Illustration1999 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL WITH IDLE ENGINE PROBLEMS**CC *JB
1999 Lincoln Continental
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1999 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: 19 of 42 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.
- Suspension. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
42 reportsA LEAK IN THE FUEL RAIL CROSSOVER HOSE CAUSED A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *NM
WHILE DRIVING ON GS PARKWAY THE CAR ACCELERATED FROM 65 MILES PER HR TO 100 MILES PER HR. AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN EVEN WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR WAS SPEEDING OUT OF CONTROL WHILE IN THE MIDDLE LANE. WE THEN TRIED TO GET OVER TO SIDE OF PARKWAY ONTO A GRASSY HILL SO WE WOULD NOT HIT ANY OTHER CARS. THE CAR SLOWED DOWN …
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WHILE DRIVING ON GS PARKWAY THE CAR ACCELERATED FROM 65 MILES PER HR TO 100 MILES PER HR. AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN EVEN WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR WAS SPEEDING OUT OF CONTROL WHILE IN THE MIDDLE LANE. WE THEN TRIED TO GET OVER TO SIDE OF PARKWAY ONTO A GRASSY HILL SO WE WOULD NOT HIT ANY OTHER CARS. THE CAR SLOWED DOWN ENOUGH FOR ME AND MY SON TO JUMP OUT ON DRIVERS SIDE BEFORE THE CAR WENT FULL SPEED AHEAD TOWARD THE PARKWAY BUT HIT A GUARD RAIL AND FLIPPED OVER. BY SOME MIRACLE MY SON AND I WERE NOT HURT. I CALLED FORD TO RECALL CAR AND THEY SENT LETTER WHICH SAID WE REGRET ANY INCONVENIENCE THAT YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED IN THIS MATTER. CONTACT YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY. I ONLY HAD LIABILITY SO INSURANCE COMPANY NOT INVOLVED. THERE COULD HAVE BEEN MANY INJURIES OR EVEN DEATHS INCLUDING ME AND MY SON DUE TO THIS DEFECT. CAR WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND CHECKED TO SEE WHERE THE LOUD NOISE WAS COMING FROM. THE TIRES WERE INSPECTED, AND THE CONTACT FOUND THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE WAS CUT COMPLETELY AROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE WHER…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND CHECKED TO SEE WHERE THE LOUD NOISE WAS COMING FROM. THE TIRES WERE INSPECTED, AND THE CONTACT FOUND THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE WAS CUT COMPLETELY AROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE WHERE THEY FOUND THE FRONT STRUT BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE.*AK
DT: THE CONTACT WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKES, THE ENGINE REVVED, AND VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD, CRASHING INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. SHE TOOK THE CAR TO A CERTIFIED DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICAT…
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DT: THE CONTACT WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKES, THE ENGINE REVVED, AND VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD, CRASHING INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. SHE TOOK THE CAR TO A CERTIFIED DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.*AK
DT: THE CALLER SAI WHILE WIFE DRIVING 55-60 MPH SIDE/CURTAIN AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DEPLOYED. DEALER SAID A ROCK MIGHT HAVE HIT THE SENSOR AND MADE IT DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER SAID THEY COULD OFFER NO HELP FOR FREE. THE CALLER SAID THERE WAS A SAFETY UPDATE 03I44000 IN 2003, NOT A RECALL CONCERNING CRASH SENSOR. *AK
WHEN SHIFTING TO PARK/DRIVE THE MOTOR MOUNT MOVES 3-4 INCHES. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING BRAKE PEDAL GOES COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT TO STOP. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. THE CONSUMER CONTINUED DRIVING UNTIL HE REACHED HIS HOME. WHEN HE PLACED THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW. THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE COIL SPRING HAD FAILED AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
FRONT LEFT SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE FRONT LEFT TIRE WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION MOVING ABOUT 3 MPH. *AK
Official recalls
203V144000 · Air Bags:frontal
Apr 9, 2003
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG COULD DEPLOY AS A RESULT OF UNDERBODY IMPACTS NEAR THE SENSORS, SUCH AS THOSE OCCURRING FROM PIECES OF GRAVEL OR DEBRIS THROWN FROM THE WHEELS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED AT MODERATE TO HIGH SPEED OR BEING ACCELERATED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: DEALERS WILL RECALIBRATE THE AIR BAG SENSORS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 31, 2003. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LINCOLN AT 1-800-521-4140.
98V269000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Oct 27, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FUEL RAIL CROSSOVER HOSE WAS DAMAGED DURING FUEL RAIL ASSEMBLY ALLOWING FUEL LEAKAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL RAIL WITH A REVISED FUEL RAIL ASSEMBLY.
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
2EA01012 · Inadvertent Side Air Bag Deployment
Opened Apr 27, 2001 · Closed Apr 15, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window
ON APRIL 9, 2003, ODI RECEIVED FROM FORD AN OWNER LETTER AND DEALER NOTICE, BOTH DATED MARCH 2003.THE OWNER LETTER STATES THAT FORD WILL CONDUCT A PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN OF CERTAIN MY 1999-2000 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SIDE AIR BAGS (ALL MY 1999 VEHICLES AND MY 2000 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO 3/1/00; TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 42,000 VEHICLES).THE LETTER STATES THAT THE SIDE AIR BAGS IN THESE VEHICLES CAN DEPLOY IN CERTAIN TYPES OF UNDERBODY IMPACTS FROM PIECES OF GRAVEL OR DEBRIS.THE LETTER STATES THAT OWNERS WHO OPERATE THEIR VEHICLES IN SUCH DRIVING CONDITIONS SHOULD TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO A DEALER TO HAVE RECALIBRATED CRASH SENSORS INSTALLED AT NO COST.THE RECALIBRATED SENSOR REDUCES THE POSSIBILITY OF INADVERTENT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.SEE NHTSA'S SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN NO. 03V-144 FOR MORE INFORMATION.THE ACTION TAKEN BY FORD APPEARS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
PE00042 · Inadvertent Side Air Bag Deployment
Opened Oct 16, 2000 · Closed Apr 27, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window
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