Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 2000.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Continental | 7 | 2 |
| 2019 Continental | 33 | 3 |
| 2018 Continental | 21 | 2 |
| 2017 Continental | 75 | 4 |
| 2002 Continental | 33 | 0 |
| 2001 Continental | 32 | 1 |
| 2000 Continental | 63 | 3 |
| 1999 Continental | 42 | 2 |
| 1998 Continental | 72 | 1 |
| 1997 Continental | 96 | 1 |
| 1996 Continental | 48 | 2 |
| 1995 Continental | 70 | 1 |
| 1994 Continental | 190 | 5 |
| 1993 Continental | 121 | 4 |
| 1992 Continental | 126 | 3 |
| 1991 Continental | 203 | 3 |
| 1990 Continental | 158 | 3 |
| 1989 Continental | 158 | 4 |
| 1988 Continental | 84 | 9 |
| 1987 Continental | 9 | 1 |
| 1986 Continental | 8 | 5 |
| 1985 Continental | 15 | 2 |
| 1984 Continental | 6 | 2 |
| 1983 Continental | 2 | 2 |
| 1982 Continental | 1 | 1 |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Engine and engine cooling393
- Suspension247
- Electrical system199
- Service brakes, hydraulic169
- Power train163
- Structure142
- Steering136
- Vehicle speed control109
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 51 Continental vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 35 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.
| Model year | Vehicles in fatal crashes | Deaths in the vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 | 0 |
| 2018 | 4 | 2 |
| 2017 | 3 | 2 |
| 2002 | 8 | 5 |
| 2001 | 9 | 7 |
| 2000 | 4 | 2 |
| 1999 | 7 | 4 |
| 1998 | 7 | 8 |
| 1997 | 1 | 1 |
| 1996 | 1 | 1 |
| 1995 | 2 | 1 |
| 1994 | 1 | 1 |
| 1979 | 1 | 0 |
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count
Crash-test ratings by year
NHTSA 5-star results for 4 model-year variants; 4 of 4 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Year | Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2020 Lincoln Continental 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | 10.6 % |
| 2019 | 2019 Lincoln Continental 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | 10.6 % |
| 2018 | 2018 Lincoln Continental 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | 10.6 % |
| 2017 | 2017 Lincoln Continental 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | 10.6 % |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 11 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 12.0–13.3 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Continental AWD · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 14.0 | 9.5 | 12.0 |
| 2019 | Continental AWD · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 14.0 | 9.4 | 12.0 |
| 2018 | Continental AWD · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 14.0 | 9.4 | 12.0 |
| 2017 | Continental AWD · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 14.0 | 9.5 | 12.0 |
| 2002 | Continental · Full-size · Premium gasoline | 15.2 | 10.2 | 12.9 |
| 2001 | Continental · Full-size · Premium gasoline | 15.2 | 10.2 | 12.9 |
| 2000 | Continental · Full-size · Premium gasoline | 15.2 | 10.2 | 12.9 |
| 1999 | Continental · Full-size · Premium gasoline | 15.5 | 10.4 | 13.2 |
| 1998 | Continental # · Full-size · Premium gasoline | 15.5 | 10.5 | 13.3 |
| 1997 | Continental # · Full-size · Premium gasoline | 15.5 | 10.3 | 13.2 |
| 1996 | Continental # · Full-size · Premium gasoline | 15.7 | 10.2 | 13.2 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
In New Zealand
208 Continental cars are on the New Zealand register; 92% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2001 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1999 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1996 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1993 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1991 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1981 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1980 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1979 | 22 | 0 | 22 |
| 1978 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1977 | 18 | 1 | 16 |
| 1976 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1975 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| 1974 | 8 | 0 | 7 |
| 1973 | 12 | 1 | 10 |
| 1972 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1971 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 1970 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1969 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 1968 | 7 | 0 | 6 |
| 1967 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 1966 | 22 | 0 | 21 |
| 1965 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1964 | 6 | 0 | 4 |
| 1963 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1962 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1961 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 1960 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1959 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 1957 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
In the Netherlands
596 Continental cars are on Dutch roads; 93% arrived later as imports. Open a year for APK defects, odometer checks and colours.
| First registered | On the road | Median list price |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 88 | — |
| 1978 | 59 | — |
| 1977 | 55 | — |
| 1976 | 57 | — |
| 1975 | 37 | — |
| 1974 | 31 | — |
| 1973 | 69 | — |
| 1972 | 63 | — |
| 1971 | 41 | — |
| 1970 | 25 | — |
| 1969 | 50 | — |
| 1967 | 21 | — |
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles (CC0) · list price is the manufacturer's catalogue price when new
In Finland
113 Continental cars were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026: 100% petrol, 0% diesel. Mileage is the odometer reading at the last inspection.
| First registered | In use | Average mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 24 | 53,000 km |
| 1978 | 12 | 53,000 km |
| 1977 | 9 | 59,000 km |
| 1976 | 20 | 59,000 km |
| 1975 | 7 | 39,000 km |
| 1974 | 9 | 58,000 km |
| 1973 | 9 | 32,000 km |
| 1972 | 11 | 61,000 km |
| 1971 | 5 | 42,000 km |
| 1969 | 7 | 57,000 km |
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use, 30 Jun 2026 · CC BY 4.0
New registrations in Europe
6 new Lincoln Continental cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2019 and 2021, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2021 the largest markets were Spain (1), Germany (1).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2 | — |
| 2020 | 1 | 397 (NEDC) |
| 2019 | 3 | 225 (NEDC) |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Recalls
39 campaigns cover the Continental; the latest 12 are below.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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."
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG COULD DEPLOY AS A RESULT OF UNDERBODY IMPACTS NEAR THE SENSORS, SUCH AS THOSE OCCURRING FROM PIECES OF GRAVEL OR DEBRIS THROWN FROM THE WHEELS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED AT MODERATE TO HIGH SPEED OR BEING ACCELERATED.
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 IGNITION OF THE PLASTIC COVER MATERIAL. SWITCH MALFUNCTION IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR WHEN THE INTERMITTENT SETTING OF THE WIPERS IS BEING USED, OR WHEN SNOW OR ICE OBSTRUCTS THE BLADES FROM RETURNING TO THE "PARKED" POSITION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT AT THE FOLLOWING ASSEMBLY PLANTS: ATLANTA PLANT FROM 2/11/00 THROUGH 7/31/00; CHICAGO PLANT FROM 2/14/00 THROUGH 8/4/00; KANSAS CITY PLANT FROM 2/26/00 TO 9/4/00; KENTUCKY TRUCK PLANT FROM 2/18/00 TO 8/31/00; MICHIGAN TRUCK PLANT FROM 2/23/00 THROUGH 8/3/00; NORFOLK PLANT FROM 2/21/00 THROUGH 7/27/00; WAYNE STAMPING AND ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM 2/25/00 THROUGH 8/15/00; AND WIXOM PLANT FROM 2/15/00 THROUGH 8/8/00.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MAY HAVE A PIN SHAFT IN THE SWITCHABLE ELR/ALR MECHANISM THAT IS INCORRECTLY FORMED. IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, THE SWITCHING MECHANISM COULD BECOME NONFUNCTIONAL, PREVENTING THE SEAT BELT WEBBING FROM BEING EXTRACTED FROM THE RETRACTOR. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT MALFUNCTION OF THE MECHANISM COULD PREVENT THE BELT FROM BEING SWITCHED INTO THE ALR MODE. THE ELR MECHANISM IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS CONDITION.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGNIA, AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR LOWER SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT CAN EXPERIENCE STRESS CORROSION CRACKING IF SUBJECTED TO LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALTS. THIS CAN RESULT IN FRACTURE AND LOSS OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT ATTACHMENT. DETACHMENT OF THE BODY MOUNTS AT THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ALLOWS THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME TO DROP.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FUEL RAIL CROSSOVER HOSE WAS DAMAGED DURING FUEL RAIL ASSEMBLY ALLOWING FUEL LEAKAGE.
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."
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHTS CAN FLASH INTERMITTENTLY AS A RESULT OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING. THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS CAN GO OUT FOR BRIEF INTERVALS.
NHTSA recalls