Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
30–25K
525–50K
750–75K
675–100K
11100–150K
1150K+
33 reports with mileage · 30 unknown
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.
Air Bags. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Visibility. Review the 11 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 reports3 fire reports7 injury reports
What owners actually said
63 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2001
EquipmentVisibility
THE ENTIRE COMPUTER SYSTEM WHICH CONTROLS THE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIR SIX TIMES AND IS STILL NOT FIXED. WE GET RESCUE SYSTEM FAILURE, SERVICE ENGINE SOON, LOW WASHER FLUID AND A VARIETY OF OTHER SAFETY WARNINGS. WE CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR AND BE CERTAIN WE ARE NOT IN JEOPARDY. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD US…
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THE ENTIRE COMPUTER SYSTEM WHICH CONTROLS THE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIR SIX TIMES AND IS STILL NOT FIXED. WE GET RESCUE SYSTEM FAILURE, SERVICE ENGINE SOON, LOW WASHER FLUID AND A VARIETY OF OTHER SAFETY WARNINGS. WE CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR AND BE CERTAIN WE ARE NOT IN JEOPARDY. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD US THEY CURRENTLY HAVE MULTIPLE LINCOLN'S IN FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THE HOME OFFICE HAS ADVISED THEM THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THIS, BUT THAT THEY SUSPECT FLORIDA'S "HEAT AND HUMIDITY". I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT BUT, WITH VEHICLE SAFETY WARNINGS FALSE OR INOPERABLE THE CAR IS SIMPLY NOT SAFE. WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO NEGOTIATE OUT OF THE CAR UNDER FLORIDA'S LEMON LAW BUT LINCOLN IS NOT WILLING TO ADDRESS OR FIX THIS PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #747282
Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2001
Electrical SystemEquipmentSteering
WHILE STARTING VEHICLE DASHBOARD INDICATION LIGHTS/ AIR CONDITIONER/ RADIO, AND POWER WINDOWS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING, ALL FUNCTION RETURNED TO NORMAL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK THERE WAS NO LIGHTS AT DASHBOARD AND NO AUTO LAMP. THE POWER WINDOW AND …
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WHILE STARTING VEHICLE DASHBOARD INDICATION LIGHTS/ AIR CONDITIONER/ RADIO, AND POWER WINDOWS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING, ALL FUNCTION RETURNED TO NORMAL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK THERE WAS NO LIGHTS AT DASHBOARD AND NO AUTO LAMP. THE POWER WINDOW AND A/C FAILED. AM RADIO WAS INOPERATIVE. THE POWER STEERING WAS VERY HARD TO TURN. *YH
NHTSA ODI #890866
Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 2001
Electrical SystemSteeringVisibility
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE REAR VIEW MIRROR, AFTER REPAIR THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS NOT OPERATION PROPERLY AGAIN. *MJS
NHTSA ODI #560752
Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2001
Electrical SystemVisibility
GLARE OFF THE WINDSHIELD MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE SPEEDOMETER, ALSO HORN IS TOO HARD TO PUSH. *AK
NHTSA ODI #885433
Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKES DON'T STOP ON POINT FOR SUDDEN BRAKING. THEY ARE SOFT WHEN APPLIED. DEALER SAYS THEY ARE SELF ADJUSTING BRAKES THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT. CONSUMER HAS AVOIDED FEW ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF BRAKES.*AK
NHTSA ODI #871087
Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2000
Tires
CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE THEN A "THUNK" AND THE CAR SEEMED TO FALL, CONSUMER NOTICED IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR THAT THE ENTIRE TREAD OF MICHELIN TIRE HAD COME OFF THE TIRE AND WAS ROLLING ACROSS THE HIGHWAY. NLM
NHTSA ODI #554273
Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2000
Air BagsPower TrainCrashInjury
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 70MPH & AUTOMATIC TRACTION KICKED IN. VEHICLE STARTED SLIDING ACROSS THE ROAD & HIT A TREE. AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER STATED TO THE DEALER & CONSUMER GET A LAWYER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #867907
Mileage unknown · Aug 10, 2000
Air BagsInjury
IT HAS BEEN 2 WEEKS DEALER WORKING HARD TO RESOLVE MFGR. DOES NOT RESPOND. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND LIGHT AND MEDIUM DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS. A SWITCH LOCATED IN THE PLASTIC COVER OF THE WIPER MOTOR GEAR CASE COULD MALFUNCTION AND OVERHEAT, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN LOSS OF INTERMITTENT WIPER FUNCTION, LOSS OF WIPER PARK FUNCTION, COMPLETE LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION, OR IGNITION OF THE PLASTIC COVER MATERIAL. SWITCH MALFUNCTION IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR WHEN THE INTERMITTENT SETTING OF THE WIPERS IS BEING USED, OR WHEN SNOW OR ICE OBSTRUCTS THE BLADES FROM RETURNING TO THE "PARKED" POSITION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT AT THE FOLLOWING ASSEMBLY PLANTS: ATLANTA PLANT FROM 2/11/00 THROUGH 7/31/00; CHICAGO PLANT FROM 2/14/00 THROUGH 8/4/00; KANSAS CITY PLANT FROM 2/26/00 TO 9/4/00; KENTUCKY TRUCK PLANT FROM 2/18/00 TO 8/31/00; MICHIGAN TRUCK PLANT FROM 2/23/00 THROUGH 8/3/00; NORFOLK PLANT FROM 2/21/00 THROUGH 7/27/00; WAYNE STAMPING AND ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM 2/25/00 THROUGH 8/15/00; AND WIXOM PLANT FROM 2/15/00 THROUGH 8/8/00.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LOSS OF VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE ON THE WIPER MOTOR. MOTORS BUILT WITH THE SUSPECT TIME FRAME WILL HAVE THE WIPER MOTOR GEAR CASE COVER REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 20, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MAY HAVE A PIN SHAFT IN THE SWITCHABLE ELR/ALR MECHANISM THAT IS INCORRECTLY FORMED. IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, THE SWITCHING MECHANISM COULD BECOME NONFUNCTIONAL, PREVENTING THE SEAT BELT WEBBING FROM BEING EXTRACTED FROM THE RETRACTOR. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT MALFUNCTION OF THE MECHANISM COULD PREVENT THE BELT FROM BEING SWITCHED INTO THE ALR MODE. THE ELR MECHANISM IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS CONDITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE MECHANISM MALFUNCTIONS AND DOES NOT ALLOW THE WEBBING TO BE EXTRACTED, THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT COULD NOT BE WORN BY A VEHICLE OCCUPANT. IN THE EVENT THAT THE MECHANISM DOES NOT ALLOW THE ALR MODE TO BE ENGAGED, THE OPERATOR MAY BE UNABLE TO PROPERLY INSTALL A CHILD SEAT IN THAT SEATING POSITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT ASSEMBLIES. ASSEMBLIES WITH JULIAN DATE CODES OF 200 THROUGH 223 ARE SUSPECT AND WILL BE REPLACED.
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
2
EA01012 · 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
There is no summary currently available
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