IllustrationBRAKES WORK INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER COULDN'T SEEM TO FIND A PROBLEM. CONSUMER TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC & THEY TEST DROVE IT & FOUND A PROBLEM, BUT NOT SURE WHAT IT WAS. THEY'RE STILL INSPECTING THE VEHICLES PROBLEM.*AK
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.
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 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
What owners actually said
126 reportsI DON'T KNOW IF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. MAYBE IF THE ENGINE WAS TO STALL OR QUIT AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF CONTROL, THEN PERSONAL LIABILITY WOULD BE A FACTOR. *AK
ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING FLUID ONTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. BOTH HEAD GASKETS REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE, AS WELL AS BOTH FRONT AIR-LEVELING BAGS WHICH WERE LEAKING AND DETERIORATED. *AK *ML
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED RECALL #98S36, HOWEVER, VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL, VEHICLE COLLAPSED CAUSING DAMAGE TO COMPONENTS. YH
1994 I PURCHASED A USED 1992 CONTINENTIAL STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. IN OCTOBER 1996 WITH 64293 MILES ON VEHICLE, AND OUT OF WARRANTY, THE HEAD-GASKETS FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1,521.66. I BELIEVE HEAD GASKETS SHOULD LAST AT LEAST 100K MILES AND THAT THIS ENGINE HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS KNOWN TO FORD MOTOR CO. A…
Read full complaint
1994 I PURCHASED A USED 1992 CONTINENTIAL STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. IN OCTOBER 1996 WITH 64293 MILES ON VEHICLE, AND OUT OF WARRANTY, THE HEAD-GASKETS FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1,521.66. I BELIEVE HEAD GASKETS SHOULD LAST AT LEAST 100K MILES AND THAT THIS ENGINE HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS KNOWN TO FORD MOTOR CO. AS IS EVIDENCED BY THEIR TSB 98-4-9, FOR THE 1988-94 3.8L ENGINE. PLEASE CONTINUE TO PURSUE FORD MOTOR TO HONOR THIS VEHICLE YEAR, ALONG WITH THE PROGRESS YOU HAVE MADE FOR LATER YEAR VEHICLES WITH THIS ENGINE. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
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
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
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
THE REAR AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE SITS ABOUT TWO INCHES OFF THE GROUND. *MJS
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.
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
8EA96024 · 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