Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Lincoln Continental, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Visibility15
- Steering12
- Power train10
- Suspension10
- Service brakes, hydraulic10
- Tires9
- Vehicle speed control8
- Electrical system7
- Engine and engine cooling6
- Air bags4
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 5 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1997 Lincoln Continental failed the safety check 0.51% of the time — 68% less often than the average 1997 passenger car (1.60%). Median odometer at inspection: 111,241 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
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 | 15.5 | 10.3 | 13.2 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 1997 Lincoln Continental.
| 1996135 13 Sept 1996 | Powertrain THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET HAS A SHARP EDGE WHICH MAY CAUSE THE PARKING PAWL TO HANG UP AND NOT ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR. THIS MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO MOVE EV… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET HAS A SHARP EDGE WHICH CAN CAUSE THE PARKING PAWL TO HANG UP AND NOT ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR. THIS WOULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO MOVE EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR SHOWS THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK.
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 1997 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 |
| 627927 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT VACUUM OR AIR LEAKS IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND / OR ENGINE SYSTEM CAUSING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0171 AND OR P0174. *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 |
| 613773 | ON SOME VEHICLES THE OUTSIDE TEMP DISPLAY MAY READ 5 OR MORE DEGREES HIGHER THAN THE ACTUAL AMBIENT TEMPERATURE. *TT |
| 613251 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN INTERMITTENT HARD START OR NO START DUE TO FLOODING. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)