1987 Lincoln Continental Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1987 Lincoln Continental, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Suspension325.0%
- Electrical216.7%
- Transmission216.7%
- Brakes18.3%
- Interior & seats18.3%
- Engine18.3%
- Heating & air conditioning18.3%
- Driver assistance18.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
FRONT WHEELS AND TIRES ARE NOT ABLE TO CLEAR THE WHEEL-WELL, RESULTING IN FULL TURNING RADIAUS FAILURE. THERE IS A CONVERSION KIT TO CHANGE THE SUSPENSION FROM AIR-RIDE TO GIL SPRINGS, IF NOT CHANGED THERE IS A PONTENTIAL ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.
WHILE DRIVING, RIGHT FRONT AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM FELL DOWN ON RIGHT TIRE; ALMOST CAUSED VEHICLE TO TURN OVER, DEALER REPLACING AIR SUSPENSION. SYSTEM. VARIOUS SPEEDS.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE IGNITION MODULE ON VEHICLE BECAME INOPERATIVE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL AS CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, THE IGNITION MODULE FAILED DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT, ITS LOCATION BEING ON THE DISTRIBUTOR.*YD
WHEN TURNING ON THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSES THE ABS TO GO OUT AS WELL AS THE AIR CONDITIONING.AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 25 MPH WHEN I NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. I DROVE HOME ABOUT 5 MILES. KNOWING A LITTLE ABOUT CARS I LIFTED THE HOOD TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE LEVEL WAS FINE BUT THE FLUID LOOKED A LITTLE DARK TO ME. I SMELLED THE FLUID AND IT SMELLED BURNT. THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN FINE UP TO THAT POINT SO I LOOKED AROUND TO SEE IF I COULD SEE ANYTHING ELSE WRONG. I NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL CABLE THAT ATTACHES TO THE THROTTLE WAS HANGING LOOSE. I TOOK OUT MY SHOP MANUAL AND COPIED THE PAGE WITH THE LINKAGE ON IT AND WENT TO A LINCOLN DEALER. I BOUGHT THE $1 PLASTIC PART THAT HOLDS THE LINKAGE ON AND RETURNED HOME. I REATTACHED THE LINKAGE AND HAPPILY DROVE OFF THINKING NO BIG DEAL. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED FINE FROM FIRST TO SECOND BUT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THIRD OR FOURTH. I CALLED A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM. HE KNEW RIGHT AWAY WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND TOLD ME THAT MY TRANSMISSION WAS RUINED. HE EXPLAINED WHY AND I HAD NO DOUBT THAT HE WAS CORRECT. IT WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME HE HAD SEEN THAT HAPPEN. I CONTACTED FORD BY EMAIL. THEY WOULD NOT HELP OUT IN ANY WAY AND SUGGESTED THAT I SHOULD HAVE SERVICED THE CAR REGULARLY AT A FORD/LINCOLN DEALERSHIP AND THAT THIS WOULD HELP TO PREVENT SUCH A PROBLEM. I WROTE BACK ASKING FOR THE NAME OF A MECHANIC THAT COULD PREDICT THAT TYPE OF PART FAILURE BY LOOKING AT IT AND I WOULD GO TO THAT PERSON. THEY SENT ME NO NAME. IF THIS TRANSMISSION FAILED DO TO ABUSE, LACK OF CARE, OR EVEN AGE, I WOULD NOT HAVE CONTACTED FORD OR NHSTA. IT FAILED BECAUSE FORD USED A PLASTIC PART THAT WOULD ALMOST SURELY BECOME BRITTLE AND BREAK WITH AGE. I SPENT $1400.00 TO GET IT REPAIRED BECAUSE FORD USED AN INEXPENSIVE PLASTIC PART TO HOLD LINKAGE TOGETHER ON AN EXPENSIVE TRANSMISSION. I WOULD HAVE CONTACTED YOU SOONER BUT WITH ALL THE TROUBLE FORD HAD WITH TIRE FAILURES I WANTED TO WAIT FOR THAT TO DIE DOWN. PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN. THANKS, PAUL SCHRADIECK. *AK
TURNED ON IGNITION TO START VEHICLE AND IT ACCELERATED AT HIGH SPEED, THE ONLY WAY TO STOP WAS TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN TURNING ON THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSES THE ABS TO GO OUT AS WELL AS THE AIR CONDITIONING.AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE WAS PARKED, COMPARTMENT FIRE UNDER THE DASH, ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
DURING THE AM HOURS SMOKE ENTERED THE HOUSE THROUGH THE GARAGE AND BURNED IT DOWN. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN TURNING ON THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSES THE ABS TO GO OUT AS WELL AS THE AIR CONDITIONING.AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
TURNED ON IGNITION TO START VEHICLE AND IT ACCELERATED AT HIGH SPEED, THE ONLY WAY TO STOP WAS TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .