1993 Lincoln Continental

Routine

Owners filed 121 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine and engine cooling › engine. It has been recalled 4 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine46
010
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline9
000
Exterior Lighting › Headlights8
000
Vehicle Speed Control4
101
Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Switch4
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System4
000
Suspension › Front › Springs › Air Suspension System3
000
Suspension3
000
Structure › Frame and Members3
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission2
000

4 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.

Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Switch98V009000
Filed Jan 21, 1998506,000 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHTS CAN FLASH INTERMITTENTLY AS A RESULT OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING. THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS CAN GO OUT FOR BRIEF INTERVALS.

Risk. LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION CAN AFFECT A DRIVER'S ABILITY TO NAVIGATE THE ROADWAY AND REDUCE THE VISIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLIGHT SWITCH THAT INCORPORATES A CRICUIT BREAKER OF REVISED DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF A WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR AND WIRING, IF NEEDED.

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.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Fan97V019000
Filed Feb 25, 199775,200 vehiclesFord Motor Company

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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Vehicle Speed Control
Filed May 8, 2015164,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY SIX OR SEVEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN MARCH OF 2015 FROM A PRIVATE OWNER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,000.

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Jul 27, 2012270,000 milesMA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER COMPLETING A LEFT HAND TURN, THE VEHICLE DIDN'T STRAIGHTENED WHICH FORCED THE CONTACT TO SWERVE IN THE OTHER DIRECTION/ THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REAR MOUNT BOLTS ON THE SUB-FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V323000 (STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 270,000. UPDATED 08/23/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER NEVER PERFORMED ANY RECALL REPAIRS ON THE VEHICLE AFTER HAVIING THE VEHICLE EXAMINED BY HIS SON-IN-LAW.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Dec 26, 200429,900 milesCA

THE CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM FAMILY ON NOVEMBER 5, 2004, AND THE FAILURE OCCURED LESS THAN TWO MONTHS LATER ON DECEMBER 22, 2004. THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY US LESS THAN 1,000 MILES AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS ONLY 29,900 AS THE CAR WAS OWNED BY MY HUSBAND'S GRANDMOTHER. THE CAR IS IN PRISTINE CONDITION AND WAS TOWED TO WITT LINCOLN-MERCURY DEALERSHIP ON DECEMBER 23, 2004. WE WERE NOTIFIED THE EVENING OF THE 23RD THAT THE HEAD GASKET APPEARED TO BE BLOWN AND ON CHRISTMAS EVE THAT THE INITIAL REPAIR ESTIMATE WAS $1,485 MINIMUM, WHICH INCLUDES 11 HOURS OF LABOR AT $85. MY 1990 TOYOTA CELICA HAS 260K+ MILES, MY HUSBAND'S 1984 CHEVROLET CAMARO HAS 280K+ MILES. IT IS AMAZING THAT FORD BUILDS CARS THAT REQUIRE MAJOR REPAIRS AFTER LESS THAN 30,000 MILES!!! THEY SHOULD BE SHUT DOWN.*AK

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Dec 13, 200483,350 milesPA

WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS GO OFF. CONSUMER MENTIONED A RECALL, HOWEVER, NONE WAS FOUND. RECALL FOR 108 HEADLIGHT MANUAL. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Fan
Filed Apr 15, 200473,000 milesNC

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. SIMULTANEOUSLY, WHILE DRIVING TEMPERATURE GAUGE FLUCTUATED, AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THEN, VEHICLE STALLED. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT HEATING SYSTEM WAS INOPERATIVE. RECALL 97V019000 ON ENGINE COOLING FAN WAS ISSUED, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jan 15, 2004OH

I DID NOT GET A RECALL FOR THE 1986-1993 FOR THE BRAKE ROTOR HUB CORROSION PROBLEM. I DID RECEIVE AND REPAIRED THE SUBFRAME MOUNT(93V-106.001) THE ROTOR HUB IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM AS I HAVE PAID TO HAVE THIS REPLACED ONCE AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A FORD AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITY LOOK AT THIS.

Suspension
Filed Jan 15, 200450,000 milesCO

WE HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WHERE WOULD YOU START. THE REAR AIR BAGS EXPLODED SHORTLY AFTER WE BOUGHT IT. WE HAVE HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, COOLENT LEAKS, AND BELT PROBLEMS. ONE TRIP TO OKLAHOMA COST A TRANSMISSION, AND THE NEXT TRIP, THE HEAD GASKETS ON THE ENGINE.

Suspension
Filed Jan 15, 2004126,000 milesTX

ENGINE (3.8L V6) BLEW HEAD GASKET FIRST TIME AT ~60,000 MILES. DEALER REPAIRED. THIRTEEN MONTHS LATER, ~72,000 MILES, HEAD GASKET BLEW AGAIN. DIFFERENT DEALER REPAIRED, (ANOTHER $1,600 WITH NO HELP FROM MANUFACTURER OR PREVIOUS REPAIRING DEALER). NOW WITH ~126,000 MILES ON VEHICLE, HEAD GASKET MAY HAVE BLOWN AGAIN. ALL THREE MOTOR MOUNTS AND HARMONIC STABILIZER WERE REPLACED (ALL MOUNTS WERE LEAKING OR CRACKED).

Suspension › Rear › Springs › Air Suspension System
Filed Jun 13, 200360,000 milesMD

AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM GOES BAD WHICH CAUSES THE REAR END TO DRAG. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 21, 200365,000 milesCT

THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED, AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE TAILPIPE, COOLANT LEAKED DUE TO BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. MR *PH *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 19, 200375,000 milesFL

POWER STEERING FAILURE, MOTOR MOUNT FAILURE, HEAD GASKET LEAK AND THE TRANSMISSION SEALS LEAK. CAR HAS 75000 MILES. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Aug 16, 2002GA

THIS CAR HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED AND HAD ALL REGULAR MAINTENANCE. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM IS THE SAME AS THE ONE IN THE 1994 RECALL AND THAT THIS SHOULD APPLY TO OUR CAR AS WELL. WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED AFTER READING MANY REPORTS OF MULTIPLE HEAD GASKET FAILURES ON THE SAME CAR.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jan 30, 2002CA

THERE IS CRYSTALIZED COOLANT NEXT TO HEAD GASKET, INDICATING THAT THERE IS A LEAK. GASKETS HAVE NOT BLOWN. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jan 17, 2002CA

WHILE DRIVING 65-70 MPH VEHICLE WAS OVER HEATING. PULLED VEHICLE OVER AND CHECKED UNDER HOOD. NOTICED COOLANT WAS LOW AND REPLACED IT. PROBLEM REAPPEARED AGAIN. TOOK VEHICLE TO A TECHNICIAN. INFORMED OWNER HEAD GASKETS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jan 16, 2002CA

ON 01/12/02 I WAS DRIVING 130 MILES EAST OF LOS ANGELES,I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS RUNNING BELOW NORMAL ON THE TEMPERATURE, TEN MINUTES LATER I HEAR A BEEPING SOUND FROM THE DASH AND NOTICED THE CAR WAS RUNNIG HOT. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED BACK TO TORRANCE, CA. THE MECHANIC TELLS THAT I HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND THAT IT,S PRETTY COMMON ON THE FORD 3.8 SIX CYLINDER ENGINES.I CALLED FORD AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY 1993 CONTINENTAL HAD NO RECALLS ON MY ENGINE. BUT IT'S NOT THE MODLE OF THE CAR BUT THE DEFECTIVE ENGINE AND THEY NEVER NOTIFIED ME ABOUT THE POSSIBLE PROBLEM.AFTER GOING ON THE INTER-NET I'VE FOUND A LOT OF FORD MODELS OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET.I THINK FORD SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON ALL OF THESE ENGINES. THANK YOU MR. GARY STUART. *AK

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Dec 31, 2001OK

LOWER SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE BROKE. *AK

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Dec 28, 2001OK

INTERMITTENTLY HEADLIGHTS GO OUT FOR BRIEF INTERVALS. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON MAKE AND MODEL. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLES WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Oct 18, 2001MO

CONSUMER REPORTED TO DEALER ON DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTATCED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Sep 6, 2001IN

THE DESCRIBED VEHICLE EVIDENTLY HAD A WATER PUMP GO OUT. THE VEHICLE GAUGE NEVER INDICATED VEHICLE WAS HOT, SO THERE WAS NO WARNING WHEN THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND QUIT RUNNING. WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE 70, WE LOST BRAKING AND STEERING CAPACITY AND WERE FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE TO BRAKE OR MANEUVER AGGRESIVELY. THERE WERE 4 PERSONS IN THE VEHICLE WHO CAN ATTEST THAT THE WARNING SYSTEM DID NOT WORK. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jun 6, 2001PA

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT 40,217 MILES WHICH REQUIRES COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT, CONSUMER REQUESTS THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH COVERED HEAD GASKETS THAT WERE DEFECTIVE FOR THE 1994-1995 MODELS INCLUDE THE 1993 MODEL AS WELL. *MJS

20 of 121 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
1993 — this page121420Routine
1992126360Routine
19912033191Fatalities reported
19901585153Fatalities reported

Compare every Continental year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

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.