IllustrationI WAS DRIVING AROUND 50 MPH WHEN THE SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT OF THE HEAD OF THE MOTOR. IT CAUSED THE PISTON TO SMOKE AND IT HAD A RATTLE. *TR
1998 Lincoln Continental
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1998 Lincoln Continental do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 32.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Continental years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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: 17 of 72 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. 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.
8 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
14 reportsVEHICLE WAS LEFT IN IDLE WHILE IT WAS PARKED, BUT THEN IT STARTED TO REV UP UNTIL IT REACHED 1200 RPMS, AND THEN IT GOT STUCK ON 3000 RPMS CONTACTED DEALER.*AK
CONSUMER STATED AT 17,000 MILES, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND FAILED TO CONTINUE OPERATING, DEALERSHIP EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND MADE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO REMEDY PROBLEM, THEN ON 26-SEP-2001, ENGINE WAS LEAKING OIL FROM THE RIGHT VALVE COVER GASKET WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED, ALSO THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING, THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT ON…
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CONSUMER STATED AT 17,000 MILES, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND FAILED TO CONTINUE OPERATING, DEALERSHIP EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND MADE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO REMEDY PROBLEM, THEN ON 26-SEP-2001, ENGINE WAS LEAKING OIL FROM THE RIGHT VALVE COVER GASKET WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED, ALSO THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING, THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT ON DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED AND WOULD NOT GO OUT LEAVING DOORS IN THE OPEN POSITION. *JG *AK
COOLING SYSTEM FAILED 3 TIMES CONCERNED ABOUT TAKING VEHICLE ON A LONG TRIP. *AK
VEHICLE COMMENCED TO ACCELERATE AFTER APPLYING BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, AND REOCCURRED AGAIN AFTER SHIFTING GEAR INTO REVERSE. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK THE VEHICLE STOPPED WHEN PUT TO NEUTRAL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE AIR BY PASS VALVE. *YH
WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED SMOKE FOR THE HOOD ENGINE COOLANT WAS LEAKING . DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISITS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
ENGINE COOLANT LEAKS AND BUBBLES UP UNTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, WHICH MAY CAUSE A FIRE. BEEN TO DIFFERENT DEALERS, AND THEY CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHILE MAKING A U-TURN CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. HIGH PRESSURE PLASTIC LINE ON TOP OF ENGINE CRACKED AND FUEL WENT OUT ONTO EXHAUST PIPES AND SPARK PLUG WIRES. *AK
ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING. ENGINE FAILS TO START. THESE EVENTS HAPPEN INTERMITTENTLY AND AFTER A BREIF WAIT IT WILL GENERAL START. LIKE ALWAYS THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN WHEN THE DEALER CAN EXPERANCE THE EVENT. BIGGEST CONSER IS THAT POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES FAIL WITH THE ENGINE WHEN THIS TAKES PLACE ON THE ROAD AT HIWAY …
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ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING. ENGINE FAILS TO START. THESE EVENTS HAPPEN INTERMITTENTLY AND AFTER A BREIF WAIT IT WILL GENERAL START. LIKE ALWAYS THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN WHEN THE DEALER CAN EXPERANCE THE EVENT. BIGGEST CONSER IS THAT POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES FAIL WITH THE ENGINE WHEN THIS TAKES PLACE ON THE ROAD AT HIWAY SPEEDS. HAVE BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEN ALWAYS STARTS UPON ARRIVAL. *AK
SENSOR FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. YH
Official recalls
198V028000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights
Feb 10, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TEXT AND/OR GRAPHICS FOR THE VEHICLE HEADLAMP AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY BE CONFUSED BY THE AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES CAUSING THE HEADLAMPS TO BE IMPROPERLY AIMED.
Remedy: OWNER GUIDES CONTAINING REVISED AIMING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.