NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
9 reportsClear category filter137,070 miles · Oct 1, 2024
Electrical SystemFire
The contact owns a 1979 Lincoln Continental. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked and turned off, there was smoke coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the rear end near the driver's side of the vehicle had caught on fire. The vehicle was extinguished by the Fire Department. A fire report was filed, and a f…
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The contact owns a 1979 Lincoln Continental. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked and turned off, there was smoke coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the rear end near the driver's side of the vehicle had caught on fire. The vehicle was extinguished by the Fire Department. A fire report was filed, and a fire report number was provided; however, the cause for the failure was not yet determined. A Police report was not filed. No injuries were sustained. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 137,070. The VIN was invalid.
NHTSA ODI #11617441
105,000 miles · Mar 31, 2014
Electrical SystemSuspension
A NEIGHBOR POINTED OUT THAT THE AUTOMOBILE WAS SITTING SEVERAL INCHES LOWER THAN NORMAL CLOSER TO GROUND WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. I BEGAN TO CHECK ON THIS EVERY TIME I WENT TO USE THE CAR. SOMETIMES VEHICLE WAS NORMAL HEIGHT, SOMETIMES LOWER. I NOTICED THAT, SOMETIMES, WHEN I TURNED THE IGNITION KEY THERE WAS SOUND HEARD LIK…
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A NEIGHBOR POINTED OUT THAT THE AUTOMOBILE WAS SITTING SEVERAL INCHES LOWER THAN NORMAL CLOSER TO GROUND WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. I BEGAN TO CHECK ON THIS EVERY TIME I WENT TO USE THE CAR. SOMETIMES VEHICLE WAS NORMAL HEIGHT, SOMETIMES LOWER. I NOTICED THAT, SOMETIMES, WHEN I TURNED THE IGNITION KEY THERE WAS SOUND HEARD LIKE A FAN OPERATING. I ASKED QUESTIONS OF PEOPLE WHO HAD OWNED SIMILAR MODELS AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL SHOWING UP 4 TO 8 YEARS AFTER MANUFACTURE. THIS MODEL HAS A RIDE CONTROL WHICH INVOLVES THREE "RIDE CONTROL" SETTINGS. AS CARS AGE THERE ARE AIR BAGS UNDER THE CAR WHICH CONTROL THE FEEL OF CAR (PLUSH, NORMAL, FIRM) AND THEY ADJUST ACCORDINGLY. BEFORE I START THE CAR, IF IT SITS LOW, TURNING THE IGNITION KEY CAUSES THE RIDE MECHANISM TO RAISE THE CAR FRAME A FEW INCHES ABOVE THE TIRES. SOMETIMES IN COLD WEATHER THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO OPERATE AND A MESSAGE SHOWS "CHECK RIDE CONTROL". THE STORE THAT DOES ROUTINE SERVICE REGULARLY TELLS ME THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM IN LINCOLN/FORDS AND THAT REPAIRS OFTEN COST $2000 OR MORE. THE CAR NOW HAS ABOUT 114,000 MILES ON IT AND THIS PROBLEM OCCURS MORE OFTEN. I BELIEVE THIS HAS BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE, AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER HAVING THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM ANOTHER OWNER, WHOM I KNOW, IN ABOUT 2008. HE HAD PURCHASED IT FROM A FORD DEALER AS A "PROGRAM CAR" I BELIEVE IN 2001. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10576042
93,000 miles · Feb 8, 2008
Electrical SystemInterior LightingLatches/locks/linkages
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE POWER DOOR LOCKS ENGAGE AND UNLOCK ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE DOORS NORMALLY LOCK AUTOMATICALLY WHEN SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ALSO ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, WHICH PREVENTED THE ALARM SYSTEM FROM ENGAGING. THE FAILURE O…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE POWER DOOR LOCKS ENGAGE AND UNLOCK ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE DOORS NORMALLY LOCK AUTOMATICALLY WHEN SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ALSO ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, WHICH PREVENTED THE ALARM SYSTEM FROM ENGAGING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FEBRUARY 5, 2008. THE DOOR IS AJAR WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT INDICATED HAD ILLUMINATED; HOWEVER, THE DOOR WAS SECURE. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED THE WEEK OF JANUARY 28, 2008 WHEN THERE WAS SNOW PRESENT AND DIMMED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CONTACT REACHED HIS DESTINATION. THE DEALER HAD NOT YET DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 93,000.
NHTSA ODI #10218317
59,500 miles · Dec 26, 2005
Electrical SystemSteering
COMPLETED A TURN USING THE SIGNAL LIGHT(UNKNOWN IF RELATED) AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. A ODOR OF BURNING WIRING INSULATION WAS DETECTED AT THE SAME TIME. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE AND NO CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10146079
Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 2005
Air BagsElectrical System
DT: CONTACT STATES THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DEALER REPAIRED THE PROBLEM NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME BACK ON. *AK SMOKE EMMITTED FORM THE VEHICLE'S STEERING COLUMN AT THE FLASHER SWITCH. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10125334
Mileage unknown · Dec 14, 2001
Electrical System
CONSUMER COMPLAINS OF AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE CAUSING THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT, AIR BAG LIGHT,CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT, AND PARKING BRAKE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. DEALER REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH AND SENSOR, BUT CONDITIONS STILL EXIST INTERMITTENTLY. *TT
NHTSA ODI #563874
Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2001
Electrical SystemEquipmentSteering
WHILE STARTING VEHICLE DASHBOARD INDICATION LIGHTS/ AIR CONDITIONER/ RADIO, AND POWER WINDOWS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING, ALL FUNCTION RETURNED TO NORMAL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK THERE WAS NO LIGHTS AT DASHBOARD AND NO AUTO LAMP. THE POWER WINDOW AND …
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WHILE STARTING VEHICLE DASHBOARD INDICATION LIGHTS/ AIR CONDITIONER/ RADIO, AND POWER WINDOWS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING, ALL FUNCTION RETURNED TO NORMAL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK THERE WAS NO LIGHTS AT DASHBOARD AND NO AUTO LAMP. THE POWER WINDOW AND A/C FAILED. AM RADIO WAS INOPERATIVE. THE POWER STEERING WAS VERY HARD TO TURN. *YH
NHTSA ODI #890866
Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 2001
Electrical SystemSteeringVisibility
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE REAR VIEW MIRROR, AFTER REPAIR THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS NOT OPERATION PROPERLY AGAIN. *MJS
NHTSA ODI #560752
Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2001
Electrical SystemVisibility
GLARE OFF THE WINDSHIELD MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE SPEEDOMETER, ALSO HORN IS TOO HARD TO PUSH. *AK
NHTSA ODI #885433
Official recalls
3Apr 9, 2003
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG COULD DEPLOY AS A RESULT OF UNDERBODY IMPACTS NEAR THE SENSORS, SUCH AS THOSE OCCURRING FROM PIECES OF GRAVEL OR DEBRIS THROWN FROM THE WHEELS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED AT MODERATE TO HIGH SPEED OR BEING ACCELERATED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: DEALERS WILL RECALIBRATE THE AIR BAG SENSORS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 31, 2003. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LINCOLN AT 1-800-521-4140.
Aug 8, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND LIGHT AND MEDIUM DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS. A SWITCH LOCATED IN THE PLASTIC COVER OF THE WIPER MOTOR GEAR CASE COULD MALFUNCTION AND OVERHEAT, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN LOSS OF INTERMITTENT WIPER FUNCTION, LOSS OF WIPER PARK FUNCTION, COMPLETE LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION, OR IGNITION OF THE PLASTIC COVER MATERIAL. SWITCH MALFUNCTION IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR WHEN THE INTERMITTENT SETTING OF THE WIPERS IS BEING USED, OR WHEN SNOW OR ICE OBSTRUCTS THE BLADES FROM RETURNING TO THE "PARKED" POSITION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT AT THE FOLLOWING ASSEMBLY PLANTS: ATLANTA PLANT FROM 2/11/00 THROUGH 7/31/00; CHICAGO PLANT FROM 2/14/00 THROUGH 8/4/00; KANSAS CITY PLANT FROM 2/26/00 TO 9/4/00; KENTUCKY TRUCK PLANT FROM 2/18/00 TO 8/31/00; MICHIGAN TRUCK PLANT FROM 2/23/00 THROUGH 8/3/00; NORFOLK PLANT FROM 2/21/00 THROUGH 7/27/00; WAYNE STAMPING AND ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM 2/25/00 THROUGH 8/15/00; AND WIXOM PLANT FROM 2/15/00 THROUGH 8/8/00.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LOSS OF VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE ON THE WIPER MOTOR. MOTORS BUILT WITH THE SUSPECT TIME FRAME WILL HAVE THE WIPER MOTOR GEAR CASE COVER REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 20, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
Sep 20, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MAY HAVE A PIN SHAFT IN THE SWITCHABLE ELR/ALR MECHANISM THAT IS INCORRECTLY FORMED. IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, THE SWITCHING MECHANISM COULD BECOME NONFUNCTIONAL, PREVENTING THE SEAT BELT WEBBING FROM BEING EXTRACTED FROM THE RETRACTOR. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT MALFUNCTION OF THE MECHANISM COULD PREVENT THE BELT FROM BEING SWITCHED INTO THE ALR MODE. THE ELR MECHANISM IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS CONDITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE MECHANISM MALFUNCTIONS AND DOES NOT ALLOW THE WEBBING TO BE EXTRACTED, THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT COULD NOT BE WORN BY A VEHICLE OCCUPANT. IN THE EVENT THAT THE MECHANISM DOES NOT ALLOW THE ALR MODE TO BE ENGAGED, THE OPERATOR MAY BE UNABLE TO PROPERLY INSTALL A CHILD SEAT IN THAT SEATING POSITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT ASSEMBLIES. ASSEMBLIES WITH JULIAN DATE CODES OF 200 THROUGH 223 ARE SUSPECT AND WILL BE REPLACED.
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
2EA01012 · Inadvertent Side Air Bag Deployment
Opened Apr 27, 2001 · Closed Apr 15, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window
ON APRIL 9, 2003, ODI RECEIVED FROM FORD AN OWNER LETTER AND DEALER NOTICE, BOTH DATED MARCH 2003.THE OWNER LETTER STATES THAT FORD WILL CONDUCT A PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN OF CERTAIN MY 1999-2000 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SIDE AIR BAGS (ALL MY 1999 VEHICLES AND MY 2000 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO 3/1/00; TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 42,000 VEHICLES).THE LETTER STATES THAT THE SIDE AIR BAGS IN THESE VEHICLES CAN DEPLOY IN CERTAIN TYPES OF UNDERBODY IMPACTS FROM PIECES OF GRAVEL OR DEBRIS.THE LETTER STATES THAT OWNERS WHO OPERATE THEIR VEHICLES IN SUCH DRIVING CONDITIONS SHOULD TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO A DEALER TO HAVE RECALIBRATED CRASH SENSORS INSTALLED AT NO COST.THE RECALIBRATED SENSOR REDUCES THE POSSIBILITY OF INADVERTENT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.SEE NHTSA'S SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN NO. 03V-144 FOR MORE INFORMATION.THE ACTION TAKEN BY FORD APPEARS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
PE00042 · Inadvertent Side Air Bag Deployment
Opened Oct 16, 2000 · Closed Apr 27, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window
There is no summary currently available
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