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1997 Lincoln Continental

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Lincoln Continental do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 32.

About this comparison →
96Owner complaints

Model-year median: 32

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
190
199470
199548
199696
199772
199842
199963
2000
Compare all Continental years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Visibility
15Steering
12Power Train
10Service Brakes, Hydraulic
10Suspension
10
All reported categories
Tires
9Vehicle Speed Control
8Electrical System
7Engine And Engine Cooling
6Air Bags
4Equipment
2Fuel System, Gasoline
2Unknown Or Other
2Electronic Stability Control
1Engine
1Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Other
1Interior Lighting
1Seat Belts
1Seats
1Structure
1

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: 18 of 96 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.

  • Visibility. 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 →
  • Power Train. Review the 10 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 reports3 fire reports2 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

6 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

COMPLAINT AGAINST MOTOR CRAFT REPLACEMENT PARTS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE RECEIVED DEFECTIVE PARTS FROM MOTOR CRAFT. I PRESENTLY HAVE A 97 LINCOLN CONT. AND RECENTLY HAD MY A/C CONDENSER REPLACED ALONG WITH A TUNE-UP. IN THE PROCESS, THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED. IT WAS A GENUINE MOTOR CRAFT PART. AFTER INSTALLATION, T…

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COMPLAINT AGAINST MOTOR CRAFT REPLACEMENT PARTS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE RECEIVED DEFECTIVE PARTS FROM MOTOR CRAFT. I PRESENTLY HAVE A 97 LINCOLN CONT. AND RECENTLY HAD MY A/C CONDENSER REPLACED ALONG WITH A TUNE-UP. IN THE PROCESS, THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED. IT WAS A GENUINE MOTOR CRAFT PART. AFTER INSTALLATION, THE CAR OVERHEATED BECAUSE THE NEW THERMOSTAT WAS DEFECTIVE. MY MECHANIC REPLACED IT WITH ANOTHER NEW THERMOSTAT AND THE CAR OVER HEATED AGAIN. THE SECOND THERMOSTAT WAS FAULTY. THE MECHANIC WAS NOT UPSET BECAUSE HE STATED FORD/LINCOLN PAYS MECHANICS FOR LABOR WHENEVER A REPLACEMENT PART IS DEFECTIVE. SO, MECHANICS DON'T CARE, ONLY THE CONSUMER SUFFERS. ONE MECHANIC ADMITTED THIS HAPPENS QUITE OFTEN, THE SUPPLY PEOPLE WILL SIMPLY PLACE A DEFECTIVE PART BACK ON THE SHELF. THE RESULT IS DEALERS WANT TO DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM REPAIRING FORDS/LINCOLNS BY MAKING CONSUMERS GO BACK FOR REPEATED SERVICE CALLS (MOTOR CRAFT THERMOSTAT). *NM

NHTSA ODI #10106247

Mileage unknown · Dec 22, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHICH CAUSED FUMES TO FILL UP THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO HAVE VISIBILITY PROBLEMS. THE WINDSHIELD WAS SEVERELY FOGGED UP. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10105207

58,635 miles · Jan 12, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

4.6 LITRE V8 ENGINE OF MY 1997 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL HAVING 58,600 MILES FAILED, AND HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED COSTING IN EXCESS OF $5,000. THIS ENGINE WAS MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO FACTORY RECOMMENDATIONS, AND I HAVE DOCUMENTATION EVIDENCING OIL AND FILTER CHANGES WERE PERFORMED ACCORDINGLY. FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSED TO EXTE…

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4.6 LITRE V8 ENGINE OF MY 1997 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL HAVING 58,600 MILES FAILED, AND HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED COSTING IN EXCESS OF $5,000. THIS ENGINE WAS MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO FACTORY RECOMMENDATIONS, AND I HAVE DOCUMENTATION EVIDENCING OIL AND FILTER CHANGES WERE PERFORMED ACCORDINGLY. FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSED TO EXTEND THE 50,000 MILE WARRANTY OF THIS ENGINE THAT HAS REQUIRED THAT I FILE A LAWSUIT FOR RECOVERY OF COMPENSORY DAMAGES.

NHTSA ODI #10000969

Mileage unknown · Aug 18, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

3.86 LITER ENGINE , 6 CYLINDER, HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN OUT, POSSIBLY CAUSING OTHER RELATED DAMAGE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #868127

Mileage unknown · May 26, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

THIS IS A SAFTEY ISSUSE THE CAR DIES WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. THIS IS AT LEAST THE18TH TIME. FORD CLAIMS THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM . CAN SOMEONE HELP BEFORE THIS CAR CAUSES AN ACCIDENT OR DEATH.*AK

NHTSA ODI #723240

Mileage unknown · May 3, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY CAR HAS STALLED ON ME AND OTHERS AT LEAST 15 TIMES .I HAVE STALLED IN INTERSECTIONS .I HAVE NO STEERING OR BRAKES WHEN THIS HAPPENES. THE DEALER HAS HAD MANY MANY TIMES TO FIX THE CAR AND HAS NOT. WE HAVE ASKED FOR A LINCOLN REP AND HAVE BEEN REFUSED. I WAS ALMOST KILLED IN THIS CAR AND I AM GETTING NO HELP. THE DEALER WILL N…

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MY CAR HAS STALLED ON ME AND OTHERS AT LEAST 15 TIMES .I HAVE STALLED IN INTERSECTIONS .I HAVE NO STEERING OR BRAKES WHEN THIS HAPPENES. THE DEALER HAS HAD MANY MANY TIMES TO FIX THE CAR AND HAS NOT. WE HAVE ASKED FOR A LINCOLN REP AND HAVE BEEN REFUSED. I WAS ALMOST KILLED IN THIS CAR AND I AM GETTING NO HELP. THE DEALER WILL NOT HELP. FORD WILL NOT TALK TO US. SOMEONE NEEDS TO HELP BEFORE THERE IS A DEATH FROM THIS CAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #722238

Official recalls

1

96V166000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)

Sep 5, 1996

THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET HAS A SHARP EDGE WHICH CAN CAUSE THE PARKING PAWL TO HANG UP AND NOT ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR. THIS WOULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO MOVE EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR SHOWS THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: UNINTENDED AND UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT CAN RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.