1988 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
147
Owner Complaints
9
Recalls
5
Service Bulletins
1
Investigation
Overview of the 1988 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
The 1988 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL has received a total of 147 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 9 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR. 5 technical service bulletins have been issued by Ford Motor Company for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Electrical Systemignitionswitch (15 complaints), Structureframe And Members (12 complaints), and Electrical Systemignition (9 complaints).
Recalls for the 1988 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
NHTSA has recorded 9 recalls for the 1988 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL, potentially affecting up to 4,722,246 vehicles.
Recall 98V323000 — STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
| 2,697,000 vehicles affected
Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGNIA, AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR LOWER SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT CAN EXPERIENCE STRESS CORROSION CRACKING IF SUBJECTED TO LONG TERM...
Consequence: IF BOTH REAR CORNERS DROP, STEERING WOULD BECOME SUDDENLY VERY DIFFICULT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.
View full details →Recall 93V106000 — STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
| 1,610,000 vehicles affected
Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TAURUS AND SABLES BUILT FROM 10-14-85 THROUGH 8-19-88, AND LINCOLN CONTINENTALS BUILT FROM 11-4-87 THROUGH 9-30-88 (EXCEPT 1989 - 1991 2.5L TAURUS AND 1989 - 1992 SHO). THE AFFECTED CARS WERE ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, AND...
Consequence: IF ONE OF THE REAR CORNERS DROPS, ONLY MINOR INDICATIONS OF A MALFUNCTION SUCH AS A CLUNKING NOISE OR SLIGHT CHANGE IN STEERING WHEEL ALIGNMENT ARE NOTICEABLE. HOWEVER, IF BOTH REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME DROP, STEERING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT, WHICH COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT VEHICLE CONTROL AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: INSTALL A CORROSION-RESISTANT REINFORCING PLATE AND A NEW BOLT ON BOTH REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTS. THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN SUPERSEDED BY RECALL 98V-323.
View full details →Recall 91V134000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
| 325,000 vehicles affected
Defect: FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE SEVERE CORROSION IF OPERATED IN AREAS WHERE CALCIUM CHLORIDE AND SODIUM CHLORIDE ARE USED EXTENSIVELY.
Consequence: SEVERELY CORRODED ROTORS MAY FRACTURE OR SEPARATE NEARTHE INNER EDGES OF THE BRAKE DISCS RESULTING IN REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS,HIGHER THAN NORMAL PEDAL EFFORTS, LOUD GRINDING NOISES, AND MODERATE PULLS WHENTHE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS MAY INCREASE MINIMUMSTOPPING DISTANCES, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH FULL CAST FRONT BRAKE ROTORS.
View full details →Recall 88V101000 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
| 22,893 vehicles affected
Defect: TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLES MAY NOT MEET FORDS PULL OUT LOAD SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE SWIVEL TUBE PORTION OF THE CABLE, WHICH COULD ALLOW THE SWIVEL TUBE TO SEPARATE FROM THE SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY.
Consequence: OPERATOR WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT FROM ONE OF THEDRIVE GEARS INTO PARK POSITION.
Remedy: REPLACE SHIFT CABLE.
View full details →Recall 88V118000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
| 28,000 vehicles affected
Defect: ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT THAT CONTROLS CURRENT TO BRAKE PUMP MOTOR RELAY, HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONING BLOWER MOTOR, TURN SIGNALS, AND A ELECTRONIC MESSAGE CENTER MAY OVERHEAT DUE TO INABILITY OF IGNITION CIRCUIT WIRING CONNECTIONS TO DISSIPATE HEAT GENERATED BY ELECTRICAL LOADS.
Consequence: BRAKE PUMP MOTOR WILL NOT OPERATE, SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCINGBRAKING CAPABILITY; BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WILL COME ON.
Remedy: REPLACE IGNITION SWITCH AND MODIFY SWITCH WIRING.
View full details →Recall 88V114000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
| 26,000 vehicles affected
Defect: NYLON SHIELDED WIRING HARNESS, LOCATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO HEAT DAMAGE AND MELTING OF THE NYLON MATERIAL IN 100 DEGREE PLUS WEATHER.
Consequence: MELTED NYLON SHIELD COULD DRIP ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDAND RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: WRAP WIRING HARNESS WITH HEAT RESISTANT FIBERGLASS TAPE.
View full details →Recall 88V030000 — SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
| 8,848 vehicles affected
Defect: TWO TORSION SPRINGS ATTACHED TO REAR SUSPENSION CONTROL ARMS MAY FRACTURE AND RUB AGAINST A REAR TIRE.
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN SUDDEN LOSS OF TIRE INFLATIONPRESSURE WITH POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: INSTALL TORSION SPRING SEATS TO RESTRICT THE SPRINGS FROM CONTACTING THE TIRE IF THEY SHOULD FRACTURE.
View full details →Recall 88V027000 — SEAT BELTS
| 4,500 vehicles affected
Defect: DRIVER AND RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER INBOARD SEAT BELTS MAY BE IMPROPERLY ANCHORED DUE TO LOOSE NUTS THAT COULD BACK OFF.
Consequence: BELT ANCHOR COULD DISENGAGE THE STUD; AN UNATTACHED BELTASSEMBLY WOULD NOT WITHSTAND AN IMPACT LOAD.
Remedy: INBOARD SEAT BELT ANCHORAGES WILL BE CORRECTED TO PREVENT LOOSENING.
View full details →Recall 89V057000 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
| 5 vehicles affected
Defect: PROCESS USED FOR CONNECTING THE GAS LINES WAS SUBSTANDARD.
Consequence: A GAS LEAK COULD DEVELOP CREATING A FIRE POTENTIAL.
Remedy: INSTALL STANDARD GAS LINE COMPRESSION FITTINGS.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1988 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
147 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1988 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT WILL NOT COME ON UNTIL CONSUMER PUSHES ON THROTTLE SWITCH. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
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
TRANSMISSION ONLY OPERATE IN REVERSE, ALL FORWARD GEAR SARE INOPERATIVE. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
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
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, ALMOST ALL LINCOLN'S WITH THIS AIR SUSPENSION HAS EXPERIENCED COSTLY REPAIRS.*AK
Safety Rating for the 1988 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1988 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1988 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
Ford Motor Company has issued 5 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 1988 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
985A6 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
SOME VEHICLES MAY CYCLE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED ON ROUGH ROADS OR ON AN INCLINE WHILE MAKING A SHARP TURN. *YC
9743 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BLOWER MOTOR- "CHIRP" OR "SQUEAK" FROM BLOWER MOTOR AT LOW SPEEDS. *JD
BC1018497230 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
THE ABS/RED BRAKE/AIR SUSPENSION LAMPS COMING ON, CHECK FOR A BAD GROUND ON CIRCUIT 430. *JD
ONP/94M86 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
VEHICLES SERVICED UNDER EMISSIONS RECALLS 93E41 AND 93E42 MAY EXPERIENCE REDUCED ENGINE DRIVEABILITY AFTER THE RECALL SERVICE WAS PROVIDED. *TW
94/11 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
LETTER TO DEALERS REPEATING THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN MANUFACTURER RECALLS 93E41 AND 93E42. *TW
NHTSA Investigations for the 1988 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
NHTSA has opened 1 investigation into potential safety defects in the 1988 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL.
Other Model Years of the LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
- 1983 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL — 2 complaints
- 1984 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL — 9 complaints
- 1985 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL — 18 complaints
- 1986 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL — 8 complaints
- 1987 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL — 14 complaints
- 1988 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL (current)
- 1989 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL — 255 complaints
- 1990 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL — 244 complaints
- 1991 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL — 399 complaints
- 1992 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL — 199 complaints
- 1993 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL — 200 complaints
Other LINCOLN Models
- LINCOLN TOWN CAR — 4,328 total complaints
- LINCOLN MKZ — 1,957 total complaints
- LINCOLN NAVIGATOR — 1,711 total complaints
- LINCOLN MKX — 1,702 total complaints
- LINCOLN LS — 1,366 total complaints
- LINCOLN MARK VIII — 984 total complaints
- LINCOLN AVIATOR — 650 total complaints
- LINCOLN MKC — 644 total complaints