2001 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 2001 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
- Suspension824.2%
- Electrical412.1%
- Engine412.1%
- Driver assistance39.1%
- Steering39.1%
- Visibility26.1%
- Transmission26.1%
- Interior & seats26.1%
- Other / unspecified13.0%
- Exterior lighting13.0%
- Airbags13.0%
- Powertrain (other)13.0%
- Seat belts13.0%
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
I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE AT HOME AND WHEN I TURNED MY STEERING WHEEL, THE LEFT FRONT SPRING BROKE AND SHREDDED THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE. I CHECKED THE AREA THAT THE SPRING BROKE, AND IT WAS CLEAN, UNRUSTED METAL, THERE WAS NO SIGN OF AN IMPENDING FAILURE, JUST A SUDDEN BREAK.
WHILE BACKING THE CAR OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AFTER IT HAD BEEN SITTING OVERNIGHT, THERE WAS A LOUD POP AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WENT FLAT. AFTER REMOVING THE WHEEL, I SAW THAT THE LARGE COIL SUSPENSION SPRING HAD BROKEN AND THAT THE SHARP END OF THE BROKEN SPRING HAD SLICED OPEN THE INSIDE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. THE CAR IS SITTING THE DRIVEWAY WAITING FOR PART I ORDERED. I CAN NOT BELIEVE IT COST $690.00 EACH FOR COIL SPRINGS THAT'S' CRAZY . AND THAT THERE IS NO RECALL SINCE I HAVE BEEN READING A LOT OF THIS SAME COMPLAINT. THIS IS A 2001 AND THE MILEAGE IS STILL LOW ONLY 50,000 MILES. *TR
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, SMOKE STARTED EMITTING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND NEAR THE WIPER SWITCH. ALSO, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LOW WASHER FLUID SENSOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AND THAT UNDER THE HOOD THERE WAS A DISCONNECTED PIECE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN REPLENISHED THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID AND FIXED THE DETACHED PIECE. WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. HOWEVER, THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
CONCERNED ABOUT FIRES IDENTIFED AS BEING CAUSED BY THE HOT WIRED CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AS RECENTLY REPORTED ON TWICE ON TELEVISION. I AM AFFRAID TO PUT CARS IN GARAGE. THERE ARE NO INCIDENTS. CAN'T PROCEED WITH THIS COMPLAINT WITHOUT DATES. CARS: 2001 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL AND 2004 SABLE LS
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
VEHICLE SUFFERED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK INTO DRIVE. VEHICLE COLLIDES WITH A WALL CAUSING DAMAGE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FENDER AND HEAD LIGHT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH
ENGINE SEIZED UP WITHOUT WARNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
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
2001 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL / 115,000 MILES WHILE DRIVING ON THE 10 FWY IN JULY 2008, AND WITHOUT ACTIVATING CRUISE CONTROL, OR PRESSING SHARPLY ON THE GAS PEDAL, MY CAR BEGAN TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE AT TOP SPEED. THE ENGINE ROARED WITH A LOUD SOUND AND IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO FULL OPERATING POWER. THE SOUND OF THE ENGINE AT FULL THROTTLE WAS UNMISTAKABLE AND AS I LOOKED AT THE DASH BOARD GAUGES, I SAW MY SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE QUICKLY REACH 90 MPH AND KEPT MOVING HIGHER. REALIZING I WAS IN DANGER, I APPLIED THE BRAKE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT SLOWING MY CAR DOWN IN THE NORMAL FASHION. IT ONLY DEPRESSED ABOUT - OF THE NORMAL RANGE. CONFUSED, I QUICKLY GLANCED DOWN AT MY FEET TO CHECK FOR AN OBJECT OR FLOOR MAT THAT WOULD CAUSE MY GAS PEDAL TO BE STUCK OR LODGED. THERE WERE NO OBJECTS TO BE FOUND. WITH MY CAR CONTINUING AT A SPEED OF AT LEAST 90 MPH, AND MY LEFT FOOT ON THE BRAKE, I THEN FELT THE GAS PEDAL BENEATH MY RIGHT FOOT MOVE AWAY AND DOWN TOWARD THE FLOOR BOARD ON ITS OWN. I LIFTED THE GAS PEDAL WITH MY FOOT IN AN ATTEMPT TO REVERSE THE ACCELERATION, BUT IT DIDN'T WORK. REALIZING I HAD NO CONTROL OF MY CAR, I REPEATEDLY PRESSED MY BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THIS ONLY SLOWED THE CAR FROM 90 MPH TO 70 MPH; IT WAS NOT BRINGING MY CAR TO A COMPLETE STOP. WITH MANY CARS SURROUNDING ME, A CRASH BECAME IMMINENT ? SO I MOVED 2 LANES OVER INTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX 60MPH AT THIS POINT & KEPT BRAKING TO TRY TO REGAIN CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. THE BRAKES WERE NOT STOPPING MY VEHICLE SO I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, WHICH SLOWED THE VEHICLE TO APPROX 40 MPH. STILL MOVING FORWARD, WITH BOTH FEET ON MY BRAKE PEDAL PUSHING AS HARD AS I COULD, I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO ENGAGE THE E-BRAKE AS A LAST OPTION. THIS SLOWED MY CAR TO ABOUT 15 MPH, AFTER WHICH I PUT THE CAR IN PARK. THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. *TR
MY 2001 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL WAS PURCHASED NEW, MARCH OF 2001. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER I PASSED THROUGH A WARNING RADAR DETECTOR ON THE INTERSTATE WITH MY CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 60 MPH. THE RADAR SAID I WAS TRAVELING AT 54 MPH. I TURNED AROUND AND REPEATED THE PASS-THROUGH WITH THE SAME RESULTS. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY WROTE UP THE SPEEDOMETER PROBLEM. AFTER 2 DIFFERENT SERVICE VISITS, AND CHECKING THE SPEED OF LINCOLN TOWN CARS, AND LINCOLN LS (TOWN CARS, AND LS LESS THAN 1 MPH OFF TRUE SPEED ACCORDING TO HANDHELD GPS) , THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED ME THAT ALL CONTINENTALS HAVE DEFECTIVE SPEEDOMETERS AND MY CARS PROBLEM IS NORMAL. I COMPLAINED AT LEAST 4 MORE TIMES AND WAS TOLD ALL CONTINENTALS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I TESTED A 2002 CONTINENTAL AND IT HAD A 2 MPH ERROR. AT MY REQUEST HE QUESTIONED FORD ENGINEERS IN MICHIGAN AND WAS TOLD 10% PLUS OR MINUS IS AN ACCEPTABLE SPEEDOMETER ERROR. I ASKED FOR IT IN WRITING AND FORD RESPONDED THAT IT IS NOT IN WRITING, AND IT WAS AGAINST THE COMPANYS POLICY TO GIVE IT TO ME IN WRITING. I INQUIRED WITH OTHER CAR COMPANIES AND SPEEDOMETER CALIBRATION COMPANIES AND FOUND THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO MORE THAT A 1 MPH PLUS OR MINUS DIFFERENCE. I REQUESTED TO PRESENT MY CASE TO THE FORD DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BOARD. I DID SO APRIL 4TH, 2002. THE BOARD CONCLUDED THAT THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS IN REGARDS TO THE SPEEDOMETER CONCERN. THE BOARD BASED THIS DECISION ON ME TEST DRIVING A LIKE VEHICLE AND THE RESULTS WERE THE SAME. AN MY REQUEST FOR REPAIR OR VEHICLE REFUND WAS DENIED. WELL THEY WERE NOT THE SAME, MY VEHICLE HAS A 6 MPH ERROR. THE CONTINENTAL THAT I TESTED HAD A 2 MPH ERROR. A 200% DIFFERENCE. ACCORDING TO FORDS DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BOARDS REASONING, IF FORD SOLD A MODEL WITH A DEFECTIVE PART IN ALL OF THE UNITS PRODUCED, THE DEFECT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS.*AK
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
I'M A NEW OWNER I ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR TWO YEARS AND THE STEERING WHEEL FEELS FUNNY WHEN I'M DRIVING OR TURNING THE WHEEL AND I HEAR A NOISE WHEN I TURN IT .
I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE AT HOME AND WHEN I TURNED MY STEERING WHEEL, THE LEFT FRONT SPRING BROKE AND SHREDDED THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE. I CHECKED THE AREA THAT THE SPRING BROKE, AND IT WAS CLEAN, UNRUSTED METAL, THERE WAS NO SIGN OF AN IMPENDING FAILURE, JUST A SUDDEN BREAK.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
PROBLEMS SEEING IN THE REAR WHEN BACKING UP VEHICLE. *MR THERE WAS NO VISION WHEN BACKING. (THIS OCCURRED WITH THE USE OF THE MIRRORS) *SCC *JB
WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO REASON. DEALER STATES THE DEFECT IS CALLED A STRESS FRACTURE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTSDOWN WITHOUT WARNING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD A MISS IN TRANSMISSION WHEN CHANGING GEARS TO OVERDRIVE AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MPH. *YH
CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WAS GOING FROM PARK INTO REVERSE, AS IT WENT INTO REVERESE, THE VEHCILE JERKED, WHEELS SQUEALED AND THE VEHCILE WENT BACKWARDS AT A VERY HIGH SPEED, THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE SAFETY FACTOR THAT REQUIRES ONE TO STEP ON THE BRAKE OR THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO REVERSE WAS NOT CONNECTED, IT WAS AN OPEN CIRCUIT.*JB
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
CONSUMER WAS HAVING DASHBOARD LIGHT PROBLEMS. THE ELEMENT THAT LIT THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS UP BROKE. CONSUMER CALLED FORD, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PART HE NEEDED WAS ON BACK ORDER. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE JULY 2003. CONSUMER INSISTED THAT THIS WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE HE COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING, DID NOT KNOW HOW FAST HE WAS TRAVELING, WHEN HE WAS LOW ON FUEL OR WHETHER HE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ANY PART OF THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING BATTERY. *AK
JUST BOUGHT A 2001 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. JUST ONE SMALL POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM. EMERGING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CENTER CONSOLE ARE TWO BLACK ELECTRICAL OR MECHANICAL CABLES, EACH ABOUT ONE-QUARTER OF AN INCH IN DIAMETER., THAT GO UP INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE DASHBOARD. THEY OBSTRUCT THE TOP OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. CONSEQUENTLY, DEPENDING ON THE POSITION OF THE DRIVER'S RIGHT FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THESE CABLES PREVENT MOVING THE RIGHT FOOT FROM MOVING FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO THE BRAKE PEDAL QUICKLY. THIS HAS AHPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES, BUT FORTUNATELY HAS NOT RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE CABLE'S SLACK IS TOO GREAT. IT NEEDS TO BE SHORTENED, OR THE CABLES NEED TO BE HELD UP OUT OF THE WAY WITH A CLIP OR SOME OTHER DEVICE.*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
I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE AT HOME AND WHEN I TURNED MY STEERING WHEEL, THE LEFT FRONT SPRING BROKE AND SHREDDED THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE. I CHECKED THE AREA THAT THE SPRING BROKE, AND IT WAS CLEAN, UNRUSTED METAL, THERE WAS NO SIGN OF AN IMPENDING FAILURE, JUST A SUDDEN BREAK.
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
2001 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL CONDENSATION IN FRONT HEADLAMP SEAL. CUSTOMER BELIEVES THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SEAL. MANUFACTURER STATED IT WAS HER RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE IT. *KB THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING RELIEF FOR REPAIRS AND OR POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT IF NECESSARY AND ATTACHED EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07
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
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED AND SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *TT
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
WHILE STOPPED TRANSMISSION WENT INTO NEUTRAL, THE FLOOR-SHIFTING MODULE DID NOT MOVE. *BF ATTEMPTS TO PLACE THE SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE OR 3RD GEAR FAILED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN THE FRONT PISTON IN WHICH THE PLATE WAS WARPED. THE COMPUTER SHOWED NO PROBLEM, THEREFORE THEY COULD NOT ATTEMPT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *SC
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
WE ARE OWNERS OF A 2001 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. MY TWO YOUNG BOYS AGES 2 AND 4 WERE IN THEIR CAR SEATS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE REAR SEAT, LEAVING THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT UNUSED. MY FOUR YEAR OLD HAD CALLED ME FOR HELP WHILE I WAS DRIVING OVER A BRIDGE. I SAW HE WAS NOOSED AROUND HIS NECK BY THE MIDDLE BELT AND PINNED AGAINST THE REAR OF THE SEAT. THE CAR HAS AN AUTOMATED LOCKING POSITION FOR SAFETY . THIS TURNS OUT TO BE A DANGER. THE BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE LEAVING ME TO HAVE TO RUN FOR HELP ON THE HIGHWAY. I FOUND A MAN WHO COULD HELP CUT THE BELT AND RELEASE MY SON. HE WAS LEFT WITH A FULL COLLAR BELT BURN ON HIS NECK. BE AWARE OF THIS AUTOMATED LOCKING POSITION. IT ALMOST COST MY SON HIS LIFE. *JB
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 .