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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

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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

Engine complaints

1 reports
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40,000 miles · Sep 11, 2012
EnginePower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 40,000 MILES AND HAD TO BE REPLACE. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 40,000 MILES AND HAD TO BE REPLACE. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ODI #10475076

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.