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1996 Lincoln Continental

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Lincoln Continental do not stand out strongly from 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: 3 of 48 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.

  • Suspension. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 7 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 reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Suspension complaints

13 reports
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100,000 miles · Jul 10, 2007
Suspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE RESTS 12 INCHES HIGHER ON ONE SIDE THAN THE OTHER, FROM THE FRONT END TO THE REAR. AS A RESULT, THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATE UPWARDS TOWARDS THE SKY OR DOWNWARDS INTO THE GROUND. HE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE RESTS 12 INCHES HIGHER ON ONE SIDE THAN THE OTHER, FROM THE FRONT END TO THE REAR. AS A RESULT, THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATE UPWARDS TOWARDS THE SKY OR DOWNWARDS INTO THE GROUND. HE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS GONE INTO AIR SHOCK, FORCING HIM TO LOSE CONTROL AND DRIVE OFF THE ROAD. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 160,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10196008

96,683 miles · Jan 30, 2007
Suspension

DEFECTIVE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM IN LINCOLN CONTINENTAL RESULTS IN EXTREMELY UNSTABLE AND UNSAFE DRIVING. BLOWN AIR BAG WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE RESULTED IN REAR END CRASHING DOWN AND LEAVING CAR INOPERABLE. FAULTY COMPRESSOR LEAVES THE CAR 12 INCHES DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LEFT AND RIGHT AND FRONT AND BACK. HEAD LIGHTS SHINE INTO THE…

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DEFECTIVE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM IN LINCOLN CONTINENTAL RESULTS IN EXTREMELY UNSTABLE AND UNSAFE DRIVING. BLOWN AIR BAG WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE RESULTED IN REAR END CRASHING DOWN AND LEAVING CAR INOPERABLE. FAULTY COMPRESSOR LEAVES THE CAR 12 INCHES DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LEFT AND RIGHT AND FRONT AND BACK. HEAD LIGHTS SHINE INTO THE SKY AND NOW INTO THE GROUND. DRIVING VEHICLE EXTREMELY UNSAFE ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. 3 YRS OF COMPLAINING TO FORD/LINCOLN - THEY WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM! GET THESE VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD BEFORE THEY CAUSE MAJOR ROAD ACCIDENTS. MN STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL NOTIFIED - FILE # RJM/2006/322030/C. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10181149

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2002
Suspension

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE AIR SUSPENSION WENT OUT THE VEHICLE AIR SHOCKS AND THE VEHICLE IN UNABLE TO STEER. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR

NHTSA ODI #8021485

Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

SUB FRAME BOLTS BROKE CAUSING FAULTY FRONT SUSPENSION. NLM

NHTSA ODI #558855

Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspension

HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE SUSPENSION SYSTEM OF THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THAT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. IT HAS ALSO BEEN SUGGESTED TO ME THAT THE ENGINE OF THIS VEHICLE HAS A HISTORY OF SEAL/GASKET FAILURES. WE VERY MUCH LIKE THIS VEHICLE AND ARE CONSIDERING WHETHER TO TRADE THIS VEHICLE OR PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE. …

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HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE SUSPENSION SYSTEM OF THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THAT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. IT HAS ALSO BEEN SUGGESTED TO ME THAT THE ENGINE OF THIS VEHICLE HAS A HISTORY OF SEAL/GASKET FAILURES. WE VERY MUCH LIKE THIS VEHICLE AND ARE CONSIDERING WHETHER TO TRADE THIS VEHICLE OR PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE. WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOME EXPERT HISTORY INFO ON WHICH TO BASE OUR DECISIONS.

NHTSA ODI #723577

Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2000
SteeringSuspension

VEHICLE LEANED TO THE LEFT DUE TO THE AIR SPRING SYSTEM FAILING. OWNER HAD JUST HAD RACK AND PINION REPLACED. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE AIR SPRING SYSTEM, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS IN SUSPENSION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #854878

Mileage unknown · Nov 28, 1999
SeatsStructureSuspension

NONE

NHTSA ODI #715337

Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 1999
Suspension

FRONT ALIGNMENT: CONSTANTLY WEARS OUT FRONT TIRES (ON INNER TREAD);HAVE TAKEN BACK TO DEALERSHIP FOR ALIGNMENT ON THREE OCCASIONS, YET PROBLEM PERSISTS. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225/60R16 )

NHTSA ODI #707606

Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 1998
Suspension

VEHICLE CANNOT BE PROPERLY ALIGNED, CAUSING EXCESS FRONT TIRE WEAR.

NHTSA ODI #781475

Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 1997
Suspension

SUSPENSION FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #522441

Official recalls

2

96V176000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Sep 18, 1996

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARK PAWL SHAFT MAY NOT BE FREE TO ROTATE AS INTENDED. IF THE PARK PAWL SHAFT DOES NOT ROTATE, IT WOULD PREVENT THE PARK PAWL FROM ENGAGING THE PARK GEAR WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER IS IN THE PARK POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AS IF IN NEUTRAL WITH THE SHIFT LEVER IN THE PARK POSITION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE PARK PAWL SHAFT ROTATION AND THOSE SHAFTS WITH RESTRICTED ROTATION WILL BE REPLACED WITH A SHORTER SHAFT THAT WILL NOT RESTRICT ROTATION.

96V009000 · Exterior Lighting

Jan 23, 1996

A DEFECTIVE CONTROL MODULE IN THE "AUTOLAMP" SYSTEM CAN MALFUNCTION. IF THE "AUTOLAMP" SYSTEM IS BEING USED TO ACTIVATE THE EXTERIOR LIGHT (INCLUDING HEADLAMPS), THE HEADLAMPS COULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THIS WILL NOT OCCUR IF THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING IS TURNED ON MANUALLY BY THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE HEADLAMPS SHUT OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE IMPAIRED INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE "AUTOLAMP" CONTROL MODULE. OWNERS ARE INSTRUCTED TO USE THE MANUAL HEADLAMP SWITCH UNTIL THE CONTROL MODULE CAN BE REPLACED.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.