Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 96 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Lincoln Continental. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 96 · page 1 of 4
SHORTLY AFTER START, 200M, ENGINE STILL COLD , I SMELL SMOKE,,STOPTED IMMEDIATLY PASSING BRIDGE, SMOKE STILL, MORE INTENSIVE. I TALK TO DRIVERS AROUND TO CALL FIRE DEPARTEMENT. TOOK ONLY BLOUSE CLOSE TO ME AND LEAVE THE CAR. MOKE AND FIRST FIRE STARTED RIGHT FROM FEED SPACE. NO FIRE IN ENGINE AREA. .
TAKATA RECALL. I WAS DRIVING 35MPH GOING DOWN MAIN ROAD IN AN OFFICE PARK. OTHER VEHICLE FAILED TO YIELD RIGHT OF WAY AND CAME THRU STOP SIGN. I HAD ALMOST ZERO TIME TO REACT. I SLAMMED ON BRAKES TRYING TO PREPARE FOR IMPACT. WE HIT. MY DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT BUMPER HIT HIS PASSENGER SIDE FRONT. HIS AIRBAG DEPLOYED, MINE DID NOT. POLICE, FIREFIGHTERS, AND AMBULANCE PERSONNEL STATED IT SHOULD HAVE. I HAVE HAD NECK SURGERY IN THE PAST, WITH 4 FUSIONS. I AM EXTREMELY SORE. THE AIRBAG COULD HAVE HELPED ME TO NOT BE JERKED AROUND SO MUCH. THANKFULLY, MY CAR IS AN OLDER, WELL BUILT VEHICLE SO DAMAGE IS MINIMAL. WINDOW KNOCKED OFF TRACK, BUMPER DAMAGE THAT WILL NEED TO BE SANDED AND PAINTED, HEADLIGHT CRACKED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 40,000 MILES AND HAD TO BE REPLACE. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD ABNORMALLY, WHILE STILL IN PARK. THE CHECK ENGINE LAMP WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PRESSURE REGULATOR SOLENOID AND THE NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH WERE DEFECTIVE. AS A RESULT, THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 96V166000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 172,000.
MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AND HAD TO BE JUNKED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE WAS FLAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND STRUTS HAVING FAILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,388. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAS THE REPAIR INVOICES.
TL*- THEE CONTACT HAS A 1997 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH BOTH TRACTION CONTROL, AND THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES. HE HAS HAD 3 FAILURES OF THE TRACTION CONTROL AND THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER NO LONGER MAKES THE REPLACEMENT PARTS, AND ONE CAN ONLY GET USED REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 70,000.
1997 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL, RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD BEGAN TO SEPARATE, THE OTHER THREE TIRES WERE ALMOST SEPARATING AT THE TREAD WITH ONLY 20,000 MILES ON THEM. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT FOR COST OF NEW TIRES. *KB AT TIME OF PURCHASE THE CONSUMER NOTICED A BOUNCE AND WOBBLE IN THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 30-58 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO CHECKED THE TIRES. THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THE TIRES HAD A LOT OF TREAD LEFT AND IF HE COULD LIVE WITH A LITTLE BOUNCE THAT THE TIRES WERE FINE. THE TECH INDICATED REPLACING THE TIRES IF THE BOUNCE BECAME MUCH WORSE. EVENTUALLY THE BOUNCE BECAME WORSE AND THE CONSUMER MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO REPLACE THE TIRE. THE DAY BEFORE THE SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT THE RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD STARTED SEPARATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED ALL THE TRIES AND FOUND THAT TWO OTHER TIRES HAD CORDS SHOWING ON THE INSIDE GROOVE. THE CONSUMER HAD ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED THE NEXT DAY (MULTI-MILE GRAND AM LXE TIRES, TIRES MANUFACTURED BY GENERAL TIRE IN 2002 FOR TBC UNDER THE NAME MULTI MILE). *NM
INTERMITTENT PROBLEM: AUTOMATIC DRIVER SEAT DOES NOT RESPOND WHEN DOOR IS CLOSED. DOME LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF AND DOORS WILL NOT LOCK EVEN WHEN MANUALLY LOCKED. DISPLAY SHOWS DOOR OPEN MESSAGE. WHEN THESE FEATURES DO WORK, THERE IS AN APPROX. 5 SECOND DELAY. LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. MUCH MONEY SPENT WITH NO RESULTS. WHAT CAN I DO TO FIX THIS PROBLEM? *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR VIEW MIRROR FAILED TO DIM AUTOMATICALLY. THE MIRROR IS SUPPOSED TO PREVENT GLARE FROM THE OTHER VEHICLES' LIGHTS. THE MIRROR FAILED DUE TO UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES THE FIRST TIME. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THE SECOND MIRROR FAILED BECAUSE THE LIQUID IN THE MIRROR LEAKED OUT. THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS REPLACED AGAIN. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED A THIRD TIME AND THE MIRROR WAS REPLACED. ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED A FOURTH TIME THE MIRROR HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. UPDATED 2/21/2006 - *NM
DT: THE WINDOWS IN THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ROLL DOWN. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE IS AT DEALER NOW, AND THEY CAN'T GET WINDOWS DOWN.. DEALER SAID IT NEEDED A ROTOR CUP. THIS HAPPENS EVERY WEEK WITH THE WINDOWS NOT WORKING PROPERLY.*AK
THE INSIDE LIGHTS OF MY 1997 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL WHICH WAS PURCHASED ON FEB. 28, 1997, STARTED COMING ON WHILE WE WERE DRIVING THE CAR AND WOULDN'T GO OUT. IT ALSO OCCURRED WHEN WE TURNED OFF THE CAR. WE WOULD TURN OFF ONE INSIDE LIGHT AND ANOTHER WOULD COME ON AND WE HAD TO PLAY AROUND WITH IT TO TRY TO GET IT OFF. THIS RESULTED IN OUR BATTERY BEING DRAINED SEVERAL TIMES. WE TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND ON 1-19-05 THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE LIGHT CONTROL MODULE, THE PART ALONE COST US $556.42 AND AN ADDITIONAL $90 TO FIND OUT THAT THE MODULE WAS BAD AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. OUR MECHANIC ADVISED US THAT THERE HAD BEEN SAFETY RECALLS ON THE LIGHT CONTROL MODULES FOR 1995 AND 1996 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL CARS LIKE OUR'S AND THEY EXPECTED THAT A SIMILAR SAFETY RECALL SHOULD BE DONE FOR THE 1997 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL WHICH IS THE ONE WE OWN. THE PROBLEM BEGAN OCCURING THIS PAST SUMMER AROUND JULY 2004 AND HAS CONTINUED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHERE WE HAVE HAD TO JUMP START THE CAR FOR A TEMPORARY FIX. *AK
COMPLAINT AGAINST MOTOR CRAFT REPLACEMENT PARTS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE RECEIVED DEFECTIVE PARTS FROM MOTOR CRAFT. I PRESENTLY HAVE A 97 LINCOLN CONT. AND RECENTLY HAD MY A/C CONDENSER REPLACED ALONG WITH A TUNE-UP. IN THE PROCESS, THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED. IT WAS A GENUINE MOTOR CRAFT PART. AFTER INSTALLATION, THE CAR OVERHEATED BECAUSE THE NEW THERMOSTAT WAS DEFECTIVE. MY MECHANIC REPLACED IT WITH ANOTHER NEW THERMOSTAT AND THE CAR OVER HEATED AGAIN. THE SECOND THERMOSTAT WAS FAULTY. THE MECHANIC WAS NOT UPSET BECAUSE HE STATED FORD/LINCOLN PAYS MECHANICS FOR LABOR WHENEVER A REPLACEMENT PART IS DEFECTIVE. SO, MECHANICS DON'T CARE, ONLY THE CONSUMER SUFFERS. ONE MECHANIC ADMITTED THIS HAPPENS QUITE OFTEN, THE SUPPLY PEOPLE WILL SIMPLY PLACE A DEFECTIVE PART BACK ON THE SHELF. THE RESULT IS DEALERS WANT TO DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM REPAIRING FORDS/LINCOLNS BY MAKING CONSUMERS GO BACK FOR REPEATED SERVICE CALLS (MOTOR CRAFT THERMOSTAT). *NM
COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHICH CAUSED FUMES TO FILL UP THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO HAVE VISIBILITY PROBLEMS. THE WINDSHIELD WAS SEVERELY FOGGED UP. *JB
BRAKE LINES WERE SO CORRODED THAT THEY FAILED, LEAVING ME WITHOUT BRAKES. MY MECHANIC CONTACTED FORD TO GET REPLACEMENT BRAKE LINES AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY ARE NOT MANUFACTURED ANYMORE. MY MECHANIC HAD TO MANUFACTURE HIS OWN BRAKE LINES. CAUSE OF THE LINE FAILURE SEEMS TO BE PROXIMITY TO THE MUFFLER CAUSING HEAT AND WATER TO CORRODE THE LINES. I HAVE THE OLD BRAKE LILNES AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.*AK
REARVIEW MIRROR WAS DARK AND CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SEE. MIRROR HAD AN AUTOMATIC DIMMER PROCESS IN WHICH THE MATERIAL FADED INTO THE MIRROR. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY. CONSUMER DRIVE VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL, AND WARRANTY EXPIRED. CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR PARTS AND LABOR. *AK
THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT AN INTERNAL BREAK OF METAL IN THE TRANSMISSION HAD OCCURRED. *NM *NM
WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM MADE A GROANING NOISE, CAUSING BRAKE PEDAL TO PUMP. ALSO, CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO PASS THE DESIRED STOPPING POINT. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE AND REPLACED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (PART # F702-7000-BRM). *AK *NM
WHILE DRIVING A NOISE CAME FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN. ALSO, VEHICLE HAD TO BE STARTED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE POWER ASSIST PUMP WOULD OPERATE. CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS UNDER TSB 6092661. DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AGAIN BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. *AK *MR
WHEN TURNING THERE'S A GROANING NOISE. LEFT OUTER TIE ROD SEIZED TO A LUBRICATION ISSUE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BOTH OUTER TIE RODS. *AK
1997 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL REAR VIEW MIRROR IS DEFECTIVE.*MR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING ON A SUNNY DAY THE SELF DIMMING REARVIEW MIRROR EXPLODED AND SPATTERED A CORROSIVE LIQUID ONTO THE DASH, CENTER CONSOLE AND BOTH FRONT SEATS. THE DEALER REPLACED ALL DAMAGED COMPONENTS. ABOUT TWO YEARS LATER THE MIRROR FAILED AGAIN (31000 MILES). THIS TIME THE LIQUID IN THE MIRROR GATHERED AT THE BOTTOM WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE. THE MIRROR FAILED FOR A THIRD TIME. THIS TIME THE LIQUID LEAKED FROM THE BOTTOM RIGHT HAND CORNER. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT NO COST BECAUSE HE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE (THE DAUGHTER WROTE IN ON BEHALF OF HER MOTHER). *NLM
A PART IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR RUPTURED, CAUSING A SUBSTANCE TO LEAK . REAR VIEW MIRROR BECAME FOGGY WITH IMMEDIATE FAILURE OF VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO COULD NOT SPECIFY ORIGIN OF PROBLEM. *AK
THE 1997 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL'S REVIEW MIRROR HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES NOW. IT IS JULY, 2003, AND THE $400.00 MIRROR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. IT'S FOGGING UP, LOOKS LIKE CONDENSTATION BEHIND THE GLASS ON THE MIRROR. CANNOT SEE OUT OF THE MIRROR. THIRD TIME. THIS IS UNREASONABLE.*AK
REAR VIEW MIRROR IS PEELING AND BECOMES INOPERABLE, OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VIEW. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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