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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

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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: 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.

5 crash reports15 fire reports6 injury reports

What owners actually said

158 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 2000
Air BagsSuspension

AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM-AIR BAGS- DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK PROPERLY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #721814

Mileage unknown · Apr 20, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHEN 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

NHTSA ODI #860663

Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 2000
Suspension

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH VEHICLE WILL START VIBRATING. WHEN PASSING 30 MPH THERE WILL BE LESS VIBRATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #860027

Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2000
SteeringFire

POSITON OF POWER STEERING LINES IS SUCH THAT WHEN THEY FAIL THEY CAN CAUSE A FIRE TO OCCUR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #721186

Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

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

NHTSA ODI #721106

Mileage unknown · Mar 7, 2000
Unknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

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

NHTSA ODI #858093

Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 2000
Seat Belts

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

NHTSA ODI #856927

Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

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

NHTSA ODI #714749

Mileage unknown · Nov 9, 1999
Seat Belts

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

NHTSA ODI #851053

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 1999
Electrical SystemFire

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

NHTSA ODI #850825

Official recalls

3

98V323000 · 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

6

EA95033 · 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