The 2001 Lincoln Continental has 2 safety recalls and 32 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is suspension (8 complaints).
Recalls2safety recalls
Complaints32filed by owners
Crashes · fires1 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths2 · 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.
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Motor
NHTSA recall 01V258000 · Aug 8, 2001 · 1,083,000 vehicles
Problem: 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.
Risk: LOSS OF VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: 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.
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*
Suspension Front › Springs › Coil springs; Rear
8
0
0
0
84,377 mi
Electrical system Wiring › Interior/under dash; Wiring
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Feb 15, 2018Steering I'M A NEW OWNER I ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR TWO YEARS AND THE STEERING WHEEL FEELS FUNNY WHEN I'M DRIVING OR TURNING THE WHEEL AND I HEAR A NOISE WHEN I TURN IT .
Aug 12, 2017 · 53,000 milesUnknown or other DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK IS DEFECTIVE. THE ALTERNATOR WAS DEFECTIVE, BUT I HAD IT FIXED AT THE DEALERSHIP AT MY EXPENSE.
Jul 15, 2017 · 142,250 milesSteering I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE AT HOME AND WHEN I TURNED MY STEERING WHEEL, THE LEFT FRONT SPRING BROKE AND SHREDDED THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE. I CHECKED THE AREA THAT THE SPRING BROKE, AND IT WAS CLEAN, UNRUSTED METAL, THERE WAS NO SIGN OF AN IMPENDING FAILURE, JUST A SUDDEN BREAK.
Aug 19, 2014 · 170,000 milesElectrical system TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, SMOKE STARTED EMITTING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND NEAR THE WIPER SWITCH. ALSO, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LOW WASHER FLUID SENSOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AND THAT UNDER THE HOOD THERE WAS A DISCONNECTED PIECE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN REPLENISHED THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID AND FIXED THE DETACHED PIECE. WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. HOWEVER, THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
Apr 1, 2014 · 51,000 milesSuspension WHILE BACKING THE CAR OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AFTER IT HAD BEEN SITTING OVERNIGHT, THERE WAS A LOUD POP AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WENT FLAT. AFTER REMOVING THE WHEEL, I SAW THAT THE LARGE COIL SUSPENSION SPRING HAD BROKEN AND THAT THE SHARP END OF THE BROKEN SPRING HAD SLICED OPEN THE INSIDE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. THE CAR IS SITTING THE DRIVEWAY WAITING FOR PART I ORDERED. I CAN NOT BELIEVE IT COST $690.00 EACH FOR COIL SPRINGS THAT'S' CRAZY . AND THAT THERE IS NO RECALL SINCE I HAVE BEEN READING A LOT OF THIS SAME COMPLAINT. THIS IS A 2001 AND THE MILEAGE IS STILL LOW ONLY 50,000 MILES. *TR
May 23, 2013 · 161,000 milesSuspension WHILE BACKING THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE AFTER IT HAD BEEN SITTING OVERNIGHT, THERE WAS A LOUD POP AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WENT FLAT. AFTER REMOVING THE WHEEL, I SAW THAT THE LARGE COIL SUSPENSION SPRING HAD BROKEN AND THAT THE SHARP END OF THE BROKEN SPRING HAD SLICED OPEN THE INSIDE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. THE CAR IS NOW IN THE SHOP, SO THE VIN AND EXACT MILEAGE ARE NOT AVAILABLE. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEED, A SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED. MY MECHANIC TELLS ME THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM WITH FORD PRODUCTS BEFORE. IF THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE, WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM? *TR
Jul 18, 2008 · 115,000 milesVehicle speed control 2001 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL / 115,000 MILES WHILE DRIVING ON THE 10 FWY IN JULY 2008, AND WITHOUT ACTIVATING CRUISE CONTROL, OR PRESSING SHARPLY ON THE GAS PEDAL, MY CAR BEGAN TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE AT TOP SPEED. THE ENGINE ROARED WITH A LOUD SOUND AND IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO FULL OPERATING POWER. THE SOUND OF THE ENGINE AT FULL THROTTLE WAS UNMISTAKABLE AND AS I LOOKED AT THE DASH BOARD GAUGES, I SAW MY SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE QUICKLY REACH 90 MPH AND KEPT MOVING HIGHER. REALIZING I WAS IN DANGER, I APPLIED THE BRAKE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT SLOWING MY CAR DOWN IN THE NORMAL FASHION. IT ONLY DEPRESSED ABOUT - OF THE NORMAL RANGE. CONFUSED, I QUICKLY GLANCED DOWN AT MY FEET TO…
Feb 18, 2008 · 75,000 milesSuspension › Front › Springs › Coil springs COIL SPRING ON LEFT FRONT STRUT BROKE, RUBBED THROUGH SIDEWALL OF TIRE CAUSING BLOWOUT. WIFE WAS REAL LUCKY THIS WAS IN TOWN AT LOW SPEED. COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC ON FREEWAY. PARTS ARE REAL EXPENSIVE $450 EACH SIDE PLUS ONE NEW TIRE, I'M GOING TO GET BOTH SIDES DONE BECAUSE I DON'T TRUST THE OTHER ONE NOW. I HAVE THE PARTS ORDERED. I WILL SAVE FAILED PART. *TR
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.