IllustrationWHILE DRIVING 55 MPH A FIRE STARTED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
1992 Lincoln Continental
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Continental years
Owner complaints for the 1992 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 126 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 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports6 fire reports3 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
10 reportsCONSUMER STATES THE CHECK DCL LIGHT ILLUMINATES, ACCOMPANIED BY A BEEP SOUND, ON THE MESSAGE CENTER, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER NOT TO WORRY, HOWEVER CONSUMER STATES IT IS ANNOYING AND IS OCCURRING SOMETIMES AS OFTEN AS 3 TIMES A DAY, THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE 1999. *SLC
CONTACTED FORD - THEY ONLY RESPOND TO OFFICIAL RECALLS OR LAWSUITS. PLEASE HELP ME. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MALFUNCTIONS. YH
THE POWER MOTORS FOR THE TRUNK AND GAS CAP HAVE NEVER WORKED PROPERLY. THE DEALER WOULD GET IT TO WORK AFTER TWO TO THREE DAYS IT WOULD STOP AGAIN. AT THE END OF 90 DAYS OR 3,000 MILES THEY WOULD KNOW LONGER FIX IT. I CAN NOT FIND THE NUMBERS IN THE TRUNK THAT IS SURPOSE TO HELP WITH GETTING A KEYLESS ENTRY CODE. HOW DO I GET TH…
Read full complaint
THE POWER MOTORS FOR THE TRUNK AND GAS CAP HAVE NEVER WORKED PROPERLY. THE DEALER WOULD GET IT TO WORK AFTER TWO TO THREE DAYS IT WOULD STOP AGAIN. AT THE END OF 90 DAYS OR 3,000 MILES THEY WOULD KNOW LONGER FIX IT. I CAN NOT FIND THE NUMBERS IN THE TRUNK THAT IS SURPOSE TO HELP WITH GETTING A KEYLESS ENTRY CODE. HOW DO I GET THAT? THE BAD HEAD GASKET WAS DISCOVERED BY A LINCOLN DEALER BEFORE MY WARRANTY RAN OUT BUT THE DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. PROBABLY BECAUSE A FAN MOTOR SWITCH WAS NOT WORKIG DAY OF PURCHASE AND AIR SUSPENSION SHOCKS STOPED WORKING WITHIN 3 DAY OF PURCHASE. I HAD TO PAY HALF FOR THE SHOCKES. AFTER ALL OF THESE THINGS I DECIDED TO DO SOME RESEARCH. THE LOCAL DEALER HAD DONE A NUMBER OF HEAD GASKET REPAIRS FOR MODELS 3.8L V6 FOR YEAR 89 - 94, CONSIDERBLY MORE THAN ANY OTHER MAKES. I CHECKED WITH TWO OTHER ENGINE REPAIR SHOPS. THEIR RECORDS ALSO SHOWED MORE REPAIRS FOR THAT MOTOR SIZE IN A LINCOLN THAN ANY OTHER MOTOR SIZE. I FOUND OUT FROM LINCOLN MOTORS THAT THEY HAD A RECALL ON 94 MODEL ENGINES BECAUSE OF OVER HEATING PROBLEMS. THAT WAS ALSO THE LAST YEAR 3.8L ENGINES WERE USED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY ONLY 94S WERE RECALLED AND NOT A RECALL FOR ALL 3.8L MADE BETWEEN 89-94. DATA SHOWS THOSE MOTORS HAD OVER HEATING PROBLEMS CAUSING BAD HEAD GASKETS. I WOULD LIKE TO BE REEMBURSTED FOR THE $1100.00 IT COST ME TO REPAIR MY MOTOR. WHY DID LINCOLN GO BACK TO PUTTING V8 ENGINES IN THEIR CARS IN 95? PLEASE FORWARD ALL REPLYS TO MY E-MAIL ADDRESS.
HEAD GASKET FAILED ON TWO OCCASIONS, RECALL ON OTHER MODEL YEARS.
WHILE PARKED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE ON THE LEFT SIDE FRONT UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED & ENGINE IS TURNED OFF, VEHICLE CAN BE RESTARTED WITHOUT USING A KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. HAVE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER YET. *AK
DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 35MPH WHEN EVERYTHING, CLOCK/RADIO/LOCKS/WINDOWS/ AIR CONDITIONING & INSTRUMENT PANEL STOPPED WORKING. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER TWICE, BUT COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE. *AK *SLC
SUBFRAME MOUNTS/MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE/REPAIRED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION. CONSUMER STATES AFTER REPAIR HE EXPERIENCED STEERING PROBLEMS(POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE, CONTAMINATED COOLER PUMP), BELIEVES PROBLEMS TO BE DUE TO SUBFRAME MOUNT BREAKAGE(STATES ON RECALL NOTICE STEERING PROBLEMS MAY RESULT IF MOTOR MOUNTS BREAK)(98V-32…
Read full complaint
SUBFRAME MOUNTS/MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE/REPAIRED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION. CONSUMER STATES AFTER REPAIR HE EXPERIENCED STEERING PROBLEMS(POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE, CONTAMINATED COOLER PUMP), BELIEVES PROBLEMS TO BE DUE TO SUBFRAME MOUNT BREAKAGE(STATES ON RECALL NOTICE STEERING PROBLEMS MAY RESULT IF MOTOR MOUNTS BREAK)(98V-323).
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.
97V019000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan
Feb 25, 1997
THESE VEHICLES ARE ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, IOWA, MINNESOTA, NEBRASKA, NORTH DAKOTA, AND SOUTH DAKOTA. THE VEHICLES INVOLVED ARE 1992-1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES WITH 3.0L ENGINES; 1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ WITH 2.3L ENGINES; 1992-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.8L ENGINES; 1994-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.0L ENGINES AND 1992-1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL VEHICLES WITH 3.8L ENGINES. DURING HIGH WINDS, HEAVY, BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW, AND LOW TEMPERATURES, THE ENGINE COOLING FAN CAN BECOME BLOCKED OR FROZEN WITH SNOW. THE FAN MOTOR MAY NOT ROTATE AND COULD OVERHEAT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE SMOKE OR FLAMES FROM THE FAN AND/OR SHROUD, THE FAN ELECTRICAL WIRING, OR THE FAN MOTOR RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ELECTRICAL JUMPER HARNESS CONTAINING AN AUTOMATIC RESETTING CIRCUIT BREAKER TO PROTECT THE FAN MOTOR LOW SPEED CIRCUITRY FROM OVERHEATING.
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
8EA96024 · 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
EA93022 · Idle Air Spd Ctrl Vlv Malf
Opened Jul 30, 1993 · Closed Aug 31, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
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
PE93010 · Idle Air Spd Ctrl Vlv Malf
Opened Mar 2, 1993 · Closed Jul 30, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
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