LINCOLN CONTINENTAL · model year

1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL

303 NHTSA complaints, 16 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1994LINCOLNCONTINENTAL carries 303 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 16 crashes, 3 fires, 11 injuries, and 3 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 1994 CONTINENTAL is engine and engine cooling:engine with 57 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (18) and power train:automatic transmission (11). 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 1994 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.

303
Complaints
16
Crashes
3
Fires
11
Injuries
3
Deaths

Total Complaints

303 filings

Crashes Reported

16 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE57
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE18
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION11
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER9
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS9
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM8
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL8
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP8
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM6
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS6
SUSPENSION:REAR6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING6
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD5

Recent Complaints

20180602POWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING INTO WORK ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. TOTAL REBUILD REQUIRED AT 87456 MILES ON CAR, COST $1800.

Mileage: 87,456

20140724ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE SUDDENLY DECREASED AND A CHIME SOUNDED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

Mileage: 85,000

20140703STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, A SUDDEN POPPING NOISE WAS PRESENT ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SUB FRAME BOLTS HAD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.

Mileage: 147,000

20140703STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, A SUDDEN POPPING NOISE WAS PRESENT ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SUB FRAME BOLTS HAD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.

Mileage: 147,000

20121226CrashENGINE

THE CAR ALWAYS BEEPS OVERHEATS AND LOSES STEERING. *TR

Mileage: 143,000

20121226CrashSTEERING

THE CAR ALWAYS BEEPS OVERHEATS AND LOSES STEERING. *TR

Mileage: 143,000

20121226CrashUNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE CAR ALWAYS BEEPS OVERHEATS AND LOSES STEERING. *TR

Mileage: 143,000

20110614STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. A LOCAL MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS CRACKED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED AND MADE THE CONTACT AWARE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V323000 (STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 179,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

Mileage: 179,500

20051109ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

CONTINUATION OF PREVIOUS COMPLAINT. RESPONSE FROM LETTER TO PRES. OF FORD ON 3.8L V6 ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON LINCOLN CONTINENTAL WITH 54,436 MILES ON IT: FORD BASICALLY SAID "TOUGH LUCK". DEALER SAYING $1,700 TO $3,000 PLUS TO FIX. MY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INFORMS ME THERE IS ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE. THERE ARE SEVERAL PRODUCT AVAILABLE TO FIX THE HEAD GASKET IN THE CAR. ONE HE HAS USED, AND WORKS, IS "STEEL SEAL". COST ABOUT $70 FOR PRODUCT, PLUS A NEW THERMOSTAT, AND NEW COOLANT. I FIGURE WORST CASE AROUND $400 FOR EVERYTHING. IT'S WORTH THE GAMBLE. AS IT IS NOW THE CAR IS JUNK OR THE REPAIR FROM FORD IS MORE THAT THE VALUE OF THE CAR.

Mileage: 54,432

20051024ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

1) SUDDEN ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE 2) BLOWN HEAD GASKET WITH GRAY/WHITE SMOKE FROM BOTH EXHAUST PIPES 3) NO CORRECTION DONE SO FAR. PARKED CAR AND TRYING TO DETERMINE PROPER STEP TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *NM

Mileage: 54,344

20040928STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT THE STEERING FAILED. DEALER STATED SUB FRAME CORRODED. RECALL 98V323000 WAS ISSUED FOR THE LOWER CRADLE BOLTS. HOWEVER, A DIFFERENT PART OF THE CRADLE BOLTS FAILED SO THE CONSUMER HAS TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. *AK

Mileage: 223,000

20040811

MY 1994 LINCOLN CONITENTAL HAS ONLY 68,000 MILES. THE HEAD GASKET BLEW LAST FRIDAY. IN SEARCHING THE INTERNET, FORD KNEW OF THE HEAD GASKET DESIGN DEFECT IN 1988 YET CONTINUED TO EMPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE ENGINE IN THEIR MOTOR VEHICLES. AS A RESULT OF THEIR WILFULL NEGLECT, I WILL HAVE TO PAY AN ESTIMATED $1200-1800 TO HAVE THE HEADS REPAIRED. ONE WEBSITE TALLIED 2,114 SIMILAR ENGINE COMPLAINTS BY 1998.

Mileage: 68,000

20040422POWER TRAIN

CAR CURRENTLY HAS A COVER ON IT AND DOESN'T RUN BECAUSE OF A BAD TRANSMISSION.

Mileage: 43,692

20040422ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

CAR CURRENTLY HAS A COVER ON IT AND DOESN'T RUN BECAUSE OF A BAD TRANSMISSION.

Mileage: 43,692

20040422ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

VEHICLE TAKES AWHILE TO HEAT, COOLENT OKAY, NO EXTERNAL LEAKS, REMOVED PLUGS AND FOUND SIGNS OF COOLENT IN #4 CYL. REPLACED HEAD GASKETS AND SENT HEADS OUT TO MACHINE SHOP. APPEARS TO BE OKAY NOW. ON 06/01/99 AT CALL BACK FOR LEAKING HEAD GASKET THEY FOUND IT LEAKING AND REPLACED GASKETS AT NO CHARGE, THEM ON 08/11/99 THEY FOUND MY ENGINE BANGING AND SAID GASKETS LEAKED AND DAMAGED LOWER BEARINGS AND THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE AT NO CHARGE. ON 04/02/02 THE GASKETS LEAKED AGOAIN AND I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT.

Mileage: 40,000

20040407EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

HEADLIGHTS REMAINED ON WHILE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. CONSUMER UNHOOKED THE BATTERY TO KEEP THE BATTERY CHARGED AND A BUZZING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT A HEADLIGHT SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

20031020ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE OWNER DROVE THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. WORK WAS DONE TO THE GASKETS. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE COST WOULD BE 1200.00 FOR FURTHER GASKET REPAIR WORK. THE OWNER REFUSED, AND FELT THAT HE WAS BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OFF. *AK *SCC *JB

Mileage: 96,809

20030930STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

RECALL 98V323000 CONCERNING SUB FRAME CORROSION. DEFECT OCCURRED AFTER RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. REPLACEMENT PARTS DIDN'T CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK

Mileage: 160,000

20030926FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

STONG GAS ODOR INSIDE OF CAR WHEN GAS TANK IS NEAR EMPTY. ODOR DOES NOT OCCUR EVERYTIME GAS TANK IN CLOSE TO EMPTY, AND NEVER OCCURS WHEN TANK IS FULL. HAVE TAKEN CAR INTO DEALERSHIP TWICE, AND THEY CAN SMELL THE GAS, BUT HAD TROUBLE LOCATING THE PROBLEM. THEY FOUND SOMETHING IN THEIR TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FROM 1997 THAT HAD TO DO WITH A VAPOR VENT HOSE THAT RUNS UNDER THE BACK SEAT OF VEHICLE AND WHEN REACHES TEMPS OF 90 DEGREES OR MORE, FUEL FUMES WERE COMING INTO VEHICLE WHEN THE MAX A/C IS ON. THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO MY PROBLEM. THE KIT UNFORTUNATELY IS NO LONGER MANUFACTURED AND THEY COULD NOT LOCATE ONE, BUT ARE GOING TO TRY TO CREATE THEIR OWN KIT.

20030804SUSPENSION:REAR

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH VEHICLE SHUT DOWN, AND THE BACK SUSPENSION WENT OUT, DRIVER ALSO HAD PROBLEM WITH STEERING.*AK

Mileage: 100,000

Compare 1994LINCOLNCONTINENTAL to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL have?
The 1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL has 303 NHTSA complaints, 16 crashes, 3 fires, 11 injuries, and 3 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL?
The most-complained component for the 1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE with 57 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1994 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.