RoadVitals

1996 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.
13
Latest Jul 10, 2007
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.
27%
of 48 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 1996 Lincoln Continental submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 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 Jul 10, 2007

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.

NHTSA ID
10196008
Incident
Jul 1, 2002
Mileage
100,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jan 30, 2007

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

NHTSA ID
10181149
Incident
Feb 3, 2003
Mileage
96,683 mi
Suspension
Filed Oct 23, 2002

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE AIR SUSPENSION WENT OUT THE VEHICLE AIR SHOCKS AND THE VEHICLE IN UNABLE TO STEER. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR

NHTSA ID
8021485
Incident
Oct 15, 2002
Body & structureBrakesDriver assistance+5 more
Filed Jan 3, 2001

SUB FRAME BOLTS BROKE CAUSING FAULTY FRONT SUSPENSION. NLM

NHTSA ID
558855
Incident
Jun 9, 2000
EngineSuspension
Filed Jun 5, 2000

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.

NHTSA ID
723577
Incident
Jun 2, 2000
SteeringSuspension
Filed Jan 11, 2000

VEHICLE LEANED TO THE LEFT DUE TO THE AIR SPRING SYSTEM FAILING. OWNER HAD JUST HAD RACK AND PINION REPLACED. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE AIR SPRING SYSTEM, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS IN SUSPENSION. *AK

NHTSA ID
854878
Body & structureInterior & seatsSuspension
Filed Nov 28, 1999

NONE

NHTSA ID
715337
Incident
Oct 10, 1999
Suspension
Filed Jun 16, 1999

FRONT ALIGNMENT: CONSTANTLY WEARS OUT FRONT TIRES (ON INNER TREAD);HAVE TAKEN BACK TO DEALERSHIP FOR ALIGNMENT ON THREE OCCASIONS, YET PROBLEM PERSISTS. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225/60R16 )

NHTSA ID
707606
Suspension
Filed Oct 20, 1998

VEHICLE CANNOT BE PROPERLY ALIGNED, CAUSING EXCESS FRONT TIRE WEAR.

NHTSA ID
781475
Suspension
Filed Sep 25, 1997

SUSPENSION FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
522441
Incident
Jan 10, 1996
Suspension
Filed Sep 3, 1997

THE STRUT ON THE SUSPENSION HAS STRESS CRACKS. DEALER DID NOTHING.*AK

NHTSA ID
815950
Suspension
Filed Feb 12, 1997

FRONT STRUT FAILED.

NHTSA ID
602853
Incident
Nov 22, 1996
Suspension
Filed Nov 27, 1996

FRONT SUSPENSION COLLAPSED .

NHTSA ID
511873
Incident
Oct 19, 1996

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 .