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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 →

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

Suspension complaints

10 reports
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103,000 miles · Apr 19, 2007
Suspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE WAS FLAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND STRUTS HAVING FAILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,388. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THE CO…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE WAS FLAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND STRUTS HAVING FAILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,388. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAS THE REPAIR INVOICES.

NHTSA ODI #10188353

Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

THE BRAKE ROTORS REQUIRE REPLACEMENT EVERY 15000 MILES. NLM

NHTSA ODI #785514

Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 2001
Suspension

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #743016

Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 2001
Suspension

DEALER REPLACED THE REAR RIGHT AND LEFT AIR SHOCKS, CONSUMER STATES THEY MADE A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A BASKET BALL BOUNCING UP AND DOWN. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #559132

Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 2000
Suspension

WITHIN A 66,000 MILE PERIOD CONSUMER HAS REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES FOUR TIMES DUE TO PREMATURE WEARING. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #859099

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2000
SteeringSuspension

TIE ROD ENDS REPLACED, FRONT END REALIGNED, STEERING MAKING NOISE AND DEALER CLAIMED THAT STEERING RACK NEEDS REPLACED TO COST $500.00, DEALER CLAIMED REPAIRS NOT SUBJECT TO WARRANTLY NOR RECALL. UPON RESEARCH, I FIND THAT LINCOLN HAS ISSUED SERVICE BULLETINS FOR BOTH DEFECTS. I PAID FOR THE WORK TO REPLACE THE TIE ROD ENDS AN…

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TIE ROD ENDS REPLACED, FRONT END REALIGNED, STEERING MAKING NOISE AND DEALER CLAIMED THAT STEERING RACK NEEDS REPLACED TO COST $500.00, DEALER CLAIMED REPAIRS NOT SUBJECT TO WARRANTLY NOR RECALL. UPON RESEARCH, I FIND THAT LINCOLN HAS ISSUED SERVICE BULLETINS FOR BOTH DEFECTS. I PAID FOR THE WORK TO REPLACE THE TIE ROD ENDS AND HAVE NOT HAVE HAD THE STEERING WORK DONE AS I THINK IT SHOULD BE LINCOLN'S RESPONSIBILITY. THESE FAILURES WERE AT LOW MILES 51,408 AND BECAUSE OF THE SERVICE BULLETINS, LINCOLN IS AWARE OF THESE PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #719148

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1999
Suspension

VEHICLE IS WEARING OUT BOTH FRONT TIRES WHERE THE TREAD MEETS SIDEWALL, CAUSING TIRE TO BLOWOUT, TIRES CAME WITH VEHICLE . *AK

NHTSA ODI #852003

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 1999
Suspension

THERE IS A TSB #BC3422972301 ITEM#SB051461 RELATING TO MY PROBLEM. I HAVENT READ THE ENTIRE COPY BECASE I HAVENT ONE TO READ BUT THE BRIEF DISCRIPTION ON YOUR WEB SITE DESCRIBES "PREMATURE WEAR OF FRONT INNER TIRES". I EXPERIENCED THIS ON MY CAR TO THE POINT THAT THE LEFT FRONT TIRE LOST ALL AIR. THE CAR HAD BEEN TAKEN IN FOR SE…

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THERE IS A TSB #BC3422972301 ITEM#SB051461 RELATING TO MY PROBLEM. I HAVENT READ THE ENTIRE COPY BECASE I HAVENT ONE TO READ BUT THE BRIEF DISCRIPTION ON YOUR WEB SITE DESCRIBES "PREMATURE WEAR OF FRONT INNER TIRES". I EXPERIENCED THIS ON MY CAR TO THE POINT THAT THE LEFT FRONT TIRE LOST ALL AIR. THE CAR HAD BEEN TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE AT 22,559 MILES AND THE TIRES WERE INSPECTED THEN. IN LESS THAN 4000 MILES THEY WORE TO THE POINT THAT THEY WERE DANGEROUS. I FEEL THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE DONE TO RETURN ALL VEHICALES WITH THIS PROBLEM THAT HAVENT BEEN ADJUSTED TO NEW ALLIGNMENT SPECS.. THE FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE PAYED FOR BY FORD NOT THE OWNER/DRIVERS. PEOEPLES LIVES SHOULD NOT BE PUT AT RISK IN THIS MANNER.( DOT NUMBER: NA TIRE SIZE: NA )

NHTSA ODI #713813

Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 1999
Suspension

WE HAD A VERY UNUSUAL TIRE WEAR PATTERN THAT RESULTED IN TWO NEW TIRE REPLACEMENTS. AFTER MAKING SEVERAL INQUIRIES AT THE DEALERSHIP AND AT FORD MOTOR COMPANY,I BECAME VERY SUSPICIOUS THAT THE TIRE WEAR WAS DUE TO A DESIGN PROBLEM THAT IS CHARACTERISTIC OF LINCOLNS WITH THIS FRONT END DESIGN. I SUBMITTED A CUSTOMER REVIEW REQUES…

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WE HAD A VERY UNUSUAL TIRE WEAR PATTERN THAT RESULTED IN TWO NEW TIRE REPLACEMENTS. AFTER MAKING SEVERAL INQUIRIES AT THE DEALERSHIP AND AT FORD MOTOR COMPANY,I BECAME VERY SUSPICIOUS THAT THE TIRE WEAR WAS DUE TO A DESIGN PROBLEM THAT IS CHARACTERISTIC OF LINCOLNS WITH THIS FRONT END DESIGN. I SUBMITTED A CUSTOMER REVIEW REQUEST TO FORD VIA THE DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE ARE NO PROGAMS OR RECALLS FOR THIS CONCERN. I NO LONGER OWN THE VEHICLE, BUT AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION WHICH SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE TIRE WEAR AND ONE OF THE TIRES IN MY POSSESSION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #704787

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Suspension

FRONT END SUSPENSION OUT OF ALIGNMENT. *YC

NHTSA ODI #608097

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.