FORD'S 3.8L ENGINE HAS EXPERIENCED MANY HEAD GASKET FAILURES. MY 1992 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL EXPERIENCED A FAILED HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AT 91,830 MILES. FORD HAS EXTENDED ENGINE WARRANTIES ON LATER CONTINENTALS. IF THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WHICH IS CONTRIBUTING TO THESE FAILURES, FORD SHOULD HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY IN THE REPAIR CO…
Read full complaint
FORD'S 3.8L ENGINE HAS EXPERIENCED MANY HEAD GASKET FAILURES. MY 1992 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL EXPERIENCED A FAILED HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AT 91,830 MILES. FORD HAS EXTENDED ENGINE WARRANTIES ON LATER CONTINENTALS. IF THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WHICH IS CONTRIBUTING TO THESE FAILURES, FORD SHOULD HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY IN THE REPAIR COSTS FOR EARLIER MODELS IN ADDITION TO THE LATER MODELS THAT THEY ARE NOW COVERING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #719840
Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT WHICH MAY CAUSE VEHICLE TO STALL UNEXPECTEDLY AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED THE GASKET AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK DUE TO GASKET FAILURE ANTIFREEZE LEAKED INTO CYLINDERS CAUSING ROUGH IDLE. *YH
NHTSA ODI #855414
Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING EXTENSIVE ENGINE DAMAGE DUE TO OVER HEATING. MJS
NHTSA ODI #549375
Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspension
AIR PUMP IN WHICH THE AIR IS IN AND THE SHOCK/STRUTS BROKE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO DOWN TO THE GROUND. *AK
NHTSA ODI #851757
Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling
MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM, RECALL COMPONENT HOWEVER OWNER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL, RECENT REPAIR OF THE BLOWN HEAD GASKET WAS POSSIBLY RELATED TO THE RECALL COMPONENT FAILURE (92M77).
NHTSA ODI #548924
Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED AND REPAIRS DONE BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURS. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #843893
Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling
BEGAN NOTICING GAS SMELL IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AT HIGHER AIR TEMPURATURES. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED PROBLEM WITH VAPOR RETURN LINE AND REPAIRED USING A "VAPOR RETURN KIT" PROVIDED BY FORD-LINCOLN. WAS TOLD THAT PROBLEM OCCURRED MOST OFTEN AT HIGH AIR TEMPERATURES. TOTAL REPAIR COST WAS $329.30 (PARTS AND LABOR). I FEEL THAT T…
Read full complaint
BEGAN NOTICING GAS SMELL IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AT HIGHER AIR TEMPURATURES. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED PROBLEM WITH VAPOR RETURN LINE AND REPAIRED USING A "VAPOR RETURN KIT" PROVIDED BY FORD-LINCOLN. WAS TOLD THAT PROBLEM OCCURRED MOST OFTEN AT HIGH AIR TEMPERATURES. TOTAL REPAIR COST WAS $329.30 (PARTS AND LABOR). I FEEL THAT THE GAS SMELL POSED A SAFETY HAZARD TO ME AND OCCUPANTS; THAT IT REPRESENTS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT; AND EFFECTS MANY VEHICLES.
NHTSA ODI #708559
Mileage unknown · May 23, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling
FORD OFFERED EXTENDED WARRANTIES COVERING 1993 AND 1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTALS WITH BLOWN HEAD GASKETS. I'M FILING THIS FORM CONCERNING 1992 MODELS TO SEE IF THEY SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE WARRANTY PROGRAM. *AK
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.
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.
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
1992 Lincoln Continental Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration