Lincoln Continental
The Lincoln Continental is a series of mid-sized and full-sized luxury cars produced between 1939 and 2020 by Lincoln, a division of the American automaker Ford. The model line was introduced following the construction of a personal vehicle for Edsel Ford, who commissioned a coachbuilt 1939 Lincoln-Zephyr convertible, developed as a vacation vehicle to attract potential Lincoln buyers. In what would give the model line its name, the exterior was designed with European "continental" styling elements, including a rear-mounted spare tire.
| Manufacturer | Ford |
|---|---|
| Production | From 1939 |
| Body type | Sedan |
Engine variants
Different engine versions of the Lincoln Continental (from registration data). 7 variants.
| Engine | Fuel | Transmission | Top speed | Economy | Model year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 l · 6-cyl | Diesel | Automatic | – | 10 l/100 km | 1984 |
| 2.4 l · 6-cyl | Diesel | Automatic | – | 10.7 l/100 km | 1985 |
| 3.8 l · 6-cyl | Petrol | Automatic | – | 12.9 l/100 km | 1988–1994 |
| 4.6 l · 8-cyl | Petrol | Automatic | – | 13.1 l/100 km | 1995 |
| 4.6 l · 8-cyl | Petrol | Automatic | – | 13.1 l/100 km | 1996–2002 |
| 5.0 l · 8-cyl | Petrol | Automatic | – | 14.7 l/100 km | 1984 |
| 5.0 l · 8-cyl | Petrol | Automatic | – | 12.8 l/100 km | 1985–1987 |
Source: EPA (US). Fuel economy converted to l/100 km.
Generations
Other Lincoln models
Similar Sedan models
Common problems & reliability
US owners have filed 260 complaints for the Lincoln Continental, most often about latches/locks/linkages, structure, unknown or other, electrical system. These are owner-reported issues, useful for spotting recurring weaknesses before you buy.
Based on real owner complaints and inspection data — not an editorial rating. Sources: NHTSA (US, public domain).
Recalls & safety
11 in the US-market NHTSA database, which may not apply to European versions for the Lincoln Continental. Recalls can flag known weaknesses of the model.
- BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERAUS · NHTSAModel year 2020
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.
NHTSA campaign 22V644000 · reported 26/08/2022
- BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWAREUS · NHTSAModel year 2020
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 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
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. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.
NHTSA campaign 25V442000 · reported 27/06/2025
- BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERAUS · NHTSAModel year 2019
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.
NHTSA campaign 22V644000 · reported 26/08/2022
- LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCHUS · NHTSAModel year 2019
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. Ford's number for this recall is 19S03.
NHTSA campaign 19V077000 · reported 11/02/2019
- BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWAREUS · NHTSAModel year 2019
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 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
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. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.
NHTSA campaign 25V442000 · reported 27/06/2025
- BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERAUS · NHTSAModel year 2018
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.
NHTSA campaign 22V644000 · reported 26/08/2022
- LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCHUS · NHTSAModel year 2018
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. Ford's number for this recall is 19S03.
NHTSA campaign 19V077000 · reported 11/02/2019
- LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCHUS · NHTSAModel year 2017
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. Ford's number for this recall is 19S03.
NHTSA campaign 19V077000 · reported 11/02/2019
- BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERAUS · NHTSAModel year 2017
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.
NHTSA campaign 22V644000 · reported 26/08/2022
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTSUS · NHTSAModel year 2017
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. The headlights may have been built with incorrect lenses, adversely affecting the turn signal visibility as well as not being properly marked. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Assoc. Equipment."
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. Ford's number for this recall is 16C15.
NHTSA campaign 16V731000 · reported 12/10/2016
- AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEUS · NHTSAModel year 2017
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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
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. Ford's number for this recall is 17C02.
NHTSA campaign 17V123000 · reported 27/02/2017
Sources: EU Safety Gate (European market) and NHTSA (US market). See all Lincoln recalls.