1990 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
244
Owner Complaints
5
Recalls
1
Service Bulletin
1
Investigation
Overview of the 1990 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
The 1990 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL has received a total of 244 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 5 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR. 1 technical service bulletin have been issued by Ford Motor Company for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine And Engine Coolingengine (25 complaints), Seat Beltsfrontbuckle Assembly (16 complaints), and Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline (13 complaints).
Recalls for the 1990 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
NHTSA has recorded 5 recalls for the 1990 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL, potentially affecting up to 3,557,000 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 97V174000 — SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
| 63,400 vehicles affected
Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT OUTBOARD SEATING POSITION SEAT BELT BUCKLES MAY NOT LATCH OR UNLATCH.
Consequence: THESE CONDITIONS COULD REDUCE SEAT BELT USAGE INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT OUTBOARD SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES.
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 90E043001 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
| 172,000 vehicles affected
Defect: THREADED INFLATOR COMPONENTS MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY WHICH MAY ALLOW COMPONENTS TO SEPARATE WHEN INFLATOR RECEIVES A SIGNAL TO DEPLOY THE AIR BAG.
Consequence: INFLATOR COMPONENT SEPARATION ALLOWS HOT COMBUSTION GASES TO ESCAPE INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURIES TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
Remedy: REPLACE AIR BAG MODULES CONTAINING POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE INFLATORS.
View full details →Recall 97I003000 — SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
| 299,600 vehicles affected
Defect: THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATION 573. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. FORD IS INITIATING AN OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT WILL PROVIDE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, 12 YEARS AND UNLIMITED MILEAGE, FOR ALL SEAT BELT BUCKLES WITH FUNCTIONAL CONCERNS.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THE OCCUPANT OF THE SEAT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND PERSONAL INJURY COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY, FOR 12 YEARS AND UNLIMITED MILEAGE.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1990 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
244 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1990 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT THE VEHICLE BEING IMPACTED. WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED IT SHATTERED THE DRIVER'S GLASSES, REDUCING HIS VISIBILITY. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT, WENT UP AND EMBANKMENT 20 FEET, AND LANDED 70 FEET DOWN THE ROAD. DRIVER SUSTAINED SERIOUS BURNS TO BACK, NECK AND HAND. THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE (EMS) HAD TO PEEL THE AIR BAG OFF THE DRIVER'S FACE, NECK, AND HAND. *AK
I PURCHASED A 1990 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL IN DECEMBER 2002, AND NOTICED THAT DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE REVS VERY HIGH AND THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE THE OVERDRIVE. I ALSO NOTICED THAT SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE OR DRIVE TO RVERSE, THERE IS A DELAY IN THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGING THE APPROPRIATE GEAR. BEFORE I DECIDED TO TAKE MY CAR TO A DEALER TO GET THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED, I CHECKED THE FLUID TO ENSURE THAT THE LEVEL WAS CORRECT, AND TO CHECK THE COLOR OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. BOTH WERE FOUND TO BE IN GOOD ORDER. THEN I CHECKED WWW.ALLDATA.COM AND FOUND THAT FORD WAS AWARE OF THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THROUGH A CHECK OF THE FOLLOWING SERVICE BULLETINS: ATRATB331; ATRATB267; 94247; ATRATB029; AND 89225. BECAUSE OF THE SERVICE BULLETINS MENTIONED ABOVE, FORD WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS AND FAILED TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS. AS A CONSUMER, I WOULD LIKE FORD TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AT NO COST TO MYSELF. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THE ENGINE COOLING FAN. ON 12 DECEMBER 2002 WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND SMELLED WIRES BURNING. I PULLED OVER IN A PARKING LOT OF A SHOPPING CENTER RIGHT WHEN THE COMPUTER SIGNALED THAT THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WAS HIGHER THAN NORMAL. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND OPEN THE HOOD TO LOOK FOR THE BURNED WIRED. THE ELECTRIC ENGINE FAN HAD SEIZED UP AND STARTED TO MELT THE WIRES. THE FUSE HAD FAILED TO BLOW, AND I HAD TO UNPLUG THE FAN FROM THE WIRING HARNESS TO KEEP THE WIRES FROM BURNING MORE.
I PURCHASED A 1990 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL IN DECEMBER 2002, AND NOTICED THAT DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE REVS VERY HIGH AND THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE THE OVERDRIVE. I ALSO NOTICED THAT SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE OR DRIVE TO RVERSE, THERE IS A DELAY IN THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGING THE APPROPRIATE GEAR. BEFORE I DECIDED TO TAKE MY CAR TO A DEALER TO GET THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED, I CHECKED THE FLUID TO ENSURE THAT THE LEVEL WAS CORRECT, AND TO CHECK THE COLOR OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. BOTH WERE FOUND TO BE IN GOOD ORDER. THEN I CHECKED WWW.ALLDATA.COM AND FOUND THAT FORD WAS AWARE OF THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THROUGH A CHECK OF THE FOLLOWING SERVICE BULLETINS: ATRATB331; ATRATB267; 94247; ATRATB029; AND 89225. BECAUSE OF THE SERVICE BULLETINS MENTIONED ABOVE, FORD WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS AND FAILED TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS. AS A CONSUMER, I WOULD LIKE FORD TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AT NO COST TO MYSELF. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THE ENGINE COOLING FAN. ON 12 DECEMBER 2002 WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND SMELLED WIRES BURNING. I PULLED OVER IN A PARKING LOT OF A SHOPPING CENTER RIGHT WHEN THE COMPUTER SIGNALED THAT THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WAS HIGHER THAN NORMAL. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND OPEN THE HOOD TO LOOK FOR THE BURNED WIRED. THE ELECTRIC ENGINE FAN HAD SEIZED UP AND STARTED TO MELT THE WIRES. THE FUSE HAD FAILED TO BLOW, AND I HAD TO UNPLUG THE FAN FROM THE WIRING HARNESS TO KEEP THE WIRES FROM BURNING MORE.
THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 98/V/323/000 FOR SUBFRAME CORROSION. HOWEVER, SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN ARKANSAS IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL.*AK
Safety Rating for the 1990 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1990 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1990 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
Ford Motor Company has issued 1 technical service bulletin (TSBs) for the 1990 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
9566 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
UNKNOWN
NHTSA Investigations for the 1990 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
NHTSA has opened 1 investigation into potential safety defects in the 1990 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL.
Other Model Years of the LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
- 1985 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL — 18 complaints
- 1986 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL — 8 complaints
- 1987 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL — 14 complaints
- 1988 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL — 147 complaints
- 1989 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL — 255 complaints
- 1990 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL (current)
- 1991 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL — 399 complaints
- 1992 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL — 199 complaints
- 1993 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL — 200 complaints
- 1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL — 303 complaints
- 1995 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL — 94 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