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1989 Lincoln Continental

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Continental years

Owner complaints for the 1989 Lincoln Continental are substantially higher than the model-year median of 32.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 2 of 158 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Seat Belts. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports18 fire reports7 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

26 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 10, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

POWER BOOSTER ASSEMBLY HAS A HIGH FAILURE RATE AND IS A TROUBLESOME SYSTEM PARTS NEEDED FOR REPAIRES ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE WICH IS STRANGE FOR A 11 YEAR OLD VEHICLE CONSIDERING THE HIGH PROBLEM RATE OF THIS BRAKE SYSTEM. THE BRAKE BOOSTER OPERATES INTERMITENTLY. SINCE I AM A MECHANIC WORKING FOR FORD I SEE THIS PROBLEM OFTEN.*…

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POWER BOOSTER ASSEMBLY HAS A HIGH FAILURE RATE AND IS A TROUBLESOME SYSTEM PARTS NEEDED FOR REPAIRES ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE WICH IS STRANGE FOR A 11 YEAR OLD VEHICLE CONSIDERING THE HIGH PROBLEM RATE OF THIS BRAKE SYSTEM. THE BRAKE BOOSTER OPERATES INTERMITENTLY. SINCE I AM A MECHANIC WORKING FOR FORD I SEE THIS PROBLEM OFTEN.*AK

NHTSA ODI #727443

Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DISC BRAKES HAVE COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE DISC BRAKE DRUM, CAUSING A DANGEROUS BRAKING SITUATION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #864049

Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 1999
Interior LightingService Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING ON THE STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WENT OUT, AND THE ABS SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES. NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES. VEHICLE TURNED INTO A FIELD IN ORDER TO STOP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #851857

Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 1999
Interior LightingService Brakes, Hydraulic

DUE TO RAIN CONSUMER WAS DRIVING SLOWLY. HEARD A BEEP & LOST DASHBOARD LIGHTS. HAD APPLIED ABS BRAKES. NO BRAKES. HAD TIGHTENED UP. KEPT PUMPING BRAKES BEFORE SHUTTING VEHICLE OFF. RESTARTED VEHICLE & STILL NO LIGHTS OR BRAKES. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #847926

Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKE CONTROL, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #842999

Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 1999
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

LOSS OF POWER BRAKES AND STEERING OCCURS WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #544259

Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE DATE AND MILAGE I USED IS APPROXIMATE. THE BRAKE MOTOR IS ELECTRICAL. WHEN IT FAILS THERE IS NO BRAKEING POWER. I HAD MINE REPLACED. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI #703891

Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 1999
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH WHEN HE BEGAN TO STOP AND BRAKES FAILED , TRIED TO TURN VEHICLE AND POWER STEERING WAS GONE. RESTARTED VEHICLE AND DROVE TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #834671

Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

SOME TYPE OF AN ELECTRICAL BOOSTER MOTOR FAILED ATTACHED TO THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE CAR COULD NOT BE STOPPED , A GREST DEAL OF PRESSURE WAS NEEDED JUST TO MAKE IT SLOW DOWN. I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT THERE IS NO SAFETY RECALL ON THIS, BUT THE DEALER SAYS NO IS THIS TRUE AND IF SO WHY NOT? *AK

NHTSA ODI #702570

Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

STARTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AFTER GOING 30MPH. ROTORS SNAPPED LOOSE FROM HUB. OWNER CHANGED ROTORS ON FRONT. BRAKES WERE PAPER THIN. 2ND ROTOR HAD SNAPPED ALSO. DID NOT TAKE TO DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #828146

Official recalls

4

98V323000 · Structure:frame And Members

Dec 16, 1998

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

97V174000 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly

Oct 7, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT OUTBOARD SEATING POSITION SEAT BELT BUCKLES MAY NOT LATCH OR UNLATCH.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THESE CONDITIONS COULD REDUCE SEAT BELT USAGE INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT OUTBOARD SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES.

91V134000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor

Aug 6, 1991

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

89V048000 · Seat Belts:front:retractor

Mar 27, 1989

THE LEFT SIDE, REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY MAY BE IMPROPERLY SECURED AND COULD PULL FREE OF ITS MOUNTING LOCATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: OCCUPANT, THOUGH STILL RESTRAINED BY THE LAP PORTION OFTHE BELT, WOULD NOT HAVE UPPER BODY PROTECTION.

Remedy: REINSTALL THE RETRACTOR ATTACHMENT BOLT.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

8

EA95033 · Faulty Seat Belt Buckles

Opened Oct 31, 1995 · Closed Oct 22, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

COMPLAINTS ALLEGE AN INABILITY TO LATCH SEAT BELT BUCKLES, AND INADVERTENT UNLATCHING OF THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE.

DP95004 · Alleged Defective Tie Rods

Opened Aug 8, 1995 · Closed Aug 30, 1995

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other

ALLEGED DEFECTIVE TIE RODS

EA94008 · Broken Tie Rods

Opened Feb 16, 1994 · Closed Feb 27, 1995

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

There is no summary currently available

PE93058 · Broken Tie Rods

Opened Jun 15, 1993 · Closed Feb 16, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

There is no summary currently available

EA92040 · SUB-FRM/UNIBODY Absor.fail

Opened Nov 30, 1992 · Closed Jun 30, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

There is no summary currently available

Additional source detail variants (2)

Structure

There is no summary currently available

Structure

There is no summary currently available

PE92056 · SUB-FRM/UNIBODY Absor.fail

Opened Jul 1, 1992 · Closed Nov 30, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

There is no summary currently available

PE92014 · Engine Mount Failure

Opened Feb 4, 1992 · Closed Jun 25, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

There is no summary currently available

PE89026 · Air Suspension Failure

Opened Dec 20, 1988 · Closed Apr 12, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

There is no summary currently available