FaultScore

1991 Lincoln Continental steering problems

27 of the 399 complaints about the 1991 Lincoln Continental are about the steering — 7% of everything reported for this model year.

C

27

Complaints

1

Crashes

3

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

TIE ROD Assembly 5 18.5%
Hydraulic Power Assist System 4 14.8%
Hose, Piping, AND Connections 4 14.8%
Steering Wheel/Handle BAR 3 11.1%
Rack AND Pinion 3 11.1%
Pump 3 11.1%
Power Steering Fluid 2 7.4%
Steering 1 3.7%
Linkages 1 3.7%
Rack 1 3.7%

Steering across every Lincoln Continental year

1989 22 22.4%
1990 23 23.5%
1991 27 27.6%
1993 14 14.3%
1997 12 12.2%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Indialantic, FL

STEERING

STEERING WHEEL CONTINUED TURNING LEFT, UNASSISTED, INSTEAD OF RETURNING TO TDC WHEN GRIP PRESSURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL IS RELAXED. EXAMINATION DETERMINED CORROSION HAD CREATED A HOLE IN THE LEFT REAR CORNER COWEL PANEL IN SPIT OF RUST UNDERCOATING. ADDITIONAL RUST COVERED AN AREA OF THE UNDERBODY. ADVISE THAT THE REASON THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WAS ATTRIBUTED TO THE CORROSION DAMAGED LEFT REAR CORNER COWELL PANEL CAUSING THE ENGINE TO LURCH TO THE LEFT WHEN MAKING A 90 DEGREE LEFT TURN.

NHTSA complaint #9002935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Indianpolis, IN Crash

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND COULD NOT BE MANEUVERED TO THE LEFT, CAUSING A COLLISION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #890747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chico, CA

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS

FAILURE OF POWER STEERING HOSE WHICH COULD CAUSE POWER STEERING FLUID TO FLOW ONTO EXHAUST PIPE. CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF TSB ISSUED BY MANUFACTURER, AND A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT ISSUED FOR THE SAME DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #875340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Massapequa Park, NY

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

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.

Lake Arrow Head, CA

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID

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.

Holly Branch, MS Fire

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH POWER STEERING. WHILE DRIVING HEARD A POP, POWER STEERING WENT OUT, AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #832034 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Granby, MO

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

RACK AND PINION STEERING WENT OUT, CAUSING THE FRONT TIRES TO GO IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS. DEALER HAS TO REPLACED RACK AND PINION STEERING.

NHTSA complaint #843888 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Staunton, VA

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS

POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKS. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND LINES TWICE, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.

NHTSA complaint #837203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Staunton, VA

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKS. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND LINES TWICE, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.

NHTSA complaint #837203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mapleton, UT

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

TIE RODS BROKE.

NHTSA complaint #542977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Endicott, NY

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

INNER TIE ROD FAILED, CAUSING MISALIGNMENT AND EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR.

NHTSA complaint #518414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Endicott, NY

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

END TIRE ROD FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #518414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Endicott, NY

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

POWER STEERING LEAKING INSIDE VEHICLE DUE TO FAILED LINES/PUMP.

NHTSA complaint #518414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Endicott, NY

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS

POWER STEERING LEAKING INSIDE VEHICLE DUE TO FAILED LINES/PUMP.

NHTSA complaint #518414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Endicott, NY

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

POWER STEERING BELT FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #518414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Endicott, NY

STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK

TIGHTNESS IN STEERING DUE TO FAULTY STEERING RACK.

NHTSA complaint #518414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Nacogdoches, TX

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

HEARD LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHILE MAKING LEFT TURN, DIFFICULT STEERING VEHICLE, ACORDING TO DEALER, RACK/PINION NEEDED REPLACING, REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTS RUSTED/CORROSION, NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL #93V106002.*AK CONSUMER STATED REAR SWAY BAR BROKE, AND AIR BAG SENSOR WAS REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #812666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mingo, IA

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

WHILE PARKING SHAFT IN STEERING RACK BROKE, VEHICLE LOST CONTROL, RIGHT WHEEL POPPED OUT, RACK AND PINION REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #811760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tulsa, OK

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID

POWER STEERING LEAKS.

NHTSA complaint #513180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fair Lawn, NJ

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

STEERING WHEEL MISALIGNED.

NHTSA complaint #509911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ipswich, MA

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

TIE ROD FAILED, PREVENTING FURTHER OPERATION OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #503690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cocoa, FL

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.

NHTSA complaint #500976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cocoa, FL

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

POWER STEERING FAILED 3 TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #500976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

OAK Lawn, IL Fire

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS

VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, SERV. NO 94-16-2, POWER STEEERING HOSE REPTURED, LEAKING ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND CAUSING A FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #971495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wappingers F, NY

STEERING:LINKAGES

FRONT RIGHT TIE ROD FAILED DUE TO METAL FATIQUE WHICH RESULTED IN TIE ROD/TIRE TO SEPARATE. TT

NHTSA complaint #969957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Saratoga SPR, NY

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

TIE ROD END FAILED, CAUSING A CLINKING NOISEON SLOW TURNING ON ROUGH GROUNDS.

NHTSA complaint #969013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Memphis, TN Fire

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED ONTO EXHAUST, CAUSING FIRE. *SKD

NHTSA complaint #486231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1991 Lincoln Continental problems

← Full 1991 Lincoln Continental report