PIPES. 10. 5/01/01 TOOK CAR TO AIR CONDITIONING CENTER SAID IT HAD CRACKED HOUSING REPAIR WOULD COST $575. MADE SURE WINDOWS WORKED!!! 11. 7/16/2002 TOOK CAR TO TRANSMISSION CENTER FOR SERVICE. REPLACED SWITCH FOR CAR WOULD GO INTO 2ND GEAR COST $121. STILL NOT WORKING RIGHT. 12. 4/15/2003 OIL PAN STARTED TO LEAK, HAVE HAD TO WELD BUSTED SEAM $125 13. NOT SURE BUT IT SHOWS SIGNS OF OVERHEATING PROBLEMS, WHICH MAY LEAD TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND THE CAR STILL ONLY HAS ABOUT 80,000 MILES!! THE CAR IS A CONTINENTAL BUT HAS BEEN RENAMED TOWN CAR BECAUSE I DON'T DARE TAKE IT OUT OF TOWN.. THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THIS MATTER.

VEHICLE BROKE DOWN WHILE HEADED SOUTH I95 ON 12/26/02 IN PETERBURG,VIRGINIA. FORCED TO RENT A CAR WHILE BEING REPAIRED. REPLACED HEAD GASKETS AND EGO SENSOR AND PERIPHERAL WORK NEEDED. COST: $1,215.89 PLUS RENTAL (STRANDED IN VA) $264.60. TOTAL OF $1,480.49. THIS IS NOT A MAINTENANCE ITEM, BUT A FLAW IN VEHICLE WHICH FORD-LINCOLN HAS ACKNOWLEDGED VIA A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. I BELIEVE LATER MODELS 1994? WERE COVERED BY FORD FOR REPAIR EXPENSE. ALSO MY MILEAGE IS A 1000 OVER THAT FOR REPAIR REIMBURSEMENT. BUT THIS VEHICLE REPAIR ALSO SHOULD BE COVERED BY MANUFACTURER BECAUSE IT IS THE SAME FLAWED 3.8 ENGINE!

1992 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WOULDN'T GO IN GEAR. TURNING IT OFF AND ON IT WOULD GO IN GEAR UNTIL YOU STARTING GOING THEN NOTHING. *LA

DEALER REPLACED ROTORS AND PAD FOR A NEW YORK TRIP. BY THE TIME CONSUMER ARRIVED IN NEW YORK BRAKES FAILED. CURRENTLY, BRAKE FLUID LEAK. *AK

ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED CAUSING A COLLISION. AFTERWARDS, THE "ABS" WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DEALER NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE. TS

WORN MOUNT ALLOWS ENGINE TO SHIFT AND BIND STEERING SO YOU CAN'T TURN TO THE RIGHT.*AK

REAR AIR SHOCKS WILL CAUSE VEHICLE TO HEAVILY VIBRATE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO ERRATIC OPERATION. VEHICLE HAS A TENDENCY TO STALL OR HESITATE WITH NO PARTICULAR FAIL PATTERN. FUEL FILTERS HAVE BEEN CHANGED ALONG WITH FUEL PUMP AND OTHER ITEMS.*AK.*NLM

OIL IS LEAKING INTO ENGINE.*AK

HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING AT RANDOM INTERVALS. TOTAL LIGH LOST DURATION CAN BE UP TO 5 SECONDS AT TIME. LINCLON DEALER SAID THERE ARE NO HIEADLIGHTS RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. SOMEONE ON EDMUND'S WEB SITE MENTIONED THAT HIS 94' CONTINENTAL HAD THE SAME HEAD LIGHTS PROBLEM BUT WAS FIXED BY THE DEALER ASSUMABLY UNDER A RECALL. IS THERE A HEAD LIGHTS FOR 92' MODEL? THANKS!*AK

WHILE TRAVELING 50MPH ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE STARTED TO ACELLERATE. ALSO, LEFT FRONT CALIPERS LOCKED UP. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING STRUTS/ SHOCKS WENT OUT, CAUSING LEVELERS NOT TO WORK PROPERLY. VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT, AND STEERING BECAME VERY HARD. HAD TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC INDICATED REAR SHOCKS/STRUTS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR RIDE CONTROL COMES ON, CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT AND REAR SPRING AND SHOCK ABSORBER ASSEMBLIES, CONSUMER STATES THE PROBLEM ALWAYS STARTS WITH THE CONSTANTLY RUNNING AIR PUMP. *SLC

CONSUMER STATES THE CHECK DCL LIGHT ILLUMINATES, ACCOMPANIED BY A BEEP SOUND, ON THE MESSAGE CENTER, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER NOT TO WORRY, HOWEVER CONSUMER STATES IT IS ANNOYING AND IS OCCURRING SOMETIMES AS OFTEN AS 3 TIMES A DAY, THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE 1999. *SLC

VEHICLE ACCELERATES OUT OF CONTROL, DRIVER THREW IT OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL OR PARK, IT AGAIN WENT BACK TO IDLE ON ITS OWN.

CONTACTED FORD - THEY ONLY RESPOND TO OFFICIAL RECALLS OR LAWSUITS. PLEASE HELP ME. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

AIR RIDE CONTROL SYSTEM WENT OUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SWAY DOWN TO ROAD. HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE WAS RUNNING HOT. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEMS. *AK

BRAKE PEDAL RETURNS SLOWLY, SOMETIMES DOES NOT RETURN AT ALL. DEALER HAS TSB PUBLISHED ABOUT PROBLEM - 92-19-2 ABS PEDAL RETURNS SLOW: NEW BRAKE BOOSTER. REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE BOOSTER IS NECESSARY, HOWEVER, DEALER DOES NOT FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE - THE BRAKE PEDAL DOES NOT ALWAYS RETURN ! THIS MEANS THE BRAKES DO NOT ALWAY DISENGAGE!*AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLEWOUT PREMATURELY, CAUSING COOLANT TO GO INTO PISTON. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

CONTROL DATA CENTER (CDL) FAILURE CONTIUOUSLY. FORD SAYS TYPICAL WITH THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT RECCOMEND REPLACING. CAN NOT GET CORRECT DATA ALL THE TIME (IE)GAS AMOUNT, OIL GUAGE, WATER GAUGE ETC... CONTIUOUS BEEPING. VERY PRICY TO REPAIR. HAPPENS ON MANY LINCOLNS*AK

IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE 1992 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL EXECUTIVE SERIES HAS MANY PROBLEMS. I COULD NOT EVEN SELL IT TO A USED CAR DEALER DUE TO ITS KNOWN DEFECTS. REAR AIR SUSPENSION BLEW OUT (BOTH AT THE SAME TIME WHILE DRIVING) HEAD GASKET IN AN ENGINE THAT GETS IT'S OIL CHANGED EVERY 3000 MILES OR SO. FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY READY TO FALL OFF. VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED. AIR CONDITIONING THAT COMPLETELY BECAME DISFUNCTIONAL.

ALL FOUR SHOCK ABSORBERS WENT OUT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING . ALSO, AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM WOULDN'T WORK, DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH SPEEDOMETER WILL DIE, CONSUMER STILL KEEPS SAME SPEED, BUT READING IS ZERO.*AK

TWO YEARS AGO I HAD THE REAR AIR BAGS REPAIRED AT THE DEALER AT A COST OF $1500. AT THE BEGINING OF THIS YEAR THE FRONT AIR BAGS STARTED TO GO. LIKE THE REARS THE LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE IS SPORATIC.SOMETIMES THE CAR LOWERS ITSELF OVERNIGHT, OTHER TIMES IT HAPPENS WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT OTHER EARLY 90'S CONTINENTALS AND TOWNCARS IN MY AREA SAG AT THE FRONT OR REAR OF THE CAR. I AM WONDERING IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED OTHER REPORTS ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I ALSO KNOW THAT LINCOLN NO LONGER USES THIS SYSTEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING HOOD LATCH REMAINED LATCHED IN PLACE, BUT HOOD FLEW UP, BLOCKING DRIVERS VIEW, AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD AND ROOF. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE 3.8 LITER WITH V6; HEAD GASKET FAILED AT 77,000 MILES . MAUNFACTURR WILL NOT COVER HEAD GASKET EVEN WITH THE EXTENDED WARRANTY.*AK

HEAD GASKET FAILURE CAUSED ENGINE FAILURE AFTER LOSS OF COOLANT. *AK

THE SELF LEVELING AIR SHOCKS ARE LOSING AIR AND THE COMPRESSOR RUNS ALL THE TIME. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS WILL COST ME $500 PER WHEEL TO CORRECT. ALTHOUGH MY CAR HAS ALOT OF MILES ON IT, I CAN'T EVEN TRADE IT IN BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS IT HAS. I WONDER IF OTHER LINCOLN OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. IS THIS JUST NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR? I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THIS CAR.

WITH IN 10 MONTHS ALL FOUR AIR SUSPENSIONS FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE DROPPING TO THE FRAME, WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL AND CRASH. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK EACH DIAPHRAM THAT FAILED WAS DUE TO SALT CORROSSION. *YH

THIS LINCOLN NOW HAS 147,000 MILES ON IT . THE HEAD GASKETS ARE LEAKING AGAIN, THEY WERE REPLACED 2 TIMES ALREADY. GETTING CHECK DCL LIGHT, BUZZER ALL THE TIME, THIS WAS FIXED ONCE ALREADY. A/C STILL BLOWS HOT AIR. I WILL NEVER BUY A LINCOLN AGAIN.. I HAVE SPENT TO MUCH MONEY FIXING FORDS REACURRING PROBLEMS.

HEAD GASKET LEAK CAUSED OVERHEAT, COMMON PROBLEM, RECALL ON OTHER YEARS, $1500 REPAIR, IF THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS WHY WON'T THEY RECALL THE 1992?*AK

REAR END DROPPED MAKING STEERING DIFFICULT, AFTER DEALER EXAMINATION ALL FOUR AIR STRUTS PN FOOY-5A96-D HAD TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE ELECTRIC ADJUSTERS AND SPG & SHK ABS

THE AIR BAG SUSPENSION SYSTEM HAS FAILED ON TWO OCCASIONS, WHEN THIS OCCURS THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES LOSS OF CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE BOUNCES ON THE ROAD. *MJS

THE 3.8 L V-6 ENGINE SHOULD BE RECALLED -REPRESENTS POTENTIAL CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AT HIGH SPEED -IS KNOWN DEFECTIVE DESIGN. *AK

I HAVE HEARD OF A RECALL ON THE 90-91, AND 94 MODELS, BUT NOT ON THE 92. ALSO, OUR 92 WAS BUILT IN 11/91; WOULD THAT RECALL BE FOR MODEL YEAR 91, OR ALL VEHICLES BUILT IN 91? I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS AMOUNTS OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS ENGINE AND ITS HEAD GASKET PLAGUE. ANY INFORMATION YOU COULD PROVIDE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU!. NO SAFETY DEFECT DISCUSSED IN SUMMARY. *AK

BRAKES WORK INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER COULDN'T SEEM TO FIND A PROBLEM. CONSUMER TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC & THEY TEST DROVE IT & FOUND A PROBLEM, BUT NOT SURE WHAT IT WAS. THEY'RE STILL INSPECTING THE VEHICLES PROBLEM.*AK

I DON'T KNOW IF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. MAYBE IF THE ENGINE WAS TO STALL OR QUIT AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF CONTROL, THEN PERSONAL LIABILITY WOULD BE A FACTOR. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING FLUID ONTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. BOTH HEAD GASKETS REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE, AS WELL AS BOTH FRONT AIR-LEVELING BAGS WHICH WERE LEAKING AND DETERIORATED. *AK *ML

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED RECALL #98S36, HOWEVER, VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL, VEHICLE COLLAPSED CAUSING DAMAGE TO COMPONENTS. YH

1994 I PURCHASED A USED 1992 CONTINENTIAL STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. IN OCTOBER 1996 WITH 64293 MILES ON VEHICLE, AND OUT OF WARRANTY, THE HEAD-GASKETS FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1,521.66. I BELIEVE HEAD GASKETS SHOULD LAST AT LEAST 100K MILES AND THAT THIS ENGINE HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS KNOWN TO FORD MOTOR CO. AS IS EVIDENCED BY THEIR TSB 98-4-9, FOR THE 1988-94 3.8L ENGINE. PLEASE CONTINUE TO PURSUE FORD MOTOR TO HONOR THIS VEHICLE YEAR, ALONG WITH THE PROGRESS YOU HAVE MADE FOR LATER YEAR VEHICLES WITH THIS ENGINE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

FORD'S 3.8L ENGINE HAS EXPERIENCED MANY HEAD GASKET FAILURES. MY 1992 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL EXPERIENCED A FAILED HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AT 91,830 MILES. FORD HAS EXTENDED ENGINE WARRANTIES ON LATER CONTINENTALS. IF THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WHICH IS CONTRIBUTING TO THESE FAILURES, FORD SHOULD HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY IN THE REPAIR COSTS FOR EARLIER MODELS IN ADDITION TO THE LATER MODELS THAT THEY ARE NOW COVERING. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT WHICH MAY CAUSE VEHICLE TO STALL UNEXPECTEDLY AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED THE GASKET AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK DUE TO GASKET FAILURE ANTIFREEZE LEAKED INTO CYLINDERS CAUSING ROUGH IDLE. *YH

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THE REAR AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE SITS ABOUT TWO INCHES OFF THE GROUND. *MJS