1996 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 1996 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
- Suspension1321.3%
- Visibility813.1%
- Transmission711.5%
- Steering69.8%
- Engine46.6%
- Interior & seats46.6%
- Driver assistance34.9%
- Electrical34.9%
- Brakes34.9%
- Body & structure34.9%
- Exterior lighting23.3%
- Seat belts11.6%
- Other / unspecified11.6%
- Tires & wheels11.6%
- Airbags11.6%
- Heating & air conditioning11.6%
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
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE RESTS 12 INCHES HIGHER ON ONE SIDE THAN THE OTHER, FROM THE FRONT END TO THE REAR. AS A RESULT, THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATE UPWARDS TOWARDS THE SKY OR DOWNWARDS INTO THE GROUND. HE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS GONE INTO AIR SHOCK, FORCING HIM TO LOSE CONTROL AND DRIVE OFF THE ROAD. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 160,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
DEFECTIVE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM IN LINCOLN CONTINENTAL RESULTS IN EXTREMELY UNSTABLE AND UNSAFE DRIVING. BLOWN AIR BAG WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE RESULTED IN REAR END CRASHING DOWN AND LEAVING CAR INOPERABLE. FAULTY COMPRESSOR LEAVES THE CAR 12 INCHES DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LEFT AND RIGHT AND FRONT AND BACK. HEAD LIGHTS SHINE INTO THE SKY AND NOW INTO THE GROUND. DRIVING VEHICLE EXTREMELY UNSAFE ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. 3 YRS OF COMPLAINING TO FORD/LINCOLN - THEY WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM! GET THESE VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD BEFORE THEY CAUSE MAJOR ROAD ACCIDENTS. MN STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL NOTIFIED - FILE # RJM/2006/322030/C. *NM
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
AUTOMOBILE DIMMING REARVIEW MIRROR IS NOT CLEAR,MELTING EFFECT.*AK
THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND SIDE VIEW MIRROR CONTAINED FILM WHICH RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY.*JB
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER TOOK CAR TO THE DEALER WHERE PURCHASED COMPLAINING ABOUT AN ODOR EMMITING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING SMELLING LIKE MILDEW. *JG
THE GEAR SHIFT WILL NOT SHIFT. IT WILL SLIDE UP AND DOWN INTERMITTENLY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING AND WILL NOT MOVE. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
SUB FRAME BOLTS BROKE CAUSING FAULTY FRONT SUSPENSION. NLM
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *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
SUB FRAME BOLTS BROKE CAUSING FAULTY FRONT SUSPENSION. NLM
HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE SUSPENSION SYSTEM OF THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THAT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. IT HAS ALSO BEEN SUGGESTED TO ME THAT THE ENGINE OF THIS VEHICLE HAS A HISTORY OF SEAL/GASKET FAILURES. WE VERY MUCH LIKE THIS VEHICLE AND ARE CONSIDERING WHETHER TO TRADE THIS VEHICLE OR PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE. WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOME EXPERT HISTORY INFO ON WHICH TO BASE OUR DECISIONS.
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
AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING DASHLIGHTS AND GAUGES STOPPED WORKING. SHORTLY THEREAFTER SHE RESTARTED VEHICLE, AND GAUGES WORKED FINE. VEHICLE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER YET.*AK
EVERYTIME CONSUMER STARTS VEHICLE INSTRUMENT LIGHTS WILL NOT COME ON FOR ABOUT 7-10 MINUTES DEPENDING HOW COLD WEATHER IS, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. MANUFACTURER SENT OUT SERVICE NOTICE FOR THIS DEFECT, INDICATING THEY WERE AWARE OF DEFECT.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE DELAY IN INSTRUMENT LIGHTING UP WAS UNSAFE. *YH
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
WHILE DRIVING AND UPON DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL IT WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING UNWANTED ACCELERATION. AFTER DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE CONTINUED TO GAIN SPEED, ALSO, AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF, RPMS CONTINUED TO RACE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER DETERMINED THAT THROTTLE CABLE BROKE COMPLETLEY IN HALF.*AK
SUB FRAME BOLTS BROKE CAUSING FAULTY FRONT SUSPENSION. NLM
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
WHEN HEADLAMPS ARE IN USE RADIO SWITCHES STATIONS WITHOUT BEING TOUCHED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
POWER WINDOWS/ REAR DEFROSTER AND HORN WERN'T WORKING CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE MLP SENSOR WAS REPLACED, HELPED WINDOWS TO GO UP AND DOWN CORRECTLY. HORN STILL DOESN'T WORK. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED MANY SENSORS,TYRING TO FIND A REMEDY. *AK
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
BRAKES PULSATE AND THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON. WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY FADE OUT AND COME BACK IN. CONSUMER HIT BRAKES, AND THEY FADED. ABS LIGHT CAME ON AFTER. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE SAME DEALER 4 TIMES. DEALER HAS CHECKED THE CODES, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
SUB FRAME BOLTS BROKE CAUSING FAULTY FRONT SUSPENSION. NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
SUB FRAME BOLTS BROKE CAUSING FAULTY FRONT SUSPENSION. NLM
NONE
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHT ON DRIVER'S SIDE WENT OUT. *TR
HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 96V009000 DUE TO VIN. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR IS FULLY EXTENDED THEN RETRACTED BACK TO ORIGINAL POSITION & LOCKS, PERSON CANNOT MOVE UNLESS RELEASING BELT BUCKLE & STARTING OVER. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEEL PRESURE SENSORS IN TWO TIRES BROKE APART AND DESTROYED TWO TIRE FROM THE INSIDE. I ALSO NEED TO GET PROBLEM CORRECTED IN REMAINING TIERES BUT THE REPAIR SHOP WILL NOT FIX THIS AS IT IS A SAFTY ISSUE AND THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED. MY RTEMAING WHEELS SENSORS COULD COME APART AND DESTROY MY TIRES CAUSING A BLOW OUT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* - THE CONTACT IS CALLING REGARDING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06T023000. THE CONTACT STATES THAT HE TOOK HIS TIRES TO PEP BOYS THEY REFUSE TO PROVIDE HIM WITH FREE TIRES AND TOLD HIM HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TIRES AT A PRO-RATED RATE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT DUE TO THE RECALL HE SHOULD HAVE NOT BEEN CHARGE. THE CONTACT CAN PROVIDE A COPY OF THE INVOICE IF NEEDED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HAVE A FRONTAL IMPACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND DRIVERS/PASSENGERS AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THIS CRASH. *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
CONSUMER TOOK CAR TO THE DEALER WHERE PURCHASED COMPLAINING ABOUT AN ODOR EMMITING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING SMELLING LIKE MILDEW. *JG
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 .