Lincoln Continental Problems by Year

We compared every Lincoln Continental model year from 1995–2020 using 592 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, 13 recalls and federal defect investigations. The years to avoid are 2017 and 1997, which drew far more complaints than other Continental years at the same age. The best years are 2020, 2018 and 2019.

12model years
592complaints
13recalls
2017, 1997worst years
2020, 2018best years

Complaints by model year

19951996199719981999200020012002201720182019202070489672426332337521337
Owner complaints per model year, Lincoln Continental. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).
YearComplaintsvs. typical*RecallsTop problemVerdict
20207−76%2Collision AvoidanceGood
201933−28%3Door Lock & LatchAverage
201821−60%2Door Lock & LatchGood
2017751.5×4BodyCaution
200233−53%—AccelerationGood
200132−51%1SuspensionGood
200063typical3AirbagAverage
199942−37%2SuspensionAverage
1998721.3×1EngineAverage
1997961.8×1Window & WiperCaution
199648−20%2SuspensionAverage
1995701.3×1HeadlightAverage

* Complaints compared with the median Continental year at the same age, so new and old years are judged fairly. How this works.

Most common Lincoln Continental problems

Latest Lincoln Continental recalls

Back over prevention › Software

NHTSA recall 25V-442 · Jun 27, 2025 · 200,237 vehicles

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and…

Remedy: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.

Back over prevention › Sensing system › Camera

NHTSA recall 22V-644 · Aug 26, 2022 · 277,040 vehicles

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2020 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and 2017-2020 Lincoln Continental vehicles equipped with the 360-degree camera system. Degradation of the camera's anit-reflective lens coating can lead to a foggy or cloudy rearview camera image.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 14, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S51.

Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch

NHTSA recall 19V-077 · Feb 11, 2019 · 27,609 vehicles

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Lincoln Continental vehicles. The door latch pawl motors may not function properly, possibly resulting in a door latch not fully engaging.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the latch assemblies on all four doors, free of charge. The recall began October 14, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 17V-123 · Feb 27, 2017 · 27,531 vehicles

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles and 2017 Lincoln Continental vehicles. In the event of a crash, the driver's frontal air bag may not fully inflate or the air bag cushion may detach from the air bag module.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began June 16, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.

Exterior lighting › Headlights

NHTSA recall 16V-731 · Oct 12, 2016 · 1,827 vehicles

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2017 Lincoln Continental vehicles manufactured June 14, 2016, to September 23, 2016 and equipped with high intensity discharge (HID) headlights.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the headlights, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 16, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.

All 13 Lincoln Continental recalls by year →

Frequently asked questions

What years of the Lincoln Continental should you avoid?

2017 and 1997 — these years have the most complaints relative to other Continental years at the same age, led by body & structure problems in the 2017.

What is the best year for the Lincoln Continental?

2020 has the fewest complaints compared with other Continental years at the same age, followed by 2018 and 2019. Newer years can look better simply because fewer complaints have come in yet, so we compare like with like.

What are the most common Lincoln Continental problems?

Across all years, owners report the most problems with the suspension (75), electrical system (65) and engine & cooling (59). Suspension complaints peak in the 1996 model year.

How many recalls has the Lincoln Continental had?

13 recalls across 1995–2020. The model year with the most is 2017. See all Lincoln Continental recalls by year.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.