IllustrationWHILE DRIVING GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION. CONSUMER PRESSED THE BRAKES, BUT BRAKES FAILED STOP VEHICLE. VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED AFTER DRIVING 4 MILES. GAS PEDAL STUCK AT LEAST FOUR TIMES *AK
1989 Lincoln Continental
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Continental years
Owner complaints for the 1989 Lincoln Continental are substantially higher than 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
Limited mileage data: 2 of 158 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.
- Seat Belts. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 26 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 reports18 fire reports7 injury reports
What owners actually said
158 reportsWHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE, CAUSING DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. CONSUMER BROKE THE RIGHT ARM IN FOUR PLACES. *AK
FRONT AIR SUSPENSION LOSES PRESSURE ,CAUSES THE FRONT TO BOUNCE WHENEVER VEHICLE RUNS OVER BUMPS OR POTHOLES. DEALER / MFR. WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ON THE STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WENT OUT, AND THE ABS SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES. NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES. VEHICLE TURNED INTO A FIELD IN ORDER TO STOP. *AK
CONSUMER AND HER SISTER WERE TRAVELING ABOUT 45 TO 50MPH WHEN THEY APPROACHED A LITTLE HUMP IN THE ROAD, A SMALL HILL, THERE WAS A COW IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THEY HIT THE COW, AND THE COW WENT UP IN THE AIR AND LANDED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HEADLIGHTS. SHE BOUNCED OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AND WENT ONTO THE WINDSHIELD, THE COW …
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CONSUMER AND HER SISTER WERE TRAVELING ABOUT 45 TO 50MPH WHEN THEY APPROACHED A LITTLE HUMP IN THE ROAD, A SMALL HILL, THERE WAS A COW IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THEY HIT THE COW, AND THE COW WENT UP IN THE AIR AND LANDED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HEADLIGHTS. SHE BOUNCED OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AND WENT ONTO THE WINDSHIELD, THE COW BROKE THE WINDSHIELD, AND SLID UP ONTO THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. BOUNCED ONTO THE GROUND AND WENT BACK ACROSS THE ROAD. AIR BAGS FAILE DTO DEPLOY, AND BOTH DRIVER AND SISTER SUSTAINED BACK/CHEST AND NECK INJURIES. *AK
WHEN VEHICLE WAS STARTED THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE AND WOULD NOT IDLE DOWN. NLM
NHTSA RECALL # 98 V 323 000, SUBFRAME AND NHTSA RECALL #97 I 003 000, SEAT BELT BUCKLES WERE RECEIVED FROM MANUFACTURER. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS AND WAS INFORMED NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE RECALL WAS TAKEN CARE OFF. CONSUMER RECEIVED MANUFACTURER'S RECALL ON 22 SEP 99, AND TOOK VEHICLE IN TO DEALER ON SEP 29 1999. SEEKI…
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NHTSA RECALL # 98 V 323 000, SUBFRAME AND NHTSA RECALL #97 I 003 000, SEAT BELT BUCKLES WERE RECEIVED FROM MANUFACTURER. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS AND WAS INFORMED NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE RECALL WAS TAKEN CARE OFF. CONSUMER RECEIVED MANUFACTURER'S RECALL ON 22 SEP 99, AND TOOK VEHICLE IN TO DEALER ON SEP 29 1999. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK
REPLACEMENT OF FUEL TANK DID NOT RECTIFY ROUGH RUNNING CONDITION, FOUND SHORTED WIRING IN THE ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROL CAUSING PROCESSOR TO SHORT OUT AND EGR TO STAY OPEN. MJS
I FIND I'M ONE OF MANY FORD 3.8L ENGINE OWNERS WITH FAILED HEADGASKETS
HEAT CONTROL / AIR CONDITIONING SWITCH FAILED. *YC
Official recalls
498V323000 · Structure:frame And Members
Dec 16, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGNIA, AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR LOWER SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT CAN EXPERIENCE STRESS CORROSION CRACKING IF SUBJECTED TO LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALTS. THIS CAN RESULT IN FRACTURE AND LOSS OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT ATTACHMENT. DETACHMENT OF THE BODY MOUNTS AT THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ALLOWS THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME TO DROP.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF BOTH REAR CORNERS DROP, STEERING WOULD BECOME SUDDENLY VERY DIFFICULT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.
97V174000 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
Oct 7, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT OUTBOARD SEATING POSITION SEAT BELT BUCKLES MAY NOT LATCH OR UNLATCH.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THESE CONDITIONS COULD REDUCE SEAT BELT USAGE INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT OUTBOARD SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES.
91V134000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor
Aug 6, 1991
FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE SEVERE CORROSION IF OPERATED IN AREAS WHERE CALCIUM CHLORIDE AND SODIUM CHLORIDE ARE USED EXTENSIVELY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SEVERELY CORRODED ROTORS MAY FRACTURE OR SEPARATE NEARTHE INNER EDGES OF THE BRAKE DISCS RESULTING IN REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS,HIGHER THAN NORMAL PEDAL EFFORTS, LOUD GRINDING NOISES, AND MODERATE PULLS WHENTHE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS MAY INCREASE MINIMUMSTOPPING DISTANCES, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH FULL CAST FRONT BRAKE ROTORS.
89V048000 · Seat Belts:front:retractor
Mar 27, 1989
THE LEFT SIDE, REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY MAY BE IMPROPERLY SECURED AND COULD PULL FREE OF ITS MOUNTING LOCATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: OCCUPANT, THOUGH STILL RESTRAINED BY THE LAP PORTION OFTHE BELT, WOULD NOT HAVE UPPER BODY PROTECTION.
Remedy: REINSTALL THE RETRACTOR ATTACHMENT BOLT.
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
8EA95033 · Faulty Seat Belt Buckles
Opened Oct 31, 1995 · Closed Oct 22, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
COMPLAINTS ALLEGE AN INABILITY TO LATCH SEAT BELT BUCKLES, AND INADVERTENT UNLATCHING OF THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE.
DP95004 · Alleged Defective Tie Rods
Opened Aug 8, 1995 · Closed Aug 30, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other
ALLEGED DEFECTIVE TIE RODS
EA94008 · Broken Tie Rods
Opened Feb 16, 1994 · Closed Feb 27, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
PE93058 · Broken Tie Rods
Opened Jun 15, 1993 · Closed Feb 16, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
EA92040 · SUB-FRM/UNIBODY Absor.fail
Opened Nov 30, 1992 · Closed Jun 30, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
Additional source detail variants (2)
Structure
There is no summary currently available
Structure
There is no summary currently available
PE92056 · SUB-FRM/UNIBODY Absor.fail
Opened Jul 1, 1992 · Closed Nov 30, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
PE92014 · Engine Mount Failure
Opened Feb 4, 1992 · Closed Jun 25, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
There is no summary currently available
PE89026 · Air Suspension Failure
Opened Dec 20, 1988 · Closed Apr 12, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available