67 of the 399 complaints about the 1991 Lincoln Continental are about the engine — 17% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 39,800 miles.
67
Complaints
0
Crashes
5
Fires
2
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1991 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL WITH 39,800 ORIGINAL OWNER MILES. HEAD GASKET BLEW. COOLANT COMING OUT OF EXHAUST PIPES.
NHTSA complaint #10175635 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1991 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***.*MR RECALL FOR MOTOR MOUNTS, SUB-FRAME SUPPORT PLATE, TRANSMISSION CABLE, AND MOUNT CORROSION. DEALERSHIP WILLING TO FIX SUB-FRAME PLATE AND CABLE, BUT WILL NOT FIX MOTOR MOUNTS, STATING THAT THE 6 YEAR OR 60,000 MILES HAS EXPIRED AND THAT THE CAR IS TOO OLD. PLEASE HELP INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER. *TT
NHTSA complaint #10128098 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
PEELING PAINT AND HEAD GASKETS FAILED POSSIBLY A CRACKED HEAD
NHTSA complaint #10068792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I BLEW A HEAD GASKET & THE DCL WENT OUT. LINCOLN SAYS THAT THEY CANT REPLACE THIS PART (DCL)
NHTSA complaint #10069980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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.
NHTSA complaint #10070664 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
REQUEST FOR DATABASE INFO WITH HISTORY RESOLUTION ATTEMPTS. *MR THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE 3.8 LITER V6 ENGINES. THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE ORIGINAL ALUMINUM HEADS FOR THE ENGINE HAD AN ADDITIONAL FLAW WHICH WAS A SHARPLY MACHINED TRANSITION LINE RUNNING THE FULL LENGTH OF THE HEADS, WHICH CAUSED THE HEADS TO CRACK ALONG THAT LINE WHEN OVERHEATED. *SC
NHTSA complaint #10053891 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10020005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #744153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #735554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THIS IS A TYPICAL EXAMPLE OF FORD NOT COVERING THEIR CUSTOMERS FOR A DEFECT THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT FOR YEARS. THEY CLAIM THEY ARE COVERING 1994 AND NEWER VEHICLES, YET THE TSB 98-4-9 SPECIFICALLY STATES THEY HAVE BEEN FULLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM FROM 1988-1994 ON THESE CARS. I PURCHASED THE CAR USED FOR $3200, HAVE A LOAN ON IT, JUST SPENT $990 FOR THE HEAD GASKET, $400 TO GET THE PLATES AND TITLE TRANSFERRED, AND NOW I AM TOLD THE ENGINE WILL PROBABLY GO NEXT, WHICH IS COMMON FOR THIS CAR. FORD REFUSES TO SPEAK WITH ME ABOUT AN AGREEMENT. I GET THE "IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY" STORY. HEAD GASKETS ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST 120,000 MILES. MY VEHICLE HAS 72000 AT TIME OF HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT. I WANT FORD TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT!
NHTSA complaint #735250 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DUE TO IMPROPER HEAD GASKET FOR THE ENGINE, HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT TWICE AT 70 THOUSAND MILES AND AROUND 100 THOUSAND MILES. MANUFACTURER HAS REPLACED A RECALL FOR OTHER CAR MODELS FOR THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. DEALER HAS REPLACED HEAD GASKET AND ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #872266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1991 LINCOLN CONTINENTALS ARE REPORTED BY ALL REPAIR SHOPS IN THIS AREA TO HAVE KNOWN HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS ALONG WITH REAR STRUT AND AIR SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. MANY PEOPLE ARE LOSING THEIR SHIRTS AND FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO HANDLE THIS PROBLEM. THEY HAVE RECALLED 1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTALS BUT HAVE NOT ADDRESSED ANY EARLIER YEARS.
NHTSA complaint #727027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
EXPERIENCED A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND COULD NOT OPERATE THE VEHICLE
NHTSA complaint #9000840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE REBUILT. NLM
NHTSA complaint #551823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
FRONT MOTOR MOUNT BROKE. NLM
NHTSA complaint #551823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKET, R&R HEAD GASKET, VALVE COVER GASKET, TIMING COVER GASKET AND CRANK SEAL GASKET LEAKING. NLM
NHTSA complaint #551823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE REBUILT. NLM
NHTSA complaint #551823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
FRONT MOTOR MOUNT BROKE. NLM
NHTSA complaint #551823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKET, R&R HEAD GASKET, VALVE COVER GASKET, TIMING COVER GASKET AND CRANK SEAL GASKET LEAKING. NLM
NHTSA complaint #551823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
MECHANIC SAID ENGINE WAS NOT EQUIPPED TO BE IN THE CAR . WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY EVERYTHING FROZE AND CONSUMER WAS STUCK. RECALL ON THE 1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL MENTIONED THE SAME PROBLEM AS CONSUMER WAS HAVING ON HER 1991 VEHICLE. YET, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. VEHICLE HAS UNDER 100000 MILES ON IT.
NHTSA complaint #860428 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS DETERMINED THAT ENGINE INTERLOCK WAS THE CAUSE OF VEHICLE'S UNEXPECTED SHUTDOWN. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #860262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
AIR CONDITIONER'S COMPRESSOR SEIZED, WAS GLOWING RED & FAN BELT WAS BURNING. ALSO, SERPENTINE BELT & UNIT WAS BRIGHT RED. HAD A SHORT WARNING PRIOR TO PROBLEM. CONSUMER WAS SMELLING SOMETHING BURNING. PULLED OVER & CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP.
NHTSA complaint #859342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
AIR CONDITIONER'S COMPRESSOR SEIZED, WAS GLOWING RED & FAN BELT WAS BURNING. ALSO, SERPENTINE BELT & UNIT WAS BRIGHT RED. HAD A SHORT WARNING PRIOR TO PROBLEM. CONSUMER WAS SMELLING SOMETHING BURNING. PULLED OVER & CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP.
NHTSA complaint #859342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 55 MPH, NOTICED SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER OF A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK
NHTSA complaint #858434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SHORTLY AFTER COMPLETE TRANSMISSION, MOTOR MOUNTS, AND POWER STEERING REPLACED,THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS FAILED, ONCE AGAIN CONTRBUTING TO A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT. WHILE RTURNING HOME FROM BABTSITTING MY GRANDDAUGHTER I WAS ALARMED BY DRIVERS GOING THE OPPOSITE WAY BEEPING AT ME. ONE FINALLY ROLLED DOWN HIS WINDOW AND YELLED THAT I WAS SMOKING SO BADLY I WAS BLOCKING EVERYONES VIEW. I LOOKED BACK TO SEE A DENSE CLOUD OF STEAM COVERING BOTH LANES OF TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. CARS WERE AT A STANDSTILL UNTIL THE STEAM DISSIPATED. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT DOWN. WATER WAS POURING OUT OF ONE OF THE DUAL EXHAUST PIPES. A MOTORIST STOPPED AND OFFERED A LIFT BUT I WAS ONLY A FEW BLOCKS FROM HOME. HE WENT ON TO TELL ME HIS SISTER HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO HER WINDSTAR MINIVAN ON A TRIP TO MAINE AND THE CAR WAS ONLY 45 THOUSAND MILES OLD. HE SAID IT WAS DEFINITELY MY HEAD GASKET, WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE CORRECT. HE ALSO SAID THAT THE FORD 3.8 LITER ENGINE IS A DEFECTIVE DISASTER ESPECIALLY WHEN USED WITH FRONT WHEEL DRIVE. WITH RESPECT TO THE UNDERDASH ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IT WAS A DISTRACTING WARNING CHIME AND OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR WHICH WOULD BEEP WITHOUT PROPER CAUSE ON AN INTERMITTANT BASIS. OIL PRESSURE WAS INDEED OKAY AND THE SENDING UNIT WAS REPLACED TO NO AVAIL. ONLY WHEN AN ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS REPLACED DID THIS LONGSTANDING DISTRACTION GO AWAY. MY SON-IN-LAW IN OCTOBER OF '99 TOOK OUT THE ORIGINAL CLUSTER WHICH HAD THE ODOMETER READING OF 64740 ORIGINAL MILES AND REPLACED IT WITH ONE FROM AN AUTO WRECKING YARD WHICH WAS POSSIBLY FROM AN EARLIER YEAR CAR. THE REPLACEMENT MODULE READ 131200 MILES. IN FEBRUARY OF 2000 I GAVE THE CAR TO MY DAUGTER AND SON-IN-LAW. THE TITLE HAS BEEN ANOTATED WITH THE NEW ODOMETER READING AS "NOT THE ACTUAL MILEAGE". THIS FAULTY CHIME / GAUGE IS ALSO A COMMON DEFECT IN THESE CARS I AM TOLD. IT CAN BE A DANGEROUS THING WHEN IT OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING (NO PUN INTENDED) .
NHTSA complaint #718957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BLOWN HEAD GASKET, TALK TO 5 DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOPS ALL SAID TYPICAL OF THE 3.8L V6, THE MAN WHO SOLD ME THE VEHICLE KNOW THEIR WAS SOME PROBLEM ,HE DROPPED THE PRICE FROM $5995 TO $3950.
NHTSA complaint #717688 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKET FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RUN ROUGH AND LOOSE COOLANT. YH
NHTSA complaint #549902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED FOUR TIMES ,AND CURRENTLY MOTOR MOUNTS WENT OUT AGAIN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SMOKE. ALSO,POWER STEERING FLUID IS LEAKING, AND VEHICLE IS JERKING. DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE FOUR TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #832804 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING ORIGINAL ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLEW. WERE BLOWING SMOKE & LEAKING FLUID. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC REPLACED ENGINE. HEAD GASKETS BLEW ON THE 2ND ENGINE ALSO & ENGINE WAS REPLACED ONCE AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #854256 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
APPARENTLY THE RIDE HEIGHT SENSORS FAILED, THIS CAUSED THE MOTOR MOUNTS TO FAIL BECAUSE OF IMPROPER HEIGHT RIDE, THIS PUT UNDO STRESS ON FRONT AXEL AND WORE OUT CV JOINTS. ALSO PROBABLY CAUSED FAILURE IN STRUTS.
NHTSA complaint #710837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.