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: 15 of 32 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 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
32 reports
79,000 miles · Nov 1, 2007
Suspension
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH OR GREATER, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REAR UPPER BALL JOINT FAILED AND THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE WAIT COULD BE 2-6 MONTHS. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE WAIT TIME FOR THE PART WAS UNACCEPTABLE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH OR GREATER, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REAR UPPER BALL JOINT FAILED AND THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE WAIT COULD BE 2-6 MONTHS. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE WAIT TIME FOR THE PART WAS UNACCEPTABLE. THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO LOCATE ONE PART; HOWEVER, AS OF NOVEMBER 1, 2007, THE MECHANIC HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 79,000.
NHTSA ODI #10207605
Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2007
Exterior Lighting
2001 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL CONDENSATION IN FRONT HEADLAMP SEAL. CUSTOMER BELIEVES THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SEAL. MANUFACTURER STATED IT WAS HER RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE IT. *KB THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING RELIEF FOR REPAIRS AND OR POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT IF NECESSARY AND ATTACHED EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR UPDATED 12/12/2007 *B…
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2001 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL CONDENSATION IN FRONT HEADLAMP SEAL. CUSTOMER BELIEVES THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SEAL. MANUFACTURER STATED IT WAS HER RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE IT. *KB THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING RELIEF FOR REPAIRS AND OR POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT IF NECESSARY AND ATTACHED EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07
NHTSA ODI #10203728
42,000 miles · Nov 16, 2005
Seat BeltsInjury
WE ARE OWNERS OF A 2001 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. MY TWO YOUNG BOYS AGES 2 AND 4 WERE IN THEIR CAR SEATS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE REAR SEAT, LEAVING THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT UNUSED. MY FOUR YEAR OLD HAD CALLED ME FOR HELP WHILE I WAS DRIVING OVER A BRIDGE. I SAW HE WAS NOOSED AROUND HIS NECK BY THE MIDDLE BELT AND PINNED AGAINST THE REAR OF…
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WE ARE OWNERS OF A 2001 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. MY TWO YOUNG BOYS AGES 2 AND 4 WERE IN THEIR CAR SEATS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE REAR SEAT, LEAVING THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT UNUSED. MY FOUR YEAR OLD HAD CALLED ME FOR HELP WHILE I WAS DRIVING OVER A BRIDGE. I SAW HE WAS NOOSED AROUND HIS NECK BY THE MIDDLE BELT AND PINNED AGAINST THE REAR OF THE SEAT. THE CAR HAS AN AUTOMATED LOCKING POSITION FOR SAFETY . THIS TURNS OUT TO BE A DANGER. THE BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE LEAVING ME TO HAVE TO RUN FOR HELP ON THE HIGHWAY. I FOUND A MAN WHO COULD HELP CUT THE BELT AND RELEASE MY SON. HE WAS LEFT WITH A FULL COLLAR BELT BURN ON HIS NECK. BE AWARE OF THIS AUTOMATED LOCKING POSITION. IT ALMOST COST MY SON HIS LIFE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10142938
Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 2005
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other
CONCERNED ABOUT FIRES IDENTIFED AS BEING CAUSED BY THE HOT WIRED CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AS RECENTLY REPORTED ON TWICE ON TELEVISION. I AM AFFRAID TO PUT CARS IN GARAGE. THERE ARE NO INCIDENTS. CAN'T PROCEED WITH THIS COMPLAINT WITHOUT DATES. CARS: 2001 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL AND 2004 SABLE LS
NHTSA ODI #10127645
30,000 miles · May 28, 2005
Steering
I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER AT THE TIME OF OIL CHANGE THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS MAKING A NOISE, AND REQUESTED A CHECK. THEY APPARENTLY DID NOTHING, AND EACH TIME I HAD THE OIL CHANGED I WOULD REQUEST A CHECK. NOW THAT THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY SAY THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS FAIING AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT WILL …
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I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER AT THE TIME OF OIL CHANGE THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS MAKING A NOISE, AND REQUESTED A CHECK. THEY APPARENTLY DID NOTHING, AND EACH TIME I HAD THE OIL CHANGED I WOULD REQUEST A CHECK. NOW THAT THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY SAY THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS FAIING AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT WILL EVENTUALLY LOCK UP OF NOT REPAIRED. I AM RECEIVING NO ACTION FROM THE DEALER.
NHTSA ODI #10122380
Mileage unknown · Jan 19, 2005
Power Train
WHILE STOPPED TRANSMISSION WENT INTO NEUTRAL, THE FLOOR-SHIFTING MODULE DID NOT MOVE. *BF ATTEMPTS TO PLACE THE SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE OR 3RD GEAR FAILED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN THE FRONT PISTON IN WHICH THE PLATE WAS WARPED. THE COMPUTER SHOWED NO PROBLEM, THEREFORE THEY COULD NOT ATTEMPT…
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WHILE STOPPED TRANSMISSION WENT INTO NEUTRAL, THE FLOOR-SHIFTING MODULE DID NOT MOVE. *BF ATTEMPTS TO PLACE THE SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE OR 3RD GEAR FAILED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN THE FRONT PISTON IN WHICH THE PLATE WAS WARPED. THE COMPUTER SHOWED NO PROBLEM, THEREFORE THEY COULD NOT ATTEMPT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *SC
NHTSA ODI #10109584
34,146 miles · Jan 27, 2004
Electrical System
WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER AND LET THE VEHICLE COOL DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10055897
Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 2003
Visibility
PROBLEMS SEEING IN THE REAR WHEN BACKING UP VEHICLE. *MR THERE WAS NO VISION WHEN BACKING. (THIS OCCURRED WITH THE USE OF THE MIRRORS) *SCC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10044361
24,879 miles · Oct 12, 2003
Suspension
STEEL BELTS ARE SHOWING IN TIRE EQUIPMENT.*MR BOTH FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER TIRES SHOWED INSIDE WEAR MAKING THE STEEL BELT VISIBLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER WENT TO CHANGE THE TIRE, THE JACK BENT AND COLLAPSED ON THE CONSUMER. MICHELIN P225/60R16 B. *PH
NHTSA ODI #10044019
Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 2003
Electrical System
CONSUMER WAS HAVING DASHBOARD LIGHT PROBLEMS. THE ELEMENT THAT LIT THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS UP BROKE. CONSUMER CALLED FORD, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PART HE NEEDED WAS ON BACK ORDER. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE JULY 2003. CONSUMER INSISTED THAT THIS WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE HE COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING, DID NOT KNOW HOW FAST HE WAS …
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CONSUMER WAS HAVING DASHBOARD LIGHT PROBLEMS. THE ELEMENT THAT LIT THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS UP BROKE. CONSUMER CALLED FORD, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PART HE NEEDED WAS ON BACK ORDER. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE JULY 2003. CONSUMER INSISTED THAT THIS WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE HE COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING, DID NOT KNOW HOW FAST HE WAS TRAVELING, WHEN HE WAS LOW ON FUEL OR WHETHER HE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ANY PART OF THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING BATTERY. *AK
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.
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.
2001 Lincoln Continental Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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