1999 Lincoln Continental

Routine

Owners filed 42 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the suspension › front › springs › coil springs. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs6
000
Air Bags › Frontal5
100
Vehicle Speed Control4
200
Suspension3
000
Air Bags › Side/Window3
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components2
001
Power Train2
101
Exterior Lighting › Headlights2
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine2
000
Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal1
100

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Pads16E026000
Filed Apr 1, 201649,635 vehiclesRobert Bosch Llc

Defect. Bosch Brake Components LLC (Bosch) is recalling certain aftermarket replacement front brake pads, models Bosch QuietCast BC598 and BP765, Bosch Blue BE598 and BE598H, Prostop PD598 and PD765M, Duralast Gold DG598, Duralast MKD598, Stop Master ST598, UltraStop ULT598, UltraLife MX598 and MX765, BrakeBest MKD765, and Prostop Platinum PGD598. These brake pads, manufactured October 1, 2014, to October 31, 2015 are intended for use on 2001-2007 Ford Taurus, 2001-2005 Mercury Sable, 1995-1999 Ford Taurus SHO, 1995-2002 Lincoln Continental, and 1993-1998 Lincoln Mark VIII vehicles. The brake pad shim may shift out of position causing the shim to contact the brake disc resulting in damage to the disc.

Risk. A damaged or broken brake disc may reduce a vehicle's braking power, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Bosch will instruct the owners how to have the affected brake pads replaced, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2016. Owners may contact Bosch customer service at 1-888-715-3616.

Air Bags › Frontal03V144000
Filed Apr 9, 200343,459 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG COULD DEPLOY AS A RESULT OF UNDERBODY IMPACTS NEAR THE SENSORS, SUCH AS THOSE OCCURRING FROM PIECES OF GRAVEL OR DEBRIS THROWN FROM THE WHEELS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED AT MODERATE TO HIGH SPEED OR BEING ACCELERATED.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL RECALIBRATE THE AIR BAG SENSORS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 31, 2003. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LINCOLN AT 1-800-521-4140.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings98V269000
Filed Oct 27, 19982,500 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FUEL RAIL CROSSOVER HOSE WAS DAMAGED DURING FUEL RAIL ASSEMBLY ALLOWING FUEL LEAKAGE.

Risk. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL RAIL WITH A REVISED FUEL RAIL ASSEMBLY.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Service BrakesCrash
Filed Mar 21, 2015145,000 milesAZ

[XXX] VEHICLE IMPOUNDED IN AUSTIN TEXAS WAS NOT ABLE TO GET BACK. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs
Filed Sep 24, 2014134,000 milesKS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS PARKED. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND PUNCTURED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

Suspension
Filed Mar 30, 2014101,000 milesMI

PUT CAR INTO REVERSE, AND TIRE IMMEDIATELY BLEW OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, FRONT LEFT SPRING HAD FRACTURED AND BROKE. SPRING HAD PUNCTURED TIRE SIDEWALL ONCE BEING PUT INTO REVERSE AND BUSTED OFF PLASTIC STABILIZER LINK. HAD THIS HAPPENED WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, IT WOULD HAVE SHREDDED TIRE. *TR

Suspension
Filed Dec 7, 2011135,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 45 MPH WHEN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE FRONT TIE ROD AND BALL JOINT, THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE COMPONENTS HAD FAILED, CAUSING THE TIRE TO WEAR PREMATURELY AND SPLIT IN HALF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs
Filed Jan 4, 2010125,000 milesMI

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING CORROSION CAUSED THE TIE RODS TO CORRODE AND PUNCTURE THE TIRE WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 11/15/10 *CN UPDATED 11/24/10

Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed Aug 3, 2009137,000 milesMO

AFTER DRIVING FOR 200 MILES THE RIGHT ELECTRIC RADIATOR COOLING FAN CAUGHT ON FIRE AND HAD TO BE PUT OUT. *TR

Power TrainCrash1 injured
Filed Jan 10, 2009140,000 milesFL

AFTER PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT PHARMACY AND WITH FOOT STILL ON BRAKE, CAR LURCHED FORWARD AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED, ONTO SIDEWALK AND INTO THE STONE WALL OF PHARMACY. NO DAMAGE TO PHARMACY. AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND AIRBAG AND SEAT BELT INJURIES. *TR

Steering
Filed Dec 13, 200877,091 milesNY

I SAW FLUID ON THE FLOOR OF MY GARAGE WENT TO MY REPAIR SHOP HE STATED THE RACK AND PINION STEERING UNIT WAS LEAKING NOT FROM ONE OF THE SEALS BUT FROM A CRACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE UNIT . HE SAID THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT . I SAW THE FLUID COMING RIGHT OUT OF THE METAL CASING. *TR

Suspension
Filed Jun 11, 200890,000 milesOH

RIGHT SPRING COIL CAME APART/BROKE/CRACKED/FRACTURED AND NEEDED REPLACED. *TR

Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs
Filed Aug 7, 200743,543 milesPA

MY 1999 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL HAS A BROKEN FRONT COIL SPRING THAT SNAPPED WHILE THE CAR WAS SITTING IN MY CAR PORT WITH NO ONE NEAR IT. THE BROKEN COIL SPRING ALSO BROKE SOME PLASTIC LINKAGE PART THAT IS HANGING DOWN AND PUNCTURED A BRAND NEW TIRE AND THE "AIR BAG" LIGHT IS ALSO SHOWING ON THE DASHBOARD NOW. I KNOW THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS SPRING PROBLEM #04S17 BUT FORD SAYS THAT THE RECALL DOES NOT INCLUDE THE LINCOLN. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 43K ON IT, THANK GOD NO ONE WAS DRIVING IT WHEN THIS HAPPENED, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY DEFECT. I WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED AND REPAIRED AT MY OWN EXPENSE ACCORDING TO THE LINCOLN DEALER. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Mar 1, 2007DC

1999 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL WITH IDLE ENGINE PROBLEMS**CC *JB

Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System › Fuel RailFire
Filed Dec 8, 2006IN

A LEAK IN THE FUEL RAIL CROSSOVER HOSE CAUSED A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *NM

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Nov 7, 200685,000 milesNJ

WHILE DRIVING ON GS PARKWAY THE CAR ACCELERATED FROM 65 MILES PER HR TO 100 MILES PER HR. AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN EVEN WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR WAS SPEEDING OUT OF CONTROL WHILE IN THE MIDDLE LANE. WE THEN TRIED TO GET OVER TO SIDE OF PARKWAY ONTO A GRASSY HILL SO WE WOULD NOT HIT ANY OTHER CARS. THE CAR SLOWED DOWN ENOUGH FOR ME AND MY SON TO JUMP OUT ON DRIVERS SIDE BEFORE THE CAR WENT FULL SPEED AHEAD TOWARD THE PARKWAY BUT HIT A GUARD RAIL AND FLIPPED OVER. BY SOME MIRACLE MY SON AND I WERE NOT HURT. I CALLED FORD TO RECALL CAR AND THEY SENT LETTER WHICH SAID WE REGRET ANY INCONVENIENCE THAT YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED IN THIS MATTER. CONTACT YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY. I ONLY HAD LIABILITY SO INSURANCE COMPANY NOT INVOLVED. THERE COULD HAVE BEEN MANY INJURIES OR EVEN DEATHS INCLUDING ME AND MY SON DUE TO THIS DEFECT. CAR WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. *NM

Suspension › Front › Macpherson Strut
Filed Jan 9, 200690,000 milesPA

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND CHECKED TO SEE WHERE THE LOUD NOISE WAS COMING FROM. THE TIRES WERE INSPECTED, AND THE CONTACT FOUND THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE WAS CUT COMPLETELY AROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE WHERE THEY FOUND THE FRONT STRUT BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE.*AK

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Nov 30, 200565,500 milesTN

DT: THE CONTACT WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKES, THE ENGINE REVVED, AND VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD, CRASHING INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. SHE TOOK THE CAR TO A CERTIFIED DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.*AK

Air Bags › Side/Window
Filed Sep 9, 200597,000 milesTX

DT: THE CALLER SAI WHILE WIFE DRIVING 55-60 MPH SIDE/CURTAIN AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DEPLOYED. DEALER SAID A ROCK MIGHT HAVE HIT THE SENSOR AND MADE IT DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER SAID THEY COULD OFFER NO HELP FOR FREE. THE CALLER SAID THERE WAS A SAFETY UPDATE 03I44000 IN 2003, NOT A RECALL CONCERNING CRASH SENSOR. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and Associated Pulleys
Filed Jan 27, 2005PA

WHEN SHIFTING TO PARK/DRIVE THE MOTOR MOUNT MOVES 3-4 INCHES. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Sep 22, 200411,000 milesNY

WHILE DRIVING BRAKE PEDAL GOES COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT TO STOP. *AK

Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs
Filed May 27, 2004NY

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. THE CONSUMER CONTINUED DRIVING UNTIL HE REACHED HIS HOME. WHEN HE PLACED THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW. THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE COIL SPRING HAD FAILED AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator PedalCrash
Filed May 12, 200440,000 milesGA

INTERMITTENTLY, AFTER THE VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP, VEHICLE LOUNGES FORWARD. WHEN THIS OCCURS CONSUMER'S FOOT IS DEPRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS PROBLEM RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE JUMPING A CURB AND SMASHING INTO A STOP SIGN. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES, BUT THEY CANNOT LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

20 of 42 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1991
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20207200Routine
201932300Routine
201819200Routine
201775400Routine
200233100Routine
200132200Routine
200063430Routine
1999 — this page42320Routine
199872220Routine
199796230Routine
199648302Fatalities reported
199570250Routine
1994190521Fatalities reported
1993121420Routine
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: Apr 1, 2016. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.