Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2001 Lincoln Continental, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Suspension8
- Electrical system6
- Engine and engine cooling4
- Unknown or other4
- Power train3
- Steering3
- Vehicle speed control3
- Visibility2
- Wheels1
- Seat belts1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 2 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 9 2001 Continental vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 7 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2001 Lincoln Continental failed the safety check 1.96% of the time — 2% less often than the average 2001 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 109,742 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In New Zealand
1 2001 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 12.9 L/100 km (about 18 mpg US), CO₂ 297 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Continental · Full-size · Premium gasoline | 15.2 | 10.2 | 12.9 |
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 2001 Lincoln Continental.
| 2001204 13 Aug 2001 | Other Certain 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 coul… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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 2001 Lincoln Continental: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637765 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE ELECTRONIC AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE CONTROL (EATC) WILL NOT CYCLE THE AI CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR WHEN THE FLOOR MODE IS SELECTED. *TT |
| 637556 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AX4N/4F50N TRANSAXLE MAY EXHIBIT A SHUDDER DURING A 3-4 SHIFT. *TT |
| 636065 | INFORMATION REGARDING DISCHARGED BATTERY CHARGING SERVICE TIPS AND GUIDELINES. *TT |
| 635992 | HESITATION, BUCK OR SURGE DURING A STEADY STATE OPERATION AT 40-60 MPH (64-96 KM/H). *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 |
| 630095 | SUBJECT REGARDING SHUDDER WHILE IN REVERSE. *YH |
| 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 |
| 627955 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A HESITATION, STUMBLE OR STALL DURING LOW SPEED PARKING MANEUVERS OR AFTER RELEASING THE THROTTLE FOLLOWING OPERATION OF THE TRACTION ASSIST SYSTEM. *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 |
| 627774 | SOME IGNITION SWITCH LOCK CYLINDER ASSEMBLIES MAY EXHIBIT ROUGNESS AND / OR EXCESS EFFORT IN TURNING, KEY DOES NOT FULLY RETURN FROM START, A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP MAY ILLUMINATE WITH P0500, P1502 AND U1039 STORED IN POWERTRIAN CONTROL MODULE (PCM). *TT |
| 625715 | BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK.*JB |
| 623988 | INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC |
| 623944 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC |
| 622813 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN INOPERATIVE KEYLESS ENTRY KEYPAD, INTERIOR LIGHTS STAYING ON OR TURNING ON BY THEMSELVES, ERRATIC CYCLING OF THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS OR A HARD START / NO-START DUE TO A DISCHARGED BATTERY (DUE TO INTERIOR LIGHTS STAYING ON). *TT |
| 622781 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN INOPERATIVE KEYLESS ENTRY KEYPAD, INTERIOR LIGHTS STAYING ON OR TURNING ON BY THEMSELVES, ERRATIC CYCLING OF THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS OR A HARD START / NO-START DUE TO A DISCHARGED BATTERY (DUE TO INTERIOR LIGHTS STAYING ON). *TT |
| 621059 | CONCERNS WITH VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A AX4N / 4F50N TRANSAXLE EXHIBITING A SHUDDER DURING A 3-4 SHIFT. *TT |
| 620445 | VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATION AND MULTIPLE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES, MOSTLY TRANSMISSION RELATED, STORED IN MEMORY. THE TCIL LAMP WILL ALSO FLASH. *TT |
| 620222 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AX4N OR 4F50N TRANSAXLE MAY EXHIBIT A FLUID LEAK FROM THE MAIN CONTROL COVER AREA. *TT |
| 620184 | SUBJECT REGARDING AX4N TRANSAXLE DIAGNOSTIC PINT POINT TEST C3 ERROR. *TT |
| 620183 | THIS BULLETIN STATES THAT ON SOME VEHICLES (INCLUDING 2002 BLACKWOOD) A BATTERY DISCONNECT OR PARAMETER RESET IS REQUIRED DURING POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) OR INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (VIC / HEC / ICM) REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 619444 | SPECIAL SERVICE INSTRUCTION FOR AX4N TRANSAXLE INSPECTION / REPLACEMENT ON CERTAIN 2001 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES. *TT |
| 619424 | SUBJECT REGARDING ENGINE OIL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USE IN 2001 VEHICLES - SAE 5W-20 MOTOR OIL. *TT |
| 619266 | VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH PASSIVE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM (PATS) MAY NOT START OR CRANK. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)