LINCOLN CONTINENTAL · model year

1996 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL

69 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1996LINCOLNCONTINENTAL carries 69 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 2 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 1996 CONTINENTAL is suspension:front with 5 filings, followed by visibility:rearview mirrors/devices (4) and power train:automatic transmission (3). 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 1996 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.

69
Complaints
4
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
2
Deaths

Total Complaints

69 filings

Crashes Reported

4 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SUSPENSION:FRONT5
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES4
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION3
SUSPENSION3
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP2
STEERING:RACK AND PINION2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION2
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING2
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR1

Recent Complaints

20090220EXTERIOR LIGHTING

LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHT ON DRIVER'S SIDE WENT OUT. *TR

20070710SUSPENSION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE RESTS 12 INCHES HIGHER ON ONE SIDE THAN THE OTHER, FROM THE FRONT END TO THE REAR. AS A RESULT, THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATE UPWARDS TOWARDS THE SKY OR DOWNWARDS INTO THE GROUND. HE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS GONE INTO AIR SHOCK, FORCING HIM TO LOSE CONTROL AND DRIVE OFF THE ROAD. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 160,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

20070130SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM

DEFECTIVE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM IN LINCOLN CONTINENTAL RESULTS IN EXTREMELY UNSTABLE AND UNSAFE DRIVING. BLOWN AIR BAG WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE RESULTED IN REAR END CRASHING DOWN AND LEAVING CAR INOPERABLE. FAULTY COMPRESSOR LEAVES THE CAR 12 INCHES DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LEFT AND RIGHT AND FRONT AND BACK. HEAD LIGHTS SHINE INTO THE SKY AND NOW INTO THE GROUND. DRIVING VEHICLE EXTREMELY UNSAFE ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. 3 YRS OF COMPLAINING TO FORD/LINCOLN - THEY WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM! GET THESE VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD BEFORE THEY CAUSE MAJOR ROAD ACCIDENTS. MN STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL NOTIFIED - FILE # RJM/2006/322030/C. *NM

Mileage: 96,683

20061221TIRES:TREAD/BELT

TL* - THE CONTACT IS CALLING REGARDING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06T023000. THE CONTACT STATES THAT HE TOOK HIS TIRES TO PEP BOYS THEY REFUSE TO PROVIDE HIM WITH FREE TIRES AND TOLD HIM HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TIRES AT A PRO-RATED RATE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT DUE TO THE RECALL HE SHOULD HAVE NOT BEEN CHARGE. THE CONTACT CAN PROVIDE A COPY OF THE INVOICE IF NEEDED.

Mileage: 74,000

20040709VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:INTERIOR

AUTOMOBILE DIMMING REARVIEW MIRROR IS NOT CLEAR,MELTING EFFECT.*AK

20030225VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES

THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND SIDE VIEW MIRROR CONTAINED FILM WHICH RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY.*JB

20030225VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND SIDE VIEW MIRROR CONTAINED FILM WHICH RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY.*JB

20021211VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES

I HAVE CONTACTED LINCOLN ABOUT THE PAINT AND MIRRORS AND THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE MIRROR IS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS DISCOLORED AND DISTORED. I HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR TO AN AUTOBODY SHOP PER DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A DEFECTED PAINT JOB FROM THE LINCOLN. THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. DT

20021211UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I HAVE CONTACTED LINCOLN ABOUT THE PAINT AND MIRRORS AND THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE MIRROR IS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS DISCOLORED AND DISTORED. I HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR TO AN AUTOBODY SHOP PER DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A DEFECTED PAINT JOB FROM THE LINCOLN. THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. DT

20021113EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

CONSUMER TOOK CAR TO THE DEALER WHERE PURCHASED COMPLAINING ABOUT AN ODOR EMMITING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING SMELLING LIKE MILDEW. *JG

20021113POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER STARTED NOTICING THAT WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND THEN TRYING TO CONTINUE, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO, OR IT WILL JERK ABOUT A FOOT. THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE PUT INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN IN DRIVE TO RESUME. *JG

20021023SUSPENSION

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE AIR SUSPENSION WENT OUT THE VEHICLE AIR SHOCKS AND THE VEHICLE IN UNABLE TO STEER. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR

20021001POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION AT 30-40 MPH. *TT

20020930POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

THE GEAR SHIFT WILL NOT SHIFT. IT WILL SLIDE UP AND DOWN INTERMITTENLY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING AND WILL NOT MOVE. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. NLM

20020917EXTERIOR LIGHTING

HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 96V009000 DUE TO VIN. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

20020109FatalWHEELS

WHEEL PRESURE SENSORS IN TWO TIRES BROKE APART AND DESTROYED TWO TIRE FROM THE INSIDE. I ALSO NEED TO GET PROBLEM CORRECTED IN REMAINING TIERES BUT THE REPAIR SHOP WILL NOT FIX THIS AS IT IS A SAFTY ISSUE AND THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED. MY RTEMAING WHEELS SENSORS COULD COME APART AND DESTROY MY TIRES CAUSING A BLOW OUT.

20011127EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

WHEN HEADLAMPS ARE IN USE RADIO SWITCHES STATIONS WITHOUT BEING TOUCHED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

20011107VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES

WHILE DRIVING AND UPON DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL IT WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING UNWANTED ACCELERATION. AFTER DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE CONTINUED TO GAIN SPEED, ALSO, AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF, RPMS CONTINUED TO RACE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER DETERMINED THAT THROTTLE CABLE BROKE COMPLETLEY IN HALF.*AK

20011018VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

INSIDE REARVIEW AUTOMATIC DAY/NIGHT MIRROR IN MY 1996 CONTINENTAL HAS STOPPED DIMMING. THERE IS A SPOT APPROXIMATELY IN THE UPPER RIGHT MIDDLE OF THE MIRROR THAT DOES DIM AS IT SHOULD. AS SUCH, WHEN A CAR COMES UP FROM BEHIND (ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY HAVE BRIGHTS ON), IT BLINDS ME AND DECREASES MY "NIGHT VISION." NOT ONLY IS THIS AN ANNOYANCE, BUT IT IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOT A TSB OR WARRANTY ON IT. IT DOES COST $500.00. I HAVE E-MAILED THE COMPANY THAT MAKES THE MIRROR (DONNELLY CORP.) BUT THEY HAVE NOT RETURNED MY REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON REPAIR, WARRANTY OR REPLACEMENT. I FURTHER UNDERSTAND THAT THIS MAY BE A "COMMON" PROBLEM WITH 1996 AND 1997 CONTI.. ANY ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU.. *AK

20010914VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES

BOTH MIRRORS ARE DISCOLORED AND DISTORTED, PRESENTING A SAFETY HAZARD. *AK

Compare 1996LINCOLNCONTINENTAL to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1996 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL have?
The 1996 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL has 69 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL?
The most-complained component for the 1996 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL is SUSPENSION:FRONT with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1996 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.