Most common 1998 Lincoln Continental problems
Share of the 72 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Lincoln Continental complaints by model year
Best Continental years: 2020, 2018, 2019. Years to avoid: 2017, 1997. Compare all years →
1998 Lincoln Continental recalls (1)
Exterior lighting › Headlights
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The text and/or graphics for the vehicle headlamp aiming instructions provided in the owner guides are not sufficiently clear. This does not meet the requirements of FMVSS no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Remedy: Owner guides containing revised aiming instructions will be mailed to owners of these vehicles.
What 1998 Lincoln Continental owners say
Engine & cooling
While making a u-turn consumer noticed smoke coming from the engine, vehicle was on fire. High pressure plastic line on top of engine cracked and fuel went out onto exhaust pipes and spark plug wires.
Consumer stated at 17,000 miles, the engine overheated and failed to continue operating, dealership examined the vehicle and made the necessary repairs to remedy problem, then on 26-sep-2001, engine was leaking oil from the right valve cover gasket which had to be replaced, also the water pump was leaking, the door ajar light on dashboard illuminated and would not go out leaving doors in the open position.
Speed control & acceleration
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 6 am - 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).
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.
Electrical system
I have electrical problems that act up only when they wanted to and the dealership is declining that they exist. I have had my car in for service for 3 weeks in the last month and they keep coming up with nothing. They also called me in and wanted to keep my car and have the service manager drive it for a few days -in which he only drove 37 miles, prior to that he and I drove the car to see if anything strange would happen and it did, which now they say nothing is wrong and they were unable to detect customer's concerns. I had a major dispute with them and had to call the police. Dims 11 ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis-----770757.
Instrument cluster on a 1998 Lincoln Continental. The instrument cluster failed, which resulted in the car stalling out. This made steering and braking very difficult because there was no power going to these units on the car. I was lucky and the traffic was very light at the time. The second failure happened while the vehicle was in a driveway.
1998 Lincoln Continental engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 15 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Lincoln Continental a good car?
Based on 72 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Continental rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Continental at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Lincoln Continental?
The engine & cooling — 14 complaints, 19% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › gasoline. Next are the speed control & acceleration (13) and electrical system (7).
How many recalls does the 1998 Lincoln Continental have?
There is 1 recall for the 1998 Lincoln Continental, the most recent from February 10, 1998 (headlights). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Lincoln Continental?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2020, 2018 and 2019. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2017 and 1997. See the full Lincoln Continental years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Lincoln Continental problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 100,000 miles; 24% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.