The 1995 Lincoln Continental has 2 safety recalls and 70 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is exterior lighting (12 complaints).
Recalls2safety recalls
Complaints70filed by owners
Crashes · fires5 · 5reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths13 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Pads
Problem: Bosch Brake Components LLC (Bosch) is recalling certain aftermarket replacement front brake pads, models Bosch QuietCast BC598 and BP765, Bosch Blue BE598 and BE598H, Prostop PD598 and PD765M, Duralast Gold DG598, Duralast MKD598, Stop Master ST598, UltraStop ULT598, UltraLife MX598 and MX765, BrakeBest MKD765, and Prostop Platinum PGD598. These brake pads, manufactured October 1, 2014, to October 31, 2015 are intended for use on 2001-2007 Ford Taurus, 2001-2005 Mercury Sable, 1995-1999 Ford Taurus SHO, 1995-2002 Lincoln Continental, and 1993-1998 Lincoln Mark VIII vehicles. The brake pad shim may shift out of position causing the shim to contact the brake disc resulting in damage to the disc.
Risk: A damaged or broken brake disc may reduce a vehicle's braking power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Bosch will instruct the owners how to have the affected brake pads replaced, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2016. Owners may contact Bosch customer service at 1-888-715-3616.
Exterior lighting
NHTSA recall 96V009000 · Jan 23, 1996 · 40,000 vehicles
Problem: A DEFECTIVE CONTROL MODULE IN THE "AUTOLAMP" SYSTEM CAN MALFUNCTION. IF THE "AUTOLAMP" SYSTEM IS BEING USED TO ACTIVATE THE EXTERIOR LIGHT (INCLUDING HEADLAMPS), THE HEADLAMPS COULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THIS WILL NOT OCCUR IF THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING IS TURNED ON MANUALLY BY THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.
Risk: IF THE HEADLAMPS SHUT OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE IMPAIRED INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE "AUTOLAMP" CONTROL MODULE. OWNERS ARE INSTRUCTED TO USE THE MANUAL HEADLAMP SWITCH UNTIL THE CONTROL MODULE CAN BE REPLACED.
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.
Fuel economy
Continental
18mpg combined
City / highway
15 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
4.6 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,700/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*
Exterior lighting Headlights; Turn signal › Flasher unit
12
0
0
0
36,645 mi
Suspension Front; Front › Macpherson strut
11
1
0
0
—
Engine and engine cooling Engine; Engine › Gasoline
Electrical system Wiring › Front underhood; Wiring › Interior/under dash
7
0
2
0
36,645 mi
Seat belts Front › Anchorage; Front › Retractor
4
2
0
2
—
Service brakes, hydraulic Foundation components › Disc › Rotor; Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
4
1
0
0
—
Steering Steering wheel/handle bar; Linkages › Tie rod assembly
4
0
0
0
—
Seats Front assembly › Head restraint
2
0
0
0
—
Equipment Electrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc.
2
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Aug 28, 2010 · 60 milesExterior lighting I BOUGHT THE CAR ON 08/28/2010 AND ONLY DROVE IT THAT DAY. SINCE IT WAS A SATURDAY AND THEY CLOSED EARLY, I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL MONDAY TO CONTACT THEM. ON MONDAY, A REP FROM THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY SOLD THE CAR TO ME FROM SOMEONE WHO DIDN'T HAVE A DEALERSHIP OR TITLE FOR THE CAR AND HE WAS USING THEIR DEALERSHIP TO SELL AND TO RETRIEVE THE TITLE ONCE THE SELL WAS FINAL. THE CAR WAS OK WHEN I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP, BUT AFTER A COUPLE HOURS IT DIED ON ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING ALMOST CAUSING A ACCIDENT. ON THE DASH IT KEEP SAYING, "CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM". I KNOW A LIL ABOUT CARS AND I REALLY NEED THE TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE I'M A COLLEGE STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE, I…
Nov 16, 2009 · 131,000 milesPower train › Automatic transmission TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 10 MPH THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE PLACE OF RESIDENCE. THE FORD MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.
May 12, 2009 · 125,000 milesTires MY LEFT FRONT TIRE EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING AT APPROX 69 MPH ON I-85. THE TIRE HAD PROPER AIR PRESSURE AND NOTHING WAS RUN OVER TO MAKE A PUNCTURE. I THINK THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE BODY DUE TO POOR ADHESION TO THE STEEL CORD AND THEN THE BODY EXPLODED WITHIN A REVOLUTION OR 2. I BASE THIS ON THE SOUND AND THE FACT THAT BARE TIRE CORD IS SHOWING ON THE CARCASS. MICHELIN REFUSED TO OFFER ANYTHING MORE THAN CREDIT FOR TREADWEAR, WHICH WAS ABOUT 40% (60% LEFT). I ESTIMATE THE TIRE AGE AT 2 TO 3 YEARS, BUT CANNOT FIND A RECEIPT. THE TIRE WAS TOO DAMAGED TO FIND A SERIAL NUMBER. SOME DAMAGE OCCURRED DURING APPROX 0.2 MILE REQUIRED FOR CHANGING LANES AND MOVING OFF THE EXPRESSWAY (RUSH HOUR).…
Jan 1, 2007 · 36,645 milesElectrical system › Instrument cluster/panel TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT RECALL #96V009000 DID NOT APPLY TO THIS VEHICLE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS MORE THAN 10 YEARS OLD. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURES AS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNED THE VEHICLE IN 1998 WHEN THE RECALL NOTICE WAS ISSUED AND HAS EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE SINCE 1995. THE CONTACT REPORTED THE FAILURE TO THE LOCAL MERCURY DEALER AT THAT TIME, AND THE RECALL WAS NOT HONORED. THE CONTACT REQUESTED THAT THE RECALL BE HONORED DUE TO THE SAFETY RECALL NOTICE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DASH GIVES OFF A POOR ILLUMINATION. THE LEFT FRONT WINDOW REGULATOR WAS REPLACD. UPDATED 03/02/07. *JB UPDATED *JB
Nov 10, 2006 · 108,000 miles · fireEngine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Fan 1995 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL COOLING FAN FIRE. I EXTINGUISHED IT WITH H20 BEFORE FPD ARRIVED. *NM
Jul 14, 2005 · 102,073 milesStructure › Frame and members DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN RECALL 98V323000. VEHICLE MANIFESTED THE SAME PROBLEM AS LISTED IN THE RECALL CONCERNING REAR LOWER SUB FRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT THAT COULD 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 SUB FRAME WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ALLOWS THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME TO DROP. IF BOTH REAR CORNERS DROP STEERING WOULD BECOME SUDDENLY VERY DIFFICULT, AFFECTING VEHICLE'S CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. THIS…
Jan 10, 2005Interior lighting JANUARY 10TH THE 'DOOR AJAR' SENSOR CAME ON AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE ON. I CHECKED ALL 4 DOORS, THEY WERE ALL CLOSED AND THE LIGHTS REMAINED ON. I THEN PUSHED THE 'RESET' BUTTON FOR THE SENSOR AND THE LIGHTS THEN WOULD GO OFF FOR A BRIEF TIME AND COME BACK ON. THEN, TODAY JANUARY 11TH THE SAME THING OCCURRED BUT AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS THE PROBLEM INCREASED. I STARTED THE CAR, THE 'DOOR AJAR' SENSOR CAME ON ALONG WITH THE LIGHTS. AGAIN THE DOORS WERE CHECKED, THEY WERE ALL SHUT. AS I STARTED TO DRIVE THE LIGHTS WENT OFF, THEN WHEN I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON, AND WHEN I PUSHED THE GAS THE LIGHTS FADED AWAY AND TURNED OFF. WHEN I TURNED…
Jan 1, 1901Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Master cylinder 1995 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL BRAKE PROBLEMS. (NAR) *MR THE VEHICLE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED SEVERAL TIMES. EACH TIME IT WAS REPLACED IT FAILED AGAIN. THE DEALER(S) HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO PERMANENTLY FIX THE BRAKE PROBLEM. *NM *CB
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
EA96024 · opened Sep 30, 1996 · closed Apr 15, 1997 · led to recall 97V019000ENGINE COOLING FAN FIRES There is no summary currently available
PE96033 · opened May 2, 1996 · closed Sep 30, 1996 · led to recall 97V019000ENGINE COOLING FAN FIRES IN DECEMBER 1995, FORD RECALLED 119,313 VEHICLES IN CANADA TO REMEDY THE SUBJECT CONDITION IN CERTAIN 1992-95 TAURUS, SABLE, TEMPO, TOPAZ AND CONTINENTAL VEHICLES.FORD IS AWARE OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS OCCURRING IN NORTHERN REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES, BUT MAINTAINS THAT THE FREQUENCIES DO NOT WARRANT A FINDING OF AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY.