IllustrationDT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH IN A DRIVEWAY THE PASSENGER SIDE SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE ARM. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED.
2000 Lincoln Continental
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2000 Lincoln Continental do not stand out strongly from 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
30–25K
525–50K
750–75K
675–100K
11100–150K
1150K+
33 reports with mileage · 30 unknown
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.
- Air Bags. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports3 fire reports7 injury reports
What owners actually said
63 reportsLTR FM (PA) REPORTING COIL SPRING BROKE IN HIS MODEL YEAR 2000 FORD LINCOLN CONTINENTAL DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. *TS *NM
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 10 MPH I HEARD A LOUD BANG ON THE MORNING OF 4-24-06. I CAME TO A STOP THINKING I HAD HIT SOMETHING IN THE ROAD. I LOOKED AROUND THE BACK OF THE CAR AND NOTICED PART OF THE COIL SPRING ON THE GROUND. I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS BECAUSE THE PASSENGER SIDE BROKE ON 4-6-06. IF AT EITHER TIME I WOULD HAVE …
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WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 10 MPH I HEARD A LOUD BANG ON THE MORNING OF 4-24-06. I CAME TO A STOP THINKING I HAD HIT SOMETHING IN THE ROAD. I LOOKED AROUND THE BACK OF THE CAR AND NOTICED PART OF THE COIL SPRING ON THE GROUND. I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS BECAUSE THE PASSENGER SIDE BROKE ON 4-6-06. IF AT EITHER TIME I WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING AT ANY SUBSTANTIAL SPEED IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PUTTING AIR IN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE, IT WAS NOTICED, THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS HAD BROKEN AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. ALTHOUGH THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED, NO APPOINTMENT FOR INSPECTION WAS MADE. UPDATED 5/2/2006 - *NM
RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS CAR(2000 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL) USED, ME AND A FRIEND DECIDED TO GO TO THE BEACH, ON THE WAY, ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 45-65 MPH WHILE THE ACCELERATOR WAS CONSTANT THE GEAR SHIFTING BECAME SPORADIC/SHUDDERING BETWEEN THE GEARS, ALMOST EVERY SINGLE TIME AFTER THE SHUDDER STOPPED THE RPM ON THE TACHOMETER WOUL…
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RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS CAR(2000 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL) USED, ME AND A FRIEND DECIDED TO GO TO THE BEACH, ON THE WAY, ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 45-65 MPH WHILE THE ACCELERATOR WAS CONSTANT THE GEAR SHIFTING BECAME SPORADIC/SHUDDERING BETWEEN THE GEARS, ALMOST EVERY SINGLE TIME AFTER THE SHUDDER STOPPED THE RPM ON THE TACHOMETER WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY DROP AND SPEED WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY DROP AS WELL AND EVEN WHEN APPLYING FULL ACCELERATION TO THE PEDAL THE CAR ACTED AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL BUT THE ENGINE WAS NOT REVVING UP EITHER, IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE TRYING TO SWITCH LANES ON THE HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC WITH A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN SPEED AND CONTROL OVER THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE AN ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED. SEVERAL SERVICE BULLETINS ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE INDICATE THIS SIMILAR DEFECTS IN THE TRANSMISSION FOR THIS VEHICLE. *JB
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
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
THE SPRING ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE, CAUSING THE BROKEN END TO CATCH THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE RIPPING THE ENTIRE SIDE AND INHIBITING STEERING. HAD THIS HAPPENED AT ANY SPEED WHILE DRIVING AN TERRIBLE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED. THERE WAS NO PRIOR INCIDENT WHICH COULD HAVE LED TO THE SPRING BREAKING AND THERE IS NO O…
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THE SPRING ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE, CAUSING THE BROKEN END TO CATCH THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE RIPPING THE ENTIRE SIDE AND INHIBITING STEERING. HAD THIS HAPPENED AT ANY SPEED WHILE DRIVING AN TERRIBLE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED. THERE WAS NO PRIOR INCIDENT WHICH COULD HAVE LED TO THE SPRING BREAKING AND THERE IS NO OBVIOUS SUPERFICIAL DEFECT IN THE SPRING. *AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED BURNS FROM THE HEATER LOCATED IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK INCIDENT OCCURRED DURING A ROAD TRIP FROM MILWAUKEE TO NEW YORK. INITIALLY, CONSUMER JUST WANTED HIS HOSPITAL BILLS PAID AND THE SEAT REPAIRED/REPLACED. FORD DENIED THE CLAIM ON THE BASIS THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP W…
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CONSUMER RECEIVED BURNS FROM THE HEATER LOCATED IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK INCIDENT OCCURRED DURING A ROAD TRIP FROM MILWAUKEE TO NEW YORK. INITIALLY, CONSUMER JUST WANTED HIS HOSPITAL BILLS PAID AND THE SEAT REPAIRED/REPLACED. FORD DENIED THE CLAIM ON THE BASIS THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO VERIFY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. CONSUMER THEN TOOK HIS CLAIM TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT. *PH
THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *NM
Official recalls
303V144000 · Air Bags:frontal
Apr 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.
01V258000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
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.
99V250000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
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