LINCOLN CONTINENTAL · model year

1993 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL

200 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1993LINCOLNCONTINENTAL carries 200 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 3 fires, 5 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 1993 CONTINENTAL is engine and engine cooling:engine with 50 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (12) and exterior lighting:headlights (8). 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 1993 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.

200
Complaints
5
Crashes
3
Fires
5
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

200 filings

Crashes Reported

5 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE50
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE12
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS8
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION7
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP5
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM5
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH5
AIR BAGS5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION4
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR4
SUSPENSION4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING4
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM3

Recent Complaints

20150508VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY SIX OR SEVEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN MARCH OF 2015 FROM A PRIVATE OWNER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,000.

Mileage: 164,000

20120727STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER COMPLETING A LEFT HAND TURN, THE VEHICLE DIDN'T STRAIGHTENED WHICH FORCED THE CONTACT TO SWERVE IN THE OTHER DIRECTION/ THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REAR MOUNT BOLTS ON THE SUB-FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V323000 (STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 270,000. UPDATED 08/23/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER NEVER PERFORMED ANY RECALL REPAIRS ON THE VEHICLE AFTER HAVIING THE VEHICLE EXAMINED BY HIS SON-IN-LAW.

Mileage: 270,000

20041226ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM FAMILY ON NOVEMBER 5, 2004, AND THE FAILURE OCCURED LESS THAN TWO MONTHS LATER ON DECEMBER 22, 2004. THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY US LESS THAN 1,000 MILES AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS ONLY 29,900 AS THE CAR WAS OWNED BY MY HUSBAND'S GRANDMOTHER. THE CAR IS IN PRISTINE CONDITION AND WAS TOWED TO WITT LINCOLN-MERCURY DEALERSHIP ON DECEMBER 23, 2004. WE WERE NOTIFIED THE EVENING OF THE 23RD THAT THE HEAD GASKET APPEARED TO BE BLOWN AND ON CHRISTMAS EVE THAT THE INITIAL REPAIR ESTIMATE WAS $1,485 MINIMUM, WHICH INCLUDES 11 HOURS OF LABOR AT $85. MY 1990 TOYOTA CELICA HAS 260K+ MILES, MY HUSBAND'S 1984 CHEVROLET CAMARO HAS 280K+ MILES. IT IS AMAZING THAT FORD BUILDS CARS THAT REQUIRE MAJOR REPAIRS AFTER LESS THAN 30,000 MILES!!! THEY SHOULD BE SHUT DOWN.*AK

Mileage: 29,900

20041213EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS GO OFF. CONSUMER MENTIONED A RECALL, HOWEVER, NONE WAS FOUND. RECALL FOR 108 HEADLIGHT MANUAL. *AK

Mileage: 83,350

20040422SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

I DID NOT GET A RECALL FOR THE 1986-1993 FOR THE BRAKE ROTOR HUB CORROSION PROBLEM. I DID RECEIVE AND REPAIRED THE SUBFRAME MOUNT(93V-106.001) THE ROTOR HUB IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM AS I HAVE PAID TO HAVE THIS REPLACED ONCE AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A FORD AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITY LOOK AT THIS.

20040422VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

I DID NOT GET A RECALL FOR THE 1986-1993 FOR THE BRAKE ROTOR HUB CORROSION PROBLEM. I DID RECEIVE AND REPAIRED THE SUBFRAME MOUNT(93V-106.001) THE ROTOR HUB IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM AS I HAVE PAID TO HAVE THIS REPLACED ONCE AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A FORD AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITY LOOK AT THIS.

20040422ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I DID NOT GET A RECALL FOR THE 1986-1993 FOR THE BRAKE ROTOR HUB CORROSION PROBLEM. I DID RECEIVE AND REPAIRED THE SUBFRAME MOUNT(93V-106.001) THE ROTOR HUB IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM AS I HAVE PAID TO HAVE THIS REPLACED ONCE AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A FORD AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITY LOOK AT THIS.

20040422SUSPENSION

WE HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WHERE WOULD YOU START. THE REAR AIR BAGS EXPLODED SHORTLY AFTER WE BOUGHT IT. WE HAVE HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, COOLENT LEAKS, AND BELT PROBLEMS. ONE TRIP TO OKLAHOMA COST A TRANSMISSION, AND THE NEXT TRIP, THE HEAD GASKETS ON THE ENGINE.

Mileage: 50,000

20040422ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WE HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WHERE WOULD YOU START. THE REAR AIR BAGS EXPLODED SHORTLY AFTER WE BOUGHT IT. WE HAVE HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, COOLENT LEAKS, AND BELT PROBLEMS. ONE TRIP TO OKLAHOMA COST A TRANSMISSION, AND THE NEXT TRIP, THE HEAD GASKETS ON THE ENGINE.

Mileage: 50,000

20040422POWER TRAIN

WE HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WHERE WOULD YOU START. THE REAR AIR BAGS EXPLODED SHORTLY AFTER WE BOUGHT IT. WE HAVE HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, COOLENT LEAKS, AND BELT PROBLEMS. ONE TRIP TO OKLAHOMA COST A TRANSMISSION, AND THE NEXT TRIP, THE HEAD GASKETS ON THE ENGINE.

Mileage: 50,000

20040422SUSPENSION

ENGINE (3.8L V6) BLEW HEAD GASKET FIRST TIME AT ~60,000 MILES. DEALER REPAIRED. THIRTEEN MONTHS LATER, ~72,000 MILES, HEAD GASKET BLEW AGAIN. DIFFERENT DEALER REPAIRED, (ANOTHER $1,600 WITH NO HELP FROM MANUFACTURER OR PREVIOUS REPAIRING DEALER). NOW WITH ~126,000 MILES ON VEHICLE, HEAD GASKET MAY HAVE BLOWN AGAIN. ALL THREE MOTOR MOUNTS AND HARMONIC STABILIZER WERE REPLACED (ALL MOUNTS WERE LEAKING OR CRACKED).

Mileage: 126,000

20040422ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

ENGINE (3.8L V6) BLEW HEAD GASKET FIRST TIME AT ~60,000 MILES. DEALER REPAIRED. THIRTEEN MONTHS LATER, ~72,000 MILES, HEAD GASKET BLEW AGAIN. DIFFERENT DEALER REPAIRED, (ANOTHER $1,600 WITH NO HELP FROM MANUFACTURER OR PREVIOUS REPAIRING DEALER). NOW WITH ~126,000 MILES ON VEHICLE, HEAD GASKET MAY HAVE BLOWN AGAIN. ALL THREE MOTOR MOUNTS AND HARMONIC STABILIZER WERE REPLACED (ALL MOUNTS WERE LEAKING OR CRACKED).

Mileage: 126,000

20040415ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. SIMULTANEOUSLY, WHILE DRIVING TEMPERATURE GAUGE FLUCTUATED, AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THEN, VEHICLE STALLED. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT HEATING SYSTEM WAS INOPERATIVE. RECALL 97V019000 ON ENGINE COOLING FAN WAS ISSUED, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

Mileage: 73,000

20030613SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM

AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM GOES BAD WHICH CAUSES THE REAR END TO DRAG. *AK

Mileage: 60,000

20030421ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED, AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE TAILPIPE, COOLANT LEAKED DUE TO BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. MR *PH *JB

Mileage: 65,000

20030419ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

POWER STEERING FAILURE, MOTOR MOUNT FAILURE, HEAD GASKET LEAK AND THE TRANSMISSION SEALS LEAK. CAR HAS 75000 MILES. *JB

Mileage: 75,000

20030419POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

POWER STEERING FAILURE, MOTOR MOUNT FAILURE, HEAD GASKET LEAK AND THE TRANSMISSION SEALS LEAK. CAR HAS 75000 MILES. *JB

Mileage: 75,000

20030419STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

POWER STEERING FAILURE, MOTOR MOUNT FAILURE, HEAD GASKET LEAK AND THE TRANSMISSION SEALS LEAK. CAR HAS 75000 MILES. *JB

Mileage: 75,000

20020821ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THIS CAR HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED AND HAD ALL REGULAR MAINTENANCE. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM IS THE SAME AS THE ONE IN THE 1994 RECALL AND THAT THIS SHOULD APPLY TO OUR CAR AS WELL. WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED AFTER READING MANY REPORTS OF MULTIPLE HEAD GASKET FAILURES ON THE SAME CAR.*AK

20020130ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THERE IS CRYSTALIZED COOLANT NEXT TO HEAD GASKET, INDICATING THAT THERE IS A LEAK. GASKETS HAVE NOT BLOWN. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

Compare 1993LINCOLNCONTINENTAL to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1993 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL have?
The 1993 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL has 200 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 3 fires, 5 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1993 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL?
The most-complained component for the 1993 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE with 50 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE and EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS.
Is the 1993 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.