Most common 2001 Lincoln Continental problems
Share of the 32 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 →
2001 Lincoln Continental recalls (1)
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Motor
Vehicle description: passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, and light and medium duty pickup trucks. A switch located in the plastic cover of the wiper motor gear case could malfunction and overheat, potentially resulting in loss of intermittent wiper function, loss of wiper park function, complete loss of wiper function, or…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the date code on the wiper motor. Motors built with the suspect time frame will have the wiper motor gear case cover replaced. Owner notification began August 20, 2001.
What 2001 Lincoln Continental owners say
Suspension
I was backing out of my garage at home and when I turned my steering wheel, the left front spring broke and shredded the inside of the tire. I checked the area that the spring broke, and it was clean, unrusted metal, there was no sign of an impending failure, just a sudden break.
While backing the car out of the garage after it had been sitting overnight, there was a loud pop and the front driver's side tire went flat. After removing the wheel, I saw that the large coil suspension spring had broken and that the sharp end of the broken spring had sliced open the inside sidewall of the tire. The car is now in the shop, so the VIN and exact mileage are not available. If this had happened at highway speed, a serious accident could have occurred. My mechanic tells me that he has seen this problem with Ford products before. If this is a common occurrence, why hasn't there been a recall for this serious safety problem?
Electrical system
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Lincoln Continental. The contact stated that while traveling approximately 65 MPH, smoke started emitting from the steering column and near the wiper switch. Also, the contact noticed that the low washer fluid sensor illuminated intermittently and that under the hood there was a disconnected piece. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician replenished the windshield washer fluid and fixed the detached piece. Was not able to replicate or diagnose the failure. However, the remedy failed to repair the problem. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.
While driving, the consumer saw smoke coming from under the steering column. The driver pulled over and let the vehicle cool down. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who could not find a problem. Please provide further details.
Engine & cooling
Vehicle suffered sudden acceleration when shifting from park into drive. Vehicle collides with a wall causing damage on the passenger side fender and head light. Dealer has been notified. Please provide further information. Ph
While driving, vehicle completely shutsdown without warning. Cause unknown. The vehicle had a miss in transmission when changing gears to overdrive at speeds between 30 and 40 MPH.
2001 Lincoln Continental engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 15 / 23 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Lincoln Continental a good car?
Based on 32 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 Continental rates better than average: 51% fewer complaints than 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 2001 Lincoln Continental?
The suspension — 8 complaints, 25% of all complaints for this model year, most often about front › springs › coil springs. Next are the electrical system (6) and engine & cooling (4).
How many recalls does the 2001 Lincoln Continental have?
There is 1 recall for the 2001 Lincoln Continental, the most recent from August 8, 2001 (motor). 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 2001 Lincoln Continental problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 75,000 miles; 33% 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.