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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

Structure complaints

11 reports
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230,000 miles · Apr 15, 2008
Structure

THE SUBFRAME ON OUR 1989 CONTINENTAL RUSTED THROUGH WHICH ALLOWS THE ENGINE TO FALL ONTO THE STEERING GEAR AND PREVENTS STEERING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10224542

Mileage unknown · May 22, 2001
Structure

RECALL98-V-323-000/ SUBFRAME CORROSION. CONSUMER HAS HAD PROBLEM FIXED, BUT REMEDY DID NOT DO ITS JOB. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT REMEDY WAS ONLY GOOD FOR 12 MONTHS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #888828

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 1999
Seat BeltsStructure

NHTSA RECALL # 98 V 323 000, SUBFRAME AND NHTSA RECALL #97 I 003 000, SEAT BELT BUCKLES WERE RECEIVED FROM MANUFACTURER. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS AND WAS INFORMED NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE RECALL WAS TAKEN CARE OFF. CONSUMER RECEIVED MANUFACTURER'S RECALL ON 22 SEP 99, AND TOOK VEHICLE IN TO DEALER ON SEP 29 1999. SEEKI…

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NHTSA RECALL # 98 V 323 000, SUBFRAME AND NHTSA RECALL #97 I 003 000, SEAT BELT BUCKLES WERE RECEIVED FROM MANUFACTURER. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS AND WAS INFORMED NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE RECALL WAS TAKEN CARE OFF. CONSUMER RECEIVED MANUFACTURER'S RECALL ON 22 SEP 99, AND TOOK VEHICLE IN TO DEALER ON SEP 29 1999. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #849646

Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 1999
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

REPLACEMENT OF FUEL TANK DID NOT RECTIFY ROUGH RUNNING CONDITION, FOUND SHORTED WIRING IN THE ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROL CAUSING PROCESSOR TO SHORT OUT AND EGR TO STAY OPEN. MJS

NHTSA ODI #548735

Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 1999
Structure

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS ON RECALL FOR SUBFRAME CORROSION. WHEN CONSUMER RECEIVED HER VEHICLE BACK THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK.*AK

NHTSA ODI #836124

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 1999
Structure

SUB-FRAME MOUNTS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE CAUSING THE SUB-FRAME TO SUDDENLY DROP AND DRIVER TO LOOSE STEERING ABILITY.

NHTSA ODI #544473

Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 1999
Structure

SUBFRAME BUSHING ASSEMBLY ROTTED OUT CAUSING SUBFRAME TO DROP PRIOR TO RECALL, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL.(98S36)

NHTSA ODI #544225

Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 1999
Structure

WHEN CAR IS IDLING THE ENGINE VIBRATES. REAR MOTOR MOUNTS WERE REPLACED 3 OR 4 YEARS AGO UNDER RECALL. COMSUMER EXPEREINCING SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. RECALL 93V-106.002. BOTH DEALER AND MANUFACTURER CONTACTED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #834425

Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 1996
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

ALTERNATOR FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #504274

Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 1996
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

CLOCK SPRING SLIDING DOOR REPLACED. *SD

NHTSA ODI #503131

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