33 of the 255 complaints about the 1989 Lincoln Continental are about the electrical system — 13% of everything reported for this model year.
33
Complaints
0
Crashes
7
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED TO OPERATE CORRECTLY, OFTEN LOOSING CONTROL CENTER INFORMATION AND SOMETIMES PREVENTING THE CAR FROM OPERATING. CAR WAS TAKEN TO REPAIR STATION WHERE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND HARNESS WERE REPLACED. THE TWO COMPONENTS (BURNED AND FUSED) ARE AVAILABLE FOR ANALYSIS.
NHTSA complaint #766039 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED TO OPERATE CORRECTLY, OFTEN LOOSING CONTROL CENTER INFORMATION AND SOMETIMES PREVENTING THE CAR FROM OPERATING. CAR WAS TAKEN TO REPAIR STATION WHERE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND HARNESS WERE REPLACED. THE TWO COMPONENTS (BURNED AND FUSED) ARE AVAILABLE FOR ANALYSIS.
NHTSA complaint #766039 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
I HAD SPENT ALL MY MONEY ON THIS VEHICLE. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME IT'S IRREPERABLE AND LIABILITY INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER. NOW I HAVE NO MONEY AND NO CAR FOR MY 4-YEAR OLD AND I TO RUN ERRANDS IN.NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED.
NHTSA complaint #764863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
DIGITAL MILEAGE GAUGE KEEPS GOING UP.
NHTSA complaint #8008791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. THE ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES IN SIX MONTHS. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED. SOMETHING IS STILL DRAINING ALL OF THE POWER AWAY. THE FRONT-SEAT THREE-POINT SEAT BELTS GO SLACK WHILE DRIVING AND DO NOT RETRACT AFTER USE. FORD SAYS IT IS NOT A PROBLEM. THE FRONT AND REAR AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. WHEN THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN THE BACK END GOES WAY DOWN THEN BACK UP. THE FRONT OFTEN HAS ONE SIDE TO GO ALL THE WAY DOWN WHILE THE OTHER SIDE GOES ALL THE WAY UP. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE CAR. THE AIR CONDITIONER HAS BEEN COMPLETELY REPLACED. STILL, IT CANNOT KEEP THE CAR ANYWHERE NEAR CONFORTABLE. THE WINDSHIELD GETS AN OILY FILM ON THE INSIDE THAT WON'T GO AWAY. FINALLY, THE SPEED CONTROL SOMETIMES STARTS ACCELERATING FOR NO REASON AND/OR WILL NOT DEACTIVATE WHEN "OFF" IS PRESSED. EHH, I GUESS THAT'S ABOUT IT FOR NOW. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ THESE COMMENTS.
NHTSA complaint #749107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
REPLACEMENT OF FUEL TANK DID NOT RECTIFY ROUGH RUNNING CONDITION, FOUND SHORTED WIRING IN THE ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROL CAUSING PROCESSOR TO SHORT OUT AND EGR TO STAY OPEN. MJS
NHTSA complaint #548735 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
LOSS OF POWER BRAKES AND STEERING OCCURS WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL VEHICLE, DUE TO FAILURE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. MJS
NHTSA complaint #544259 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO BECOME BLANK.
NHTSA complaint #544259 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL FAILURE CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL.
NHTSA complaint #544599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO BECOME BLANK.
NHTSA complaint #544259 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH WHEN HE BEGAN TO STOP AND BRAKES FAILED , TRIED TO TURN VEHICLE AND POWER STEERING WAS GONE. RESTARTED VEHICLE AND DROVE TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE.
NHTSA complaint #834671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE FIRE TO THE LINCOLN WAS CAUSED BY THE OVERHEATING OF THE IGNITION SWITCH.
NHTSA complaint #508778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
AFTER CONSUMER HAD DRIVEN VEHICLE ABOUT 30 MINUTES, PARKED VEHICLE TO GO INTO STORE. WAS TOLD THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE- THE WIRING MELTED AND THE WHOLE FRONT WAS BURNED.
NHTSA complaint #826451 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
IGNITION MODULE FAILURE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL.
NHTSA complaint #525042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH SHORT CAUSED BRAKE FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #506343 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
REAR BEARINGS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #503131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
REAR BEARINGS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #503131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
SPARK PLUGS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #503131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING THE IGNITION WIRES SOMEHOW BURNT OUT. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #801534 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL BURNING ODOR.
NHTSA complaint #505632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WIRING HARNESS SHORT, CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL.
NHTSA complaint #505266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #505266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WIRING IGNITION FIRE, ELECTRICAL SHORT, SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH. *AK
NHTSA complaint #985330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE, RESULTED IN REPLACEMENT OF ALTERNATORS/BATTERIES/STARTER.
NHTSA complaint #985228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
VEHICLE CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING DUE TO ALTERNATOR DRAINING THE BATTERY/REPLACED ALTERNATOR 5 TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #985228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
REPLACED 4 BATTERIES.
NHTSA complaint #985228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
REPLACED STARTER.
NHTSA complaint #985228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #504274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK IN VEHICLE, CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #983589 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ELECTRICAL SHORT, INTERMITTENTLY SHORT OUT IGNITION SWITCH WHEN STARTING, ALSO FAILURE ALTERNATOR, AND BATTERY.
NHTSA complaint #983057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.