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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.

About this comparison →
48Owner complaints

Model-year median: 32

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
121
1993190
199470
199548
199696
199772
199842
1999
Compare all Continental years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Suspension
13Visibility
8Power Train
7Steering
6Engine And Engine Cooling
4
All reported categories
Electrical System
3Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Structure
3Vehicle Speed Control
3Equipment
2Exterior Lighting
2Seats
2Unknown Or Other
2Air Bags
1Interior Lighting
1Seat Belts
1Tires
1Wheels
1

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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

3 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 2001
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING AND UPON DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL IT WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING UNWANTED ACCELERATION. AFTER DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE CONTINUED TO GAIN SPEED, ALSO, AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF, RPMS CONTINUED TO RACE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER DETERMINED THAT THROTTLE CABLE BROKE COMPLETLEY I…

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WHILE DRIVING AND UPON DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL IT WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING UNWANTED ACCELERATION. AFTER DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE CONTINUED TO GAIN SPEED, ALSO, AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF, RPMS CONTINUED TO RACE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER DETERMINED THAT THROTTLE CABLE BROKE COMPLETLEY IN HALF.*AK

NHTSA ODI #898886

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 · Sep 15, 1997
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING OWNER TO LOSE CONTROL WHILE ENTERING ANOTHER LANE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK IN AN ACCIDENT ONE PERSON AND TWO DOGS INJURED. *YH

NHTSA ODI #816367

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.