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1998 Lincoln Continental

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Lincoln Continental do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 32.

About this comparison →
72Owner complaints

Model-year median: 32

1Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
70
199548
199696
199772
199842
199963
200032
2001
Compare all Continental years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
14Vehicle Speed Control
13Electrical System
7Power Train
7Visibility
6
All reported categories
Seat Belts
5Structure
5Air Bags
4Equipment
3Exterior Lighting
3Steering
3Suspension
3Tires
3Seats
2Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Unknown Or Other
2Fuel System, Other
1Interior Lighting
1Visibility/wiper
1Wheels
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: 17 of 72 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 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports

Seats complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2005
Seats

THE DRIVER SIDE POWER SEAT WILL NOT RETRACT BACK. THE SEAT HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT AND SEAT BACK WORK FINE. THE MOTOR CLICKS TO ENGAGE, BUT THE SEAT WILL NOT MOVE BACK.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10118741

Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 1999
Power TrainSeatsService Brakes, HydraulicCrash

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN HITTING THE BRAKE PEDAL, BRAKES FAILED AND VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL, CAUSING A REAR END CRASH. ON JULY 14TH AFTER BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, DRIVER PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO REVERSE AND HIT A TREE. UPON IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATBACKS COLLAPSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOW…

Read full complaint

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN HITTING THE BRAKE PEDAL, BRAKES FAILED AND VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL, CAUSING A REAR END CRASH. ON JULY 14TH AFTER BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, DRIVER PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO REVERSE AND HIT A TREE. UPON IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATBACKS COLLAPSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #848826

Official recalls

1

98V028000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights

Feb 10, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TEXT AND/OR GRAPHICS FOR THE VEHICLE HEADLAMP AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY BE CONFUSED BY THE AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES CAUSING THE HEADLAMPS TO BE IMPROPERLY AIMED.

Remedy: OWNER GUIDES CONTAINING REVISED AIMING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES.

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.