IllustrationWHILE DRIVING ORIGINAL ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLEW. WERE BLOWING SMOKE & LEAKING FLUID. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC REPLACED ENGINE. HEAD GASKETS BLEW ON THE 2ND ENGINE ALSO & ENGINE WAS REPLACED ONCE AGAIN. *AK
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 reportsHEAD GASKET FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RUN ROUGH AND LOOSE COOLANT. YH
APPARENTLY THE RIDE HEIGHT SENSORS FAILED, THIS CAUSED THE MOTOR MOUNTS TO FAIL BECAUSE OF IMPROPER HEIGHT RIDE, THIS PUT UNDO STRESS ON FRONT AXEL AND WORE OUT CV JOINTS. ALSO PROBABLY CAUSED FAILURE IN STRUTS.
DURING THE INITIAL WARRANTY PERIOD AT 45000 MILES THE HEADS ON THE VEHICLE WERE BLOWN DUE TO THE MANUFACTURE PROBLEM WHICH WAS FOUND OUT THROUGH THE DEALER. AND AFTER 40000 MILES THE PROBLEM IS OCURRING ONCE AGAIN. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS 84000 MILES, THE ENGINE SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS MUCH OF A PROBLEM. LINCOOLN HAS NOTHING BUT P…
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DURING THE INITIAL WARRANTY PERIOD AT 45000 MILES THE HEADS ON THE VEHICLE WERE BLOWN DUE TO THE MANUFACTURE PROBLEM WHICH WAS FOUND OUT THROUGH THE DEALER. AND AFTER 40000 MILES THE PROBLEM IS OCURRING ONCE AGAIN. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS 84000 MILES, THE ENGINE SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS MUCH OF A PROBLEM. LINCOOLN HAS NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADS ON THESE 6 CYL VEHICLES. PLEASE HELP
CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT DEALER REPAIRED REAR SURFAME CORROSION, BUT REFUSED TO CORRECT THE SAME PROBLEM TO FRONT MOTOR MOUNTS. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER.*AK
WHILE RETURNING FROM VACATION WITH 3 OCCUPANTS, PULLED OFF I-95 AT MARYLAND HOUSE NEAR ABERDEEN FOR COFFEE. NO PROBLEMS WITH CAR FOR PREVIOUS 1000 MILES OF TRIP. WAS NEGOTIATING HEAD-IN PARKING SPOT WITH CARS PARKED ON EITHER SIDE. BROUGHT CAR TO A FULL STOP WITH MY FRONT WHEEL EVEN WITH REAR WHEEL OF CAR PARKED TO MY LEFT. WENT…
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WHILE RETURNING FROM VACATION WITH 3 OCCUPANTS, PULLED OFF I-95 AT MARYLAND HOUSE NEAR ABERDEEN FOR COFFEE. NO PROBLEMS WITH CAR FOR PREVIOUS 1000 MILES OF TRIP. WAS NEGOTIATING HEAD-IN PARKING SPOT WITH CARS PARKED ON EITHER SIDE. BROUGHT CAR TO A FULL STOP WITH MY FRONT WHEEL EVEN WITH REAR WHEEL OF CAR PARKED TO MY LEFT. WENT TO RESUME FORWARD MOTION FOR THE 12 FT. OR SO TO COMPLETE PARKING AND CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. THINKING I MAY HAVE ACCIDENTALLY SHIFTED THE LEVER INTO NEUTRAL, I WORKED IT THROUGH FORWARD AND REVERSE GEARS TO NO AVAIL. I WAS STYMIED SINCE UNTIL THAT TIME THE CAR HAD WORKED FLAWLESSLY. WENT THROUGH GEARSHIFT POSITIONS AGAIN. AGAIN NOTHING. ENGINE BEGAN HESITATING WITH CAR MAKING A SURGING MOTION. FEARING A STALL I MADE SURE GEARSHIFT WAS IN NEUTRAL AND I REVVED THE ENGINE. SOMETHING ENGAGED -I CAN ONLY ASSUME IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION- AND THE CAR JERKED VIOLENTLY FORWARD ABOUT 8 FT. BEFORE I COULD STOP IT. CHECKED LEVER AGAIN AND IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. I, MY WIFE ,AND SISTER-IN-LAW HEARD SOMETHING BREAK WHEN THE CAR LURCHED. A BIT EMBARASSED,I SHOWED THEM "LOOK, IT'S IN NEUTRAL!" WHEREUPON MY WIFE SAID "A FEW MORE FEET AND YOU MIGHT HAVE HIT ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE!" SHE WAS REFERRING TO SOME PASSERSBY WALKING ON THE MEDIAN WHICH SERVED AS THE FAR LIMIT OF THE PARKING STALL AND WHICH PEOPLE USE TO WALK TO THE COFFEE HOUSE. THE CAR WAS FLATBEDDED TO HINDER LINCOLN MERCURY IN ABERDEEN. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS TRANSMISSION, MOTOR MOUNTS, AND DAMAGE TO AN AXLE. I HAD THE CAR SHIPPED HOME TO LONG ISLAND WHERE MY OWN MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH AXLES, BOTH MOUNTS, AND REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION. I AM TOLD IN ALL LIKELIHOOD THE BANG INTO GEAR DESTROYED AN ALREADY WEAK OR FAILING MOUNT AND/OR AXLE. M.. .
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING SPEED DECREASE WITH OUT WARNING, ENGINE BEGINS TO VIBRATE AND THERE IS NO WAY TO CONTINUE DRIVING BY USING THE ACCELERATOR, VEHICLE HAS TO BE TURNED OFF AND RE-STARTED. *YC
ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT AND BURNED WATER AND GAS. DEALER NOT AWARE OF PROBLEM, AND REPAIRWORK DONE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. ALSO ABS LIGHTCONTINUOUSLY FLASHES ON AND OFF, DEALER NOT AWARE, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
HEAD GASKETS ARE BLOWN. COOLANT COMING OUT OF EXHAUST SYSTEM.
MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED FOUR TIMES ,AND CURRENTLY MOTOR MOUNTS WENT OUT AGAIN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SMOKE. ALSO,POWER STEERING FLUID IS LEAKING, AND VEHICLE IS JERKING. DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE FOUR TIMES. *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