The Lincoln Continental Years To Avoid
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The Lincoln Continental luxury sedan has been a flagship model in the Lincoln lineup for many years. It’s a solid option for a sedan with elegant styling, spacious interior, and advanced technology features.
The Continental competes with other luxury sedans, such as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW 5 Series, and the Audi A6. While it’s not as popular as its competitors, the Continental has proven to be a strong contender in the segment. Unfortunately, the Continental was discontinued by Lincoln in 2020 as the company shifted its focus to an all-SUV lineup.
THE MOST RELIABLE YEAR FOR THE LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
Some of these used vehicles are especially popular among larger families and small business owners. If you’re looking for the most reliable Lincoln Continental year, you’ve come to the right place.
Thus, if you’re looking to buy a used Lincoln Continental, you have many model years to choose from. However, not all Continental years offer long-term reliability. Today, we rounded up the least reliable Lincoln Continental years to avoid when buying used. Plus, we offer insights into why you should avoid them. Let’s get to it.
Which Lincoln Continental Years To Avoid?
When shopping for a used Lincoln Continental, buyers should approach the following models with caution due to potential reliability woes and the high number of complaints:
- 1998 Lincoln Continental
- 1999 Lincoln Continental
- 2002 Lincoln Continental
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1998 Lincoln Continental
Being a more than two-decade-old model, the 1998 Lincoln Continental might be too risky for used car buyers. CarComplaints.com says the 1998 Lincoln Continental has received 96 complaints and two recalls.
The most reported problem for this model year is its transmission system, specifically with vehicle speed control. Several owners said that the vehicle would accelerate by itself. In some cases, the idle air control valve was replaced, temporarily solving the problem, but it would resurface after about a year. In other instances, the car would accelerate when attempting to stop or when in drive and standing still. Moreover, sudden unintended acceleration was also experienced by numerous drivers, which often resulted in body damage.
The reports of intermittent electrical problems that are difficult to diagnose and fix are concerning. These issues can frustrate owners and may lead to safety concerns if they affect critical systems. The problem affects the vehicle’s lighting and signaling systems in Continental’s case.
1999 Lincoln Continental
The following model year, the 1999 Continental, has fewer complaints and less severe issues. However, these issues can be annoying and require expensive repairs.
The bulk of the complaints documented by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 1999 Continental was its suspension system. The most significant issue seems to be the failure of the front coil springs. This issue can range from annoying to severe because it can lead to sudden tire deflation, which may lead to loss of vehicle control and an accident.
There are also reports of coil springs corroding and subsequent failure, suggesting component quality or durability issues. This could be due to environmental factors, inadequate protection against rust, or other factors.
Meanwhile, the 1999 Continental also received numerous complaints about the airbags. Several owners reported that the frontal airbags deployed unexpectedly while driving at low speeds or even without any collision. Needless to say, many drivers were caught by surprise, which may easily lead to a road accident.
THE 10 MOST RELIABLE USED SEDANS
If you’re ready to start shopping for a used car and reliability is a priority for you, take a look at our list of the top 10 most reliable used sedans on the market today.
2002 Lincoln Continental
On the other hand, the 2002 Continental received fewer complaints and recalls. However, many of its known issues are considered severe and require expensive repair jobs. That said, the NHTSA listed 33 complaints and one recall for the 2002 Lincoln.
This Continental sedan also grappled with problematic vehicle speed control like the earlier models. Unfortunately, the unintended acceleration issue is also present in this iteration of the Continental. Some owners suggested the problem might be related to the cruise control system. There are also reports of the accelerator pedal getting stuck and not responding to braking attempts – a really dangerous malfunction that may lead to high-speed collisions.
Also similar to the 1999 model year, the 2002 Continental received reports about suspension issues. Once again, front coil spring failure is the potential culprit. The failure of the coil springs, especially while the vehicle is in motion, is another safety risk. Many drivers lamented the high repair costs associated with this issue.
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