1999 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 1999 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
- Suspension1227.9%
- Airbags920.9%
- Driver assistance511.6%
- Brakes511.6%
- Engine49.3%
- Exterior lighting24.7%
- Powertrain (other)24.7%
- Steering24.7%
- Fuel system12.3%
- Electrical12.3%
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 1999 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS PARKED. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND PUNCTURED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.
PUT CAR INTO REVERSE, AND TIRE IMMEDIATELY BLEW OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, FRONT LEFT SPRING HAD FRACTURED AND BROKE. SPRING HAD PUNCTURED TIRE SIDEWALL ONCE BEING PUT INTO REVERSE AND BUSTED OFF PLASTIC STABILIZER LINK. HAD THIS HAPPENED WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, IT WOULD HAVE SHREDDED TIRE. *TR
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT: THE CALLER SAI WHILE WIFE DRIVING 55-60 MPH SIDE/CURTAIN AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DEPLOYED. DEALER SAID A ROCK MIGHT HAVE HIT THE SENSOR AND MADE IT DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER SAID THEY COULD OFFER NO HELP FOR FREE. THE CALLER SAID THERE WAS A SAFETY UPDATE 03I44000 IN 2003, NOT A RECALL CONCERNING CRASH SENSOR. *AK
CONSUMER WAS REQUESTING TO HAVE THE AIR BAG TURNED OFF, HOWEVER THE AIR BAG SWITCH WAS NOT INSTALLED. *MJ
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 ON GS PARKWAY THE CAR ACCELERATED FROM 65 MILES PER HR TO 100 MILES PER HR. AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN EVEN WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR WAS SPEEDING OUT OF CONTROL WHILE IN THE MIDDLE LANE. WE THEN TRIED TO GET OVER TO SIDE OF PARKWAY ONTO A GRASSY HILL SO WE WOULD NOT HIT ANY OTHER CARS. THE CAR SLOWED DOWN ENOUGH FOR ME AND MY SON TO JUMP OUT ON DRIVERS SIDE BEFORE THE CAR WENT FULL SPEED AHEAD TOWARD THE PARKWAY BUT HIT A GUARD RAIL AND FLIPPED OVER. BY SOME MIRACLE MY SON AND I WERE NOT HURT. I CALLED FORD TO RECALL CAR AND THEY SENT LETTER WHICH SAID WE REGRET ANY INCONVENIENCE THAT YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED IN THIS MATTER. CONTACT YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY. I ONLY HAD LIABILITY SO INSURANCE COMPANY NOT INVOLVED. THERE COULD HAVE BEEN MANY INJURIES OR EVEN DEATHS INCLUDING ME AND MY SON DUE TO THIS DEFECT. CAR WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. *NM
DT: THE CONTACT WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKES, THE ENGINE REVVED, AND VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD, CRASHING INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. SHE TOOK THE CAR TO A CERTIFIED DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.*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
[XXX] VEHICLE IMPOUNDED IN AUSTIN TEXAS WAS NOT ABLE TO GET BACK. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WHILE DRIVING BRAKE PEDAL GOES COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT TO STOP. *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
AFTER DRIVING FOR 200 MILES THE RIGHT ELECTRIC RADIATOR COOLING FAN CAUGHT ON FIRE AND HAD TO BE PUT OUT. *TR
1999 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL WITH IDLE ENGINE PROBLEMS**CC *JB
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
MY COMPLIANT IS THE HAZARD OF HALOGEN HEADLIGHTS THAT I CONSIDER TO BE A SAFETY FACTOR. I CONSIDER THE EXTREME DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STANDARD HEADLIGHTS AND THE LIGHT INTENSITY OF THE HALOGNE LIGHTS TO BE DISTRACTING IN ON COMING TRAFFIC.
WHILE DRIVING WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON, THEY GIVE OUT LITTLE LIGHTING AND THEY SHINE OUT IN A V SHAPE. THEY GIVE NO PERIPHERAL VISION ON THE SIDE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
AFTER PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT PHARMACY AND WITH FOOT STILL ON BRAKE, CAR LURCHED FORWARD AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED, ONTO SIDEWALK AND INTO THE STONE WALL OF PHARMACY. NO DAMAGE TO PHARMACY. AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND AIRBAG AND SEAT BELT INJURIES. *TR
BEING COLOR BLIND CAUSES PROBLEM, DIFFICULT TO SEE SPEEDOMETER RED NEEDLE WHILE DRIVING DURING DAY TIME. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK CONSUMER REQUESTING THAT RED SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE BE CHANGED TO YELLOW. *TT
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
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING CORROSION CAUSED THE TIE RODS TO CORRODE AND PUNCTURE THE TIRE WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 11/15/10 *CN UPDATED 11/24/10
I SAW FLUID ON THE FLOOR OF MY GARAGE WENT TO MY REPAIR SHOP HE STATED THE RACK AND PINION STEERING UNIT WAS LEAKING NOT FROM ONE OF THE SEALS BUT FROM A CRACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE UNIT . HE SAID THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT . I SAW THE FLUID COMING RIGHT OUT OF THE METAL CASING. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
A LEAK IN THE FUEL RAIL CROSSOVER HOSE CAUSED A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *NM
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
DRIVER SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE AFTER COMING TO A STOP, IT ACCELERATED TO 20 MPH. AFTER ABOUT 100 YARDS, DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE THROUGH BRAKING AND DOWNSHIFTING.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATED CIGARETTE LIGHTER WAS INOPERATIVE.*SLC
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 .