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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

Electrical System complaints

7 reports
Clear category filter
75,000 miles · Aug 3, 2006
Electrical System

INTERMITTENT PROBLEM: AUTOMATIC DRIVER SEAT DOES NOT RESPOND WHEN DOOR IS CLOSED. DOME LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF AND DOORS WILL NOT LOCK EVEN WHEN MANUALLY LOCKED. DISPLAY SHOWS DOOR OPEN MESSAGE. WHEN THESE FEATURES DO WORK, THERE IS AN APPROX. 5 SECOND DELAY. LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. MUCH MONEY SPENT WIT…

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INTERMITTENT PROBLEM: AUTOMATIC DRIVER SEAT DOES NOT RESPOND WHEN DOOR IS CLOSED. DOME LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF AND DOORS WILL NOT LOCK EVEN WHEN MANUALLY LOCKED. DISPLAY SHOWS DOOR OPEN MESSAGE. WHEN THESE FEATURES DO WORK, THERE IS AN APPROX. 5 SECOND DELAY. LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. MUCH MONEY SPENT WITH NO RESULTS. WHAT CAN I DO TO FIX THIS PROBLEM? *JB

NHTSA ODI #10164345

Mileage unknown · Feb 14, 2002
Electrical SystemFire

WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. DRIVER PULLED OVER/ POPPED HOOD, AND SAW WIRES BURNING. DRIVER FELT THIS WAS UNSAFE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERHOOD. *AK *YH

NHTSA ODI #8004060

Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2000
Electrical System

VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SHOP A TOTAL OF 8 TIMES TO DATE WITH THE SAME SYMPTOM. MOTOR SPINS, WON'T CRANK. SERVICE HAS REPLACED MANY DIFFERENT COMPONENTS. CONTINUES TO FAIL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #724451

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 1999
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

ONGOING STARTING PROBLEM; VEHICLE BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND VEHICLE STILL REMAINED IN SHO.; ALSO, VEHICLE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES MAKING NOISE WHEN APPLIED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT WAS NORMAL FOR ALL VEHICLES. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #849451

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Electrical System

ALTERNATOR ASSEMBLY FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #608796

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Electrical System

BATTERY CABLE CONNECTION TO STARTER SOLENOID IS LOOSE.MGM

NHTSA ODI #606911

Mileage unknown · Dec 23, 1998
Electrical System

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE HORN STARTED BLOWING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. THE MOTOR STOPPED NO POWER STEERING, NO POWER BRAKES. ALSO THE LIGHTS WENT OUT COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. OWNER HAS NO…

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WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE HORN STARTED BLOWING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. THE MOTOR STOPPED NO POWER STEERING, NO POWER BRAKES. ALSO THE LIGHTS WENT OUT COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. OWNER HAS NOT DRIVEN THE VEHICLE SINCE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #832614

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.