AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM-AIR BAGS- DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK PROPERLY. *AK
1990 Lincoln Continental
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Continental years
Owner complaints for the 1990 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
158 reportsWHEN DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY CONSUMER NOTICED STEAM COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. MANAGED TO GET OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER DETERMINED THE CAUSE TO BE A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. 8AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH VEHICLE WILL START VIBRATING. WHEN PASSING 30 MPH THERE WILL BE LESS VIBRATION. *AK
POSITON OF POWER STEERING LINES IS SUCH THAT WHEN THEY FAIL THEY CAN CAUSE A FIRE TO OCCUR. *AK
THE FORD 3.8L V6 HAS KNOWN HIGH INCIDENCE OF PREMATURE FAILURE WITH THIS COMPONENT -- THE HEAD GASKET. MY EXPENSES TO REPAIR THIS COMPONENT WERE 1371.77 SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY FOR 9000 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THEY HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE AND/OR SALES INCENTIVES TO 1994/1995 OWNERS, BUT WILL NOT EX…
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THE FORD 3.8L V6 HAS KNOWN HIGH INCIDENCE OF PREMATURE FAILURE WITH THIS COMPONENT -- THE HEAD GASKET. MY EXPENSES TO REPAIR THIS COMPONENT WERE 1371.77 SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY FOR 9000 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THEY HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE AND/OR SALES INCENTIVES TO 1994/1995 OWNERS, BUT WILL NOT EXTEND THE SAME CONSIDERATION OR COMPENSATION TO OWNERS OF OLDER VEHICLES EXPERIENCING THE SAME CONDITION. I AM SEEKING THE SAME INCLUSION OF MY MODEL YEAR UNDER THE SAME SETTLEMENT. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT FORD DENIES THE EXISTENCE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT RATHER FEELS THAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS CMPENSATION IS TO INFLUENCE FUTURE PURCHASES, AND THAT CONSIDERATION MADE ON ANY VEHICLE PURCHASED BEFORE 1994 NO LONGER REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT OWNER RETENSION / MARKETING OPPORTUNITY. *AK
WHEN DRIVING GAS PEDAL WOULD STICK INTERMITTENTLY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND HE INDICATED THAT IT WAS NOT A WARRANTY PROBLEM, BUT RATHER THE FLOOR MAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR A FEW YEARS. THEY REPLACED THROTTLE BEARINGS. *AK *ML
DRIVER'S SHOULDER BELT DOES NOT PROPERLY RETURN INTO THE RETRACTING MECHANISM DUE TO A MALFUNCTION WITH THE RETRACTING TENSIONER. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT A SLOW OR NO RETURN OCCURS. *SLC
ENGINE MOUNTS HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM IN THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS NEW. THEY WERE REPLACED TWICE UNDER WARRANTY AND THEN IN1 995 AGAIN UNDER THE RECALL 92M77, NHTSA# SBO30958. IT SEEMS AS IF THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY DECIDED TO KEEP REPLACING THE SYMPTON(BROKEN MOUNTS) UNTIL ALL THE WARRANTIES RAN OUT RATHER THAN FIX THE INITIAL CAUSE …
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ENGINE MOUNTS HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM IN THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS NEW. THEY WERE REPLACED TWICE UNDER WARRANTY AND THEN IN1 995 AGAIN UNDER THE RECALL 92M77, NHTSA# SBO30958. IT SEEMS AS IF THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY DECIDED TO KEEP REPLACING THE SYMPTON(BROKEN MOUNTS) UNTIL ALL THE WARRANTIES RAN OUT RATHER THAN FIX THE INITIAL CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
RECEIVED RECALL 97V174000 IN MAIL. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. WAS INFORMED VEHICLE HAD TO BE BROUGHT INTO DEALER'S TO CHECK WHAT TO ORDER. WOULD HAVE TO BRING VEHICLE BACK 2ND TIME FOR INSTALLATION. HAD NO PARTS AVAILABLE. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER WHO AGREED WITH DEALERSHIP. NOTICE DOES NOT STATE TO BRING VEHICLE BACK TWICE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING,AND UPON PULLING INTO A DEALER'S PARKING LOT, CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. POPPED OPEN THE HOOD, AND THERE WAS A FIRE. DEALER PUT OUT THE FIRE. *AK
Official recalls
398V323000 · 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.
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
6EA95033 · 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
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
Illustration