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1992 Lincoln Continental

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Continental years

Owner complaints for the 1992 Lincoln Continental are substantially higher than the model-year median of 32.

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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: 4 of 126 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 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports6 fire reports3 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

7 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 2001
Air Bags

TWO YEARS AGO I HAD THE REAR AIR BAGS REPAIRED AT THE DEALER AT A COST OF $1500. AT THE BEGINING OF THIS YEAR THE FRONT AIR BAGS STARTED TO GO. LIKE THE REARS THE LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE IS SPORATIC.SOMETIMES THE CAR LOWERS ITSELF OVERNIGHT, OTHER TIMES IT HAPPENS WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT OTHER EARLY 90'…

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TWO YEARS AGO I HAD THE REAR AIR BAGS REPAIRED AT THE DEALER AT A COST OF $1500. AT THE BEGINING OF THIS YEAR THE FRONT AIR BAGS STARTED TO GO. LIKE THE REARS THE LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE IS SPORATIC.SOMETIMES THE CAR LOWERS ITSELF OVERNIGHT, OTHER TIMES IT HAPPENS WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT OTHER EARLY 90'S CONTINENTALS AND TOWNCARS IN MY AREA SAG AT THE FRONT OR REAR OF THE CAR. I AM WONDERING IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED OTHER REPORTS ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I ALSO KNOW THAT LINCOLN NO LONGER USES THIS SYSTEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #741480

Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 1999
Air Bags

INTERMITTENT FLASHING OF THE AIR BAG LIGHT, DUE TO UNSPECIFIED REASONS. MJS

NHTSA ODI #547454

Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 1997
Air BagsCrashInjury

OWNER WAS DRIVING 10 TO 15MPH WHEN AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND INJURED DRIVER, THE VEHICLE WAS HIT IN THE LEFT FRONT DUP OF 813169, ADDED ON 25-FEB-98. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #813380

Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 1997
Air BagsCrashInjury

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISON AND AIR BAG DEPLOY, WHICH CAUSE THE DRIVER TO EXPERIENCE A VERY BAD TRUMOR. HER LEFT ARM WAS BROKE DUE TO THE AIR BAG DEPLOYING AND SHE WAS ONLY GOING 15MPH.

NHTSA ODI #813169

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 1996
Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT WILL COME ON FROM TIME TO TIME. DEALER IS UNABLE TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #801399

Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 1995
Air BagsCrashInjury

REAR ENDED VEHICLE. EXPLOSION OF AIRBAG DURING DEPLOYMENT. RESULTING IN LOSS OF HEARING. TT

NHTSA ODI #974286

Mileage unknown · Date not reported
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

SUBFRAME MOUNTS/MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE/REPAIRED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION. CONSUMER STATES AFTER REPAIR HE EXPERIENCED STEERING PROBLEMS(POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE, CONTAMINATED COOLER PUMP), BELIEVES PROBLEMS TO BE DUE TO SUBFRAME MOUNT BREAKAGE(STATES ON RECALL NOTICE STEERING PROBLEMS MAY RESULT IF MOTOR MOUNTS BREAK)(98V-32…

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SUBFRAME MOUNTS/MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE/REPAIRED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION. CONSUMER STATES AFTER REPAIR HE EXPERIENCED STEERING PROBLEMS(POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE, CONTAMINATED COOLER PUMP), BELIEVES PROBLEMS TO BE DUE TO SUBFRAME MOUNT BREAKAGE(STATES ON RECALL NOTICE STEERING PROBLEMS MAY RESULT IF MOTOR MOUNTS BREAK)(98V-323).

NHTSA ODI #544589

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.

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.

97V019000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan

Feb 25, 1997

THESE VEHICLES ARE ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, IOWA, MINNESOTA, NEBRASKA, NORTH DAKOTA, AND SOUTH DAKOTA. THE VEHICLES INVOLVED ARE 1992-1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES WITH 3.0L ENGINES; 1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ WITH 2.3L ENGINES; 1992-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.8L ENGINES; 1994-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.0L ENGINES AND 1992-1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL VEHICLES WITH 3.8L ENGINES. DURING HIGH WINDS, HEAVY, BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW, AND LOW TEMPERATURES, THE ENGINE COOLING FAN CAN BECOME BLOCKED OR FROZEN WITH SNOW. THE FAN MOTOR MAY NOT ROTATE AND COULD OVERHEAT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE SMOKE OR FLAMES FROM THE FAN AND/OR SHROUD, THE FAN ELECTRICAL WIRING, OR THE FAN MOTOR RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ELECTRICAL JUMPER HARNESS CONTAINING AN AUTOMATIC RESETTING CIRCUIT BREAKER TO PROTECT THE FAN MOTOR LOW SPEED CIRCUITRY FROM OVERHEATING.

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

8

EA96024 · 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

EA93022 · Idle Air Spd Ctrl Vlv Malf

Opened Jul 30, 1993 · Closed Aug 31, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

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

PE93010 · Idle Air Spd Ctrl Vlv Malf

Opened Mar 2, 1993 · Closed Jul 30, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

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