Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1996 Lincoln Continental, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Suspension13
- Visibility8
- Power train7
- Steering6
- Engine and engine cooling4
- Service brakes, hydraulic3
- Electrical system3
- Vehicle speed control3
- Structure3
- Unknown or other2
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 injuries and 2 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
In New Zealand
1 1996 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 13.2 L/100 km (about 18 mpg US), CO₂ 304 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1996 Lincoln Continental.
| 1996148 20 Sept 1996 | Powertrain THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE PARK MECHANISM MAY NOT PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING EVEN IF THE TRANSAXLE SHIFT LEVER IS FIRMLY PLACED IN THE "PARK" POSITION. IF TH… |
| 1996019 29 Jan 1996 | Lights And Instruments A DEFECT IN THE AUTOLAMP SYSTEM MAY CAUSE THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS, INCLUDING THE HEADLIGHTS, TO SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THIS WOULD ONLY OCCUR WHILE THE AUTOLAMP F… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARK PAWL SHAFT MAY NOT BE FREE TO ROTATE AS INTENDED. IF THE PARK PAWL SHAFT DOES NOT ROTATE, IT WOULD PREVENT THE PARK PAWL FROM ENGAGING THE PARK GEAR WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER IS IN THE PARK POSITION.
A DEFECTIVE CONTROL MODULE IN THE "AUTOLAMP" SYSTEM CAN MALFUNCTION. IF THE "AUTOLAMP" SYSTEM IS BEING USED TO ACTIVATE THE EXTERIOR LIGHT (INCLUDING HEADLAMPS), THE HEADLAMPS COULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THIS WILL NOT OCCUR IF THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING IS TURNED ON MANUALLY BY THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.
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 1996 Lincoln Continental: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 636080 | TRANSFER SERVICE TIPS FOR THE FRONT WIPER MOTOR MOUNT BRACKET AND DEPRESSED PARK OUTPUT ARM. *TT |
| 630515 | ENGINE OIL SYSTEM PRIMING PROCEDURES, SERVICE TIPS FOR REPORTS OF PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. *TT |
| 630356 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A PARK PULLOUT CLUNK NOISE WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO ANOTHER GEAR POSITION. *TT |
| 630351 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A GROAN/BUZZ/VIBRATION WHEN THE GEAR SELECTOR IS IN PARK. *TT |
| 630001 | SOME ENGINE ASSEMBLIES WITH ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEADS REPAIRED IN-VEHILE HAVE BEEN FOUND TO LEAK COOLANT AND/OR OIL FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET AREA. *TT |
| 625715 | BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK.*JB |
| 623988 | INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC |
| 623944 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC |
| 619424 | SUBJECT REGARDING ENGINE OIL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USE IN 2001 VEHICLES - SAE 5W-20 MOTOR OIL. *TT |
| 615497 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A NO-START CONDITION WHEN PARKED ON AN STEEP INCLINE WITH LESS THAN 1/4 TANK OF FUEL. *TT |
| 615491 | ALL VEHICLES WITH ANTILOCK BRAKE MODULE CONCERNS THAT REQUIRE A MODULE REPLACEMENT, THE TECHNICIAN MUST CALL FOR APPROVAL BEFORE REMOVING AND / OR REPLACING THE MODULE. *TT |
| 615487 | FOR ALL VEHICLES WITH REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY CONCERNS THAT REQUIRE A MODULE AND / OR TRANSMITTER (KEYFOB) REPLACEMENT, THE TECHNICIAN MUST CALL FOR APPROVAL BEFORE REMOVING AND / OR REPLACING THE MODULE OR KEYFOB. *TT |
| 615485 | FOR ALL VEHICLES WITH DRIVERS SEAT MODULE CONCERNS THAT REQUIRE A MODULE REPLACEMENT, THE TECHNICIAN MUST CALL FOR APPROVAL BEFORE REMOVING AND / OR REPLACING THE MODULE. *TT |
| 615484 | FOR ALL VEHICLES WITH DRIVERS DOOR MODULE CONCERNS THAT REQUIRE A MODULE REPLACEMENT, THE TECHNICIAN MUST CALL FOR APPROVAL BEFORE REMOVING AND / OR REPLACING. *TT |
| 615480 | FOR ALL VEHICLES WITH LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE CONCERNS THAT REQUIRE A MODULE REPLACEMENT, THE TECHNICAN MUST CALL FOR APPROVAL BEFORE REMOVING AND / OR REPLACING THE MODULE. *TT |
| 615405 | ON SOME VEHICLES, WITH LESS THAN 1/4 TANK OF FUEL, A NO-START CONDITION MAY EXIST WHEN PARKED ON AN STEEP INCLINE. *TT |
| 615345 | INFORMATION ON INSTALLING A NEW FUEL PUMP ON CERTAIN VEHICLES. *TT |
| 615280 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CONCERN WHERE THE REVERSE-DOWN FEATURE OF THE EXTERIOR MIRRORS MAY APPEAR TO BE INOPERATIVE AT TIMES. *TT |
| 615273 | SUBJECT REGARDING SERVICE EVAPORATOR ASSEMBLIES. *TT |
| 615255 | SOME VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO JUNE 16, 1998 MAY EXHIBIT NOISE FROM THE FRONT BRAKES, USUSALLY AT LOW SPEEDS JUST PRIOR TO COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. *TT |
| 615199 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CONCERN WHERE THE REVERSE-DOWN FEATURE OF THE EXTERIOR MIRRORS MAY APPEAR TO BE INOPERATIVE AT TIMES. *TT |
| 615191 | INFORMATION ON THE SERVICE EVAPORATOR ASSEMBLIES. *TT |
| 613251 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN INTERMITTENT HARD START OR NO START DUE TO FLOODING. *TT |
| 613242 | INFORMATION ON INSTALLATION A NEW FUEL PUMP , ENSURE THAT THE PUMP HAS PLASTIC SHEATHING OVER THE WIRES. *MJS |
| 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 |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)