RoadVitals

1986 Lincoln Continental

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Nov 3, 2006
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
5
Latest Sep 4, 1987
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
4
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
4
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 8 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1986 Lincoln Continental, most frequently naming the brakes, interior & seats and engine categories. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 4 NHTSA investigations name it; and 23 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes225.0%
  • Interior & seats225.0%
  • Engine112.5%
  • Fuel system112.5%
  • Seat belts112.5%
  • Suspension112.5%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

5 campaigns cover this model year

View all 5

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
87V139000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Sep 4, 1987
3,600,000 units potentially affected
The defect: SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
The risk: COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.
The remedy: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov
86V108000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

Aug 8, 1986
20,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER MAY HANG UP AND NOT FULLY RETURN TO THE "ON" POSITION FROM THE "START" POSITION AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE. IF THIS OCCURS, THE ENGINE WILL REMAIN RUNNING, BUT THE BATTERY CURRENT TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM SUPPLY MOTOR WILL BE INTERRUPTED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: WITH POWER TO MOST ACCESSORIES AND THE BRAKE SYSTEM SUPPLY MOTOR INTERRUPTED, THE POWER ASSIST TO THE FRONT BRAKE WILL BE LOST AND AFTER ABOUT 10 TO 15 NORMAL BRAKE STOPS, LOSS OF REAR BRAKE FUNCTION WILL RESULT, CAUSING INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. HOWEVER, THE INSTRUMENT BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE PRIOR TO REDUCED BRAKING CAPABILITY AND IF WARNING IS NOT HEEDED, AN ACCIDENT MAY OCCUR.
The remedy: REPLACE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDERS WITH REVISED DESIGN CYLINDERS.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov
86V109000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC

Aug 8, 1986
38,000 units potentially affected
The defect: UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, CONTACTS IN BRAKE SYSTEM RELAY COULD REMAIN CLOSED, CAUSING THE BRAKE PUMP MOTOR TO RUN CONTINUOUSLY, CAUSING IT TO OVERHEAT AND EVENTUALLY FAIL. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SHOULD THE BRAKE SUPPLY MOTOR FAIL, THE POWER ASSIST TO THE FRONT BRAKES WILL BE LOST, AND AFTER ABOUT 10 TO 15 NORMAL BRAKE STOPS, LOSS OF REAR BRAKE FUNCTION WILL RESULT, CAUSING INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. HOWEVER, THE INSTRUMENT BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE PRIOR TO REDUCED BRAKING CAPABILITY AND IF WARNING IS NOT HEEDED, AN ACCIDENT MAY OCCUR.
The remedy: REPLACE PUMP MOTOR RELAYS.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE93036ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

AIR SUSPENSION FAILURE

Opened Apr 12, 1993
Closed Aug 4, 1993

There is no summary currently available

SUSPENSION
PE92056ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

SUB-FRM/UNIBODY ABSOR.FAIL

Opened Jul 1, 1992
Closed Nov 30, 1992

There is no summary currently available

STRUCTURE
PE88100ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

ABS FAILURE

Opened Sep 6, 1988
Closed Apr 17, 1989

There is no summary currently available

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
PE86067ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

BRAKE FAILURE

Opened Jul 29, 1986
Closed Sep 9, 1986

ANALYSIS:THE 8 COMPLAINTS IN ODI COMPLAINT FILE REVEALED SUDDEN BRAKEFAILURE.FORD HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN, 03250000, ON 1985 MARK VII'SFOR AN OUT OF POSITION WIRING HARNESS.IN THIS CASE THE BRAKING SENSORMAY SHORT CAUSING POWER BRAKE FAILURE.THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLSPERTAINING TO THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS SUGGESTED TOEVALUATE THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.STATUS:IR PREPARED.PROPOSED ACTION:TO OPEN A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICLed to recall 86V108000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed Nov 3, 2006

I OWN A 1986 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL THAT HAS A RECALL LISTED FOR THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, 86V109000. THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE PUMP HAS FAILED AND MIDAS TOLD ME ABOUT THIS RECALL AND SAID I SHOULD HAVE FORD FIX IT. I WENT TO SCHAUMBURG LINCOLN MERCURY IN SCHAUMBURG, ILLINOIS - AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL. I CALLED FORD DIRECTLY AND THEY DENIED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL. YET, ON THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY SAFETY ADMIN SIGHT THE RECALL FORD NOW DENIES EXISTS, IS IN FACT LISTED. MY VEHICLE HAS HAD THE FUEL SYSTEM RECALL REPAIRED, WHICH FORD ADMITS, BUT NEVER BRAKE RECALL LISTED HEREIN. I WOULD LIKE FORD TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE PUMP & RELAYS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10172589
Incident
Oct 20, 2006
Mileage
90,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 30, 1998
Fire reported

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CAUSE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
780338
Seat belts
Filed Jun 19, 1996

SEAT BELT BUCKLE STUCK, UNABLE TO RELEASE SEAT BELT. *SD

NHTSA ID
505641
Incident
Jun 8, 1996
Suspension
Filed Sep 2, 1995

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE FRONT SUSPENSION WENT OUT THERE WAS NO WARNING . TT

NHTSA ID
971535
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 20, 1995
Crash reported1 injury reported

SEATBACK CONSISTED OF A STAMPED METAL FRAME WITH OPENING IN CENTER AND NO SUPPORTIVE STRUCTURE, DRIVER FELL THROUGH IT UPON IMPACT, RESULTING IN INJURY. *AK

NHTSA ID
482617
Incident
Mar 20, 1995
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 13, 1995
Crash reported1 injury reported

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BACK BROKE DURING ACCIDENT DRIVER WENT THROUGH THE SEAT. TT

NHTSA ID
961807
Incident
Jul 10, 1994
Fuel system
Filed Feb 16, 1995
Fire reported

FUEL LINE FIRE OCCURED AFTER SMELLING GASOLINE. *SKD

NHTSA ID
481764
Incident
Nov 1, 1994
Brakes
Filed Jan 12, 1995

BRAKING MECHANISM HAS FAILED. TT

NHTSA ID
958642
Incident
Jan 3, 1995

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

01156

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC

01157

INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC

0015

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS

99222

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT

99196

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT

99152

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

INFORMATION ON THE NEW FLUSH AND FILL TOOL AVAILABLE THROUGH ROTUNDA. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Lincoln Continental by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2020720—
2019323054.7
2018182053.5
2017744055.9
2002331042.1
2001322044.0
2000634261.9
1999423260.9
1998722052.5
1997962047.3
1996483048.2
1995702257.4
19941905258.0
19931214556.8
19921263859.2
19912033764.2
19901585665.1
19891585866.7
19888491168.2
1987916—
1986Viewing854—
1985152370.0
1984622—
1983231—
1982121—
1981100—
1980010—
1979220—
1978100—
1977111—
1976010—
1975130—
1974010—
1969010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.