Illustration1991 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL WITH 39,800 ORIGINAL OWNER MILES. HEAD GASKET BLEW. COOLANT COMING OUT OF EXHAUST PIPES. *NM
1991 Lincoln Continental
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Continental years
Owner complaints for the 1991 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: 4 of 203 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 56 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 41 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 reports19 fire reports5 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
56 reports1991 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***.*MR RECALL FOR MOTOR MOUNTS, SUB-FRAME SUPPORT PLATE, TRANSMISSION CABLE, AND MOUNT CORROSION. DEALERSHIP WILLING TO FIX SUB-FRAME PLATE AND CABLE, BUT WILL NOT FIX MOTOR MOUNTS, STATING THAT THE 6 YEAR OR 60,000 MILES HAS EXPIRED AND THAT THE CAR IS TOO OLD…
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1991 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***.*MR RECALL FOR MOTOR MOUNTS, SUB-FRAME SUPPORT PLATE, TRANSMISSION CABLE, AND MOUNT CORROSION. DEALERSHIP WILLING TO FIX SUB-FRAME PLATE AND CABLE, BUT WILL NOT FIX MOTOR MOUNTS, STATING THAT THE 6 YEAR OR 60,000 MILES HAS EXPIRED AND THAT THE CAR IS TOO OLD. PLEASE HELP INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER. *TT *NM
I HAD JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM A PRIVATE OWNER FOR MY SISTER TO DRIVE TO WORK. WELL NOT EVEN BEFORE WE GOT HOME THE MAIN EEC IV COMPUTER DIED SO THE CAR WOULD NOT RUN. ONCE WE FIGURED OUT IT WAS THE MAIN COMPUTER AND REPLACED IT IT RAN FINE. BUT WE STILL HAD TWO BAD FRONT AIR STRUTS TO FIX. AFTER ALL THAT SHE FINALLY GOT TO DRI…
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I HAD JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM A PRIVATE OWNER FOR MY SISTER TO DRIVE TO WORK. WELL NOT EVEN BEFORE WE GOT HOME THE MAIN EEC IV COMPUTER DIED SO THE CAR WOULD NOT RUN. ONCE WE FIGURED OUT IT WAS THE MAIN COMPUTER AND REPLACED IT IT RAN FINE. BUT WE STILL HAD TWO BAD FRONT AIR STRUTS TO FIX. AFTER ALL THAT SHE FINALLY GOT TO DRIVE IT TO WORK AND THE FIRST DAY SHE DROVE THE CAR SHE DID NOT EVEN MAKE IT HOME BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION JUST STOPPED WORKING. SO SHE IS OUT A CAR AND WE DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT. BECAUSE OF ALL THE OTHER CARS MY POOR SISTER HAS OWNED DRAINED US.
I BLEW A HEAD GASKET & THE DCL WENT OUT. LINCOLN SAYS THAT THEY CANT REPLACE THIS PART (DCL)
PEELING PAINT AND HEAD GASKETS FAILED POSSIBLY A CRACKED HEAD
REQUEST FOR DATABASE INFO WITH HISTORY RESOLUTION ATTEMPTS. *MR THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE 3.8 LITER V6 ENGINES. THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE ORIGINAL ALUMINUM HEADS FOR THE ENGINE HAD AN ADDITIONAL FLAW WHICH WAS A SHARPLY MACHINED TRANSITION LINE RUNNING THE FULL LENGTH OF THE HEADS, WHICH CAUSED THE HEADS TO CRACK AL…
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REQUEST FOR DATABASE INFO WITH HISTORY RESOLUTION ATTEMPTS. *MR THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE 3.8 LITER V6 ENGINES. THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE ORIGINAL ALUMINUM HEADS FOR THE ENGINE HAD AN ADDITIONAL FLAW WHICH WAS A SHARPLY MACHINED TRANSITION LINE RUNNING THE FULL LENGTH OF THE HEADS, WHICH CAUSED THE HEADS TO CRACK ALONG THAT LINE WHEN OVERHEATED. *SC *JB
WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. *NLM *TT
THIS IS THE THIRD(3) CONTINENTAL WE HAVE OWNED AND AIR SUSPENSION HAS FAILED OF ALL THREE. THE 3.8 CUI MOTOR IN THIS CAR AND OTHER FORD MODELS HAS BENN NOTORIOUS FOR LEAKING HEAD GASKETS. *AK
SURVEY OF FORD DEALERS AND LOCAL REPAIR SHOPS INDICATE HEAD GASKET AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE VERY COMMON WITH 4.8L, V-6 ENGINES IN 1991 THROUGH 1997 CONTINENTAL, TARUS AND SABLE. FORD REFUSES TO ASSIST OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR FAILURES EXEPT 1994 RECALL ON ENGINE HEAD GASKET.*AK
THIS IS A TYPICAL EXAMPLE OF FORD NOT COVERING THEIR CUSTOMERS FOR A DEFECT THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT FOR YEARS. THEY CLAIM THEY ARE COVERING 1994 AND NEWER VEHICLES, YET THE TSB 98-4-9 SPECIFICALLY STATES THEY HAVE BEEN FULLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM FROM 1988-1994 ON THESE CARS. I PURCHASED THE CAR USED FOR $3200, HAVE A LOAN ON IT, J…
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THIS IS A TYPICAL EXAMPLE OF FORD NOT COVERING THEIR CUSTOMERS FOR A DEFECT THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT FOR YEARS. THEY CLAIM THEY ARE COVERING 1994 AND NEWER VEHICLES, YET THE TSB 98-4-9 SPECIFICALLY STATES THEY HAVE BEEN FULLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM FROM 1988-1994 ON THESE CARS. I PURCHASED THE CAR USED FOR $3200, HAVE A LOAN ON IT, JUST SPENT $990 FOR THE HEAD GASKET, $400 TO GET THE PLATES AND TITLE TRANSFERRED, AND NOW I AM TOLD THE ENGINE WILL PROBABLY GO NEXT, WHICH IS COMMON FOR THIS CAR. FORD REFUSES TO SPEAK WITH ME ABOUT AN AGREEMENT. I GET THE "IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY" STORY. HEAD GASKETS ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST 120,000 MILES. MY VEHICLE HAS 72000 AT TIME OF HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT. I WANT FORD TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT!*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.
97V025000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Feb 26, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L ENGINES AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, IOWA, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. WATER CAN ACCUMULATE WITHIN THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE CONDUIT. IF ENOUGH WATER ACCUMULATES, IT COULD FREEZE WITHIN A LOW AREA OF THE CABLE ROUTING WHEN EXPOSED TO A LONG TERM COLD SOAK AT TEMPERATURES AT LEAST SEVERAL DEGREES BELOW FREEZING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DRIVER CONTROL OF VEHICLE SPEED USING THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM OR THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEM WOULD BE DIMINISHED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A BOOT TO THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE.
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
7EA96024 · Engine Cooling Fan Fires
Opened Sep 30, 1996 · Closed Apr 15, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
There is no summary currently available
PE96033 · Engine Cooling Fan Fires
Opened May 2, 1996 · Closed Sep 30, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
IN DECEMBER 1995, FORD RECALLED 119,313 VEHICLES IN CANADA TO REMEDY THE SUBJECT CONDITION IN CERTAIN 1992-95 TAURUS, SABLE, TEMPO, TOPAZ AND CONTINENTAL VEHICLES.FORD IS AWARE OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS OCCURRING IN NORTHERN REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES, BUT MAINTAINS THAT THE FREQUENCIES DO NOT WARRANT A FINDING OF AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY.
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
PE93070 · Failure Of Wheel Studs
Opened Jul 27, 1993 · Closed Nov 22, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
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