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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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

10 reports
Clear category filter
70,000 miles · Mar 21, 2007
Electronic Stability ControlService Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*- THEE CONTACT HAS A 1997 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH BOTH TRACTION CONTROL, AND THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES. HE HAS HAD 3 FAILURES OF THE TRACTION CONTROL AND THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER NO LONGER MAKES THE REPLACEMENT PARTS, AND ONE CAN ONLY GET USED REPLACEMENT PA…

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TL*- THEE CONTACT HAS A 1997 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH BOTH TRACTION CONTROL, AND THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES. HE HAS HAD 3 FAILURES OF THE TRACTION CONTROL AND THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER NO LONGER MAKES THE REPLACEMENT PARTS, AND ONE CAN ONLY GET USED REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10185734

Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE LINES WERE SO CORRODED THAT THEY FAILED, LEAVING ME WITHOUT BRAKES. MY MECHANIC CONTACTED FORD TO GET REPLACEMENT BRAKE LINES AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY ARE NOT MANUFACTURED ANYMORE. MY MECHANIC HAD TO MANUFACTURE HIS OWN BRAKE LINES. CAUSE OF THE LINE FAILURE SEEMS TO BE PROXIMITY TO THE MUFFLER CAUSING HEAT AND WATER TO CO…

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BRAKE LINES WERE SO CORRODED THAT THEY FAILED, LEAVING ME WITHOUT BRAKES. MY MECHANIC CONTACTED FORD TO GET REPLACEMENT BRAKE LINES AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY ARE NOT MANUFACTURED ANYMORE. MY MECHANIC HAD TO MANUFACTURE HIS OWN BRAKE LINES. CAUSE OF THE LINE FAILURE SEEMS TO BE PROXIMITY TO THE MUFFLER CAUSING HEAT AND WATER TO CORRODE THE LINES. I HAVE THE OLD BRAKE LILNES AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10100731

55,100 miles · Mar 4, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM MADE A GROANING NOISE, CAUSING BRAKE PEDAL TO PUMP. ALSO, CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO PASS THE DESIRED STOPPING POINT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10061349

40,286 miles · Feb 7, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE FAILURE. PH

NHTSA ODI #10005457

Mileage unknown · Dec 17, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

OCCASIONALY BRAKES ERRATICALLT DON'T WORK-REQUIRES CONSTANT PRESSURE-ACCOMPANIED BY A LOAD THUD.*AK

NHTSA ODI #755757

Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

THE BRAKE ROTORS REQUIRE REPLACEMENT EVERY 15000 MILES. NLM

NHTSA ODI #785514

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 2000
Service Brakes, HydraulicTires

GEAR IN BACK OF LEFT FRONT TIRE CRACKED - ERRATIC ACTIVATION OF ANTI LOCK BRAKING *AK

NHTSA ODI #724501

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 1999
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

ONGOING STARTING PROBLEM; VEHICLE BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND VEHICLE STILL REMAINED IN SHO.; ALSO, VEHICLE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES MAKING NOISE WHEN APPLIED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT WAS NORMAL FOR ALL VEHICLES. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #849451

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES FADE.

NHTSA ODI #527710

Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

FRONT BRAKES FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE TERRIBLY WHEN BRAKING.

NHTSA ODI #604516

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.