Total Complaints
147 filings
LINCOLN CONTINENTAL · model year
1988 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
147 NHTSA complaints, 9 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988LINCOLNCONTINENTAL carries 147 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 9 crashes, 10 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1988 CONTINENTAL is electrical system:ignition:switch with 15 filings, followed by structure:frame and members (12) and electrical system:ignition (9). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 1988 CONTINENTAL. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
147
Complaints
9
Crashes
10
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
9 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 15 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 12 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 9 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 8 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 6 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 6 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 6 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 5 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 4 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 4 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 4 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 3 |
Recent Complaints
20020628ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT WILL NOT COME ON UNTIL CONSUMER PUSHES ON THROTTLE SWITCH. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
20020628POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION ONLY OPERATE IN REVERSE, ALL FORWARD GEAR SARE INOPERATIVE. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
20020628ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING WHILE IN REVERSE OR INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT MULTIPLE SPEED. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
20020514ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE HAD AN IGNITION PROBLEM THAT CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL, DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT SINCE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF IGNITION PROBLEM.*JB
20020425SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, ALMOST ALL LINCOLN'S WITH THIS AIR SUSPENSION HAS EXPERIENCED COSTLY REPAIRS.*AK
20020307ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE HAD AN IGNITION PROBLEM THAT CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL, DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT SINCE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF IGNITION PROBLEM.*JB
20010810POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
RECALL 88V101000; AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE DOES NOT MEET FORD'S PULL OUT LOAD SPECIFICATIONS FOR SWIVEL TUBE PORTION OF CABLE, WHICH COULD ALLOW THE SWIVELTUBE TO SEPARATE FROM SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY. PLEASE PROVIE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
20010810ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
NYLON SHIELD WIRING HARNESS LOCATED IN ENGINE COMPERTMENT IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO HEAT AND MELTING OF NYLON MATERIAL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURATHER INFORMATION.*AK
20010207ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I CONTACTED FORD ON 01/30/01 IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA'S RECALL #88V118000. EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEMS THAT MY VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING ARE IDENTICAL TO THOSE MENTIONED ON YOUR SITE, FORD SAID MY VIN WAS NOT AFFECTED. I EXPLIANED TO THEM THAT MY PROBLEMS WERE IDENTICAL AND I WANTED THE DEALER TO REPAIR THE DEFICIENCIES. FORD REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE PROBLEMS ARE AS FOLLOWS; BRAKE WARNING LIGHT,,NO BRAKE PRESSURE,,TURN SIGNALS INOPERATIVE, AUTO CLIMATE CONTROL AND FAN INOPERATIVE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISITANCE, JEFF CRANE.*AK
20001219STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
SUBFRAME BUSHINGS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 93V-106, CONSUMER RQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM
20001205STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
SUBFRAME BUSHINGS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 93V-106, CONSUMER RQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM
20001122FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHEN TURNING OFF IGNITION CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. PROBLEM MIGHT BE LINKED TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN STEERING WHEEL WHICH CAUSED A FIRE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
20001120SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
RECALL REPAIR 91V-134 OF THE BRAKE ROTORS WAS NOT REPAIRED IN A TIMELY MANNER DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. NLM
20000914ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE WILL NOT RESTART AFTER MAKING A LONG TRIP. BATTERY HAD ENOUGH POWER. VEHICLE WILL ACTUALLY HAVE TO COOL OFF BEFORE VEHICLE CAN RESTART, USUALLY WAITING ABOUT 7 HOURS. CONSUMER HAS BEEN TO NUMEROUS REPAIR SHOPS, AND DEALERS, BUT NO ONE COULD DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK
20000906STEERING:LINKAGES
THE MOUNTS BETWEEN THE BODY AND SUBFRAME BELIEVED TO BE CALLED THE BODY INSULATORS WHICH HOLD THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION IN PLACE FAILED DUE TO ERROSION. THE MOUNTING BOLTS PULLED THROUGH THE RETAINIG WASHER AND THE RUBBER MOUNT ALLOWING THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION TO FALL ONTO THE GROUND. BOTH REAR MOUNTS FAILED AND IN THE PROCESS DISCONNECTED THE STEERING LINKAGE AT THE SLIP JOINT UNDER THE DASH WHICH ALLOWS FOR THE TILT STEERING. THIS STEERING JOINT COMPLETLY SEPARATED BECAUSE OF THE DISTANCE ALLOWED TO TRAVEL FROM THE ASSEMBLY FALLING. ALL STEERING WAS LOSS AND THERE WAS NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICAL AVAILABLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK!!!! PEOPLE WILL BE HURT IF NOT KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM ESPECIALLY IF INCOUNTERED AT HIGH SPEEDS OR TRAFFIC. LINCOLN HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM AND I HAVE FOUND PREVIOUS RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT ONLY IN HIGH ERROSION STATES, MI, CT IL ECT..... I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS LARGER THAN ONCE THOUGHT DUE TO THE WAY THE CAR WAS MANU
20000906STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE MOUNTS BETWEEN THE BODY AND SUBFRAME BELIEVED TO BE CALLED THE BODY INSULATORS WHICH HOLD THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION IN PLACE FAILED DUE TO ERROSION. THE MOUNTING BOLTS PULLED THROUGH THE RETAINIG WASHER AND THE RUBBER MOUNT ALLOWING THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION TO FALL ONTO THE GROUND. BOTH REAR MOUNTS FAILED AND IN THE PROCESS DISCONNECTED THE STEERING LINKAGE AT THE SLIP JOINT UNDER THE DASH WHICH ALLOWS FOR THE TILT STEERING. THIS STEERING JOINT COMPLETLY SEPARATED BECAUSE OF THE DISTANCE ALLOWED TO TRAVEL FROM THE ASSEMBLY FALLING. ALL STEERING WAS LOSS AND THERE WAS NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICAL AVAILABLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK!!!! PEOPLE WILL BE HURT IF NOT KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM ESPECIALLY IF INCOUNTERED AT HIGH SPEEDS OR TRAFFIC. LINCOLN HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM AND I HAVE FOUND PREVIOUS RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT ONLY IN HIGH ERROSION STATES, MI, CT IL ECT..... I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS LARGER THAN ONCE THOUGHT DUE TO THE WAY THE CAR WAS MANU
20000531SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL LINE FROM GAS TANK TO ENGINE IS LEAKING AT RIGHT DOOR PILLAR UNDRBODY. INSPECTION REVEALS THE GAS LINE TO BE PLASTIC OF SOME TYPE, AND THE LEAK IS AT THE JUNCTION OF WHERE 2 LENGHTS OF FUEL LINE ARE JOINED TOGETHER AT THE FACTORY. IMMINENT FIRE HAZARD. HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE ON MECURY SABLES AND FORD TAURUS' SECOND PROBLEM, REAR SWAY BAR, REAR SWAY BAR IS ATTACHED TO THE BODY, BUT THE 2 SUSPENSION LINKS THAT ATTACH TO THE ENDS OF THE SWAY BAR ARE BROKEN OR RUSTED. VEHICLE HANDLES DIFFENTLY WHILE MANUEVERING, FEEL THIS TO BE MAJOR CONCERN AS WELL . *AK
20000531SUSPENSION:REAR
FUEL LINE FROM GAS TANK TO ENGINE IS LEAKING AT RIGHT DOOR PILLAR UNDRBODY. INSPECTION REVEALS THE GAS LINE TO BE PLASTIC OF SOME TYPE, AND THE LEAK IS AT THE JUNCTION OF WHERE 2 LENGHTS OF FUEL LINE ARE JOINED TOGETHER AT THE FACTORY. IMMINENT FIRE HAZARD. HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE ON MECURY SABLES AND FORD TAURUS' SECOND PROBLEM, REAR SWAY BAR, REAR SWAY BAR IS ATTACHED TO THE BODY, BUT THE 2 SUSPENSION LINKS THAT ATTACH TO THE ENDS OF THE SWAY BAR ARE BROKEN OR RUSTED. VEHICLE HANDLES DIFFENTLY WHILE MANUEVERING, FEEL THIS TO BE MAJOR CONCERN AS WELL . *AK
20000419STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL NHTSA 98V323000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 98S36/ REAR SUBFRAME. DEALER CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, WHEN DRIVING AND MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT SUBFRAME BROKE. MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AGAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
20000411FireSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
R/R BRAKE ENGAGES OR REMAINS ENGAGED SPORADICALLY CAUSING EXTREME OVERHEATING AND A FIRE (ONE OCCASION). DEALER UNABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM ON THE TWO OCCASIONS IT WAS TOWED IN. *AK
Compare 1988LINCOLNCONTINENTAL to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1988 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL have?▼
The 1988 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL has 147 NHTSA complaints, 9 crashes, 10 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH with 15 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION.
Is the 1988 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.