RoadVitals

1989 Lincoln Continental Suspension Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Suspension reportsComplaints 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.
21
Latest Apr 30, 2003
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
13%
of 158 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1989 Lincoln Continental submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 21 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming suspension

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Suspension
Filed Apr 30, 2003

ALL FOUR AIR SPRING SUSPENSION LEAKED IN DIFFERENT TIMES THAT CAUSE FRONT PART OR REAR PART OF THE VEHICLE LOWER TO GROUND WHICH CAN NOT DRIVE. THE REAR AIR STRUTS PARTS EACH COST MORE THAN FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS AND THE FRONT ONES COST MORE THAN $350 EACH FROM LINCOLN DEALER. THE REASON OF LEAK IS THAT SOME SAND WILL GET BETWEEN AIR THE SPRING RUBBER SURFACE AND STRUT BODY WHICH CAUSE AIR BAG SPRING RUBBER TO GRIND AND CUT. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THAT ONE OF A FRONT SUSPENSION HEIGHT SENSOR LINK LOOSEN CAUSED ONE FRONT AIR SUSPENSION BAG BLOWED UP. IF THIS HAPPENED AT REAR WILL CAUSE BOTH REAR AIR SUSPENSION SPRING BLOW UP SINCE ONLY ONE HEIGHT SENSOR AT REAR FOR BOTH AIR SPRINGS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10016801
Incident
Jan 1, 2002
Heating & air conditioningDriver assistanceElectrical+3 more
Filed Jul 24, 2001

THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. THE ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES IN SIX MONTHS. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED. SOMETHING IS STILL DRAINING ALL OF THE POWER AWAY. THE FRONT-SEAT THREE-POINT SEAT BELTS GO SLACK WHILE DRIVING AND DO NOT RETRACT AFTER USE. FORD SAYS IT IS NOT A PROBLEM. THE FRONT AND REAR AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. WHEN THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN THE BACK END GOES WAY DOWN THEN BACK UP. THE FRONT OFTEN HAS ONE SIDE TO GO ALL THE WAY DOWN WHILE THE OTHER SIDE GOES ALL THE WAY UP. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE CAR. THE AIR CONDITIONER HAS BEEN COMPLETELY REPLACED. STILL, IT CANNOT KEEP THE CAR ANYWHERE NEAR CONFORTABLE. THE WINDSHIELD GETS AN OILY FILM ON THE INSIDE THAT WON'T GO AWAY. FINALLY, THE SPEED CONTROL SOMETIMES STARTS ACCELERATING FOR NO REASON AND/OR WILL NOT DEACTIVATE WHEN "OFF" IS PRESSED. EHH, I GUESS THAT'S ABOUT IT FOR NOW. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ THESE COMMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID
749107
Incident
May 15, 2001
Suspension
Filed Aug 25, 2000

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY GIVEN TIME FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WILL DROP COMPLETELY DOWN TO THE GROUND DUE TO AIR SHARKS WHICH NEED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID
868709
Suspension
Filed Aug 22, 2000

CONSTANT TROUBLE WITH THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM LEAKING OR NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
728713
Suspension
Filed Oct 27, 1999

FRONT AIR SUSPENSION LOSES PRESSURE ,CAUSES THE FRONT TO BOUNCE WHENEVER VEHICLE RUNS OVER BUMPS OR POTHOLES. DEALER / MFR. WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID
852032
Incident
Oct 22, 1998
Body & structureElectricalEngine+5 more
Filed Sep 29, 1999

REPLACEMENT OF FUEL TANK DID NOT RECTIFY ROUGH RUNNING CONDITION, FOUND SHORTED WIRING IN THE ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROL CAUSING PROCESSOR TO SHORT OUT AND EGR TO STAY OPEN. MJS

NHTSA ID
548735
Incident
Mar 3, 1999
Suspension
Filed Apr 20, 1999

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH DRIVER HEARD LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AT THE SAME TIME THE REAR END OF VEHICLE DROPPED DOWN ON THE TIRES. THE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM WAS REPLACED IN JUNE OF 98 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THE CURRENT PROBLEM AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID
836912
Incident
Apr 15, 1999
ElectricalSteeringSuspension
Filed Mar 25, 1999

FRONT AIR STRUTS FAILED WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING.

NHTSA ID
544599
Incident
Jun 1, 1998
Suspension
Filed Mar 8, 1999

ALL STRUT RODS MALFUNCTION, WHICH MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, AND MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
835530
Incident
Mar 3, 1999
Suspension
Filed Jan 27, 1999

THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE HAD DROPPED, DROPPING VEHICLE LOW TO THE GROUND AND MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR THE GAS TANK TO SCRAPE THE GROUND. DEALER SAYS THE VEHICLE NEEDS NEW AIR SHOCKS. *AK

NHTSA ID
834011
EngineSuspension
Filed Jul 4, 1998

STRUTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE, TWO ENGINE MOUNTS REPAIRED, AND THE AXLE DESTROYED THE BRAKE SENSOR.

NHTSA ID
537735
Incident
Jun 1, 1997
Suspension
Filed Jun 2, 1998

ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BETWEEN 30-35 MPH, THE RIGHT REAR STRUT WENT OUT. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE SAFELY. THE STRUT WAS REPLACED. IN MAY OR JUNE OF 1997 THE LEFT REAR STRUT WENT OUT AND WAS REPLACED. IN JANUARY OF 1998, ONE OF THE FRONT STRUTS WENT OUT. THE STRUT HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED IN OWNER'S GARAGE SINCE JANUARY OF 1998. *AK

NHTSA ID
823841
EngineSuspension
Filed Dec 15, 1997

ENGINE MOUNTS FAILED, RECALL ITEM ,HOWEVER VEHICLE DOES NOT FIT WITHIN THE GUIDELINES FOR RECALL WORK.

NHTSA ID
526168
Incident
Nov 1, 1997
Suspension
Filed Oct 15, 1996

REAR SHOCKS REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
509864
Incident
Jun 1, 1996
BrakesEngineFuel system+4 more
Filed Aug 5, 1996

REAR STRUTS REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
503900
Incident
Apr 1, 1996
SteeringSuspension
Filed Jun 7, 1996

STEERING RACK SNAPPED.

NHTSA ID
505150
Incident
Jun 1, 1996
Body & structureHeating & air conditioningElectrical+4 more
Filed Apr 19, 1996

ALTERNATOR FAILED.

NHTSA ID
504274
Incident
Dec 1, 1993
Body & structureBrakesHeating & air conditioning+6 more
Filed Apr 10, 1996

WATER PUMP FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
503131
EngineSuspension
Filed Nov 28, 1995

HEAD GASKET REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
602461
Incident
Aug 3, 1995
Powertrain (other)SteeringSuspension+1 more
Filed Sep 7, 1995

REPLACE THE FRONT STRUT WAS REPLACED THREE AND THE REAR WAS REPLACED TWO TIMES THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES THE POWER STEERING AND CV JOINT REPLACE.

NHTSA ID
971692
Driver assistanceFuel systemSuspension
Filed Aug 7, 1995

GASOLINE GAUGE GIVES INACURATE READINGS.

NHTSA ID
484620
Incident
Jul 14, 1995

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .