NHTSA recalls & complaints · 1995–2020

Lincoln Continental recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 13 recall campaigns and 590 owner complaints for the Lincoln Continental, covering model years 1995 to 2020. The 1997 model year drew the most complaints (96), and Suspension is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Lincoln Continental VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

13 recall campaigns on file
590 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
12 model years with data (1995–2020)

most complaints: 1997 (96 for that model year)
top component: Suspension (75 complaints)
latest recall 25V442000 (reported Jun 27, 2025)

42 complaints reporting a crash (7.1%)
15 complaints reporting a fire (2.5%)
25 complaints reporting an injury (4.2%)
1 complaint reporting a death (0.2%)

Lincoln Continental complaints by model year

12 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 1997 model year has the most complaints: 96 of 590, or 16.3%. Next come 2017 (75) and 1998 (72). The fewest are for 2020, with 7 complaints.

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years

Lincoln Continental complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death

Lincoln Continental complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model year	Complaints	Reporting a crash	Reporting a fire	Reporting an injury	Reporting a death
1995	70	5	5	4	0
1996	48	3	0	1	1
1997	96	5	3	2	0
1998	72	8	2	4	0
1999	42	6	2	2	0
2000	63	6	3	7	0
2001	32	1	0	2	0
2002	33	4	0	1	0
2017	75	1	0	1	0
2018	20	1	0	0	0
2019	32	2	0	0	0
2020	7	0	0	1	0
All model years	590	42	15	25	1

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Lincoln Continental components

top 15 · NHTSA categories

Suspension is the component named most often, in 75 complaints (12.7% of all 590), followed by Electrical System (64) and Engine and Engine Cooling (53).

Components named most often in Lincoln Continental complaints (top 15)

Components named most often in Lincoln Continental complaints (top 15)
Component	Complaints	Share of complaints
Suspension	75	12.7%
Electrical System	64	10.8%
Engine and Engine Cooling	53	9.0%
Visibility	53	9.0%
Power Train	49	8.3%
Structure	48	8.1%
Unknown or Other	45	7.6%
Steering	41	6.9%
Vehicle Speed Control	41	6.9%
Air Bags	40	6.8%
Latches/Locks/Linkages	33	5.6%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	33	5.6%
Tires	24	4.1%
Exterior Lighting	23	3.9%
Back Over Prevention	22	3.7%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Lincoln Continental recalls

13 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name Continental, newest first. The 13 campaigns cover model years 1995 to 2020. The 2017 model year appears in the most campaigns (4).

13 recall campaigns

Lincoln Continental recall campaigns covering each model year
Decade	Years ending in 0	Years ending in 1	Years ending in 2	Years ending in 3	Years ending in 4	Years ending in 5	Years ending in 6	Years ending in 7	Years ending in 8	Years ending in 9
1990s						1995: 1 campaign	1996: 2 campaigns	1997: 1 campaign	1998: 1 campaign	1999: 2 campaigns
2000s	2000: 3 campaigns	2001: 1 campaign	2002: no campaigns	2003: no campaigns	2004: no campaigns	2005: no campaigns	2006: no campaigns	2007: no campaigns	2008: no campaigns	2009: no campaigns
2010s	2010: no campaigns	2011: no campaigns	2012: no campaigns	2013: no campaigns	2014: no campaigns	2015: no campaigns	2016: no campaigns	2017: 4 campaigns	2018: 2 campaigns	2019: 3 campaigns
2020s	2020: 2 campaigns

Highlighted: the model year with the most campaigns.

NHTSA campaign 25V442000
Reported Jun 27, 2025
Back Over Prevention › Software
Model years 2019–2020
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
Consequence:
A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy:
Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.
Filed by Ford Motor Company
NHTSA campaign 22V644000
Reported Aug 26, 2022
Back Over Prevention › Sensing System › Camera
Model years 2017–2020
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2020 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and 2017-2020 Lincoln Continental vehicles equipped with the 360-degree camera system. Degradation of the camera's anit-reflective lens coating can lead to a foggy or cloudy rearview camera image.
Consequence:
Lack of a clear rearview camera image can reduce the driver's visibility of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy:
Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 14, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S51.
Filed by Ford Motor Company
NHTSA campaign 19V077000
Reported Feb 11, 2019
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Model years 2017–2019
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Lincoln Continental vehicles. The door latch pawl motors may not function properly, possibly resulting in a door latch not fully engaging.
Consequence:
A door latch that is not fully engaged may result in a door opening while driving, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy:
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the latch assemblies on all four doors, free of charge. The recall began October 14, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S03.
Filed by Ford Motor Company
NHTSA campaign 17V123000
Reported Feb 27, 2017
Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module
Model year 2017
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles and 2017 Lincoln Continental vehicles. In the event of a crash, the driver's frontal air bag may not fully inflate or the air bag cushion may detach from the air bag module. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence:
During deployment, if the air bag does not fully inflate or the cushion detaches, there is an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy:
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began June 16, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C02.
Filed by Ford Motor Company
NHTSA campaign 16V731000
Reported Oct 12, 2016
Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Model year 2017
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2017 Lincoln Continental vehicles manufactured June 14, 2016, to September 23, 2016 and equipped with high intensity discharge (HID) headlights. The headlights may have been built with incorrect lenses, adversely affecting the turn signal visibility as well as not being properly marked. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Assoc. Equipment."
Consequence:
Reduced turn signal visibility to other drivers and pedestrians can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy:
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the headlights, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 16, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C15.
Filed by Ford Motor Company
NHTSA campaign 03V144000
Reported Apr 9, 2003
Air Bags › Frontal
Model years 1999–2000
On certain passenger vehicles, the driver and/or passenger side air bag could deploy as a result of underbody impacts near the sensors, such as those occurring from pieces of gravel or debris thrown from the wheels while the vehicle is being operated at moderate to high speed or being accelerated.
Remedy:
Dealers will recalibrate the air bag sensors. Owner notification began March 31, 2003. Owners may contact Lincoln at 1-800-521-4140.
Filed by Ford Motor Company
NHTSA campaign 01V258000
Reported Aug 8, 2001
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Model years 2000–2001
Vehicle description: passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, and light and medium duty pickup trucks. A switch located in the plastic cover of the wiper motor gear case could malfunction and overheat, potentially resulting in loss of intermittent wiper function, loss of wiper park function, complete loss of wiper function, or ignition of the plastic cover material. Switch malfunction is most likely to occur when the intermittent setting of the wipers is being used, or when snow or ice obstructs the blades from returning to the "parked" position at the bottom of the windshield. These vehicles were built at the following assembly plants: atlanta plant from 2/11/00 through 7/31/00; chicago plant from 2/14/00 through 8/4/00; Kansas city plant from 2/26/00 to 9/4/00; Kentucky truck plant from 2/18/00 to 8/31/00; Michigan truck plant from 2/23/00 through 8/3/00; norfolk plant from 2/21/00 through 7/27/00; wayne stamping and assembly plant from 2/25/00 through 8/15/00; and wixom plant from 2/15/00 through 8/8/00.
Consequence:
Loss of visibility while driving increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy:
Dealers will inspect the date code on the wiper motor. Motors built with the suspect time frame will have the wiper motor gear case cover replaced. Owner notification began August 20, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.
Filed by Ford Motor Company
NHTSA campaign 99V250000
Reported Sep 20, 1999
Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage
Model year 2000
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The seat belt retractor may have a pin shaft in the switchable elr/alr mechanism that is incorrectly formed. In some circumstances, the switching mechanism could become nonfunctional, preventing the seat belt webbing from being extracted from the retractor. It is also possible that malfunction of the mechanism could prevent the belt from being switched into the alr mode. The elr mechanism is not affected by this condition.
Consequence:
If the mechanism malfunctions and does not allow the webbing to be extracted, the lap and shoulder belt could not be worn by a vehicle occupant. In the event that the mechanism does not allow the alr mode to be engaged, the operator may be unable to properly install a child seat in that seating position.
Remedy:
Dealers will inspect the lap and shoulder belt assemblies. Assemblies with julian date codes of 200 through 223 are suspect and will be replaced.
Filed by Ford Motor Company
NHTSA campaign 98V269000
Reported Oct 27, 1998
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Model year 1999
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The fuel rail crossover hose was damaged during fuel rail assembly allowing fuel leakage.
Consequence:
Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in fire.
Remedy:
Dealers will replace the fuel rail with a revised fuel rail assembly.
Filed by Ford Motor Company
NHTSA campaign 98V028000
Reported Feb 10, 1998
Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Model year 1998
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The text and/or graphics for the vehicle headlamp aiming instructions provided in the owner guides are not sufficiently clear. This does not meet the requirements of FMVSS No. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Consequence:
If the headlamp assemblies are replaced, customers may be confused by the aiming instructions provided in the owner guides causing the headlamps to be improperly aimed.
Remedy:
Owner guides containing revised aiming instructions will be mailed to owners of these vehicles.
Filed by Ford Motor Company

Show 3 more recalls

NHTSA campaign 96V176000
Reported Sep 18, 1996
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Model year 1996
The automatic transmission park pawl shaft may not be free to rotate as intended. If the park pawl shaft does not rotate, it would prevent the park pawl from engaging the park gear when the shift lever is in the park position.
Consequence:
This condition could result in the vehicle rolling as if in neutral with the shift lever in the park position.
Remedy:
Dealers will inspect the park pawl shaft rotation and those shafts with restricted rotation will be replaced with a shorter shaft that will not restrict rotation.
Filed by Ford Motor Company
NHTSA campaign 96V166000
Reported Sep 5, 1996
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Gear Position Indication (PRNDL)
Model year 1997
The park pawl abutment bracket has a sharp edge which can cause the parking pawl to hang up and not engage the park gear. This would allow the vehicle to move even though the gear shift indicator shows that the vehicle is in park.
Consequence:
Unintended and unexpected vehicle movement can result in personal injury and property damage.
Remedy:
Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the park pawl abutment bracket.
Filed by Ford Motor Company
NHTSA campaign 96V009000
Reported Jan 23, 1996
Exterior Lighting
Model years 1995–1996
A defective control module in the "autolamp" system can malfunction. If the "autolamp" system is being used to activate the exterior light (including headlamps), the headlamps could shut off without warning. This will not occur if the exterior lighting is turned on manually by the headlight switch.
Consequence:
If the headlamps shut off while the vehicle is driven, driver visibility would be impaired increasing the potential for a vehicle accident.
Remedy:
Dealers will replace the "autolamp" control module. Owners are instructed to use the manual headlamp switch until the control module can be replaced.
Filed by Ford Motor Company

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means

What each recall field means
Field	What it tells you
Campaign number	NHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
Component	The system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
Summary	What the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
Consequence	The safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
Remedy	What the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.

Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Lincoln Continental questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Lincoln Continental have?

NHTSA lists 13 vehicle recall campaigns for the Lincoln Continental, covering model years 1995 to 2020. The most recent, 25V442000, was reported on June 27, 2025 and is filed under “Back over prevention”. The 2017 model year is covered by the most campaigns (4).

Which Lincoln Continental model year has the most complaints?

The 1997 model year, with 96 of the 590 complaints in NHTSA’s file (16.3%). The next are 2017 (75) and 1998 (72). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common Lincoln Continental complaint?

Suspension is the component named most often: 75 complaints, or 12.7% of all 590. Electrical System (64) and Engine and Engine Cooling (53) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Lincoln Continental?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Lincoln dealer.

How many Lincoln Continental complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 590 complaints, 42 report a crash, 15 a fire, 25 at least one injury and 1 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

8 models · most complaints first

The Lincoln models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Lincoln VIN decoder with every Lincoln model page, WMI code and VIN note.

Lincoln Town Car 1995–2011 · 27 recalls · 2,048 complaints
Lincoln MKZ 2006–2020 · 32 recalls · 1,661 complaints
Lincoln MKX 2007–2020 · 23 recalls · 1,416 complaints
Lincoln Navigator 1997–2027 · 68 recalls · 1,350 complaints
Lincoln LS 2000–2006 · 3 recalls · 982 complaints
Lincoln MKC 2015–2019 · 14 recalls · 594 complaints
Lincoln Aviator 2003–2027 · 51 recalls · 485 complaints
Lincoln Mark VIII 1995–2000 · 1 recall · 418 complaints

All Lincoln models and WMI codes Look up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.

Lincoln Continental complaints by model year

Most-reported Lincoln Continental components

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

Lincoln Continental recalls

Back Over Prevention › Software

Back Over Prevention › Sensing System › Camera

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch

Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module

Exterior Lighting › Headlights

Air Bags › Frontal

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings

Exterior Lighting › Headlights

Power Train › Automatic Transmission

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Gear Position Indication (PRNDL)

Exterior Lighting