IllustrationCONSUMER WAS PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES. GAS PEDAL IS HIGHER THEN BRAKE PEDAL. CONSUMER APPLIED THE GAS PEDAL, AND VEHICLE WENT STRAIGHT THROUGH THE GARAGE. *AK
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
What owners actually said
72 reportsENGINE 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
ONGOING PROBLEMS: WHENEVER VEHICLE IS GOING DOWN HILL WITH SPEED CONTROL ENGAGED IT CAUSES VEHICLE TO SPEED UP TO 10-20 MPH MORE THEN THE SETTING. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REPLACED CONTACT VALVE AND SPEED CABLE AND CONDITION STILL OCCURRING. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *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 …
Read full complaint
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
INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. DEALER FIXED INTERIOR LIGHTS, AND CURRENTLY THE LIGHTS ARE SMOKING, WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
CONSUMER STARTED ENGINE, IT MADE A LOUD NOISE AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. CONSUMER STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AND TURNED OFF KEY, BUT VEHICLE DID NOT STOP UNTIL CONSUMER HIT A POLE. *AK
VOICE ACTIVATED TELEPHONE FAILED.
SENSOR FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. YH
VEHICLE EMITS TOXIC FUMES IN THE PASSENGER SIDE COMPARTMENT CAUSING DISORIENTATION, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, DIZZINESS, AND INABILITY TO CONCENTRATE WHEN DRIVING WHICH COULD RESULT IN COLLISION / SERVERE HEALTH PROBLEMS. *YC
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.