The 1990 Lincoln Continental has 4 safety recalls and 158 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (48 complaints).
Recalls4safety recalls
Complaints158filed by owners
Crashes · fires5 · 15reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths9 · 3reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Structure › Frame and members
NHTSA recall 98V323000 · Dec 16, 1998 · 2,697,000 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)
Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGNIA, AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR LOWER SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT CAN EXPERIENCE STRESS CORROSION CRACKING IF SUBJECTED TO LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALTS. THIS CAN RESULT IN FRACTURE AND LOSS OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT ATTACHMENT. DETACHMENT OF THE BODY MOUNTS AT THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ALLOWS THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME TO DROP.
Risk: IF BOTH REAR CORNERS DROP, STEERING WOULD BECOME SUDDENLY VERY DIFFICULT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.
Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
NHTSA recall 97V174000 · Oct 7, 1997 · 63,400 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)
Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT OUTBOARD SEATING POSITION SEAT BELT BUCKLES MAY NOT LATCH OR UNLATCH.
Risk: THESE CONDITIONS COULD REDUCE SEAT BELT USAGE INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT OUTBOARD SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Rotor
NHTSA recall 91V134000 · Aug 6, 1991 · 325,000 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)
Problem: FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE SEVERE CORROSION IF OPERATED IN AREAS WHERE CALCIUM CHLORIDE AND SODIUM CHLORIDE ARE USED EXTENSIVELY.
Risk: SEVERELY CORRODED ROTORS MAY FRACTURE OR SEPARATE NEARTHE INNER EDGES OF THE BRAKE DISCS RESULTING IN REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS,HIGHER THAN NORMAL PEDAL EFFORTS, LOUD GRINDING NOISES, AND MODERATE PULLS WHENTHE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS MAY INCREASE MINIMUMSTOPPING DISTANCES, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.
Fix: REPLACE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH FULL CAST FRONT BRAKE ROTORS.
Air bags › Frontal
NHTSA recall 90E043001 · Oct 30, 1990 · 172,000 vehicles
Problem: THREADED INFLATOR COMPONENTS MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY WHICH MAY ALLOW COMPONENTS TO SEPARATE WHEN INFLATOR RECEIVES A SIGNAL TO DEPLOY THE AIR BAG.
Risk: INFLATOR COMPONENT SEPARATION ALLOWS HOT COMBUSTION GASES TO ESCAPE INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURIES TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
Fix: REPLACE AIR BAG MODULES CONTAINING POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE INFLATORS.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
1990 Lincoln Continental 4-DR.
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
Not Rated
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
Continental
19mpg combined
City / highway
16 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.8 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Engine and engine cooling Engine; Engine › Gasoline
48
0
5
0
—
Suspension Front › Springs › Air suspension system; Rear › Shock absorber
32
0
0
1
—
Seat belts Front › Buckle assembly; Front › Anchorage
27
0
0
1
—
Steering Linkages › Tie rod assembly; Hydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections
23
0
3
3
—
Electrical system Alternator/generator/regulator; Wiring › Front underhood
22
0
6
0
—
Structure Frame and members; Body › Door
15
0
0
0
—
Vehicle speed control Accelerator pedal; Linkages
14
2
0
0
—
Power train Driveline › Constant velocity joint; Automatic transmission
13
1
0
0
—
Service brakes, hydraulic Foundation components › Disc › Rotor; Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
11
0
0
0
—
Air bags Frontal; Frontal › Sensor/control module
10
2
0
4
—
Visibility Windshield wiper/washer; Windshield
10
0
0
0
—
Equipment Appliance › Air conditioner; Electrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc.
7
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
May 31, 2003 · 7,000 miles · 1 injuryAir bags NOT WORKING. NO SUMMARY. *AK
Oct 22, 2004 · 110,000 miles · crash · 1 injuryAir bags WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT THE VEHICLE BEING IMPACTED. WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED IT SHATTERED THE DRIVER'S GLASSES, REDUCING HIS VISIBILITY. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT, WENT UP AND EMBANKMENT 20 FEET, AND LANDED 70 FEET DOWN THE ROAD. DRIVER SUSTAINED SERIOUS BURNS TO BACK, NECK AND HAND. THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE (EMS) HAD TO PEEL THE AIR BAG OFF THE DRIVER'S FACE, NECK, AND HAND. *AK
Dec 15, 2002Power train I PURCHASED A 1990 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL IN DECEMBER 2002, AND NOTICED THAT DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE REVS VERY HIGH AND THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE THE OVERDRIVE. I ALSO NOTICED THAT SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE OR DRIVE TO RVERSE, THERE IS A DELAY IN THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGING THE APPROPRIATE GEAR. BEFORE I DECIDED TO TAKE MY CAR TO A DEALER TO GET THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED, I CHECKED THE FLUID TO ENSURE THAT THE LEVEL WAS CORRECT, AND TO CHECK THE COLOR OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. BOTH WERE FOUND TO BE IN GOOD ORDER. THEN I CHECKED WWW.ALLDATA.COM AND FOUND THAT FORD WAS AWARE OF THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THROUGH A CHECK OF THE FOLLOWING SERVICE BULLETINS: ATRATB331;…
Sep 6, 2002Structure › Frame and members THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 98/V/323/000 FOR SUBFRAME CORROSION. HOWEVER, SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN ARKANSAS IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL.*AK
Jul 26, 2001Engine and engine cooling › Engine ON THE INTERNET IT STATED FORD HAD CALLBACKS FOR ALL3.8 ENGINES FOR HEADGASKET PROBLEMS BUT ONLY RECALLED A FEW VIN NUMBERS. HOW COULD THEY GET AWAY WITH THAT? YOU AND I AND EVERY MECCHANIC KNOWS THE PROBLEM WITH THE 3.8 ENGINE BY FORD WHY CANT SOME THING BE DONE. I WASNT TOLD OF ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. LUCKY I WAS DRIVING NOT MY DAUGHTER. SHE WOULD HAVE DIVEN TILL IT BURNED THE MOTOR UP. AND THE AIR SHOCKS AT $ 4,000 FOR THE 4 OF THEM THATS ANOTHER FARCE. CANT YOU MAKE THEM AT LEAST INSTALL AT COST ? MY ENGINE OVERHEATED AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE PA. TURNPIKE LUCKY I PULLED OVER AND GOT TOWED WITH A $350 BILL.*AK
Dec 28, 2000Air bags AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN FLASHING OFF AND ON. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT ACCORDING TO INFORMATION ON THE WEB THE 1990 MODELS HAD RECALLED FOR BAD MODULES. *YH
Mar 1, 2001Structure › Frame and members RECALL 98 V 323 000/SUBFRAME CORROSION: WHILE BEING SERVICED FOR AN OIL CHANGE NOTICED SUBFRAME FAILURE; DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *AK THE VEHICLE'S BODY AND UNDER CARRIAGE WERE FREE OF RUST, BUT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HAD RUST. *YH
Feb 28, 2001Suspension › Rear › Springs › Air suspension system › Springs/bags REAR AIR SPRINGS HAVE BLOWEN OUT, CAUSING REAR END TO BOUNCE AND HAS DROPPED LOW TO GROUND. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
EA95033 · opened Oct 31, 1995 · closed Oct 22, 1997 · led to recall 97V174000FAULTY SEAT BELT BUCKLES COMPLAINTS ALLEGE AN INABILITY TO LATCH SEAT BELT BUCKLES, AND INADVERTENT UNLATCHING OF THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE.
DP95004 · opened Aug 8, 1995 · closed Aug 30, 1995ALLEGED DEFECTIVE TIE RODS ALLEGED DEFECTIVE TIE RODS
EA94008 · opened Feb 16, 1994 · closed Feb 27, 1995BROKEN TIE RODS There is no summary currently available
PE93058 · opened Jun 15, 1993 · closed Feb 16, 1994BROKEN TIE RODS There is no summary currently available
EA92040 · opened Nov 30, 1992 · closed Jun 30, 1993 · led to recall 93V106001SUB-FRM/UNIBODY ABSOR.FAIL There is no summary currently available
PE92014 · opened Feb 4, 1992 · closed Jun 25, 1992ENGINE MOUNT FAILURE There is no summary currently available