1991 Lincoln Continental: problems, recalls and reliability
3 recalls and 203 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine and engine cooling (19% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Dec 1998
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 203 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“I had just bought this car from a private owner for my sister to drive to work. Well not even before we got home the main eec iv computer died so the car would not run. Once we figured out it was the main computer and replaced it it ran fine. But we still had two bad front air struts to fix. After all that she finally got to drive it to work and the first day she drove the car she did not even make it home because the transmission just stopped working. So she is out a car and we do not have the money to fix it. Because of all the other cars my poor sister has owned drained us.”Owner report · Suspension · Aug 2003
“Failure: 05-23-03 I was driving on I-475 north in the fartherest left hand lane, when there was a stalling motion. It was so unexpected that it made my 10 year old daughter and myself jump. I managed to slow down in traffic and pull to the right hand emergency lane. When I tried pulling back into traffic to make it to the next exit, the lincoln would not move. Luckily, I had my work cellular telephone and called 911. 911 transferred the call to the sheriff's department, and someone came to try to help. I have only had the vehicle for 3 months. The original owners were in their 70's. Prior to selling the lincoln a motor had been installed. *ak”Owner report · Power Train · May 2003
“Front suspension went out. Had it repaired at an independent dealer, over 2000.00. Next couple of months, rear goes out. This is very unfair too the consumer. I have seen numerous owners with the same problem.*ak”Owner report · Suspension · Jan 2003
Show 7 more owner reports
“While putting the shift lever in park the shift lever broke, as a result the consumer was unable to put the vehicle in any gear. Nlm”Owner report · Power Train · Mar 2002
“While pulling up driveway with foot on brake vehicle suddenly surged forward, hitting another vehicle. Brakes would not hold.*ak”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Mar 2002
“This is the third(3) continental we have owned and air suspension has failed of all three. The 3.8 cui motor in this car and other ford models has benn notorious for leaking head gaskets. *ak”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Apr 2001
“Steering wheel continued turning left, unassisted, instead of returning to tdc when grip pressure on the steering wheel is relaxed. Examination determined corrosion had created a hole in the left rear corner cowel panel in spit of rust undercoating. Additional rust covered an area of the underbody. Advise that the reason the loss of steering control was attributed to the corrosion damaged left rear corner cowell panel causing the engine to lurch to the left when making a 90 degree left turn.”Owner report · Steering · Mar 2001
“In the month of june in 2000,the car dropped to the ground,we put it in the shop to have it fixed which cost about $700,and again in february 2001 the car dropped again,I have not had it repaired,I am looking for a recall,I see many other cars same make model and year with the same problem.I feel there should be a recall.*ak”Owner report · Suspension · Feb 2001
“Survey of ford dealers and local repair shops indicate head gasket and transmission failure very common with 4.8l, v-6 engines in 1991 through 1997 continental, tarus and sable. Ford refuses to assist or accept responsibility for failures exept 1994 recall on engine head gasket.*ak”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Oct 2000
“Just return from shopping pulled up into the driveway, went inside the house, all of a sudden airbag on the passenger side deployed. Contacted dealer, dealer indicated that vehicle was not under warranty. Checked air vac system.*ak”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2000
When filing, owners marked a crash in 5 of these complaints and injuries in 8 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 3 campaigns
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L ENGINES AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, IOWA, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. WATER CAN ACCUMULATE WITHIN THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE CONDUIT. IF ENOUGH WATER ACCUMULATES, IT COULD FREEZE WITHIN A LOW AREA OF THE CABLE ROUTING WHEN EXPOSED TO A LONG TERM COLD SOAK AT TEMPERATURES AT LEAST SEVERAL DEGREES BELOW FREEZING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A BOOT TO THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGNIA, AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR LOWER SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT CAN EXPERIENCE STRESS CORROSION CRACKING IF SUBJECTED TO LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALTS. THIS CAN RESULT IN FRACTURE AND LOSS OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT ATTACHMENT. DETACHMENT OF THE BODY MOUNTS AT THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ALLOWS THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME TO DROP.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.
FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE SEVERE CORROSION IF OPERATED IN AREAS WHERE CALCIUM CHLORIDE AND SODIUM CHLORIDE ARE USED EXTENSIVELY.
Remedy: REPLACE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH FULL CAST FRONT BRAKE ROTORS.
How other years compare
Check your exact Continental by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1991 Lincoln Continental reliable?
NHTSA has 203 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on record for the 1991 Lincoln Continental. The most complained-about area is engine and engine cooling (19% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1991 Lincoln Continental problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 120,226 miles or less.
Does the 1991 Lincoln Continental have open recalls?
3 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning vehicle speed control. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.