Lincoln Continental Problems by Year
NHTSA has 591 owner complaints and 13 safety recalls on file for the Lincoln Continental, across 12 model years (1995–2020). The 1997 model year has the most complaints (96). The most reported problem area overall is suspension.
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Lincoln Continental years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Continental year: 1997. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1997 Continental: 96 complaints, 1 recall
- 2017 Continental: 75 complaints, 4 recalls
- 1998 Continental: 72 complaints, 1 recall
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2020 Continental: 7 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2018 Continental: 21 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2001 Continental: 32 complaints, 1 recall
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Lincoln Continental problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 75 | 9 | 3 |
| Electrical System | 65 | 11 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 53 | 10 | 4 |
| Visibility | 53 | 7 | 3 |
| Power Train | 49 | 11 | 7 |
| Structure | 48 | 8 | 3 |
| Steering | 41 | 10 | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 41 | 7 | 11 |
| Air Bags | 40 | 9 | 13 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 33 | 6 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 33 | 9 | 4 |
| Tires | 24 | 8 | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 23 | 8 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 22 | 4 | 0 |
| Equipment | 19 | 7 | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 18 | 7 | 3 |
| Seats | 13 | 6 | 1 |
| Wheels | 7 | 6 | 0 |
| Engine | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 6 | 5 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Other | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Lincoln Continental model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Continental | 7 | 2 | 5★ | Back Over Prevention | |
| 2019 Continental | 32 | 3 | 5★ | Latches/locks/linkages | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2018 Continental | 21 | 2 | 5★ | Latches/locks/linkages | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2017 Continental | 75 | 4 | 5★ | Structure | More complaints than other years |
| 2002 Continental | 33 | 0 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2001 Continental | 32 | 1 | — | Suspension | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2000 Continental | 63 | 3 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 1999 Continental | 42 | 2 | — | Suspension | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1998 Continental | 72 | 1 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | More complaints than other years |
| 1997 Continental | 96 | 1 | — | Visibility | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1996 Continental | 48 | 2 | — | Suspension | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1995 Continental | 70 | 1 | — | Exterior Lighting | More complaints than other years |
More from Lincoln: all Lincoln models · Lincoln VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Lincoln Continental years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1997 (96) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Continental year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Lincoln Continental?
Suspension, with 75 complaints across 9 model years.
How many recalls does the Lincoln Continental have?
13 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.