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Check a VIN

1985 Lincoln Continental

15 owner complaints — #19 of 26 Continental model years. 2 recalls, 20 service bulletins.

15complaints · 0 crashes, 8 fires
2recalls
20manufacturer bulletins
—median mileage at failure

Problems owners report

Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1985 Lincoln Continental, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.

  • Electrical system4
  • Suspension3
  • Service brakes, hydraulic3
  • Engine and engine cooling2
  • Seat belts1
  • Fuel system, gasoline1
  • Tires1

NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported

Compared with other years

’81’84’85’87’90’93’96’99’02’1915’81’84’85’87’90’93’96’99’02’1915

NHTSA ODI complaints by model year

Recalls in Canada

2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1985 Lincoln Continental.

1986087
13 Aug 1986
Brakes
VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A BRAKE SYSTEM SUPPLY MOTOR THAT PROVIDES HYDRAULIC PRESSURE FOR THE THE REAR BRAKES AND POWER ASSIST TO THE FRONT BRAKES. THERE IS A…
1985038
11 Apr 1985
Not Entered
DEFECTIVE ELECTRONIC MODULES MAY CAUSE A MALFUNCTION IN THE ELECTRICAL AIR SUSPENSION CIRCUITRY. IF THIS OCCURS, A POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT F…

Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada

Recalls

86V109000 · Service brakes, hydraulic8 Aug 1986 · 38,000 vehicles

UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, CONTACTS IN BRAKE SYSTEM RELAY COULD REMAIN CLOSED, CAUSING THE BRAKE PUMP MOTOR TO RUN CONTINUOUSLY, CAUSING IT TO OVERHEAT AND EVENTUALLY FAIL. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SHOULD THE BRAKE SUPPLY MOTOR FAIL, THE POWER ASSIST TO THE FRONT BRAKES WILL BE LOST, AND AFTER ABOUT 10 TO 15 NORMAL BRAKE STOPS, LOSS OF REAR BRAKE FUNCTION WILL RESULT, CAUSING INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. HOWEVER, THE INSTRUMENT BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE PRIOR TO REDUCED BRAKING CAPABILITY AND IF WARNING IS NOT HEEDED, AN ACCIDENT MAY OCCUR.

85V040000 · Suspension9 Apr 1985 · 19,200 vehicles

A MALFUNCTION MAY OCCUR IN THE AIR SUSPENSION ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY.

Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words

Service bulletins

What Lincoln told its dealers about the 1985 Lincoln Continental: known faults, fixes and updates.

BulletinSummary
623988INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC
623944SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC
612203INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS
6090087INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT
6089681SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT
608431INFORMATION ON THE NEW FLUSH AND FILL TOOL AVAILABLE THROUGH ROTUNDA. *TT
604059FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS RELEASED A NEW ELECTRICAL GREASE ( F8AZ - 19G208-AA ) TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF MOISTURE CORROSION AT THE TERMINALS. *YC
601343A NEW SILICONE GASKET AND SEALANT. *YC
601312INFORMATION ON A BUZZING OR RATTLE NOISE FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. *TT
601238INFORMATION ON A NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHART. *YC
601012THE USE OF PETROLEUM-BASED GREASE AS A LUBRICANT IN SERVICING DISC BRAKES IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE. *YC
51945FLUID- TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *JD
50997TRANSAXLE - TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES AND TORQUE CONVERTER/TRANSAXLE COOLING SYSTEM CLEANING PROCEDURES - SERVICE TIP. *TW
50940WINDSHIELD AND INTERIOR GLASS - FOG/FILM. *TW
50908TORQUE CONVERTER - LEAK TEST PROCEDURE - SERVICE TIP. *TW
50905WIRING - ELECTRICAL DIODE IDENTIFICATION AND SERVICE REPLACEMENTS. *TW
46478 THE USE OF PETROLEUM-BASED GREASE AS A LUBRICANT IN SERVICING DISC BRAKES IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE BECAUSE IT MAY BE INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE RUBBER MATERIAL USED IN THE DISC BRAKE SYSTEM. IF PETROLEUM-BASED GREASE IS USED TO LUBRICATE ANY PART OF THE DISC BRAKE SYSTEM, IT COULD CAUSE RUBBER PARTS TO SWELL IF LUBRICANT CONTACTS THE RUBBER MATERIAL.
42072UNKNOWN
39900 ROUGHNESS CONCERN DURING BRAKE APPLICATION. *TW
3020102UNKNOWN

NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)

NHTSA investigations

PE93036 · Suspensionopened 12 Apr 1993 · closed 4 Aug 1993

AIR SUSPENSION FAILURE

PE88100 · Service brakes, hydraulicopened 6 Sept 1988 · closed 17 Apr 1989

ABS FAILURE

PE86067 · Service brakes, hydraulicopened 29 Jul 1986 · closed 9 Sept 1986

BRAKE FAILURE

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation