IllustrationPOWER STEERING FAILURE, MOTOR MOUNT FAILURE, HEAD GASKET LEAK AND THE TRANSMISSION SEALS LEAK. CAR HAS 75000 MILES. *JB
1993 Lincoln Continental
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Continental years
Owner complaints for the 1993 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: 10 of 121 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 73 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 12 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 reports2 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
121 reportsTHIS CAR HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED AND HAD ALL REGULAR MAINTENANCE. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM IS THE SAME AS THE ONE IN THE 1994 RECALL AND THAT THIS SHOULD APPLY TO OUR CAR AS WELL. WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED AFTER READING MANY REPORTS OF MULTIPLE HEAD GASKET FAILURES ON THE SAME CAR.*AK
THERE IS CRYSTALIZED COOLANT NEXT TO HEAD GASKET, INDICATING THAT THERE IS A LEAK. GASKETS HAVE NOT BLOWN. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 65-70 MPH VEHICLE WAS OVER HEATING. PULLED VEHICLE OVER AND CHECKED UNDER HOOD. NOTICED COOLANT WAS LOW AND REPLACED IT. PROBLEM REAPPEARED AGAIN. TOOK VEHICLE TO A TECHNICIAN. INFORMED OWNER HEAD GASKETS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
ON 01/12/02 I WAS DRIVING 130 MILES EAST OF LOS ANGELES,I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS RUNNING BELOW NORMAL ON THE TEMPERATURE, TEN MINUTES LATER I HEAR A BEEPING SOUND FROM THE DASH AND NOTICED THE CAR WAS RUNNIG HOT. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED BACK TO TORRANCE, CA. THE MECHANIC TELLS THAT I HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND THAT IT,S PRETTY…
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ON 01/12/02 I WAS DRIVING 130 MILES EAST OF LOS ANGELES,I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS RUNNING BELOW NORMAL ON THE TEMPERATURE, TEN MINUTES LATER I HEAR A BEEPING SOUND FROM THE DASH AND NOTICED THE CAR WAS RUNNIG HOT. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED BACK TO TORRANCE, CA. THE MECHANIC TELLS THAT I HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND THAT IT,S PRETTY COMMON ON THE FORD 3.8 SIX CYLINDER ENGINES.I CALLED FORD AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY 1993 CONTINENTAL HAD NO RECALLS ON MY ENGINE. BUT IT'S NOT THE MODLE OF THE CAR BUT THE DEFECTIVE ENGINE AND THEY NEVER NOTIFIED ME ABOUT THE POSSIBLE PROBLEM.AFTER GOING ON THE INTER-NET I'VE FOUND A LOT OF FORD MODELS OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET.I THINK FORD SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON ALL OF THESE ENGINES. THANK YOU MR. GARY STUART. *AK
LOWER SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE BROKE. *AK
INTERMITTENTLY HEADLIGHTS GO OUT FOR BRIEF INTERVALS. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON MAKE AND MODEL. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLES WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK
CONSUMER REPORTED TO DEALER ON DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTATCED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
THE DESCRIBED VEHICLE EVIDENTLY HAD A WATER PUMP GO OUT. THE VEHICLE GAUGE NEVER INDICATED VEHICLE WAS HOT, SO THERE WAS NO WARNING WHEN THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND QUIT RUNNING. WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE 70, WE LOST BRAKING AND STEERING CAPACITY AND WERE FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE TO BRAKE OR MANEUVER AGGRESIVELY. THERE W…
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THE DESCRIBED VEHICLE EVIDENTLY HAD A WATER PUMP GO OUT. THE VEHICLE GAUGE NEVER INDICATED VEHICLE WAS HOT, SO THERE WAS NO WARNING WHEN THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND QUIT RUNNING. WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE 70, WE LOST BRAKING AND STEERING CAPACITY AND WERE FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE TO BRAKE OR MANEUVER AGGRESIVELY. THERE WERE 4 PERSONS IN THE VEHICLE WHO CAN ATTEST THAT THE WARNING SYSTEM DID NOT WORK. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT 40,217 MILES WHICH REQUIRES COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT, CONSUMER REQUESTS THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH COVERED HEAD GASKETS THAT WERE DEFECTIVE FOR THE 1994-1995 MODELS INCLUDE THE 1993 MODEL AS WELL. *MJS
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.
98V009000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
Jan 21, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHTS CAN FLASH INTERMITTENTLY AS A RESULT OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING. THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS CAN GO OUT FOR BRIEF INTERVALS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION CAN AFFECT A DRIVER'S ABILITY TO NAVIGATE THE ROADWAY AND REDUCE THE VISIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLIGHT SWITCH THAT INCORPORATES A CRICUIT BREAKER OF REVISED DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF A WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR AND WIRING, IF NEEDED.
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
5EA96024 · 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
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