FaultScore

1990 Lincoln Continental transmission problems

13 of the 244 complaints about the 1990 Lincoln Continental are about the transmission — 5% of everything reported for this model year.

B

13

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Automatic Transmission 4 30.8%
Constant Velocity Joint 4 30.8%
Power Train 1 7.7%
Manual Transmission 1 7.7%
Torque Converter 1 7.7%
Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch 1 7.7%
Axle Assembly 1 7.7%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Lincoln Continental year

1989 15 13.2%
1990 13 11.4%
1991 46 40.4%
1992 10 8.8%
1994 20 17.5%
1997 10 8.8%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Vincentown, NJ

POWER TRAIN

I PURCHASED A 1990 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL IN DECEMBER 2002, AND NOTICED THAT DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE REVS VERY HIGH AND THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE THE OVERDRIVE. I ALSO NOTICED THAT SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE OR DRIVE TO RVERSE, THERE IS A DELAY IN THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGING THE APPROPRIATE GEAR. BEFORE I DECIDED TO TAKE MY CAR TO A DEALER TO GET THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED, I CHECKED THE FLUID TO ENSURE THAT THE LEVEL WAS CORRECT, AND TO CHECK THE COLOR OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. BOTH WERE FOUND TO BE IN GOOD ORDER. THEN I CHECKED WWW.ALLDATA.COM AND FOUND THAT FORD WAS AWARE OF THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THROUGH A CHECK OF THE FOLLOWING SERVICE BULLETINS: ATRATB331; ATRATB267; 94247; ATRATB029; AND 89225. BECAUSE OF THE SERVICE BULLETINS MENTIONED ABOVE, FORD WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS AND FAILED TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS. AS A CONSUMER, I WOULD LIKE FORD TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AT NO COST TO MYSELF. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THE ENGINE COOLING FAN. ON 12 DECEMBER 2002 WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND SMELLED WIRES BURNING. I PULLED OVER IN A PARKING LOT OF A SHOPPING CENTER RIGHT WHEN THE COMPUTER SIGNALED THAT THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WAS HIGHER THAN NORMAL. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND OPEN THE HOOD TO LOOK FOR THE BURNED WIRED. THE ELECTRIC ENGINE FAN HAD SEIZED UP AND STARTED TO MELT THE WIRES. THE FUSE HAD FAILED TO BLOW, AND I HAD TO UNPLUG THE FAN FROM THE WIRING HARNESS TO KEEP THE WIRES FROM BURNING MORE.

NHTSA complaint #10069823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lewiston, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO DESIGN OF THE ALUMINUM HOUSING WHICH CRACKS.

NHTSA complaint #544091 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Liberty, NE

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION JUST STOPPED WORKING AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. VEHICLE WAS LEFT IN MORECROFT, WYOMING WHILE TRAVELING. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #835015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Shawnee MI, KS

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT

OUTER CV BOOT TORN.

NHTSA complaint #534679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bloomington, IL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THERE ARE 17 TBS ON THE TRANSMISSION! I PAID TOP DOLLAR FOR A LOW MILEAGE CAR, NOT I AM STUCK! THERE IS A TBS DATED 7/98 ON THE HEADGASKET! BUT FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEY HAVE A PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #700547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Otego, NY

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND TRANSMISSION SLIPS.

NHTSA complaint #532814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Toms River, NJ

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER

TURBO CONVERTER SHUTTERS BETWEEN 34-37 MPH.

NHTSA complaint #511325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Toms River, NJ

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION REPAIRED.

NHTSA complaint #511325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pearl River, NY

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT

RIGHT OUTER CV BOOT REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #601904 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Philadelph, PA

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

THE AXLE FOR THE FRONT END HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE ENGINE HAS OVERHEATED.

NHTSA complaint #509223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Woodburn, OR Crash

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

KEY CAME OUT OF IGNITION WITHOUT VEHICLE BEING ENGAGED IN THE PARK POSITION, RESULTING IN A TOTALLED ROLLAWAY. TT

NHTSA complaint #970868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fayettevil, NC

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT

BOTH OUTER CV BOOTS BROKEN. *SKD

NHTSA complaint #478152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Edgerton, OH

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT

REPLACED TORN RIGHT OUTER CV BOOT.

NHTSA complaint #959279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1990 Lincoln Continental problems

← Full 1990 Lincoln Continental report