Illustration1998 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING DEFECTIVE REAR SEAT BELTS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT AND LEFT REAR SEAT BELTS NO LONGER RETRACT. ALSO, WATER ENTERED THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS AND CAUSED THE LENS TO FOGGED UP. *JB
1998 Lincoln Continental
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1998 Lincoln Continental do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 32.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Continental years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 17 of 72 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
8 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports
Structure complaints
5 reportsSOON AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE IT BEGAN TO LEAK FROM BEHIND THE DASHBOARD. THEN, SUN ROOF, AND SIDE WINDOWS LEAKED. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED ALL THE SEALS, BUT IT STILL LEAKS.*AK
CONSUMER STATED AT 17,000 MILES, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND FAILED TO CONTINUE OPERATING, DEALERSHIP EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND MADE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO REMEDY PROBLEM, THEN ON 26-SEP-2001, ENGINE WAS LEAKING OIL FROM THE RIGHT VALVE COVER GASKET WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED, ALSO THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING, THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT ON…
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CONSUMER STATED AT 17,000 MILES, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND FAILED TO CONTINUE OPERATING, DEALERSHIP EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND MADE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO REMEDY PROBLEM, THEN ON 26-SEP-2001, ENGINE WAS LEAKING OIL FROM THE RIGHT VALVE COVER GASKET WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED, ALSO THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING, THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT ON DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED AND WOULD NOT GO OUT LEAVING DOORS IN THE OPEN POSITION. *JG *AK
DRIVER HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT, AND COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED. BODY ABSORBERS WHERE THE FRAME SUPPORTING THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, FRONT SUSPENSION, AND STEERING HAD BROKEN LOOSE FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE WASHER HOLDING THE BODY ABSORBERS FAILED APPARENTLY DUE TO CORROSION AND…
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DRIVER HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT, AND COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED. BODY ABSORBERS WHERE THE FRAME SUPPORTING THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, FRONT SUSPENSION, AND STEERING HAD BROKEN LOOSE FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE WASHER HOLDING THE BODY ABSORBERS FAILED APPARENTLY DUE TO CORROSION AND FATIGUE.
THE RIGHT REAR DOOR OF THE LINCOLN'S CHASSIS IS ENTRENCHED WITH A SPLIT. THIS ALLOWS RAIN TO LEAK IN OR AIR TO BLOW THROUGH. WILL BE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK. *AK
Official recalls
198V028000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights
Feb 10, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TEXT AND/OR GRAPHICS FOR THE VEHICLE HEADLAMP AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY BE CONFUSED BY THE AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES CAUSING THE HEADLAMPS TO BE IMPROPERLY AIMED.
Remedy: OWNER GUIDES CONTAINING REVISED AIMING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.