1988 Lincoln Continental

Complaint history

When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.

Problems owners report

Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.

AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.

Recalls

• NHTSA recall #98V323000December 16, 19982,697,000 vehicles affected

  structure: frame and members

  Vehicle description: passenger vehicles originally sold or currently registered in connecticut, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, iowa, kansas, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, nebraska, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, virginia, west virgnia, and wisconsin. The rear lower subframe mount plate nut Can experience stress corrosion cracking if subjected to long term exposure to road salts. This Can result in fracture and loss of the structural integrity of the subframe mount attachment. Detachment of the body mounts at the rear corners of the subframe, which supports the engine and transmission, allows the rear corners of the subframe to drop.

  If both rear corners drop, steering would become suddenly very difficult, affecting vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.

  Remedy

  Dealers will install subframe rear mount bolts, reinforcement plates, and plate nuts.

• NHTSA recall #93V106000June 23, 19931,610,000 vehicles affected

  structure: frame and members

  Vehicle description: taurus and sables built from 10-14-85 through 8-19-88, and Lincoln continentals built from 11-4-87 through 9-30-88 (except 1989 - 1991 2.5L taurus and 1989 - 1992 sho). The affected cars were originally sold or currently registered in the following states: connecticut, illinois, indiana, maine, massachusetts, michigan, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, and wisconsin. The body mounts at the rear corners of the subframe, which supports the engine and transmission, may become detached due to corrosion of the subframe mount retaining plate. This would allow the rear corners of the subframe to drop.

  If one of the rear corners drops, only minor indications of a malfunction such as a clunking noise or slight change in steering wheel alignment are noticeable. However, if both rear corners of the subframe drop, steering becomes very difficult, which could adversely affect vehicle control and possibly result in an accident.

  Remedy

  Install a corrosion-resistant reinforcing plate and a new bolt on both rear subframe mounts. This recall campaign has been superseded by recall 98V-323.

• NHTSA recall #91V134000August 6, 1991325,000 vehicles affected

  service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor

  Front disc brake rotors of the subject vehicles may experience severe corrosion if operated in areas where calcium chloride and sodium chloride are used extensively.

  Severely corroded rotors may fracture or separate nearthe inner edges of the brake discs resulting in reduced braking effectiveness,higher than normal pedal efforts, loud grinding noises, and moderate pulls whenthe brakes are applied. Reduced braking effectiveness may increase minimumstopping distances, possibly resulting in an accident.

  Remedy

  Replace front brake rotors with full cast front brake rotors.

• NHTSA recall #89V057000April 4, 19895 vehicles affected

  fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

  Process used for connecting the gas lines was substandard.

  A gas leak could develop creating a fire potential.

  Remedy

  Install standard gas line compression fittings.

• NHTSA recall #88V118000July 22, 198828,000 vehicles affected

  electrical system: wiring

  Electrical circuit that controls current to brake pump motor relay, heater and air conditioning blower motor, turn signals, and a electronic message center may overheat due to inability of ignition circuit wiring connections to dissipate heat generated by electrical loads.

  Brake pump motor will not operate, substantially reducingbraking capability; brake warning light will come on.

  Remedy

  Replace ignition switch and modify switch wiring.

• NHTSA recall #88V114000July 19, 198826,000 vehicles affected

  electrical system: wiring: front underhood

  Nylon shielded wiring harness, located in the engine compartment, is susceptible to heat damage and melting of the nylon material in 100 degree plus weather.

  Melted nylon shield could drip onto the exhaust manifoldand result in an underhood fire.

  Remedy

  Wrap wiring harness with heat resistant fiberglass tape.

• NHTSA recall #88V101000June 27, 198822,893 vehicles affected

  power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift

  Transmission shift cables may not meet fords pull out load specifications for the swivel tube portion of the cable, which could allow the swivel tube to separate from the shift cable assembly.

  Operator would not be able to shift from one of thedrive gears into park position.

  Remedy

  REPLACE SHIFT CABLE.

• NHTSA recall #88V030000March 11, 19888,848 vehicles affected

  suspension: rear: springs: coil springs

  Two torsion springs attached to rear suspension control arms may fracture and rub against a rear tire.

  This could result in sudden loss of tire inflationpressure with potential for an accident.

  Remedy

  Install torsion spring seats to restrict the springs from contacting the tire if they should fracture.

• NHTSA recall #88V027000March 8, 19884,500 vehicles affected

  seat belts

  Driver and right front passenger inboard seat belts may be improperly anchored due to loose nuts that could back off.

  Belt anchor could disengage the stud; an unattached beltassembly would not withstand an impact load.

  Remedy

  Inboard seat belt anchorages will be corrected to prevent loosening.

Other model years

• 1988
• 1989 158
• 1990 158
• 1991 203
• 1992 126
• 1993 121
• 1994 190
• 1995 70
• 1996 48
• 1997 96
• 1998 72
• 1999 42
• 2000 63
• 2001 32
• 2002 33
• 2017 75
• 2019 33