RoadVitals

1991 Lincoln Continental Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
57
Latest Dec 8, 2006
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.
28%
of 203 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.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1991 Lincoln Continental submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 57 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 engine

The 25 most recent of 57, in the owner's own words

Engine
Filed Dec 8, 2006

1991 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL WITH 39,800 ORIGINAL OWNER MILES. HEAD GASKET BLEW. COOLANT COMING OUT OF EXHAUST PIPES. *NM

NHTSA ID
10175635
Incident
Dec 4, 2006
Mileage
39,800 mi
Body & structureEngineTransmission
Filed Jan 10, 2005

1991 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***.*MR RECALL FOR MOTOR MOUNTS, SUB-FRAME SUPPORT PLATE, TRANSMISSION CABLE, AND MOUNT CORROSION. DEALERSHIP WILLING TO FIX SUB-FRAME PLATE AND CABLE, BUT WILL NOT FIX MOTOR MOUNTS, STATING THAT THE 6 YEAR OR 60,000 MILES HAS EXPIRED AND THAT THE CAR IS TOO OLD. PLEASE HELP INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER. *TT *NM

NHTSA ID
10128098
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Body & structureElectricalEngine+3 more
Filed Jan 15, 2004

I HAD JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM A PRIVATE OWNER FOR MY SISTER TO DRIVE TO WORK. WELL NOT EVEN BEFORE WE GOT HOME THE MAIN EEC IV COMPUTER DIED SO THE CAR WOULD NOT RUN. ONCE WE FIGURED OUT IT WAS THE MAIN COMPUTER AND REPLACED IT IT RAN FINE. BUT WE STILL HAD TWO BAD FRONT AIR STRUTS TO FIX. AFTER ALL THAT SHE FINALLY GOT TO DRIVE IT TO WORK AND THE FIRST DAY SHE DROVE THE CAR SHE DID NOT EVEN MAKE IT HOME BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION JUST STOPPED WORKING. SO SHE IS OUT A CAR AND WE DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT. BECAUSE OF ALL THE OTHER CARS MY POOR SISTER HAS OWNED DRAINED US.

NHTSA ID
10070664
Incident
Aug 15, 2003
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 15, 2004

I BLEW A HEAD GASKET & THE DCL WENT OUT. LINCOLN SAYS THAT THEY CANT REPLACE THIS PART (DCL)

NHTSA ID
10069980
Incident
Jan 15, 2003
Engine
Filed Jan 15, 2004

PEELING PAINT AND HEAD GASKETS FAILED POSSIBLY A CRACKED HEAD

NHTSA ID
10068792
Incident
Dec 15, 2002
Engine
Filed Jan 13, 2004

REQUEST FOR DATABASE INFO WITH HISTORY RESOLUTION ATTEMPTS. *MR THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE 3.8 LITER V6 ENGINES. THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE ORIGINAL ALUMINUM HEADS FOR THE ENGINE HAD AN ADDITIONAL FLAW WHICH WAS A SHARPLY MACHINED TRANSITION LINE RUNNING THE FULL LENGTH OF THE HEADS, WHICH CAUSED THE HEADS TO CRACK ALONG THAT LINE WHEN OVERHEATED. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10053891
Engine
Filed May 16, 2003
Fire reported

WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. *NLM *TT

NHTSA ID
10020005
Incident
May 16, 2003
EngineSuspension
Filed Apr 17, 2001

THIS IS THE THIRD(3) CONTINENTAL WE HAVE OWNED AND AIR SUSPENSION HAS FAILED OF ALL THREE. THE 3.8 CUI MOTOR IN THIS CAR AND OTHER FORD MODELS HAS BENN NOTORIOUS FOR LEAKING HEAD GASKETS. *AK

NHTSA ID
744153
Incident
Apr 14, 2001
Heating & air conditioningEngineSuspension
Filed Jan 5, 2001

REAR AIR SHOCK ASSEMBLY SYSTEM IS CAUSING BACK END OF VEHICLE TO SAG. *SLC

NHTSA ID
558916
Incident
Dec 15, 2000
EngineTransmission
Filed Nov 1, 2000

SURVEY OF FORD DEALERS AND LOCAL REPAIR SHOPS INDICATE HEAD GASKET AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE VERY COMMON WITH 4.8L, V-6 ENGINES IN 1991 THROUGH 1997 CONTINENTAL, TARUS AND SABLE. FORD REFUSES TO ASSIST OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR FAILURES EXEPT 1994 RECALL ON ENGINE HEAD GASKET.*AK

NHTSA ID
735554
Incident
Oct 30, 2000
Engine
Filed Oct 27, 2000

THIS IS A TYPICAL EXAMPLE OF FORD NOT COVERING THEIR CUSTOMERS FOR A DEFECT THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT FOR YEARS. THEY CLAIM THEY ARE COVERING 1994 AND NEWER VEHICLES, YET THE TSB 98-4-9 SPECIFICALLY STATES THEY HAVE BEEN FULLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM FROM 1988-1994 ON THESE CARS. I PURCHASED THE CAR USED FOR $3200, HAVE A LOAN ON IT, JUST SPENT $990 FOR THE HEAD GASKET, $400 TO GET THE PLATES AND TITLE TRANSFERRED, AND NOW I AM TOLD THE ENGINE WILL PROBABLY GO NEXT, WHICH IS COMMON FOR THIS CAR. FORD REFUSES TO SPEAK WITH ME ABOUT AN AGREEMENT. I GET THE "IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY" STORY. HEAD GASKETS ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST 120,000 MILES. MY VEHICLE HAS 72000 AT TIME OF HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT. I WANT FORD TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT!*AK

NHTSA ID
735250
Incident
Oct 1, 2000
Engine
Filed Oct 4, 2000

DUE TO IMPROPER HEAD GASKET FOR THE ENGINE, HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT TWICE AT 70 THOUSAND MILES AND AROUND 100 THOUSAND MILES. MANUFACTURER HAS REPLACED A RECALL FOR OTHER CAR MODELS FOR THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. DEALER HAS REPLACED HEAD GASKET AND ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID
872266
EngineSuspension
Filed Aug 8, 2000

1991 LINCOLN CONTINENTALS ARE REPORTED BY ALL REPAIR SHOPS IN THIS AREA TO HAVE KNOWN HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS ALONG WITH REAR STRUT AND AIR SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. MANY PEOPLE ARE LOSING THEIR SHIRTS AND FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO HANDLE THIS PROBLEM. THEY HAVE RECALLED 1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTALS BUT HAVE NOT ADDRESSED ANY EARLIER YEARS.*AK

NHTSA ID
727027
Incident
Jul 1, 2000
Engine
Filed May 22, 2000

EXPERIENCED A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND COULD NOT OPERATE THE VEHICLE

NHTSA ID
9000840
Incident
Apr 6, 2000
Engine
Filed Apr 17, 2000

MECHANIC SAID ENGINE WAS NOT EQUIPPED TO BE IN THE CAR . WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY EVERYTHING FROZE AND CONSUMER WAS STUCK. RECALL ON THE 1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL MENTIONED THE SAME PROBLEM AS CONSUMER WAS HAVING ON HER 1991 VEHICLE. YET, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. VEHICLE HAS UNDER 100000 MILES ON IT. *AK

NHTSA ID
860428
Incident
Apr 1, 2000
Engine
Filed Apr 13, 2000

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS DETERMINED THAT ENGINE INTERLOCK WAS THE CAUSE OF VEHICLE'S UNEXPECTED SHUTDOWN. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
860262
Incident
Apr 12, 2000
BrakesHeating & air conditioningElectrical+3 more
Filed Apr 11, 2000

CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SAGS WHEN PARKED. NLM

NHTSA ID
551823
Incident
Aug 1, 1997
Heating & air conditioningEngine
Filed Mar 28, 2000

AIR CONDITIONER'S COMPRESSOR SEIZED, WAS GLOWING RED & FAN BELT WAS BURNING. ALSO, SERPENTINE BELT & UNIT WAS BRIGHT RED. HAD A SHORT WARNING PRIOR TO PROBLEM. CONSUMER WAS SMELLING SOMETHING BURNING. PULLED OVER & CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. *AK

NHTSA ID
859342
Incident
Jan 1, 2000
Engine
Filed Mar 13, 2000

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 55 MPH, NOTICED SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER OF A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
858434
Incident
Mar 6, 1998
EngineSteeringTransmission
Filed Feb 19, 2000

SHORTLY AFTER COMPLETE TRANSMISSION, MOTOR MOUNTS, AND POWER STEERING REPLACED,THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS FAILED, ONCE AGAIN CONTRBUTING TO A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT. WHILE RTURNING HOME FROM BABTSITTING MY GRANDDAUGHTER I WAS ALARMED BY DRIVERS GOING THE OPPOSITE WAY BEEPING AT ME. ONE FINALLY ROLLED DOWN HIS WINDOW AND YELLED THAT I WAS SMOKING SO BADLY I WAS BLOCKING EVERYONES VIEW. I LOOKED BACK TO SEE A DENSE CLOUD OF STEAM COVERING BOTH LANES OF TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. CARS WERE AT A STANDSTILL UNTIL THE STEAM DISSIPATED. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT DOWN. WATER WAS POURING OUT OF ONE OF THE DUAL EXHAUST PIPES. A MOTORIST STOPPED AND OFFERED A LIFT BUT I WAS ONLY A FEW BLOCKS FROM HOME. HE WENT ON TO TELL ME HIS SISTER HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO HER WINDSTAR MINIVAN ON A TRIP TO MAINE AND THE CAR WAS ONLY 45 THOUSAND MILES OLD. HE SAID IT WAS DEFINITELY MY HEAD GASKET, WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE CORRECT. HE ALSO SAID THAT THE FORD 3.8 LITER ENGINE IS A DEFECTIVE DISASTER ESPECIALLY WHEN USED WITH FRONT WHEEL DRIVE. WITH RESPECT TO THE UNDERDASH ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IT WAS A DISTRACTING WARNING CHIME AND OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR WHICH WOULD BEEP WITHOUT PROPER CAUSE ON AN INTERMITTANT BASIS. OIL PRESSURE WAS INDEED OKAY AND THE SENDING UNIT WAS REPLACED TO NO AVAIL. ONLY WHEN AN ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS REPLACED DID THIS LONGSTANDING DISTRACTION GO AWAY. MY SON-IN-LAW IN OCTOBER OF '99 TOOK OUT THE ORIGINAL CLUSTER WHICH HAD THE ODOMETER READING OF 64740 ORIGINAL MILES AND REPLACED IT WITH ONE FROM AN AUTO WRECKING YARD WHICH WAS POSSIBLY FROM AN EARLIER YEAR CAR. THE REPLACEMENT MODULE READ 131200 MILES. IN FEBRUARY OF 2000 I GAVE THE CAR TO MY DAUGTER AND SON-IN-LAW. THE TITLE HAS BEEN ANOTATED WITH THE NEW ODOMETER READING AS "NOT THE ACTUAL MILEAGE". THIS FAULTY CHIME / GAUGE IS ALSO A COMMON DEFECT IN THESE CARS I AM TOLD. IT CAN BE A DANGEROUS THING WHEN IT OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING (NO PUN INTENDED) .

NHTSA ID
718957
Incident
Apr 22, 1999
Engine
Filed Jan 21, 2000

BLOWN HEAD GASKET, TALK TO 5 DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOPS ALL SAID TYPICAL OF THE 3.8L V6, THE MAN WHO SOLD ME THE VEHICLE KNOW THEIR WAS SOME PROBLEM ,HE DROPPED THE PRICE FROM $5995 TO $3950.

NHTSA ID
717688
Incident
Jan 19, 2000
Engine
Filed Dec 21, 1999

WHILE DRIVING ORIGINAL ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLEW. WERE BLOWING SMOKE & LEAKING FLUID. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC REPLACED ENGINE. HEAD GASKETS BLEW ON THE 2ND ENGINE ALSO & ENGINE WAS REPLACED ONCE AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
854256
Engine
Filed Dec 9, 1999

HEAD GASKET FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RUN ROUGH AND LOOSE COOLANT. YH

NHTSA ID
549902
Incident
Sep 24, 1999
EnginePowertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Sep 2, 1999

APPARENTLY THE RIDE HEIGHT SENSORS FAILED, THIS CAUSED THE MOTOR MOUNTS TO FAIL BECAUSE OF IMPROPER HEIGHT RIDE, THIS PUT UNDO STRESS ON FRONT AXEL AND WORE OUT CV JOINTS. ALSO PROBABLY CAUSED FAILURE IN STRUTS.

NHTSA ID
710837
Incident
May 25, 1999
Engine
Filed Aug 6, 1999

DURING THE INITIAL WARRANTY PERIOD AT 45000 MILES THE HEADS ON THE VEHICLE WERE BLOWN DUE TO THE MANUFACTURE PROBLEM WHICH WAS FOUND OUT THROUGH THE DEALER. AND AFTER 40000 MILES THE PROBLEM IS OCURRING ONCE AGAIN. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS 84000 MILES, THE ENGINE SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS MUCH OF A PROBLEM. LINCOOLN HAS NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADS ON THESE 6 CYL VEHICLES. PLEASE HELP

NHTSA ID
709663

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 .