IllustrationWHILE TRAVELING THE ENGINE IDLES WITHOUT INDICATIONS.PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
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 reportsVEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF RECALL COMPONENT PRIOR TO NOTICE, AFTER RECALL WORK PERFORMED FAILURES CONTINUED, IDLE PROBLEMS. (RECALL CAMPAIGN # 97S65)
VEHICLE DOES NOT IMMEDIATELY RESPOND WHEN GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THEN, AFTER HESITATION, IT WILL LUNGE FORWARD. DEALER CONTACTED, AND WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. STATED NO RECALL LISTED, AND PROBLEM CANNOT BE REMEDIED. PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHEN THE CAR COMES TO A STOP, IT LUNGES UPWARD/FORWARD ABOUT 3 TO 4 TIMES. ALSO, IT FEELS LIKE THE FRONT LEFT SIDE AXLE IS BOUNCING AROUND. AK
HEAD GASKET FAILED.
PREVIOSULY REPORTED "NHTSA VEHICLE OWNER'S QUESTIONAIRE REFERENCE NUMBER 806372 DATED 12/16/1996. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS AT APPROX, 20,00 MILES (10/28/96) AND APPROX. 55,000 MILES(10/9/98) THE BRAKES ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLE(1994 LINCOLN CONTINTIAL) HAVE FAILED. IN BOTH INSTANCES THE FAILURE OCCURED AT LOW SPEED AFTER HAVING SA…
Read full complaint
PREVIOSULY REPORTED "NHTSA VEHICLE OWNER'S QUESTIONAIRE REFERENCE NUMBER 806372 DATED 12/16/1996. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS AT APPROX, 20,00 MILES (10/28/96) AND APPROX. 55,000 MILES(10/9/98) THE BRAKES ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLE(1994 LINCOLN CONTINTIAL) HAVE FAILED. IN BOTH INSTANCES THE FAILURE OCCURED AT LOW SPEED AFTER HAVING SAT FOR A SHORT PEERIOD OF TIME WITH THE ARE IDLING AND THE FOOT BRAKE DEPRESSED, THAN RELEASED WITH THE CAR SLOWLY MOVING FORWARD(APPROX. 1 TO 2 MPH). UPON DEPRESSING THE FOOT BRAKE TO STOP THE PEDAL DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY TO FLOORBOARD WITH NO BRAKING AVAILABLE RESULTING IN MINOR ACCIDENTS TO NEARBY VEHICLES. IN ALL INSTANCES THERE HAS BEEN NO BRAKE FLUID LOSS NOR HAVE ANY BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS BEEN ON. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT(10/28/96) AND THREE MONTHS OF INVESTIGATION FORD MOTOR COMPANY REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND VALVE BLOCK. THE BRAKING SYSTEM WORKED FINE UNTIL THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT(10/9/98). IN BOTH INSTANCES THE BRAKES(BRAKING ACTION) HAD RESTORED ITSELF BY THE TIME MECHANICS AT NEWMAN LINCOLN-MERCURY STARTED AN INVESTIGATIION OF THE PROBLEM(USUALLY EARLY THE NEXT MORNING...NOTE THAT IN BOTH INSTANCES THE BRAKE LOSS OCCURRED IN THE EARLY EVENING AFTER THE GARAGE WAS CLOSED). TO DATE(12/31/98) FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND DEALER HAVE DETERMINED THAT THEY CAN FIND NO PROBLEM AND HAVE ASKED THAT I RETURN THE VEHICLE TO SERVICE WITHOUT AND ROOT CAUSE DETERMINED NOR ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION TAKEN. AT THIS POINT I'M RESISTING RETURNING THE CAR TO SERVICE UNTIL THE ROOT CAUSE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED. THE CAR CURRENT IS COVERED UNDER A FROD MOTOR COMPANY EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN(EXTRACARE) UNTIL 86,000 MILES OR 3/29/2001. CURRENTLY THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT'S DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES DEALERS AND REPAIRERS DIVISION IS INVESTIGATING WHY FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND/OR NEWMAN LINCOLN-MERCURY HAVE NOT PERFORMED REPAIRS TO CORRECT THE BRAKE FAILURE PROBLEM. TO DATE THE CAR IS STILL AT DEALER AND NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE LOSING TWO QUARTS OF ANTI-FREEZE A MONTH, AND NO SIGN OF LEAKING COULD BE FOUND. DEALER NOTIFIED & INSPECTED THE VEHCLE, AND INFORMED T COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO BUMP INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE BEFORE STOPPING. THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR THE BRAKESTO BE REPAIRED, AND THE DEALER COULDN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY WHEN HEADLIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY OUT-. THEY CAME BACK ON A COUPLE MINUTES LATER, BUT CONSUMER WAS DRIVING IN THE DARK FOR MINUTE. *AK
CENTER BRAKE LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED. THE HEAT OF THE LAMP IN THE BRAKE MELTED THE PLASTIC CONTAINER, CAUSING, IT TO FALL UNTO THE BULB AND DESTROYED THE BULB. *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.