1998 Lincoln Continental Owner Complaints

I AM ONE PERSON AMONG MANY THAT HAVE BEEN HAVING MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE FORD FRONT WHEEL DRIVE TRANSMISSION. BOUGHT MY 98 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL WITH 97000 MILES ON IT, AT 109000 MILES HAD TO PAY 2400 TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION PULLED AND REBUILT. I'M 65 YEARS OLD AND HAVE NEVER EVEN HIT THE PASSING GEAR. AT 155000 MILES IT HAD TO GET PULLED AGAIN. 1500 DOLLARS AT THST TIME. NOW WITH 175000 MILES ON IT THE CHECK TRANSMISSION SIGNAL IS ON AGAIN. I DID NOT UNTIL NOW DO ANY CODE CHECKS OR INTERNET SEARCH, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT FORD KNOWS THEY BUILT A BAD UNIT. LOOKING TO FIND OUT IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY SILENT RECALLS OR IF YOUR DEPARTMENT HAS ANY INFORMATION THAT COULD HELP ME. MY CAR IS IN MINT CONDITION AND RUNS GREAT EXCEPT FOR THE TRANSMISSION. I REMEMBER READING THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS INVESTIGATED OR GOING TO BE LOOKED AT. CURRENTLY I GET A P1744 CODE OFF THE COMPUTER. I HOPE THERE IS A SILENT RECALL OR SOME INFO YOU MAY HAVE THAT COULD HELP ME.

NHTSA ID

10578665

Incident

Apr 9, 2014

Mileage

109,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REARVIEW MIRROR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MIRROR HAD A DAY NIGHT AUTOMATIC TINTING FEATURE. THE SEALS ON THE MIRROR FAILED AND THE FLUIDS LEAKED AND COVERED THE MIRROR. THE MIRROR COULD NOT LONGER BE USED AND WAS NOT FUNCTIONAL. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE MIRROR HIMSELF AND THE ORIGINAL MIRROR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE FAILURE AND WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE HOWEVER NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED TO THE CONTACT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10465063

Incident

Jan 1, 2008

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 186,000.

NHTSA ID

10410532

Incident

Jul 5, 2011

Mileage

180,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR VIEW AND DRIVER SIDE MIRRORS WERE TINTED WITH AN ANTI-REFLECTION CHEMICAL WHICH MELTED THE PLASTIC INSIDE CAUSING THE MIRRORS TO LOOK FOGGY OR DARKER THAN THEY WERE. HE BELIEVED IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE HIS VISIBILITY WAS MINIMAL AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,000.

NHTSA ID

10382742

Incident

Mar 1, 2010

Mileage

122,000 mi

THE RIGHT AND LEFT SEATS BELTS IN THE REAR OF CAR WILL NO LONGER RETRACT. I GOT THEM UNSTUCK A COUPLE TIMES BUT IT HAPPENS AGAIN AND AGAIN. I AM AFRAID BECAUSE MY KIDS SIT BACK THERE.

NHTSA ID

10377302

Incident

Nov 30, 2010

Mileage

101,969 mi

1998 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING DEFECTIVE REAR SEAT BELTS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT AND LEFT REAR SEAT BELTS NO LONGER RETRACT. ALSO, WATER ENTERED THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS AND CAUSED THE LENS TO FOGGED UP. *JB

NHTSA ID

10374423

Incident

Jan 3, 2011

AS I WAS BACKING THE CAR UP THE TIE ROD/STEERING ASSEMBLY DISENGAGED (UNSCREWED) FROM THE RACK&PINYON (PASSENGER SIDE) CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. THE TIE ROD I STRESS AGAIN UNSCREWED FROM THE RACK. I WAS FORTUNATE THIS TOOK PLACE AT A SLOW SPEED. I FEEL THAT IF THIS OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS OR FATAL CRASH. MY MECHANIC REPLACED THE TIE RODS ON BOTH SIDES WITH NEW ONES AND I HAVE THE OLD PART ON HAND. LOOKS LIKE THE SAFETY PIN THAT HOLDS THE TIE ROD TO THE RACK WORE AND ALLOWED THE TIE ROD TO UNSCREW ITS SELF FROM THE RACK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10372119

Incident

Nov 16, 2010

Mileage

129,000 mi

SPONTANEOUS FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE LAST DRIVEN ABOUT 12 HOURS BEFORE, AND HAD BEEN OFF SINCE THAT TIME. DURING A DOWNPOUR, AND WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE IGNITED SHORTLY AFTER 6AM - 02/06/10. EVENTS AND REMAINING EVIDENCE CLOSELY MATCH THOSE DESCRIBED IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH FIRES FOR OTHER FORD MODELS (INCLUDING SAME MODEL-YEAR TOWN CARS). *TR

NHTSA ID

10317112

Incident

Feb 6, 2010

Mileage

101,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING AROUND 50 MPH WHEN THE SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT OF THE HEAD OF THE MOTOR. IT CAUSED THE PISTON TO SMOKE AND IT HAD A RATTLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10290155

Incident

Jan 5, 2009

I KEEP GETTING THIS MESSAGE. FROM: [email protected] DATE: 3/18/2009 4:02:15 PM TO: SUBJECT: UNKNOWN FOOTPRINTS INCOMING MAIL ERROR FOOTPRINTS ENCOUNTERED AN ERROR PROCESSING AN INCOMING MAIL MESSAGE. THE ERROR CODE IS BELOW. IF THE ERROR IS UNCLEAR OR IF YOU NEED HELP, PLEASE CONTACT SUPPORT. FOOTPRINTS ERROR: 201 [MICROSOFT][ODBC SQL SERVER DRIVER][TCP/IP SOCKETS]SQL SERVER DOES NOT EXIST OR ACCESS DENIED. (SQL-08001) [MICROSOFT][ODBC SQL SERVER DRIVER][TCP/IP SOCKETS]CONNECTIONOPEN (CONNECT()). (SQL-01000)(DBD: DB_LOGIN/SQLCONNECT ERR=-1) CONNECTION STRING: DBI:ODBC:FOOTPRINTS\ THIS IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO SEND TO:[email protected] FROM: SUBJECT:AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHT MODUALE COMMENTS: I GOT A NOTICE OF AN ERROR ON SENDING YOU MY MESSAGE. HOPE YOU DO NOT GET TWO. MY 98 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL HAS NO TURNSIGNAL LIGHTS,NO EMERGENCY LIGHTS ETC. IT CAN NOT BE DRIVEN SAFELY. WE HAVE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD WE NEED AN AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHT MODULE. HOWEVER IT HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THERE IS NONE AVAILABLE IN THE UNITED STATES. I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY(CASE ID#1556870779) AND WAS TOLD TO CONTACT YOU. WAS THERE NO RECALL ON THIS PART? I AM CERTAIN THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. I WAS TOLD TO GET A PART FROM A JUNK YARD ALTHOUGH THAT TOO WOULD BE EXPENSIVE SINCE THEY TOO KNOW THIS PART IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE.. BEING FEMALE I DO NOT THINK THAT IS POSSIBLE. I ALSO THINK THAT A COMPANY LIKE FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSILBE FOR PROVIDING PARTS FOR THEIR CARS. MANY CARS ARE ON THE ROAD A LOT LONGER THAN TEN YEARS. I COULD GO ON BUT FOR NOW --WHAT AM I TO DO?? FROM NHTSA WEB SITE. 98 LINCOLN HAS NO TURNSIGNAL NO EMERGENCY LIGHTS ETC.IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT NEEDED AN AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHT MODULE BUT NO PART EXISTS IN THE US. WHAT NOW??? *TR

NHTSA ID

10262379

Incident

Feb 16, 2009

VEHICLE ACCELERATES BY ITSELF. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP APPROX. EVERY YEAR FOR THIS SINCE 2005 AND AS RECENT AS JUNE OF 08. THE DEALERSHIP USUALLY REPLACES THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE BUT THIS PROBLEM WILL AGAIN SERVICE AFTER ABOUT ONE YEAR. I HAVE PAID FOR A COMPLETE FUEL INDUCTION CLEANING (10-05-07). THE ONLY THING THAT WORKS IS REPLACING THE IDLE CONTROL VALVE BUT LIKE I SAID THE PROBLEM RESURFACES. THE CAR WILL IDLE AT 500 RPM FOR NORMAL BUT IDLE AT 1000 RPM IN DRIVE WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS, IF I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL IT WILL TAKE OFF AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND I HAVE TO TURN IT OFF IN ORDER FOR IT TO RESET ITSELF. DURING NORMAL OPERATION THE CAR WILL WANT TO TAKE OFF BY ITSELF AT A STOPLIGHT AND JERK WHEN I RELEASE THE BRAKE. I PARTICULARLY NOTICE THIS TO OCCUR WHEN I COME OFF THE FREEWAY BUT IT ALSO OCCURS DURING NORMAL OPERATION. I TOOK MY CAR IN JUNE OF THIS MONTH FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY COULD NOT GET IT TO ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN. IT IS NOW OCT. 2008 AND THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE MEANING THIS HAPPENS NOW ABOUT 4 TO 6 TIMES A DAY. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF MY SITUATION AND THEY HAVE THE HISTORY ON MY CAR BUT I'M THE ONE STUCK WITH THE BILL OF GETTING IT FIXED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS THE LAST COUPLE OF TIMES WORKED OUT A DISCOUNT BECAUSE THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM BUT I STILL HAVE TO PAY BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAS USUALLY RUN OUT. THEY DO SHOW ME TAKING IT IN BEFORE THE WARRANTY RUNS OUT BUT THEY CAN NEVER SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM UNTIL IT IS SO BAD TO THE POINT OF DANGEROUS AND THE CAR IS DOING IT ALL THE TIME, USUALLY AFTER THE WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10244162

Incident

Oct 1, 2008

Mileage

145,304 mi

SECURITY FLASHES RAPIDLY WHICH PREVENTS THE IGNITION FROM STARTING. IT ROLLS OK BUT WILL NOT CRANK UP TO RUN. THIS PROBLEM STARTED ALMOST A YEAR AGO, BUT AFTER A LITTLE WAIT IT WOULD FINALLY CRANK. IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS WE HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR ABOUT 4 TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. ON MAR , 2008 WE WERE LEFT STRANDED IN BILOXI, MS REQUIRING A TOW TO THE EASTERBROOK DEALERSHIP FROM WHERE THE AUTOMOBILE WAS PURCHASED IN 2004. AT TIMES THE SECURITY LIGHT WOULD FLASH NORMALLY, AND ON THOSE TIMES WE COULD DRIVE ANYWHERE WE LIKED WITHOUT WORRY. FROM OUR PROGRESSIVE DRIVE INSURANCE WEBPAGE I RAN ACROSS A NHTA ITEM # 619266 COVERING THIS COMPLAINT IN 1998 LINCOLN CONTINENTALS WHICH WAS A TECHNICAL BULLETIN. WE HAD NEVER EVEN HEARD OF OR RECEIVED A NOTICE OF THIS. I FEEL THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE $369.00 REPAIR OF THIS VEHICLE NOT EVEN SPEAKING OF THE PAIN AND WORRY IT HAS CAUSED AND MISSED DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS AND SUCH. OUR FIRST INCIDENT WAS IN 2006 WHEN, AT OUR EXPENSE, WE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, WHEN IT FAILED ON INTERSTATE 63, LEAVING US STRANDED, HAVING TO BE TOWED, AND WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR OVER A WEEK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10220944

Incident

Mar 8, 2008

MICHELIN IS AWARE THAT OLD, UNSAFE MICHELIN TIRES OUTSIDE MANUFACTURER'S SAFETY GUIDELINES ARE BEING PLACED ON VEHICLES BY THEIR AUTHORIZED TIRE DEALERSHIPS YET CLAIMS THAT THEY ARE NOT "LEGALLY CULPABLE" AND CAN DO NOTHING ABOUT THIS PRACTICE OR THE RESULTANT DEATHS AND INJURIES SUSTAINED BY END USERS. MY SITUATION IS AS FOLLOWS: WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH MY RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT ALMOST SLAMMING ME INTO ANOTHER CAR AND GUARD RAIL. SUBSEQUENTLY I LEARNED THAT THE "NEW" MICHELIN SYMMETRY TIRES I HAD PURCHASED AT AN AUTHORIZED MICHELIN DEALERSHIP 2-1/2 YEARS AGO WERE FIVE YEARS OLD WHEN THEY WERE PLACED ON MY CAR ACCORDING TO THE D.O.T. DATE ON THEM. MOREOVER THE OLD MICHELIN SYMMETRY TIRES THAT WERE PLACED ON MY VEHICLE WERE NOT "H" OR "V" RATED FOR SAFETY AS FORD/LINCOLN MANUFACTURER SPECIFIES. I CALLED MICHELIN AND TALKED WITH MULTIPLE INDIVIDUALS INCLUDING THEIR U.S. MANAGER OF CONSUMER RELATIONS. SHE ADMITTED THAT MICHELIN IS AWARE THAT UNSCRUPULOUS MICHELIN DEALERSHIPS SELL OLD, OUTDATED TIRES AND TIRES NOT PROPERLY SAFETY RATED FOR VEHICLES BUT CLAIMS THAT THERE IS "ABSOLUTELY NOTHING" THAT MICHELIN CAN DO ABOUT THIS PRACTICE. APPARENTLY MICHELIN BELIEVES THERE IS AN "ACCEPTABLE" NUMBER OF CONSUMER DEATHS AND INJURIES THAT WILL OCCUR YEARLY FROM FAULTY, DEFECTIVE MICHELIN TIRES. MICHELIN DISCLAIMS ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR SAFETY BREACHES AT THEIR DEALERSHIPS, PREFERRING TO MEET SALES GOALS AND NET PROFIT MARGINS, LOOKING THE OTHER WAY AND WINKING AT FRAUD AND DANGEROUS PRACTICES BY THEIR DEALERSHIPS, AND HIDING BEHIND "LEGALITIES" TO SHIELD THEM FROM ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY. I BELIEVE THAT THE RICO STATUTE CLEARLY APPLIES TO THEM AND SHOULD VIGOROUSLY BE PURSUED. MICHELIN KNOWS THAT UNSAFE PRACTICES ARE CONSTANTLY OCCURRING, BUT CHOOSES TO DO NOTHING TO STOP THE INJURIES OR THE DEATHS OR TO SANCTION OR POLICE THEIR DEALERSHIPS. HOW MANY MORE DEATHS AND INJURIES WILL OCCUR IF NOTHING IS DONE?????*JB

NHTSA ID

10149133

Incident

Jan 26, 2006

Mileage

10,800 mi

DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT 1998 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL HAD ONE HEADLIGHT THAT BECAME UNALIGNED AND WAS SHINING THE BEAM STRAIGHTENED UP IN THE AIR. THIS WAS THE DRIVER'S SIDE LEFT HEADLIGHT. WAS HAVING WATER LEAKAGE AND AROUND THE LIGHT WAS TURNING BLACK. THE WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD WAS SAYING CHECK BRAKE LAMP, BUT THE BRAKE LAMPS WERE BOTH WORKING. THE OWNER THOUGHT THAT THE HEADLIGHT SHORTED OUT, CAUSING THAT INSIDE LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD TO COME ON. THIS STARTED IN THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. THE OWNER HAS NOT HAD THE CAR CHECKED YET, BUT WAS GOING TO TAKE IT TO DEALER. THE OWNER COULD NOT AFFORD TO PAY $400.00 FOR A HEADLIGHT. THE OWNER HAS NOT CONTACTED FORD. *AK

NHTSA ID

10130312

Incident

Mar 8, 2005

THE DRIVER SIDE POWER SEAT WILL NOT RETRACT BACK. THE SEAT HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT AND SEAT BACK WORK FINE. THE MOTOR CLICKS TO ENGAGE, BUT THE SEAT WILL NOT MOVE BACK.*AK

NHTSA ID

10118741

Incident

Mar 3, 2005

#1-WHILE LEAVING WORK THE LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED IN HALF PUNTURING (TEARING) THE TIRE CAUSING IMMEDIATE DEFLATION OF LEFT FRONT TIRE AFFECTING STEERING CONTROL AND BRAKING.(I HAD NO ADVANCE NOTICE -NOISE OR BOUNCE-BEFORE FAILURE). #2-FAILURE OCCURED IN A PARKING LOT AT LOW SPEED - THANKFULLY. #3-THE LEFT FRONT STRUT/SPRING ASSEMBLY #1F3Z*5W311*AA WAS REPLACED AS WELL AS THE RIGHT STRUT/SPRING #1F3Z*5W310*AA ASSEMBLY DUE TO INSPECTION REVIELED A CRACK IN THE RIGHT FRONT SPRING.THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS REPLACED. THIS COULD EASILY HAVE CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE OR A FATALITY AT DRIVING SPEEDS. I HAVE OLD PARTS FOR INSPECTION - THEY REMIND ME HOW LUCKY I WAS IN A PARKING LOT AT TIME OF FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10114809

Incident

Mar 23, 2005

Mileage

59,000 mi

THE 1998 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN, THE SLANTED WINDSHIELD ABOVE A GREY DASHBOARD, CAUSING A REFLECTION IN THE BRIGHT SUNLIGHT THAT MAKES SOME OBJECTS INVISIBLE TO THE DRIVER. TOO MANY CAR DESIGNS HAVE THIS FAULT AND SHOULD BE OUTLAWED FOR SAFETY REASONS. ALSO THE CONTINENTAL INSTRUMENT PANEL CANNOT BE READ IN CERTAIN ANGLES OF SUN ON THE PANEL. YOU CANNOT SEED THE NEEDLE ON THE SPEEDOMETER AND I WONDER HOW MANY SPEEDING TICKETS RESULT FROM THIS DEFECT. I HAVE ADDED A BLACK COVER TO MY DASHBOARD AT MY COST TO TRY TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. IF AUTOS ARE MADE LIKE THIS THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD STAND THE COST OF BLACK OUT MATERIAL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10112795

Incident

Jul 11, 2003

TWO OF THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION COILS FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HESITATE AND STALL WHILE BEING DRIVEN. *NM *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10109750

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

WHILE PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE, WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER THE VEHICLE TO STOP IT FROM HITTING A CHILD, THE CONSUMER GRABBED THE STEERING WHEEL, THE VEHICLE PICKED UP SPEED AND ROLLED OVER HER RIGHT LEG. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE A INSURANCE SPECIALIST INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10096889

Incident

Sep 23, 2004

Mileage

100,000 mi

THE MIDDLE AND REAR SEAT BELT ARE NOT RETRACTING. THE DEALER WILL NOT FIX THIS SINCE IT ISN'T UNDER WARRANTLY. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE RETRACTORS ARE DEFECTED. SINCE SEAT BELTS ARE A SAFETY ISSUE, IT SHOULD BE FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH A SEAT BELT. THE DEALER WILL CHARGE $650 TO FIX THIS AND WHO KNOWS WHEN THIS HAPPEN AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

10057084

Incident

Feb 5, 2004

Mileage

90,000 mi

I HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT ACT UP ONLY WHEN THEY WANTED TO AND THE DEALERSHIP IS DECLINING THAT THEY EXIST. I HAVE HAD MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE FOR 3 WEEKS IN THE LAST MONTH AND THEY KEEP COMING UP WITH NOTHING. THEY ALSO CALLED ME IN AND WANTED TO KEEP MY CAR AND HAVE THE SERVICE MANAGER DRIVE IT FOR A FEW DAYS -IN WHICH HE ONLY DROVE 37 MILES, PRIOR TO THAT HE AND I DROVE THE CAR TO SEE IF ANYTHING STRANGE WOULD HAPPEN AND IT DID, WHICH NOW THEY SAY NOTHING IS WRONG AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETECT CUSTOMER'S CONCERNS. I HAD A MAJOR DISPUTE WITH THEM AND HAD TO CALL THE POLICE. DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS-----770757. *AK *NLM

NHTSA ID

10006531

Incident

Sep 1, 2001

Mileage

250,000 mi

THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE RETRACTOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. IT WAS LATER NOTICED THAT THE REAR LEFT SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE RETRACTOR WAS DEFECTIVE BUT WOULD ONLY REPLACE THE RETRACTOR AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. *AK THE REAR SEATS WEREN'T HARDLY OCCUPIED. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10044561

Incident

May 1, 2003

SERVICE AND REPAIR OF 1998 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS UPSET THAT THE DEALER WAS STILL SERVICING THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS GOING ON THE SIXTH WEEK.*TS *JB

NHTSA ID

10040609

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON A 1998 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED, WHICH RESULTED IN THE CAR STALLING OUT. THIS MADE STEERING AND BRAKING VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO POWER GOING TO THESE UNITS ON THE CAR. I WAS LUCKY AND THE TRAFFIC WAS VERY LIGHT AT THE TIME. THE SECOND FAILURE HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN A DRIVEWAY.*AK

NHTSA ID

10029180

Incident

Jul 18, 2003

Mileage

96,500 mi

THE AUTOMATIC DIMMING INSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR APEARS FROSTED OVER HALF OF THE GLASS DISTORTING THE VIEW TO THE REAR. THIS MIRROR WAS REPLACED LESS THAN ONE YEAR AGO FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM. RESEARCH ON THE INTERRNET INDICATES THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH LINCOLN CONTINENTALS OF MULTIPLE YEARS IN THE LATE 1990'S. THERE ARE NUMERIOUS INCIDENTS OF THIS DEFECT IN THE NHTSA COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE. FORD MOTOR CO APARENTLY HAS NO SOLUTION TO THIS DEFECT AS CURRENT REPLACEMENT MIRRORS FAIL AGIN IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR. I BELEIVE THIS DEFECT SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL AS THE DEFECTIVE MIRROR GREATELY DISTORTS REAR VISION.

NHTSA ID

10028844

Incident

Jul 22, 2003

Mileage

58,000 mi