IllustrationWHEN DRIVING AND PULLING UP AND PUTTING THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE WILL GO DOWN TO THE GROUND DUE TO BROKEN SHOCK ABSORBERS. *AK *ML
1991 Lincoln Continental
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Continental years
Owner complaints for the 1991 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: 4 of 203 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 56 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 41 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 reports19 fire reports5 injury reports
What owners actually said
203 reportsREAR SUSPENSION KEEPS GOING DOWN, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE THE AIR BAGS RECHARGED TWICE, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
HEAD GASKETS ARE BLOWN. COOLANT COMING OUT OF EXHAUST SYSTEM.
TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY CEASED TO OPERATE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE SUPPORT WHICH CAUSED A GASKET TO BLOW OUT AND OIL WAS SHUT OFF, CAUSING THE TRANSAXLE TO BREAK DOWN. DEALER CONTACTED AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY. HAD TO PUT VEHICLE IN PARK POSITION IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. HAPPENED TWICE. NEVER BEEN TO A DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NOTICED PAINT STARTING TO FADE AND HAZE IN SMALL AREA WHICH HAS NOW APPEARED IN OTHER AREAS AND CONTINUES TO SPREAD AND DETERIORATE PAINT. ENTIRE PAINT SYSTEM IS A FAILURE.
THE AIR SUSPENSION AND ROAD LEVER SYSTEM TENDS TO FAIL. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE VECHICLE DROPS DOWN ONTO THE TIES, CAUSING LOSE OF CONTROL. *AK
MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED FOUR TIMES ,AND CURRENTLY MOTOR MOUNTS WENT OUT AGAIN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SMOKE. ALSO,POWER STEERING FLUID IS LEAKING, AND VEHICLE IS JERKING. DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE FOUR TIMES. *AK
THE AUTO IS EQUIPPED WITH AN AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM. AT VARIOUS TIMES OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS, THE AIR BAG IN EACH STRUT HAS FAILED. INSIDE EACH STRUT IS A "RUBBER"BAG THAT IS INFLATED BY A COMPRESSOR BASED ON ROAD CONDITIONS. I WAS INFORMED BY FORD, THAT THE BAG DETERIORATES OVER TIME CAUSING THE BAG TO TEAR OR IN ONE CASE EXPLODE…
Read full complaint
THE AUTO IS EQUIPPED WITH AN AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM. AT VARIOUS TIMES OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS, THE AIR BAG IN EACH STRUT HAS FAILED. INSIDE EACH STRUT IS A "RUBBER"BAG THAT IS INFLATED BY A COMPRESSOR BASED ON ROAD CONDITIONS. I WAS INFORMED BY FORD, THAT THE BAG DETERIORATES OVER TIME CAUSING THE BAG TO TEAR OR IN ONE CASE EXPLODE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THIS CAUSED THE REAR OF THE CAR TO DROP SO LOW THAT IT WAS NOT DRIVEABLE. NOT A FUN EXPERIENCE WHILE DRIVING ALONG AT 60 MPH. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH NUMEROUS LINCOLN OWNERS THAT HAVE INCURRED SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR CARS, BUT FORD HAS NOT RESPONDED TO OUR COMPLAINTS. AT SOME POINT I WOULD EXPECT TO REPLACE A STRUT OR A SHOCK, BUT WHEN THE COST TO REPLACE AND INSTALL JUST "ONE" STRUT IS BETWEEN $800-$1000, I WOULD THINK THESE PARTS WOULD LAST MUCH LONGER AND BE MANUFACTURED TO WITHSTAND THE ELEMENTS. I BELIEVE FORD HAS FAILED ON THEIR PART TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, AND I AM SURE IF YOU INVESTIGATE THIS COMPLAINT, YOU WILL AGREE THAT DUE TO THE NUMBER OF FAILURES OF THIS COMPONENT SHOULD WARRANT SOME CONSIDERATION FOR A RECALL. IF FORD CAN ISSUE A RECALL FOR FAILURE OF THE FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM FOR LINCOLN CARS DUE TO CORROSION FROM THE ELEMENTS, I THINK THEY SHOULD ALSO ADDRESS THE SUSPENSION PROBLEMS.
FRONT AND REAR AIR SHOCKS AND STRUTS FAILED.
Official recalls
398V323000 · 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.
97V025000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Feb 26, 1997
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
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.
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
7EA96024 · Engine Cooling Fan Fires
Opened Sep 30, 1996 · Closed Apr 15, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
There is no summary currently available
PE96033 · Engine Cooling Fan Fires
Opened May 2, 1996 · Closed Sep 30, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
IN DECEMBER 1995, FORD RECALLED 119,313 VEHICLES IN CANADA TO REMEDY THE SUBJECT CONDITION IN CERTAIN 1992-95 TAURUS, SABLE, TEMPO, TOPAZ AND CONTINENTAL VEHICLES.FORD IS AWARE OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS OCCURRING IN NORTHERN REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES, BUT MAINTAINS THAT THE FREQUENCIES DO NOT WARRANT A FINDING OF AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY.
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
PE93070 · Failure Of Wheel Studs
Opened Jul 27, 1993 · Closed Nov 22, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
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