Model year record

1999 Lincoln Continental recalls & problems

The 1999 Lincoln Continental has 3 safety recalls and 42 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is suspension (12 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints42filed by owners

Crashes · fires6 · 2reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths2 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Service brakes, hydraulicApr 1, 2016

Foundation components › Disc › Pads

Recall 16E02600049,635 vehicles

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.

Air bagsApr 9, 2003

Frontal

Recall 03V14400043,459 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.
Fix: DEALERS WILL RECALIBRATE THE AIR BAG SENSORS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 31, 2003. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LINCOLN AT 1-800-521-4140.

Fuel system, gasolineOct 27, 1998

Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 98V2690002,500 vehicles

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FUEL RAIL CROSSOVER HOSE WAS DAMAGED DURING FUEL RAIL ASSEMBLY ALLOWING FUEL LEAKAGE.
Risk: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL RAIL WITH A REVISED FUEL RAIL ASSEMBLY.

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	Premium Gasoline

4.6 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/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*
SuspensionFront › Springs › Coil springs; Front	12	0	0	0	93,000 mi
Air bagsFrontal; Side/window	10	1	0	0	—
Vehicle speed controlAccelerator pedal	5	3	0	0	65,500 mi
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components; Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	4	0	0	1	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline › Belts and associated pulleys	4	0	1	0	—
Exterior lightingHeadlights	2	0	0	0	—
Unknown or other	2	0	0	0	—
Power train	2	1	0	1	—
SteeringLinkages › Tie rod assembly	2	0	0	0	—
EquipmentElectrical	1	0	0	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineFuel injection system › Fuel rail	1	0	1	0	—
Service brakes	1	1	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Service brakesCrash
[XXX] VEHICLE IMPOUNDED IN AUSTIN TEXAS WAS NOT ABLE TO GET BACK. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
May 14, 2014 · 145,000 miles
Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil springs
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS PARKED. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND PUNCTURED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.
Sep 3, 2014 · 134,000 miles
Suspension
PUT CAR INTO REVERSE, AND TIRE IMMEDIATELY BLEW OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, FRONT LEFT SPRING HAD FRACTURED AND BROKE. SPRING HAD PUNCTURED TIRE SIDEWALL ONCE BEING PUT INTO REVERSE AND BUSTED OFF PLASTIC STABILIZER LINK. HAD THIS HAPPENED WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, IT WOULD HAVE SHREDDED TIRE. *TR
Mar 29, 2014 · 101,000 miles
Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 45 MPH WHEN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE FRONT TIE ROD AND BALL JOINT, THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE COMPONENTS HAD FAILED, CAUSING THE TIRE TO WEAR PREMATURELY AND SPLIT IN HALF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
Dec 3, 2011 · 135,000 miles
Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil springs
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING CORROSION CAUSED THE TIE RODS TO CORRODE AND PUNCTURE THE TIRE WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 11/15/10 *CN UPDATED 11/24/10
Apr 3, 2009 · 125,000 miles
Engine and engine coolingFire
AFTER DRIVING FOR 200 MILES THE RIGHT ELECTRIC RADIATOR COOLING FAN CAUGHT ON FIRE AND HAD TO BE PUT OUT. *TR
Jul 27, 2009 · 137,000 miles
Power trainCrash1 injury
AFTER PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT PHARMACY AND WITH FOOT STILL ON BRAKE, CAR LURCHED FORWARD AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED, ONTO SIDEWALK AND INTO THE STONE WALL OF PHARMACY. NO DAMAGE TO PHARMACY. AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND AIRBAG AND SEAT BELT INJURIES. *TR
Jan 8, 2009 · 140,000 miles
Steering
I SAW FLUID ON THE FLOOR OF MY GARAGE WENT TO MY REPAIR SHOP HE STATED THE RACK AND PINION STEERING UNIT WAS LEAKING NOT FROM ONE OF THE SEALS BUT FROM A CRACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE UNIT . HE SAID THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT . I SAW THE FLUID COMING RIGHT OUT OF THE METAL CASING. *TR
Dec 13, 2008 · 77,091 miles

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

INADVERTENT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTClosedLed to recall 03V144000
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…
EA01012 · opened Apr 27, 2001 · closed Apr 15, 2003
INADVERTENT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTClosed
There is no summary currently available
PE00042 · opened Oct 16, 2000 · closed Apr 27, 2001