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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 →
72Owner complaints

Model-year median: 32

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
70
199548
199696
199772
199842
199963
200032
2001
Compare all Continental years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
14Vehicle Speed Control
13Electrical System
7Power Train
7Visibility
6
All reported categories
Seat Belts
5Structure
5Air Bags
4Equipment
3Exterior Lighting
3Steering
3Suspension
3Tires
3Seats
2Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Unknown Or Other
2Fuel System, Other
1Interior Lighting
1Visibility/wiper
1Wheels
1

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

Unknown Or Other complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
109,000 miles · Apr 9, 2014
Unknown Or Other

I AM ONE PERSON AMONG MANY THAT HAVE BEEN HAVING MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE FORD FRONT WHEEL DRIVE TRANSMISSION. BOUGHT MY 98 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL WITH 97000 MILES ON IT, AT 109000 MILES HAD TO PAY 2400 TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION PULLED AND REBUILT. I'M 65 YEARS OLD AND HAVE NEVER EVEN HIT THE PASSING GEAR. AT 155000 MILES IT HAD TO …

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I AM ONE PERSON AMONG MANY THAT HAVE BEEN HAVING MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE FORD FRONT WHEEL DRIVE TRANSMISSION. BOUGHT MY 98 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL WITH 97000 MILES ON IT, AT 109000 MILES HAD TO PAY 2400 TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION PULLED AND REBUILT. I'M 65 YEARS OLD AND HAVE NEVER EVEN HIT THE PASSING GEAR. AT 155000 MILES IT HAD TO GET PULLED AGAIN. 1500 DOLLARS AT THST TIME. NOW WITH 175000 MILES ON IT THE CHECK TRANSMISSION SIGNAL IS ON AGAIN. I DID NOT UNTIL NOW DO ANY CODE CHECKS OR INTERNET SEARCH, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT FORD KNOWS THEY BUILT A BAD UNIT. LOOKING TO FIND OUT IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY SILENT RECALLS OR IF YOUR DEPARTMENT HAS ANY INFORMATION THAT COULD HELP ME. MY CAR IS IN MINT CONDITION AND RUNS GREAT EXCEPT FOR THE TRANSMISSION. I REMEMBER READING THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS INVESTIGATED OR GOING TO BE LOOKED AT. CURRENTLY I GET A P1744 CODE OFF THE COMPUTER. I HOPE THERE IS A SILENT RECALL OR SOME INFO YOU MAY HAVE THAT COULD HELP ME.

NHTSA ODI #10578665

Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 2003
Unknown Or Other

SERVICE AND REPAIR OF 1998 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS UPSET THAT THE DEALER WAS STILL SERVICING THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS GOING ON THE SIXTH WEEK.*TS *JB

NHTSA ODI #10040609

Official recalls

1

98V028000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.