Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1989 Lincoln Continental, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Seat belts42
- Engine and engine cooling26
- Service brakes, hydraulic26
- Electrical system23
- Suspension21
- Steering20
- Power train13
- Structure11
- Vehicle speed control11
- Equipment5
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 11 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Recalls in Canada
5 Transport Canada recalls for the 1989 Lincoln Continental.
| 1997192 10 Nov 1997 | Seats And Restraints THE FRONT OUTBOARD SEATING POSITION SEAT BELT BUCKLES ON THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT LATCH OR UNLATCH. THESE CONDITIONS COULD REDUCE BELT USAGE. IN THE EVENT OF SUD… |
| 1992166 30 Dec 1992 | Structure On certain vehicles with 3.0 Litre and 3.8 Litre engines, the body mounts on the rear corners of the subframe which supports the engine and transmission may bec… |
| 1992099 21 Aug 1992 | Emissions NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.8 LITRE ENGINES. THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S 1105 - EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS. CORRECTION: PURGE VALVE AND HOSE A… |
| 1992039 6 Apr 1992 | Brakes NOTE: VEHICLES LOCATED IN ONTARIO, QUEBEC, NEW BRUNSWICK, NOVA SCOTIA PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND AND NEWFOUNDLAND. THE COMPOSITE CONSTRUCTION FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ON … |
| 1989039 28 Mar 1989 | Seats And Restraints THE LEFT SIDE REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY MAY BE IMPROPERLY SECURED. IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR VEHICLE CRASH, THE PASSENGER USING THIS SEAT MAY NOT… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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 FRONT OUTBOARD SEATING POSITION SEAT BELT BUCKLES MAY NOT LATCH OR UNLATCH.
FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE SEVERE CORROSION IF OPERATED IN AREAS WHERE CALCIUM CHLORIDE AND SODIUM CHLORIDE ARE USED EXTENSIVELY.
THE LEFT SIDE, REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY MAY BE IMPROPERLY SECURED AND COULD PULL FREE OF ITS MOUNTING LOCATION.
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 1989 Lincoln Continental: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 623988 | INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC |
| 623944 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC |
| 613234 | INFORMATION REGARDING TSB 98-5A-12 (TRANSAXLE/TRANSMISSION/TRANSFER CASE-VEHICLES TOWED BEHIND RECREATIONAL VEHICLES-RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES) DOES NOT LIST TOWING INFORMATION FOR CERTAIN MODEL VEHICLES. *MJS |
| 612203 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS |
| 6090087 | INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT |
| 6089681 | SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT |
| 608431 | INFORMATION ON THE NEW FLUSH AND FILL TOOL AVAILABLE THROUGH ROTUNDA. *TT |
| 607497 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE THE AVAILABILITY OF THE REVISED HEADGASKET FOR COOLANT LOSS CONDITIONS ON SOME ENGINES. *TT |
| 606420 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY NOW RECOMMENDS SAE 5W-30 VISCOSITY GRADE FOR SERVICING ANY FORD GASOLINE-POWERED VEHICLE REGARDLESS OF MODEL YEAR. *TT |
| 604059 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS RELEASED A NEW ELECTRICAL GREASE ( F8AZ - 19G208-AA ) TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF MOISTURE CORROSION AT THE TERMINALS. *YC |
| 603573 | A REVISED FORWARD CLUTCH INNER SEAL FOR THE AXOD, AXODE, AX4S & AX4N TRANSAXLE IS AVAILABLE WITH IMPROVED SEALING AND REDUCED CHANCE OF THE SEAL ROLLING DURING INSTALLATION. *YC |
| 601343 | A NEW SILICONE GASKET AND SEALANT. *YC |
| 601312 | INFORMATION ON A BUZZING OR RATTLE NOISE FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. *TT |
| 601270 | CONCERNS WITH COOLANT MAY LEAK FROM THE HEAD GASKETS AND / OR THE VEHICLE MAY OVERHEAT. *YC |
| 601269 | ANNOUNCING THE FORD OEM AIR CONDITIONING RETROFIT KIT AVAILABILITY. *YC |
| 601238 | INFORMATION ON A NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHART. *YC |
| 601012 | THE USE OF PETROLEUM-BASED GREASE AS A LUBRICANT IN SERVICING DISC BRAKES IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE. *YC |
| 601004 | SOME VEHICLES MAY CYCLE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED ON ROUGH ROADS OR ON AN INCLINE WHILE MAKING A SHARP TURN. *YC |
| 53660 | VEHICLES EXHIBITING A "SQUEAKING" OR "CHIRPING" FROM THE BLOWER MOTOR AT LOW BLOWER MOTOR SPEEDS. *YC |
| 51990 | BLOWER MOTOR- "CHIRPING" OR "SQUEAKING" FROM BLOWER MOTOR AT LOW SPEEDS. *JD |
| 51945 | FLUID- TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *JD |
| 51682 | BLOWER MOTOR- "CHIRP" OR "SQUEAK" FROM BLOWER MOTOR AT LOW SPEEDS. *JD |
| 51540 | THE ABS/RED BRAKE/AIR SUSPENSION LAMPS COMING ON, CHECK FOR A BAD GROUND ON CIRCUIT 430. *JD |
| 51491 | THE ABS/RED BRAKE/AIR SUSPENSION LAMPS COMING ON, CHECK FOR A BAD GROUND ON CIRCUIT 430. *JD |
| 51361 | SOME POWER STEERING HOSES HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH A REVISED DESIGN AND SHOULD NO LONGER BE USED FOR SERVICE. *JD |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
FAULTY SEAT BELT BUCKLES
ALLEGED DEFECTIVE TIE RODS
BROKEN TIE RODS
BROKEN TIE RODS
SUB-FRM/UNIBODY ABSOR.FAIL
SUB-FRM/UNIBODY ABSOR.FAIL
ENGINE MOUNT FAILURE
AIR SUSPENSION FAILURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation