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2002 Lincoln Continental

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Lincoln Continental do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 32.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

Limited mileage data: 18 of 33 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.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

33 reports
112,786 miles · Mar 24, 2017
Engine

OIL PRESSURE SWITCH LIGHT CAME ON CHANGED OIL PRESSURE SWITCH BUT LIGHT STILL FLICKERS ON HAPPENS WHEN CAR IS IDLEING AT STOP LIGHTS ON CITY STREET

NHTSA ODI #10968329

Mileage unknown · Aug 4, 2016
Seat Belts

SEAT BELTS IN REAR ARE ALL LOCKING UP AND WILL NOT ALLOW FOR PASSENGERS IN BACK TO BE BUCKLED PROPERLY

NHTSA ODI #10893318

75,000 miles · Feb 15, 2016
Vehicle Speed Control

THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, WAS BEING ACCELERATED TO ENTER A HIGHWAY. DUE TO TRAFFIC, THERE WAS A LET OFF ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO ALLOW ANOTHER DRIVER TO MERGE, AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND, INSTEAD IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT HAVING ANY DRIVER INPUT. BRAKES WERE APPLIED, AND THE VEHICL…

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THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, WAS BEING ACCELERATED TO ENTER A HIGHWAY. DUE TO TRAFFIC, THERE WAS A LET OFF ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO ALLOW ANOTHER DRIVER TO MERGE, AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND, INSTEAD IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT HAVING ANY DRIVER INPUT. BRAKES WERE APPLIED, AND THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT NEAR FULL POWER, AND THE DRIVER HAD TO APPLY BREAKS HARD TO SLOW, AND PULL OFF HIGHWAY. ATTEMPTS TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL RESULTED IN THE TRANSMISSION WANTING TO GO INTO REVERSE INSTEAD OF NEUTRAL. ONCE OFF THE ROAD, THE ENGINE WAS SHUT DOWN. WHEN RESTARTED, IT WAS STILL STUCK AT WIDE OPEN THROTTLE. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO UNSTICK FAILED. AFTER IT REMAINED OFF A SHORT TIME, AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL OPERATED, IT RETURNED TO NORMAL. A SHORT TIME LATER WHILE TESTING IN THE PARKING LOT, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. FURTHER INVESTIGATION LEADS ME TO BELIEVE IT MAY BE RELATED TO THE CRUISE CONTROL, AS THE ISSUE APPEARED TO BE ELECTRONIC IN NATURE, AS THE OPERATION OF THE THROTTLE CABLE WITH THE VEHICLE OFF SHOWED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY SORT OF STICKINESS OR UNUSUAL RESISTANCE. CRUISE CONTROL UNIT WAS UNPLUGGED, AND THE VEHICLE TESTED. THE PROBLEM DID NOT RECUR AT THIS TIME. I DROVE IT HOME LATER THAT NIGHT IN LIGHT TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO A SHOP TO EVALUATE DAMAGE CAUSED WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL TO AVOID ACCIDENT, AND SEE IF A ROOT CAUSE CAN BE DETERMINED. AS THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENTS OF THIS TYPE I BELEIVE IT MAY BE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THIS IS A LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE WITH APPROXIMATELY 75,000 MILES. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT SHOULD BE THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED AND A RECALL ISSUED, REGARDLESS OF AGE, AS THIS COULD CAUSE ADDITIONAL INJURIES OR FATALITIES.

NHTSA ODI #10826140

106,000 miles · Nov 23, 2015
Power TrainCrash

THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK AND RIVING UP AND BRAKES ETC. DID NOT WORK. RAN INTO A SIDEWALK SO IWOULD NOT HIT THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME.A CITY STREET GOING STRAIGHT.

NHTSA ODI #10806401

88,165 miles · Dec 28, 2014
Service BrakesSuspension

AFTER TURNING ON THE IGNITION AND PUTTING THE CAR IN GEAR, MY 2002 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL MADE AN EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES AND AFTER STARTING IT AGAIN EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE. AFTER ABOUT A HALF HOUR OF DRIVING, THE CAR BECAME NOISY. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE RIGHT FRONT C…

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AFTER TURNING ON THE IGNITION AND PUTTING THE CAR IN GEAR, MY 2002 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL MADE AN EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES AND AFTER STARTING IT AGAIN EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE. AFTER ABOUT A HALF HOUR OF DRIVING, THE CAR BECAME NOISY. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE RIGHT FRONT COIL WAS BROKEN. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE A USED SPRING AND HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW COIL FOR $530.45 WHICH SEEMS EXCESSIVE. THIS ENDED UP BEING A $733.00 REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10668546

140,000 miles · Aug 26, 2014
SuspensionWheels

DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE, AND PUNCTURED THE FRONT TIRE. I WAS JUST BEGINNING TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVE-WAY. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE SHOP. HAD BOTH FRONT SPRINGS AND THE TIRE REPLACED. LUCKILY IT DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10628384

110,000 miles · Oct 3, 2012
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DECELERATE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT THEN CRASHED INTO A WALL AND SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER KNEE AND BACK. THERE WAS A POLICE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DECELERATE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT THEN CRASHED INTO A WALL AND SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER KNEE AND BACK. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED BUT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED A FEW DAYS AFTER THE CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ODI #10478507

66,000 miles · Aug 4, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ABRUPTLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD UPON ENGAGING AND REMAINED IN A STUCK POSITION. THERE WERE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHICH FAILED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN PRESSURE WAS APP…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ABRUPTLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD UPON ENGAGING AND REMAINED IN A STUCK POSITION. THERE WERE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHICH FAILED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKES. ONCE THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, THE SPEED BEGAN TO REDUCE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RELEASE THE STUCK ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND RESUMED NORMALLY FOR A BRIEF MOMENT AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000. UPDATED 08/31/11*LJ THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE THROTTLE BODY CABLE WAS NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED. UPDATED 09/09/11

NHTSA ODI #10417003

72,000 miles · Mar 10, 2011
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRINGS FRACTURED AND PUNCTURED THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WERE THEY CONFIRMED THE FAILURE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000. UPDATED 04/07/11*LJ

NHTSA ODI #10389742

33,300 miles · Dec 2, 2009
Wheels

I OWN A 2002 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL WHICH HAS OEM CHROME WHEELS. THE CHROME PLATING ON THE INSIDE OF THE WHEELS IS DELAMINATING AND CURLING INWARD TOWARD THE BRAKE AREA WHERE THE RUBBER LINES ARE LOCATED. NORMALLY A DRIVER WOULD NOT EVEN NOTICE THIS PLATING FAILURE AND IT COULD RESULT IN A SLICING OF THE RUBBER BRAKE LINES. THE FOR…

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I OWN A 2002 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL WHICH HAS OEM CHROME WHEELS. THE CHROME PLATING ON THE INSIDE OF THE WHEELS IS DELAMINATING AND CURLING INWARD TOWARD THE BRAKE AREA WHERE THE RUBBER LINES ARE LOCATED. NORMALLY A DRIVER WOULD NOT EVEN NOTICE THIS PLATING FAILURE AND IT COULD RESULT IN A SLICING OF THE RUBBER BRAKE LINES. THE FORD DEALER SAID THERE IS NO REMEDY FROM FORD MOTOR CO. THIS DELAMINTING PROCESS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10294306

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.