Owners have filed 14 complaints
about the 1987 Lincoln Continental with NHTSA between 1995 and 2001.
The largest single group is the electrical system.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1987 Lincoln Continental
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Electrical System
535.7%
0 crashes, 2 fires
Suspension
321.4%
Transmission & Drivetrain
214.3%
Equipment & Accessories
17.1%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
17.1%
Brakes
17.1%
Engine & Cooling
17.1%
0 crashes, 1 fires
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jun 1995peak 4Nov 2001
NHTSA investigations into the 1987 Lincoln Continental
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
DP95004Opened 8 Aug 1995Closed 30 Aug 1995UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ALLEGED DEFECTIVE TIE RODS
ALLEGED DEFECTIVE TIE RODS
EA94008Opened 16 Feb 1994Closed 27 Feb 1995STEERING
BROKEN TIE RODS
PE93058Opened 15 Jun 1993Closed 16 Feb 1994STEERING
BROKEN TIE RODS
PE93036Opened 12 Apr 1993Closed 4 Aug 1993SUSPENSION
AIR SUSPENSION FAILURE
PE92056Opened 1 Jul 1992Closed 30 Nov 1992STRUCTURE
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 1987098295,731 units in Canada
Fuel System
ON VEHICLES WITH EFI OR CFI, THE SPRING-LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING USED TO CONNECT THE FUEL SUPPLY AND RETURN LINES TO THE EFI FUEL RAILS OR TO THE CFI THROTTLE BODIES AS WELL AS OTHER FUEL LINE CONNECTIONS NEAR THE DASH PANELS ON SOME VEHICLES, COULD DISENGAGE DURING VEHICLE USE. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, LOSS OF FUEL WILL RESULT, PROVIDING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE FIRE. CORRECTION: COUPLING RETAINER CLIPS WILL BE INSTALLED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES. NOTE: ESCORT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH EFI AND CFI. LYNX VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH CFI ONLY. EFI - ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION CFI - CENTRAL FUEL INJECTION
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Suwanee, GAFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
DURING THE AM HOURS SMOKE ENTERED THE HOUSE THROUGH THE GARAGE AND BURNED IT DOWN.
NHTSA complaint #983201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angeles, CAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
VEHICLE WAS PARKED, COMPARTMENT FIRE UNDER THE DASH, ELECTRICAL SHORT.
NHTSA complaint #982925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angeles, CAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
VEHICLE WAS PARKED, COMPARTMENT FIRE UNDER THE DASH, ELECTRICAL SHORT.
NHTSA complaint #982925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Tucson, AZ
SUSPENSION:FRONT
FRONT WHEELS AND TIRES ARE NOT ABLE TO CLEAR THE WHEEL-WELL, RESULTING IN FULL TURNING RADIAUS FAILURE. THERE IS A CONVERSION KIT TO CHANGE THE SUSPENSION FROM AIR-RIDE TO GIL SPRINGS, IF NOT CHANGED THERE IS A PONTENTIAL ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.
NHTSA complaint #9004605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Upper Darby, PA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 25 MPH WHEN I NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. I DROVE HOME ABOUT 5 MILES. KNOWING A LITTLE ABOUT CARS I LIFTED THE HOOD TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE LEVEL WAS FINE BUT THE FLUID LOOKED A LITTLE DARK TO ME. I SMELLED THE FLUID AND IT SMELLED BURNT. THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN FINE UP TO THAT POINT SO I LOOKED AROUND TO SEE IF I COULD SEE ANYTHING ELSE WRONG. I NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL CABLE THAT ATTACHES TO THE THROTTLE WAS HANGING LOOSE. I TOOK OUT MY SHOP MANUAL AND COPIED THE PAGE WITH THE LINKAGE ON IT AND WENT TO A LINCOLN DEALER. I BOUGHT THE $1 PLASTIC PART THAT HOLDS THE LINKAGE ON AND RETURNED HOME. I REATTACHED THE LINKAGE AND HAPPILY DROVE OFF THINKING NO BIG DEAL. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED FINE FROM FIRST TO SECOND BUT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THIRD OR FOURTH. I CALLED A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM. HE KNEW RIGHT AWAY WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND TOLD ME THAT MY TRANSMISSION WAS RUINED. HE EXPLAINED WHY AND I HAD NO DOUBT THAT HE WAS CORRECT. IT WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME HE HAD SEEN THAT HAPPEN. I CONTACTED FORD BY EMAIL. THEY WOULD NOT HELP OUT IN ANY WAY AND SUGGESTED THAT I SHOULD HAVE SERVICED THE CAR REGULARLY AT A FORD/LINCOLN DEALERSHIP AND THAT THIS WOULD HELP TO PREVENT SUCH A PROBLEM. I WROTE BACK ASKING FOR THE NAME OF A MECHANIC THAT COULD PREDICT THAT TYPE OF PART FAILURE BY LOOKING AT IT AND I WOULD GO TO THAT PERSON. THEY SENT ME NO NAME. IF THIS TRANSMISSION FAILED DO TO ABUSE, LACK OF CARE, OR EVEN AGE, I WOULD NOT HAVE CONTACTED FORD OR NHSTA. IT FAILED BECAUSE FORD USED A PLASTIC PART THAT WOULD ALMOST SURELY BECOME BRITTLE AND BREAK WITH AGE. I SPENT $1400.00 TO GET IT REPAIRED BECAUSE FORD USED AN INEXPENSIVE PLASTIC PART TO HOLD LINKAGE TOGETHER ON AN EXPENSIVE TRANSMISSION. I WOULD HAVE CONTACTED YOU SOONER BUT WITH ALL THE TROUBLE FORD HAD WITH TIRE FAILURES I WANTED TO WAIT FOR THAT TO DIE DOWN. PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN. THANKS, PAUL SCHRADIECK.
NHTSA complaint #753701 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DE Funiak Spgs, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE IGNITION MODULE ON VEHICLE BECAME INOPERATIVE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL AS CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, THE IGNITION MODULE FAILED DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT, ITS LOCATION BEING ON THE DISTRIBUTOR.
NHTSA complaint #562199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cleveland, OH
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING, RIGHT FRONT AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM FELL DOWN ON RIGHT TIRE; ALMOST CAUSED VEHICLE TO TURN OVER, DEALER REPLACING AIR SUSPENSION. SYSTEM. VARIOUS SPEEDS.
NHTSA complaint #818016 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Beltsville, MD
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM
FAILURE OF AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM. VEHICLE RIDES ON AXLE ; HARD STEERING AND ROUGH RIDING. VEHICLE REPAIRED BUT HAS BEEN IN FOR SAME PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #809659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Raleigh, NC
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN TURNING ON THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSES THE ABS TO GO OUT AS WELL AS THE AIR CONDITIONING.AK
NHTSA complaint #800599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Raleigh, NC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN TURNING ON THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSES THE ABS TO GO OUT AS WELL AS THE AIR CONDITIONING.AK
NHTSA complaint #800599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Raleigh, NC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHEN TURNING ON THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSES THE ABS TO GO OUT AS WELL AS THE AIR CONDITIONING.AK
NHTSA complaint #800599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Raleigh, NC
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
WHEN TURNING ON THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSES THE ABS TO GO OUT AS WELL AS THE AIR CONDITIONING.AK
NHTSA complaint #800599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Suwanee, GAFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
DURING THE AM HOURS SMOKE ENTERED THE HOUSE THROUGH THE GARAGE AND BURNED IT DOWN.
NHTSA complaint #983201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angeles, CAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
VEHICLE WAS PARKED, COMPARTMENT FIRE UNDER THE DASH, ELECTRICAL SHORT.
NHTSA complaint #982925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angeles, CAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
VEHICLE WAS PARKED, COMPARTMENT FIRE UNDER THE DASH, ELECTRICAL SHORT.
NHTSA complaint #982925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washington, DC
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTO 1ST GEAR.
NHTSA complaint #966394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washington, DC
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TURNED ON IGNITION TO START VEHICLE AND IT ACCELERATED AT HIGH SPEED, THE ONLY WAY TO STOP WAS TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION. TT
NHTSA complaint #966394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.