110 of the
2,566 complaints filed about the Lincoln Continental
are about the throttle and cruise control —
4% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1990.
110
Complaints
4%
Share of all complaints
18
Crashes
3
Fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year
THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, WAS BEING ACCELERATED TO ENTER A HIGHWAY. DUE TO TRAFFIC, THERE WAS A LET OFF ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO ALLOW ANOTHER DRIVER TO MERGE, AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND, INSTEAD IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT HAVING ANY DRIVER INPUT. BRAKES WERE APPLIED, AND THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT NEAR FULL POWER, AND THE DRIVER HAD TO APPLY BREAKS HARD TO SLOW, AND PULL OFF HIGHWAY. ATTEMPTS TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL RESULTED IN THE TRANSMISSION WANTING TO GO INTO REVERSE INSTEAD OF NEUTRAL. ONCE OFF THE ROAD, THE ENGINE WAS SHUT DOWN. WHEN RESTARTED, IT WAS STILL STUCK AT WIDE OPEN THROTTLE. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO UNSTICK FAILED. AFTER IT REMAINED OFF A SHORT TIME, AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL OPERATED, IT RETURNED TO NORMAL. A SHORT TIME LATER WHILE TESTING IN THE PARKING LOT, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. FURTHER INVESTIGATION LEADS ME TO BELIEVE IT MAY BE RELATED TO THE CRUISE CONTROL, AS THE ISSUE APPEARED TO BE ELECTRONIC IN NATURE, AS THE OPERATION OF THE THROTTLE CABLE WITH THE VEHICLE OFF SHOWED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY SORT OF STICKINESS OR UNUSUAL RESISTANCE. CRUISE CONTROL UNIT WAS UNPLUGGED, AND THE VEHICLE TESTED. THE PROBLEM DID NOT RECUR AT THIS TIME. I DROVE IT HOME LATER THAT NIGHT IN LIGHT TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO A SHOP TO EVALUATE DAMAGE CAUSED WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL TO AVOID ACCIDENT, AND SEE IF A ROOT CAUSE CAN BE DETERMINED. AS THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENTS OF THIS TYPE I BELEIVE IT MAY BE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THIS IS A LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE WITH APPROXIMATELY 75,000 MILES. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT SHOULD BE THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED AND A RECALL ISSUED, REGARDLESS OF AGE, AS THIS COULD CAUSE ADDITIONAL INJURIES OR FATALITIES.
NHTSA complaint #10826140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY SIX OR SEVEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN MARCH OF 2015 FROM A PRIVATE OWNER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,000.
NHTSA complaint #10715402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY AS THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTROL VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 165,000.
NHTSA complaint #10573692 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DECELERATE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT THEN CRASHED INTO A WALL AND SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER KNEE AND BACK. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED BUT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED A FEW DAYS AFTER THE CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
NHTSA complaint #10478507 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RAPIDLY ACCELERATE TO 90 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXIT A HIGHWAY OFF-RAMP BUT WAS UNABLE TO SLOW THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS UNRESPONSIVE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT DID NOT RECALL THE DETAILS OF THE CRASH. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK, BACK AND RECEIVED BURNS TO THE FACE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000. UPDATED 07/05/12
NHTSA complaint #10457026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ABRUPTLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD UPON ENGAGING AND REMAINED IN A STUCK POSITION. THERE WERE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHICH FAILED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKES. ONCE THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, THE SPEED BEGAN TO REDUCE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RELEASE THE STUCK ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND RESUMED NORMALLY FOR A BRIEF MOMENT AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000. UPDATED 08/31/11*LJ THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE THROTTLE BODY CABLE WAS NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED. UPDATED 09/09/11
NHTSA complaint #10417003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE ON IT,S OWN AND WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THEY WOULDN'T WORK. I HAD TO GET OFF THE NEXT EXIT BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT ANYONE TO GET IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE IT WENT ALL THE WAY UP TO 90 MPH.ONCE I GOT OFF IT STILL WAS ACCELERATING SO I DROVE UP ON THE SIDEWALK TO KEEP FROM HITTING TRAFFIC AT THE LIGHT AND GOT INTO THE GRASS AND IT STILL WAS GOING FAST AND THE BRAKES STILL NOT WORKING I PRAYED AND PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL OR I WOULD HAVE WENT RIGHT BACK INTO THE TRAFFIC. ONCE I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL IT STOPPED AND THEN I PUT IT IN PARK AND TURNED IT OFF. I THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AND IT WAS IDLING SO HIGH AND LOUD I TURNED IT BACK OFF AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. ONCE THEY ARRIVED HE STATED THAT THE LINKAGE TO THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK AND THAT'S IS WHY THE BRAKES WEREN'T RESPONDING. HE THEN CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHO STATED HE WASN'T SURE IF THE COULD LOOK AT THE CAR OR IF HE DID WHEN HE WOULD BE ABLE TO WORK ON IT. SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN SITTING AND I FOUND OUT ABOUT ALL THESE OTHER RECALLS AND COMPLAINTS FOR THE VERY OTHER THINGS WE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ON THIS CAR. THE TOWER ALSO STATED THAT HE THOUGHT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ACCELERATION IF SO I NEED TO KNOW THIS BECAUSE THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE FIXED ON THE OTHER RECALLS. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT DID THE ACCELERATION BUT THE FOGGY WINSHIELD,THE SEATBELTS LOCKING UP ON USING THE FRONT SEATS, THE SUSPENSION AND BRAKES HAVE BEEN LIKE THIS FOR A WHILE AND WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT THESE RECALL SO WE COULD GET THEM CORRECTED. OTHERS AND MYSELF COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT ON THAT HIGHWAY IF I DIDN'T STAY CALM THROUGH OUT THE WHOLE ORDEAL. I WOULD LIKE SOME RESPONSE TO WHAT I NEED TO DO NEXT AND IF THIS IS A RECALL LIKE THE OTHERS CAN I TAKE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE IT CORRECTED. RIGHT NOW IT CAN BE DRIVEN AT ALL.
NHTSA complaint #10350153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SPONTANEOUS FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE LAST DRIVEN ABOUT 12 HOURS BEFORE, AND HAD BEEN OFF SINCE THAT TIME. DURING A DOWNPOUR, AND WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE IGNITED SHORTLY AFTER 6AM - 02/06/10. EVENTS AND REMAINING EVIDENCE CLOSELY MATCH THOSE DESCRIBED IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH FIRES FOR OTHER FORD MODELS (INCLUDING SAME MODEL-YEAR TOWN CARS).
NHTSA complaint #10317112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I AM USING MY CRUISE CONTROL AND STEP ON THE BRAKE TO DISENGAGE IT THAT THE CAR ACTUALLY SPEEDS UP. I HAVE TO STEP ON THE BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES TO GET IT TO DISENGAGE. IT IS QUITE SCARY.
NHTSA complaint #10275688 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2001 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL / 115,000 MILES WHILE DRIVING ON THE 10 FWY IN JULY 2008, AND WITHOUT ACTIVATING CRUISE CONTROL, OR PRESSING SHARPLY ON THE GAS PEDAL, MY CAR BEGAN TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE AT TOP SPEED. THE ENGINE ROARED WITH A LOUD SOUND AND IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO FULL OPERATING POWER. THE SOUND OF THE ENGINE AT FULL THROTTLE WAS UNMISTAKABLE AND AS I LOOKED AT THE DASH BOARD GAUGES, I SAW MY SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE QUICKLY REACH 90 MPH AND KEPT MOVING HIGHER. REALIZING I WAS IN DANGER, I APPLIED THE BRAKE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT SLOWING MY CAR DOWN IN THE NORMAL FASHION. IT ONLY DEPRESSED ABOUT - OF THE NORMAL RANGE. CONFUSED, I QUICKLY GLANCED DOWN AT MY FEET TO CHECK FOR AN OBJECT OR FLOOR MAT THAT WOULD CAUSE MY GAS PEDAL TO BE STUCK OR LODGED. THERE WERE NO OBJECTS TO BE FOUND. WITH MY CAR CONTINUING AT A SPEED OF AT LEAST 90 MPH, AND MY LEFT FOOT ON THE BRAKE, I THEN FELT THE GAS PEDAL BENEATH MY RIGHT FOOT MOVE AWAY AND DOWN TOWARD THE FLOOR BOARD ON ITS OWN. I LIFTED THE GAS PEDAL WITH MY FOOT IN AN ATTEMPT TO REVERSE THE ACCELERATION, BUT IT DIDN'T WORK. REALIZING I HAD NO CONTROL OF MY CAR, I REPEATEDLY PRESSED MY BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THIS ONLY SLOWED THE CAR FROM 90 MPH TO 70 MPH; IT WAS NOT BRINGING MY CAR TO A COMPLETE STOP. WITH MANY CARS SURROUNDING ME, A CRASH BECAME IMMINENT ? SO I MOVED 2 LANES OVER INTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX 60MPH AT THIS POINT & KEPT BRAKING TO TRY TO REGAIN CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. THE BRAKES WERE NOT STOPPING MY VEHICLE SO I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, WHICH SLOWED THE VEHICLE TO APPROX 40 MPH. STILL MOVING FORWARD, WITH BOTH FEET ON MY BRAKE PEDAL PUSHING AS HARD AS I COULD, I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO ENGAGE THE E-BRAKE AS A LAST OPTION. THIS SLOWED MY CAR TO ABOUT 15 MPH, AFTER WHICH I PUT THE CAR IN PARK. THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION.
NHTSA complaint #10246012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE ACCELERATES BY ITSELF. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP APPROX. EVERY YEAR FOR THIS SINCE 2005 AND AS RECENT AS JUNE OF 08. THE DEALERSHIP USUALLY REPLACES THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE BUT THIS PROBLEM WILL AGAIN SERVICE AFTER ABOUT ONE YEAR. I HAVE PAID FOR A COMPLETE FUEL INDUCTION CLEANING (10-05-07). THE ONLY THING THAT WORKS IS REPLACING THE IDLE CONTROL VALVE BUT LIKE I SAID THE PROBLEM RESURFACES. THE CAR WILL IDLE AT 500 RPM FOR NORMAL BUT IDLE AT 1000 RPM IN DRIVE WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS, IF I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL IT WILL TAKE OFF AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND I HAVE TO TURN IT OFF IN ORDER FOR IT TO RESET ITSELF. DURING NORMAL OPERATION THE CAR WILL WANT TO TAKE OFF BY ITSELF AT A STOPLIGHT AND JERK WHEN I RELEASE THE BRAKE. I PARTICULARLY NOTICE THIS TO OCCUR WHEN I COME OFF THE FREEWAY BUT IT ALSO OCCURS DURING NORMAL OPERATION. I TOOK MY CAR IN JUNE OF THIS MONTH FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY COULD NOT GET IT TO ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN. IT IS NOW OCT. 2008 AND THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE MEANING THIS HAPPENS NOW ABOUT 4 TO 6 TIMES A DAY. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF MY SITUATION AND THEY HAVE THE HISTORY ON MY CAR BUT I'M THE ONE STUCK WITH THE BILL OF GETTING IT FIXED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS THE LAST COUPLE OF TIMES WORKED OUT A DISCOUNT BECAUSE THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM BUT I STILL HAVE TO PAY BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAS USUALLY RUN OUT. THEY DO SHOW ME TAKING IT IN BEFORE THE WARRANTY RUNS OUT BUT THEY CAN NEVER SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM UNTIL IT IS SO BAD TO THE POINT OF DANGEROUS AND THE CAR IS DOING IT ALL THE TIME, USUALLY AFTER THE WARRANTY.
NHTSA complaint #10244162 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING ON GS PARKWAY THE CAR ACCELERATED FROM 65 MILES PER HR TO 100 MILES PER HR. AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN EVEN WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR WAS SPEEDING OUT OF CONTROL WHILE IN THE MIDDLE LANE. WE THEN TRIED TO GET OVER TO SIDE OF PARKWAY ONTO A GRASSY HILL SO WE WOULD NOT HIT ANY OTHER CARS. THE CAR SLOWED DOWN ENOUGH FOR ME AND MY SON TO JUMP OUT ON DRIVERS SIDE BEFORE THE CAR WENT FULL SPEED AHEAD TOWARD THE PARKWAY BUT HIT A GUARD RAIL AND FLIPPED OVER. BY SOME MIRACLE MY SON AND I WERE NOT HURT. I CALLED FORD TO RECALL CAR AND THEY SENT LETTER WHICH SAID WE REGRET ANY INCONVENIENCE THAT YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED IN THIS MATTER. CONTACT YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY. I ONLY HAD LIABILITY SO INSURANCE COMPANY NOT INVOLVED. THERE COULD HAVE BEEN MANY INJURIES OR EVEN DEATHS INCLUDING ME AND MY SON DUE TO THIS DEFECT. CAR WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10172830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT: THE CONTACT WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKES, THE ENGINE REVVED, AND VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD, CRASHING INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. SHE TOOK THE CAR TO A CERTIFIED DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.
NHTSA complaint #10144006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERMITTENTLY, AFTER THE VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP, VEHICLE LOUNGES FORWARD. WHEN THIS OCCURS CONSUMER'S FOOT IS DEPRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS PROBLEM RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE JUMPING A CURB AND SMASHING INTO A STOP SIGN. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES, BUT THEY CANNOT LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10073520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DURING BRIGHT DAY LIGHT HOURS SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE DUE TO THE COLOR OF THE NEEDLE AND THE DIAL'S BACKGROUND. THE NEEDLE IS DULL RED, AND THE BACKGROUND IS BLACK. THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE SUN MAKES THE NEEDLE FADE AWAY. THE PANEL AND NEEDLES FUNCTION PROPERLY ON DAYS IT'S NOT SO BRIGHT. THE CONSUMER HAD THE DEALER PAINT THE DIAL NEEDLE WHITE BUT THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM DUE TO THE TINTED PLASTIC COVER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10037942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AUTO ACCELERATES WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP OR WHEN IN DRIVE AND STANDING STILL. I HAVE REPORTED THIS DEFECT FOR SERVICE AND WAS INFORMED THAT NO DEFECT WAS FOUND. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ON MANY OCCASIONS. I WAS ALSO INFORMED BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT NO TECHNICAL SUPPORT MEMOS WERE ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10021026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AUTO ACCELERATES WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP, OR WHEN IN DRIVE AND STANDING STILL. I HAVE REPORTED THIS DEFECT TO FOR SERVICE AND I WAS INFORMED THAT NO DEFECT WAS FOUND. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ON MANY OCCASIONS. I WAS ALSO INFORMED BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT NO TECHNICAL SUPPORT MEMOS WERE ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10020974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT CONTROL THE MAXIMUM SPEED WHEN GOING DOWN HILL. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 65 BUT THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 80 MPH. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED THIS WAY. *AK *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10011436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 65 MPH, HOWEVER AS HE WAS GOING DOWN A HILL HE NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 80 MPH. THE DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT WAS THE WAY THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKED.*JB PH
NHTSA complaint #10003943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.