2017 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 2017 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
- Body & structure2024.4%
- Interior & seats1923.2%
- Electrical1417.1%
- Driver assistance1315.9%
- Engine44.9%
- Brakes33.7%
- Steering33.7%
- Airbags22.4%
- Powertrain (other)22.4%
- Suspension11.2%
- Tires & wheels11.2%
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
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
Date of Incident: XXX Location: [XXX] Vehicle Speed: 0 Description: The right front and right rear doors on my 2017 Lincoln Continental (VIN: [XXX]) became completely inoperable from the outside — the exact same safety defect addressed under recall 19S03. The recall repair was previously performed by an authorized Ford/Lincoln dealer, however that repair has since failed, leaving me with the same dangerous condition the recall was issued to correct. A door that cannot be opened from the outside while driving creates a serious safety risk to both the driver and passengers. I was forced to hire a locksmith just to access my vehicle and subsequently paid $1,142 out of pocket for professional diagnosis and parts. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate the adequacy of the recall 19S03 repair, as it has clearly failed to permanently resolve the defect. Ford should be held accountable for ensuring their recall repairs are effective and lasting. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Doors open while driving , happened 4 times in the last month . Back right door and drivers door 2 occasions on both doors . On line it says all Lincoln Continentals from 2017 2018 and 2019 were recalled and there telling me mine is not on the recall . This is a very dangerous situation this is my wives car and she does not like driving it anymore .
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln Continental. The contact was unable to open the rear doors after several attempts. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V077000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln Continental. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side door failed to open as intended. The contact had to exit the vehicle and used the exterior door handle to open the door. The contact stated that a warning light was illuminated, but had disappeared afterwards. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, approximately six months later, the front driver’s side door failed to open as intended. The door was opened using the exterior door handle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact received a renewal registration and was informed that there might be a recall on the VIN. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V077000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). However, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
Date of Incident: XXX Location: [XXX] Vehicle Speed: 0 Description: The right front and right rear doors on my 2017 Lincoln Continental (VIN: [XXX]) became completely inoperable from the outside — the exact same safety defect addressed under recall 19S03. The recall repair was previously performed by an authorized Ford/Lincoln dealer, however that repair has since failed, leaving me with the same dangerous condition the recall was issued to correct. A door that cannot be opened from the outside while driving creates a serious safety risk to both the driver and passengers. I was forced to hire a locksmith just to access my vehicle and subsequently paid $1,142 out of pocket for professional diagnosis and parts. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate the adequacy of the recall 19S03 repair, as it has clearly failed to permanently resolve the defect. Ford should be held accountable for ensuring their recall repairs are effective and lasting. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The rear doors on my 2017 Lincoln Continental do not open from the outside when the exterior handle button is pressed. The doors do open from the inside. This failure is very similar to the symptoms described in Ford’s existing recall for defective door latches on 2017 Continental vehicles, but my VIN is not included in the recall. This is a safety hazard because first responders or bystanders may be unable to open the rear doors from outside during an emergency such as a fire or crash. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether the recall should be expanded to include additional VINs, including mine. The failure was intermittent initially and then the door latches eventually stopped working completely (from the exterior.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
Upon startup 2 error messages appear. Driver Side Door Defaults Adaptive Cruise Control Default
Door warning
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln Continental. The contact stated while at various speeds, the contact noticed that there was an abnormal burning oil odor coming from the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at various speeds on several occasions, the vehicle made an abnormal grinding sound, unexpectedly bounced and stalled. The message "4WD Off" was displayed. The vehicle was towed to different independent mechanics, and the transfer case was replaced twice; however, the failure persisted while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the transfer case needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired; however, the contact expressed safety concerns that the repair might only be temporary. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
My car has had 1 or all 4 of the outside door latches fail for 3-4 times now over its lifetime. Only under warranty for 10 years or 100k miles. Very expensive repair, at $1500 for 1 latch, or $5500 for all 4. This is almost the value of the whole car now. This happens to ALL Lincoln Continentals and is very infamous & common for them & should be a lifetime recall warranty item for safety. Also, both Catalytic convertor show to be failing within 150k-165k miles which is way too soon. And another very expensive fix.
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
Vehicle: 2017 Lincoln Continental Black Label VIN: [XXX] I am reporting a seriously catastrophic brake system safety failure. The brake pedal intermittently travels to the floor with little to no resistance, resulting in a sudden loss of hydraulic braking pressure and significantly increased stopping distance. The braking response is spongy, inconsistent, and unreliable. A “Low Brake Fluid” warning appears despite no visible external leak, suggesting an internal hydraulic failure. I almost hit a vehicle from behind on several occasions before finally stopping to safety due to these issues that occurred. All of this occurred without any warning indication. The master brake cylinder has already been replaced with a true Lincoln/Ford part; however, the issue persists. This indicates a deeper system-level defect rather than normal wear and tear. The vehicle is currently unsafe and dangerous to operate due to the risk of complete or partial brake failure. Lincoln/Ford have already acknowledged that there is definitely an issue with the braking system. The failure symptoms are consistent with internal hydraulic brake system defects and are similar in nature to known issues reported in other Ford/Lincoln vehicles built on related platforms, including 2017–2018 Ford F-150 and Lincoln Navigator models (TSB 21-2241 and Recall [XXX] ), although this VIN is not currently included in a recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln Continental. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 MPH and coming upon a red traffic light, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop, and the brake pedal went to the floorboard. The contact activated the parking brake to stop the vehicle. The contact became aware of brake fluid underneath the vehicle near the wheel and brake hose. The contact took the vehicle to a body shop nearby and a certified mechanic inspected the vehicle and diagnosed that the brake hose had failed. The brake hose and brake line had been replaced. The contact became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V162000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who confirmed that the brake hose had failed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that due to the failure not being caused due to an accident there would be no assistance. The failure mileage was 90,000.
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
2017 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTION. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD A WATER LEAK DAMAGING THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING. *JS
I'M WRITING FROM LITHUANIA, SEVERAL MONTH AGO I BOUGHT LINCOLN CONTINENTAL 2017 AFTER SMALL ACCIDENT. I SHIP IT TO LITHUANIA, REPAIRED IT AND FIND OUT WHY ACCIDENT HAPPENED.. AFTER ALL BODY REPAIR (YES, ONLY BODY WAS DAMAGED), ALL DTC CODES CLEAR I TAKE CAR FOR TEST DRIVE, AND AFTER ~20ML OF DRIVE IN CITY ON ONE OF SHARP TURN MY CONTINENTAL STEERING WHEEL LOCKED BY ITSELF! I ALMOST HIT INCOMING TRAFFIC CAR, THEN I UNDERSTAND WHY ACCIDENT HAPPENS FOR THIS CAR IN USA. I'M ELECTRONIC SPECIALIST, SO I HAVE KNOWLEDGE AND ALL EQUIPMENT FOR SUCH DIAGNOSIS WORK LIKE THIS. SO I START TO CLEAR TROUBLE CODES IN CONTROL UNIT'S, EVERYTHING WAS OK EXCEPT ONE.. "ADAPTIVE STEERING FAULT SERVICE REQUIRED" THIS ERROR POP UP CAME ON EVERY TIME WHEN CAR START'S.. I START TO LOOK WHAT CAUSING IT, AND FOUND THAT I'M GETTING PRESENT ERROR IS SECM MODULE U3000 OR "INTERNAL ELECTRONIC FAILURE". THEN I READ SHADOW MEMORY OF THAT UNIT AND FOUND LIVE DATA WITCH INDICATE THAT STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED TO THE RIGHT SIDE THE SIDE ON THE DAMAGED BODY AND STEERING WHEEL STUCK AND LOCKED IN THAT POSITION..BECAUSE DRIVER LOOSE POSSIBILITY TO STEER. FIRST THEN I START TO SEARCH INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ERROR I WAS SURE THAT ACCIDENT CAUSED IT, BUT I FOUND FORD EDGE THIS MODEL USE SAME ADAPTIVE STEERING SYSTEM LIKE CONTINENTAL FORUM WHERE A LOT OF GUYS WRITING AND ADDING VIDEOS HOW THEY STEERING WHEEL IS MISALIGNED AND THEY DRIVING ON STRAIGHT ROAD AND THAT CAR'S HAS 5K-10KML. I FOUND ONE GUY WHO ALSO SAID THAT UNDER SHARP CORNER HIS STEERING WHEEL LOCK'S.. BUT HE MANAGED TO STOP SAFELY. ANOTHER BIG PROBLEM FOR ME IS THAT IN LITHUANIA WE DONT HAVE LINCOLN DEALERSHIP, ONLY FORD, AND LITHUANIA FORD DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THIS PROBLEM, THEY RECOMMEND ME TO CONTACT WITH FORD USA TO GET HELP FROM THEM, BUT NO LUCK STILL NOW...I'M ADDING DIAGNOSIS SCAN REPORT AND DASH PHOTO OF ERROR.
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
THE SIDE AIR BAGS ON THE FRONT SEATS KEEP SPITTING OPEN. THEY ARE NOT DEPLOYING BUT YOU CAN SEE AIRBAG IS EXPOSED. WORRIED THEY WILL DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY.
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BRACKET BROKE OFF WHEN GETTING INTO CAR. DEALER TOOK CAR AND REPAIRED SEAT. SIDE AIRBAG CASE WAS ALSO SPLIT AND AIRBAG WAS VISIBLE TO THE EYE. THIS WAS IN JUNE 2017. SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED LAST WEEK. DRIVER SIDE SEAT (LEFT SIDE AGAIN) BROKE OFF AS I ENTERED THE VAHICLE. CASE OF AIRBAG DID NOT BREAK OPEN. DEALER PICKED UP AND REPAIRED AGAIN. TOOK CAR OUT TODAY AFTER GETTING IT BACK. NOW SEAT COOLING FAN IS EXTREMELY LOUD IN THE SEAT ITSELF. IT MUST BE HITTING SOMETHING INSIDE AS IT ROTATES TO COOL THE SEATS NO HAVE MADE A RECORDING. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND NOT MOVING WHEN THENINCIDENTS HAPPENED. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALER AGAIN THIS EVENING AND LEFT MESSAGE TO RETURN MY CALL.
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
The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln Continental. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V077000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). The contact had the trunk latch repaired under the recall. The contact stated that two years later the trunk latch failed. The trunk could be closed; however, the trunk failed to latch securely, and a rope was used to keep it securely closed. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while driving 40 MPH, the wrench warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the motor mount had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but denied assistance in covering the cost of the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR ERRONEOUSLY OPENED. AFTER STOPPING AND CLOSING THE DOOR, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND JERKED WHILE CHANGING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GANLEY LINCOLN IN MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, OHIO WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE MATERIAL FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT RIPPED AND EXPOSED METAL PARTS THAT MADE CONTACT WITH THE DRIVER WHILE SEATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,700.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln Continental. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the driver's side rear tire experienced a blowout. The blowout was on the middle of the tire. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was informed that the tire failure was due to a rear axle and wheel misalignment failure. The dealer repaired the vehicle and replaced the tire; however, the failure recurred several times. The vehicle was then taken to another dealer who diagnosed a failure with the subframe bolts. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 10,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln Continental. The contact stated while at various speeds, the contact noticed that there was an abnormal burning oil odor coming from the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at various speeds on several occasions, the vehicle made an abnormal grinding sound, unexpectedly bounced and stalled. The message "4WD Off" was displayed. The vehicle was towed to different independent mechanics, and the transfer case was replaced twice; however, the failure persisted while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the transfer case needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired; however, the contact expressed safety concerns that the repair might only be temporary. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
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 .