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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

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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: 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

What owners actually said

126 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspension

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #763338

Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO ERRATIC OPERATION. VEHICLE HAS A TENDENCY TO STALL OR HESITATE WITH NO PARTICULAR FAIL PATTERN. FUEL FILTERS HAVE BEEN CHANGED ALONG WITH FUEL PUMP AND OTHER ITEMS.*AK.*NLM

NHTSA ODI #8011286

Mileage unknown · May 7, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

OIL IS LEAKING INTO ENGINE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8009398

Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 2002
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING AT RANDOM INTERVALS. TOTAL LIGH LOST DURATION CAN BE UP TO 5 SECONDS AT TIME. LINCLON DEALER SAID THERE ARE NO HIEADLIGHTS RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. SOMEONE ON EDMUND'S WEB SITE MENTIONED THAT HIS 94' CONTINENTAL HAD THE SAME HEAD LIGHTS PROBLEM BUT WAS FIXED BY THE DEALER ASSUMABLY UNDER A RECALL. IS TH…

Read full complaint

HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING AT RANDOM INTERVALS. TOTAL LIGH LOST DURATION CAN BE UP TO 5 SECONDS AT TIME. LINCLON DEALER SAID THERE ARE NO HIEADLIGHTS RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. SOMEONE ON EDMUND'S WEB SITE MENTIONED THAT HIS 94' CONTINENTAL HAD THE SAME HEAD LIGHTS PROBLEM BUT WAS FIXED BY THE DEALER ASSUMABLY UNDER A RECALL. IS THERE A HEAD LIGHTS FOR 92' MODEL? THANKS!*AK

NHTSA ODI #760722

Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

WHILE TRAVELING 50MPH ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE STARTED TO ACELLERATE. ALSO, LEFT FRONT CALIPERS LOCKED UP. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #899677

Mileage unknown · Nov 26, 2001
Suspension

WHILE DRIVING STRUTS/ SHOCKS WENT OUT, CAUSING LEVELERS NOT TO WORK PROPERLY. VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT, AND STEERING BECAME VERY HARD. HAD TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC INDICATED REAR SHOCKS/STRUTS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #899408

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2001
Electrical System

CONSUMER 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

NHTSA ODI #785742

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2001
Suspension

WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR RIDE CONTROL COMES ON, CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT AND REAR SPRING AND SHOCK ABSORBER ASSEMBLIES, CONSUMER STATES THE PROBLEM ALWAYS STARTS WITH THE CONSTANTLY RUNNING AIR PUMP. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #785741

Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2001
Vehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE ACCELERATES OUT OF CONTROL, DRIVER THREW IT OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL OR PARK, IT AGAIN WENT BACK TO IDLE ON ITS OWN.

NHTSA ODI #9004416

Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2001
Electrical SystemEquipmentSteering

CONTACTED FORD - THEY ONLY RESPOND TO OFFICIAL RECALLS OR LAWSUITS. PLEASE HELP ME. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #750852

Official recalls

3

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.

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

8

EA96024 · 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