Lincoln Continental Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Lincoln Continental options? We analyzed 7 model years (2000–2020) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Lincoln Continental has 266 owner complaints and 18 safety recalls across model years 2000–2020. The most reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 2017 drew the most complaints; 2020 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Lincoln
- Model
- Continental
- Model years analyzed
- 2000–2020 (7 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 266
- Safety recall campaigns
- 18
- Crash-related complaints
- 14
- Fire-related complaints
- 3
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2017 (75 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2020 (7 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
Lincoln Continental: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe LINCOLN CONTINENTAL has 266 NHTSA complaints and 18 recalls on record. 14 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 266 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 18 federal recall campaigns
- 14 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Sep 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
18 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2000–2020. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 266 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
266 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln Continental. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked on several occasions, the contact became aware that the front driver’s side metal near the check strap was splitting, and while the driver’s door was opened, there was a cracking sound coming from the door. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the door might swing open but not stop midway as designed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln Continental. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the battery charge drained unexpectedly. The headlights and warning lights were flashing on and off with the horn honking unintendedly. The vehicle was towed to a dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with electrical failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 67,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln Continental. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V077000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages) and the remedy, to replace the latch assemblies on all four doors, had been completed in 2019. Approximately 7 years later, the driver's side door failed to latch immediately. The contact consistently pressed the button for the door to latch and lock. The failure had gotten progressively worse. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V077000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages); however, the repair was no longer covered by the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure, and the case was escalated to the Automotive Safety Office. The contact had not received a response from the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 99,035.
Vehicle door handles are prone to failure and unresponsive for the lock/unlock. Potential safety concern for customers like myself which should be brought to Lincoln’s attention. Driver side door handle and other door handles known to be unresponsive when locking/unlocking with keys or pressing button behind door handle.
The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln Continental. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the front driver's door latch failed to latch as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a failed front driver's door latch. The contact was informed that the front driver's door latch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact was concerned that the front driver's door might unlatch while driving the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that an unknown recall was performed in 2019, and that the front driver's door latch was replaced. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.
At issue is the on board display “Park Brake Limited Function Service Required” sometimes followed by flashing brake light. When this happens vehicle needs to pull over and stop and release the parking brake to go back to normal. . Also, there are times when light flashes ithe alarm goes off. Multiple times to shut off. The diagnosis was a faulty ABS-Module, which is now obsolete by Lincoln. We have tried many venues to find one and major parts house said he found none available in the U.S. Talking with Lincoln they had no answers. Question not answered by Lincoln are we at risk driving this vehicle. At the time vehicle drives great, since the ABS-Module affects other main parts of the vehicle, we are worried if another function is disrupted will it cause an issue. Such as an accident. Question, can we continue to drive this car safely. All information I’ve included can be verified by Korum Lincoln in Puyallup, Wa. 253-845-6600. The obsolete ABS-Module is the problem. Our safety is a concern!
Read 14 more owner reports
When rotating tires 12/22/2023, upon removal of the right front tire, it was discovered that the inner sidewall had split open about midway between the tread and the wheel rim, for a distance of about one foot. There was no advance warning of this, and no warnings or messages displayed on the vehicle prior. As this was the first wheel removed, I am not sure what the condition of the other tires may be. As all tires are original equipment to the car, which is 4.5 years old and has approximately 18,000 miles on the odometer, I suspect that all tires will likely need to be replaced as they are all the same date code and DOT number. I have tried to upload pictures, but the webpage doesn't let me.
The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln Continental. The contact received recall notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V644000 (Back Over Prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while shifted into reverse(R), the rear-view camera displayed blurry images. The contact stated that several undisclosed dealers were contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln Continental. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V644000 (Back Over Prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln Continental. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V644000 (Back Over Prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the back over prevention image displayed was very distorted. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln Continental. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V644000 (Back Over Prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the rear-view camera was foggy from the day the vehicle was purchased. The contact stated that he had not paid attention to the rear-view camera until he received notification of NHTSA Campaign: 22V644000 (Back Over Prevention). The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 25. VIN tool confirms parts not available. The contact stated that the backup camera is always foggy and cloudy during the day and night.
On July 09, 2022 I delivered my vehicle to Heller Ford 700 Main Street El Paso, IL, (309) 527-6050 to have my original Cabin Air Filter eeplaced with a unit which I supplied. Their technician performed a commendable removal of the original unit. He found the original Motor Craft Cabin Air Filter had deteriated to a black fragmented crust which had clogged the blower motor to the extent the motor had to be removed and bown out, and reinstalled prior to the instillation of the new filter! I have no reservations against Heller Ford and it Service Facility Staff, mine is with Lincoln My car had 56,687 miles at the time of the service, The service manual recommends changes be made at 20,000 - 30,00 miles. My vehicle is highway driven no city stop and go traffic, I asked the sevice staff if they ever seen a cabin air filter in such shape- they said no I Purchased my vehicle from Sutton Lincoln/Ford in 2018 new off the lot and this vehicle is used for 100% pleasure driving. I feel the Cabin Air Filter was defective when it was installed at the factory! I contacted Lincoln Way - Case # 37545937 c/o Joan Turetsky Claim Service MGR. Little of no help (1-800 - 521-4140) I feel I should be reimbursed for my efforts due to a defective filter
The electric door latching mechanisms fail to fully latch the driver's door shut when pulled to the first detent. In order to fully engage the door latches, it was necessary to slam the door. The first occurrence coincided with unusually cold weather (34 degrees f). These door latches had previously been the subject of a recall which first delayed the dealer's ability to sell the car to me. Then, suddenly, even though the parts were reportedly still unavailable, the dealer claimed to have been able to use company connections to obtain parts early and claimed to have carried out the recall before selling me the car in April 2019. About a year later, the latches malfunctioned, draining the car's battery over the course of about two days, after which, the same dealer "reprogrammed" the latches and replaced the battery. Now trouble with the same door latches emerges again.
THE WIPER AND WASHERS DO NOT OPERATE AS INTENDED. OPERATION IS SPORADIC. WASHERS DO NOT RESPOND TO THE CONTROL. THEY TURN ON BY THEMSELVES, USUALLY AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND WILL EMPTY THE WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR. THE WIPERS DO NOT RESPOND TO THE CONTROLS. THEY TOO MAY TURN ON AT ANYTIME ON THEIR OWN. BUT THEY DO NOT TURN ON WHEN YOU OPERATE THE SWITCH TO TURN THEM ON. THESE OCCURRENCES HAPPEN REGARDLESS OF THE CAR BEING IN PARK OR IN GEAR. AFTER 2 WEEKS IN THE DEALERSHIP, THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND HAVE BEEN REPLACING VARIOUS PARTS, TRIAL AND ERROR, TO NO AVAIL.
RANDOM PROBLEMS WITH MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL AREAS; APPROACH LIGHTS NOT COMING ON, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DEPROGRAMING PRESETS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, OUTSIDE MIRRORS FOLDING WHEN PROGRAMMED NOT TO DO SO, INTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR MARKEDLY CHANGING POSITION, HUD MALFUNCTIONING. LINCOLN TELLS ME THAT I AM NOT DRIVING IT ENOUGH AND THE BATTERY IS GOING DOWN. THAT THEN MAKES THE COMPUTER TO MALFUNCTION. THE LATEST ATTEMPT TO REMEDY THIS IS THE INSTALLATION OF A TRICLE CHARGER. THE CONNECTION TO IT HANGS OUT A HOLE IN THE GRILL WHERE I SUSPECT IT WILL BEAT MY BUMPER TO PIECES. THEY NOW TELL ME THAT I MUST STORE THE FOB NO LESS THAN 50 FEET FROM THE CAR SO THAT THE FOB TALKING TO THE COMPUTER WILL RUN THE BATTERY DOWN. *TR
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DEPROGRAMS ITSELF, INTERIOR LIGHTING STOPPED WORKING, FOLDING EXTERIOR MIRRORS FOLD THEMSELVES WITHOUT COMMAND TO DO SO,REAR VIEW MIRROR CHANGES IT SETTING WITHOUT COMMAND, HUD FLASHES MULTICOLOR LIGHTS ONTO WINDSHIELD VIEWING AREA, APPROACH LIGHTING STOPPED WORKING. SYNC3 WAS PROGRAMMED TO DISPLAY MAP ON STARTUP BUT RECENTLY CAME UP WITH DIFFERENT SETUP. ALL OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. BEGAN 12/11/2018 UNTIL PRESENT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V077000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). THE CONTACT CALLED BILL KNIGHT LINCOLN VOLVO AT 918-526-2509 (LOCATED AT 4111 S MEMORIAL DR, TULSA, OK 74145) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
2018 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DOOR LATCH SAFETY RECALL. *LD *TR *DT CONSUMER FEELS HE WAS SOLD A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE WHICH COMMITTED VIOLATIONS IN HIS SALES TRANSACTION, PURCHASE DATE 02/07/19. MANUFACTURE AND DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY SAID THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF RECALL PRIOR TO 02/07/19.*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. AFTER THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE NEW VEHICLE, IT WAS LATER DISCOVERED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V077000(STRUCTURE). THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED AS NEW WITH AN OPEN RECALL. NICK MAYER LINCOLN WESTLAKE (24400 CENTER RIDGE RD, WESTLAKE, OH) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. *BF *TR
Passenger Door Latch sensor failure. Door Latches were under recall 2017 to 2019 Lincoln Continental sedans built from Nov. 30, 2015, through Nov. 14, 2018, at Ford's Flat Rock assembly plant in Michigan to include 2020 manufactured in Flat Rock. My car was manufactured in Flat Rock, MI
Showing 20 of 266 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Lincoln Continental
These pages show model-year patterns across 7 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Lincoln Continental, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Lincoln Continental has 266 complaints on record across 7 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Lincoln Continental has 18 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 14 of the Lincoln Continental's 266 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Lincoln Continental vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Lincoln Continental vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Lincoln Continental has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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How does the Lincoln Continental stack up? Compare complaint history with similar vehicles.
By state
Check a Lincoln Continental by state
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Lincoln Continental.
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Keep researching before you buy
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Lincoln Continental reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Lincoln Continental reliable?
Poor. The Lincoln Continental has 266 NHTSA owner complaints and 18 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Lincoln Continental years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2017 (75 complaints), 2019 (31 complaints), 2018 (19 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Lincoln Continental problems?
Top reported issues: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (41 complaints); UNKNOWN OR OTHER (37 complaints); LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES (31 complaints).
Does the Lincoln Continental have recalls?
Yes — 18 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Lincoln Continental. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.