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1997 Lincoln Continental

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Lincoln Continental do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 32.

About this comparison →
96Owner complaints

Model-year median: 32

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
190
199470
199548
199696
199772
199842
199963
2000
Compare all Continental years →

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

What owners reported most

Visibility
15Steering
12Power Train
10Service Brakes, Hydraulic
10Suspension
10
All reported categories
Tires
9Vehicle Speed Control
8Electrical System
7Engine And Engine Cooling
6Air Bags
4Equipment
2Fuel System, Gasoline
2Unknown Or Other
2Electronic Stability Control
1Engine
1Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Other
1Interior Lighting
1Seat Belts
1Seats
1Structure
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: 18 of 96 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.

  • Visibility. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports3 fire reports2 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
1,280,000 miles · Oct 6, 2018
Air BagsCrash

TAKATA RECALL. I WAS DRIVING 35MPH GOING DOWN MAIN ROAD IN AN OFFICE PARK. OTHER VEHICLE FAILED TO YIELD RIGHT OF WAY AND CAME THRU STOP SIGN. I HAD ALMOST ZERO TIME TO REACT. I SLAMMED ON BRAKES TRYING TO PREPARE FOR IMPACT. WE HIT. MY DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT BUMPER HIT HIS PASSENGER SIDE FRONT. HIS AIRBAG DEPLOYED, MINE DID NOT. P…

Read full complaint

TAKATA RECALL. I WAS DRIVING 35MPH GOING DOWN MAIN ROAD IN AN OFFICE PARK. OTHER VEHICLE FAILED TO YIELD RIGHT OF WAY AND CAME THRU STOP SIGN. I HAD ALMOST ZERO TIME TO REACT. I SLAMMED ON BRAKES TRYING TO PREPARE FOR IMPACT. WE HIT. MY DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT BUMPER HIT HIS PASSENGER SIDE FRONT. HIS AIRBAG DEPLOYED, MINE DID NOT. POLICE, FIREFIGHTERS, AND AMBULANCE PERSONNEL STATED IT SHOULD HAVE. I HAVE HAD NECK SURGERY IN THE PAST, WITH 4 FUSIONS. I AM EXTREMELY SORE. THE AIRBAG COULD HAVE HELPED ME TO NOT BE JERKED AROUND SO MUCH. THANKFULLY, MY CAR IS AN OLDER, WELL BUILT VEHICLE SO DAMAGE IS MINIMAL. WINDOW KNOCKED OFF TRACK, BUMPER DAMAGE THAT WILL NEED TO BE SANDED AND PAINTED, HEADLIGHT CRACKED.

NHTSA ODI #11138759

Mileage unknown · May 7, 2001
Air BagsCrash

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30-35 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT IT HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DEPLOYED BUT DIDN'T INFLATE. CONSUMER HAS POLICE REPORT AND WILL CONTACT LINCOLN.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #887553

Mileage unknown · May 18, 2000
Air BagsVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN COLLISION, NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG DURING IMPACT. *MJS

NHTSA ODI #552305

Mileage unknown · May 4, 1999
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE PULLING INTO PARKING LOT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW BROKE IN THE PROCESS. THE DRIVER'S ARM ALSO BROKE. COULD NOT STEER VEHICLE DUE TO AIR BAG BEING WRAPPED AROUND STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE HIT A CONCRETE BARRIER DUE TO LACK OF STEERING. THE SEAT BELTS LEFT VERY BAD BRUISES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #837415

Official recalls

1

96V166000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)

Sep 5, 1996

THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET HAS A SHARP EDGE WHICH CAN CAUSE THE PARKING PAWL TO HANG UP AND NOT ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR. THIS WOULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO MOVE EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR SHOWS THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: UNINTENDED AND UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT CAN RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET.

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.