IllustrationTRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING INTO WORK ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. TOTAL REBUILD REQUIRED AT 87456 MILES ON CAR, COST $1800.
1994 Lincoln Continental
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Continental years
Owner complaints for the 1994 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: 17 of 190 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 85 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports2 fire reports6 injury reports
What owners actually said
190 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE SUDDENLY DECREASED AND A CHIME SOUNDED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER HA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE SUDDENLY DECREASED AND A CHIME SOUNDED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, A SUDDEN POPPING NOISE WAS PRESENT ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, A SUDDEN POPPING NOISE WAS PRESENT ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SUB FRAME BOLTS HAD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.
THE CAR ALWAYS BEEPS OVERHEATS AND LOSES STEERING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. A LOCAL MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS CRACKED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. A LOCAL MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS CRACKED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED AND MADE THE CONTACT AWARE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V323000 (STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 179,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
CONTINUATION OF PREVIOUS COMPLAINT. RESPONSE FROM LETTER TO PRES. OF FORD ON 3.8L V6 ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON LINCOLN CONTINENTAL WITH 54,436 MILES ON IT: FORD BASICALLY SAID "TOUGH LUCK". DEALER SAYING $1,700 TO $3,000 PLUS TO FIX. MY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INFORMS ME THERE IS ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE. THERE ARE SEVERAL PRODU…
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CONTINUATION OF PREVIOUS COMPLAINT. RESPONSE FROM LETTER TO PRES. OF FORD ON 3.8L V6 ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON LINCOLN CONTINENTAL WITH 54,436 MILES ON IT: FORD BASICALLY SAID "TOUGH LUCK". DEALER SAYING $1,700 TO $3,000 PLUS TO FIX. MY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INFORMS ME THERE IS ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE. THERE ARE SEVERAL PRODUCT AVAILABLE TO FIX THE HEAD GASKET IN THE CAR. ONE HE HAS USED, AND WORKS, IS "STEEL SEAL". COST ABOUT $70 FOR PRODUCT, PLUS A NEW THERMOSTAT, AND NEW COOLANT. I FIGURE WORST CASE AROUND $400 FOR EVERYTHING. IT'S WORTH THE GAMBLE. AS IT IS NOW THE CAR IS JUNK OR THE REPAIR FROM FORD IS MORE THAT THE VALUE OF THE CAR.
1) SUDDEN ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE 2) BLOWN HEAD GASKET WITH GRAY/WHITE SMOKE FROM BOTH EXHAUST PIPES 3) NO CORRECTION DONE SO FAR. PARKED CAR AND TRYING TO DETERMINE PROPER STEP TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *NM
WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT THE STEERING FAILED. DEALER STATED SUB FRAME CORRODED. RECALL 98V323000 WAS ISSUED FOR THE LOWER CRADLE BOLTS. HOWEVER, A DIFFERENT PART OF THE CRADLE BOLTS FAILED SO THE CONSUMER HAS TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. *AK
MY 1994 LINCOLN CONITENTAL HAS ONLY 68,000 MILES. THE HEAD GASKET BLEW LAST FRIDAY. IN SEARCHING THE INTERNET, FORD KNEW OF THE HEAD GASKET DESIGN DEFECT IN 1988 YET CONTINUED TO EMPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE ENGINE IN THEIR MOTOR VEHICLES. AS A RESULT OF THEIR WILFULL NEGLECT, I WILL HAVE TO PAY AN ESTIMATED $1200-1800 TO HAVE THE …
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MY 1994 LINCOLN CONITENTAL HAS ONLY 68,000 MILES. THE HEAD GASKET BLEW LAST FRIDAY. IN SEARCHING THE INTERNET, FORD KNEW OF THE HEAD GASKET DESIGN DEFECT IN 1988 YET CONTINUED TO EMPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE ENGINE IN THEIR MOTOR VEHICLES. AS A RESULT OF THEIR WILFULL NEGLECT, I WILL HAVE TO PAY AN ESTIMATED $1200-1800 TO HAVE THE HEADS REPAIRED. ONE WEBSITE TALLIED 2,114 SIMILAR ENGINE COMPLAINTS BY 1998.
HEADLIGHTS REMAINED ON WHILE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. CONSUMER UNHOOKED THE BATTERY TO KEEP THE BATTERY CHARGED AND A BUZZING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT A HEADLIGHT SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Official recalls
598V323000 · 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.
98V009000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
Jan 21, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHTS CAN FLASH INTERMITTENTLY AS A RESULT OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING. THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS CAN GO OUT FOR BRIEF INTERVALS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION CAN AFFECT A DRIVER'S ABILITY TO NAVIGATE THE ROADWAY AND REDUCE THE VISIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLIGHT SWITCH THAT INCORPORATES A CRICUIT BREAKER OF REVISED DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF A WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR AND WIRING, IF NEEDED.
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.
94V129000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages
Jul 12, 1994
THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSH ROD RETAINER (HAIRPIN CLIP) MAY BE MISSING OR NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED ON THE SERVICE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS CAN CAUSE DISENGAGEMENT OF THE BRAKE PUSHROD AND LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE RETAINER.
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
2EA96024 · 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.