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
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Continental years →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.
What owners actually said
158 reportsWHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IT WILL STOP AND GO. ENGINE IS VERY NOISY. ONLY TWO GEARS WORK AND DOES NOT GO INTO OVERDRIVE. DEALER NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE HAD DROPPED, DROPPING VEHICLE LOW TO THE GROUND AND MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR THE GAS TANK TO SCRAPE THE GROUND. DEALER SAYS THE VEHICLE NEEDS NEW AIR SHOCKS. *AK
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
I PURCHASED THE CAR AT 87,300 MILES AND PUT 1500-2000 MILES ON IT. WORKED LIKE A DREAM = PREVIOUS OWNER SAID HE HAD TAKEN CARE OF CERTAIN PROBLEMS THAT LINCOLN MERCURY SAID COULD POSSIBLE BE WRONG WITH THIS YEAR MODEL. (HAD RECEIPTS) - AT AN OIL CHANGE I WAS INFORMED THAT IT NEEDED LOOKING AT DUE TO A POWER STEERING LEAK - TOO…
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I PURCHASED THE CAR AT 87,300 MILES AND PUT 1500-2000 MILES ON IT. WORKED LIKE A DREAM = PREVIOUS OWNER SAID HE HAD TAKEN CARE OF CERTAIN PROBLEMS THAT LINCOLN MERCURY SAID COULD POSSIBLE BE WRONG WITH THIS YEAR MODEL. (HAD RECEIPTS) - AT AN OIL CHANGE I WAS INFORMED THAT IT NEEDED LOOKING AT DUE TO A POWER STEERING LEAK - TOOK IT IN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC "THE BENZ CONNECTION" AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE POWER STEERING RACK - HAD IT CHANGED AND STILL A MAJOR PROBLEM. SO THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING HOSE - THEN NO POWER STEERING. TOOK IT BACK - THEY REPLACED THE RACK ANOTHER COUPLE OF TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS - THEY TOOK IT TO BILL GILL AND THEY REPLACED THE RACK ANOTHER COUPLE OF TIMES AND THEN RETURNED IT TO ME AT 89,295 MILES - AFTER 12 WEEKS WITHOUT A CAR. POWER STEERING WAS STILL VERY HARD AND HAS SOFTENED SOMEWHAT, HOWEVER THEN THE SUSPENSION DROPPED AND POWER STEERING CAME BACK ALTHOUGH STILL "HARD AT TIMES" NOW NO SUSPENSION (RIDE CONTOL) AND AFTER BOUNCING FOR A WEEK THE DIRECT COMPUTER LINK HAS GONE OUT - - - I THINK PERHAPS FROM THE BOUNCING TO THE UNIT? THE CAR SITS ABOUT 5" FROM THE GROUND --- I HAVE KEPT IN CONTACT WITH BILL GILL AND THE BENZ CONNECTION AND WAITED THE THREE WEEKS THAT BILL GILL SAID I SHOULD TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO THE STEERING. WELL, NOW I HAVE ALL THESE MAJOR PROBLEMS - THE DCL JUST WENT OUT TODAY 12/25/1998. BILL GILL DID NOT RETURN MY CALL OF 12/22/1998. I SPENT SEVERAL HOURS ON THE LINE WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE AT LINCOLN MERCURY ON 11/25/98 AND WHEN I CALLED THEM BACK ON 12/22/98 THEY HAD NO RECORD OF MY CONVERSATIONS OTHER THAN I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING. ON 12/24/98 I MAILED A LETTER CERTIFIED MAIL TO LINCOLN MERCURY( UNFORTUNATELY I JUST FOUND OUT THAT I HAD PUT IN AN "R" INSTEAD OF A "4" FOR THE EIGHTH DIGIT IN THE VIN). TODAY I FOUND THIS ON THE INTERNET./ PLEASE HELP ME.... THANKS./ - FOR SOME REASON THE RECAP SAYS THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED - BUT I DID NOT SELECT THAT AT ALL.... DID
I DID BUY THIS CAR AS IS, BUT ONLY TEST DROVE FIVE MILES. MY WIFE DROVE THE CAR HOME FROM THE DEALER AND TRIED THE CRUSIE CONTROL AND WHEN IT IS TURNED ON IT KEEPS GOING UP IN SPEED AND IS HARD TO SHUT OFF THIS IS VERY DANGERIOUS, ALSO THE STEERING TRYS TO LOCK WHEN GOING AROUND A CURVE. I PURCHASED THE CAR 11/12/98 AN CALLED TH…
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I DID BUY THIS CAR AS IS, BUT ONLY TEST DROVE FIVE MILES. MY WIFE DROVE THE CAR HOME FROM THE DEALER AND TRIED THE CRUSIE CONTROL AND WHEN IT IS TURNED ON IT KEEPS GOING UP IN SPEED AND IS HARD TO SHUT OFF THIS IS VERY DANGERIOUS, ALSO THE STEERING TRYS TO LOCK WHEN GOING AROUND A CURVE. I PURCHASED THE CAR 11/12/98 AN CALLED THE DEALER 11/14/98 TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT AND THE MANAGER SAID THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT, THEY HAD THE CAR FOUR DAYS AND I GOT IT BACK 11/20/98 AND IT WASN'T FIXED. WHEN I CALLED THEY SAID IT WOULD COST TO MUCH TO FIX AND THAT THEY UNHOOKED IT BUT IT STILL DOES THE SAME THING. I DID NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE STEERING TO THEM BUT NOW I FEEL THEY SOULD TAKE CARE OF BOTH PROBLEMS BECAUSE THEY ARE SAFTEY RELATED AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (#97I003000) IN MAY. CONTACTED DEALER. INFORMED NO PARTS AVAILABLE. WILL BE NOTIFIED WHEN PARTS COME IN. SO FAR NOTHING. *AK
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
VEHICLE IS INCLUDED UNDER RECALL 97V174, SEAT BELT BUCKLES. THE DEALER HAS NOT ORDERED PARTS TO REPAIR THE RECALL. *AK
AFTER CONSUMER HAD DRIVEN VEHICLE ABOUT 30 MINUTES, PARKED VEHICLE TO GO INTO STORE. WAS TOLD THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE- THE WIRING MELTED AND THE WHOLE FRONT WAS BURNED. *AK
Official recalls
498V323000 · 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
8EA95033 · 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
Illustration