Open safety recalls, the components owners report failing most often, crash-test results and running costs for the 1998 Lincoln Continental, assembled from NHTSA and EPA records.
Everything on this page applies to the model as a whole. Run its VIN to decode that exact car, its engine, trim, assembly plant and factory equipment, alongside these records.
Open a VIN recordRecalls and complaints are filed against a specific model year, so figures differ from one year to the next even within a single generation. See every Lincoln Continental year.
20.6 mpg average · 18–28 range · EPA says 18
Over 5 years this costs $10,500 more in fuel than an average new vehicle.
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for this make, model and year. Recalls apply to the model, so some may already be fixed on this specific car. A dealer can confirm from the VIN.
Issue: Bosch Brake Components LLC (Bosch) is recalling certain aftermarket replacement front brake pads, models Bosch QuietCast BC598 and BP765, Bosch Blue BE598 and BE598H, Prostop PD598 and PD765M, Duralast Gold DG598, Duralast MKD598, Stop Master ST598, UltraStop ULT598, UltraLife MX598 and MX765, BrakeBest MKD765, and Prostop Platinum PGD598. These brake pads, manufactured October 1, 2014, to October 31, 2015 are intended for use on 2001-2007 Ford Taurus, 2001-2005 Mercury Sable, 1995-1999 Ford Taurus SHO, 1995-2002 Lincoln Continental, and 1993-1998 Lincoln Mark VIII vehicles. The brake pad shim may shift out of position causing the shim to contact the brake disc resulting in damage to the disc.
Risk: A damaged or broken brake disc may reduce a vehicle's braking power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Bosch will instruct the owners how to have the affected brake pads replaced, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2016. Owners may contact Bosch customer service at 1-888-715-3616.
Campaign 16E026000
Issue: 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."
Risk: 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.
Campaign 98V028000
NHTSA has no NCAP crash-test rating for this model year, which is common for older, low-volume and heavy-duty vehicles.
The parts named most often across 72 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this make, model and year.
1 fire · 2 injured
4 crashes · 1 fire
1 injured
2 crashes
Complaints are self-reported and skew toward problems people find alarming, so read this as where to look rather than as a defect rate.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REARVIEW MIRROR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MIRROR HAD A DAY NIGHT AUTOMATIC TINTING FEATURE. THE SEALS ON THE MIRROR FAILED AND THE FLUIDS LEAKED AND COVERED THE MIRROR. THE MIRROR COULD NOT LONGER BE USED AND WAS NOT FUNCTIONAL. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE MIRROR HIMSELF AND THE ORIGINAL MIRROR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE FAILURE AND WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE HOWEVER NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED TO THE CONTACT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 186,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR VIEW AND DRIVER SIDE MIRRORS WERE TINTED WITH AN ANTI-REFLECTION CHEMICAL WHICH MELTED THE PLASTIC INSIDE CAUSING THE MIRRORS TO LOOK FOGGY OR DARKER THAN THEY WERE. HE BELIEVED IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE HIS VISIBILITY WAS MINIMAL AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,000.
THE RIGHT AND LEFT SEATS BELTS IN THE REAR OF CAR WILL NO LONGER RETRACT. I GOT THEM UNSTUCK A COUPLE TIMES BUT IT HAPPENS AGAIN AND AGAIN. I AM AFRAID BECAUSE MY KIDS SIT BACK THERE.
1998 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
AS I WAS BACKING THE CAR UP THE TIE ROD/STEERING ASSEMBLY DISENGAGED (UNSCREWED) FROM THE RACK&PINYON (PASSENGER SIDE) CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. THE TIE ROD I STRESS AGAIN UNSCREWED FROM THE RACK. I WAS FORTUNATE THIS TOOK PLACE AT A SLOW SPEED. I FEEL THAT IF THIS OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS OR FATAL CRASH. MY MECHANIC REPLACED THE TIE RODS ON BOTH SIDES WITH NEW ONES AND I HAVE THE OLD PART ON HAND. LOOKS LIKE THE SAFETY PIN THAT HOLDS THE TIE ROD TO THE RACK WORE AND ALLOWED THE TIE ROD TO UNSCREW ITS SELF FROM THE RACK. *TR
SPONTANEOUS FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE LAST DRIVEN ABOUT 12 HOURS BEFORE, AND HAD BEEN OFF SINCE THAT TIME. DURING A DOWNPOUR, AND WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE IGNITED SHORTLY AFTER 6AM - 02/06/10. EVENTS AND REMAINING EVIDENCE CLOSELY MATCH THOSE DESCRIBED IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH FIRES FOR OTHER FORD MODELS (INCLUDING SAME MODEL-YEAR TOWN CARS). *TR
I WAS DRIVING AROUND 50 MPH WHEN THE SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT OF THE HEAD OF THE MOTOR. IT CAUSED THE PISTON TO SMOKE AND IT HAD A RATTLE. *TR
I KEEP GETTING THIS MESSAGE. FROM: NHTSAHOTLINE@TELESISHQ.COMNHTSAHOTLINETELESISHQ.COM DATE: 3/18/2009 4:02:15 PM TO: SUBJECT: UNKNOWN FOOTPRINTS INCOMING MAIL ERROR FOOTPRINTS ENCOUNTERED AN ERROR PROCESSING AN INCOMING MAIL MESSAGE. THE ERROR CODE IS BELOW. IF THE ERROR IS UNCLEAR OR IF YOU NEED HELP, PLEASE CONTACT SUPPORT. FOOTPRINTS ERROR: 201 [MICROSOFT][ODBC SQL SERVER DRIVER][TCP/IP SOCKETS]SQL SERVER DOES NOT EXIST OR ACCESS DENIED. (SQL-08001) [MICROSOFT][ODBC SQL SERVER DRIVER][TCP/IP SOCKETS]CONNECTIONOPEN (CONNECT()). (SQL-01000)(DBD: DB_LOGIN/SQLCONNECT ERR=-1) CONNECTION STRING: DBI:ODBC:FOOTPRINTS\ THIS IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO SEND TO:NHTSA.WEBMASTER@DOT.GOV FROM: SUBJECT:AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHT MODUALE COMMENTS: I GOT A NOTICE OF AN ERROR ON SENDING YOU MY MESSAGE. HOPE YOU DO NOT GET TWO. MY 98 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL HAS NO TURNSIGNAL LIGHTS,NO EMERGENCY LIGHTS ETC. IT CAN NOT BE DRIVEN SAFELY. WE HAVE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD WE NEED AN AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHT MODULE. HOWEVER IT HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THERE IS NONE AVAILABLE IN THE UNITED STATES. I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY(CASE ID#1556870779) AND WAS TOLD TO CONTACT YOU. WAS THERE NO RECALL ON THIS PART? I AM CERTAIN THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. I WAS TOLD TO GET A PART FROM A JUNK YARD ALTHOUGH THAT TOO WOULD BE EXPENSIVE SINCE THEY TOO KNOW THIS PART IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE.. BEING FEMALE I DO NOT THINK THAT IS POSSIBLE. I ALSO THINK THAT A COMPANY LIKE FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSILBE FOR PROVIDING PARTS FOR THEIR CARS. MANY CARS ARE ON THE ROAD A LOT LONGER THAN TEN YEARS. I COULD GO ON BUT FOR NOW --WHAT AM I TO DO?? FROM NHTSA WEB SITE. 98 LINCOLN HAS NO TURNSIGNAL NO EMERGENCY LIGHTS ETC.IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT NEEDED AN AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHT MODULE BUT NO PART EXISTS IN THE US. WHAT NOW??? *TR
VEHICLE ACCELERATES BY ITSELF. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP APPROX. EVERY YEAR FOR THIS SINCE 2005 AND AS RECENT AS JUNE OF 08. THE DEALERSHIP USUALLY REPLACES THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE BUT THIS PROBLEM WILL AGAIN SERVICE AFTER ABOUT ONE YEAR. I HAVE PAID FOR A COMPLETE FUEL INDUCTION CLEANING (10-05-07). THE ONLY THING THAT WORKS IS REPLACING THE IDLE CONTROL VALVE BUT LIKE I SAID THE PROBLEM RESURFACES. THE CAR WILL IDLE AT 500 RPM FOR NORMAL BUT IDLE AT 1000 RPM IN DRIVE WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS, IF I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL IT WILL TAKE OFF AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND I HAVE TO TURN IT OFF IN ORDER FOR IT TO RESET ITSELF. DURING NORMAL OPERATION THE CAR WILL WANT TO TAKE OFF BY ITSELF AT A STOPLIGHT AND JERK WHEN I RELEASE THE BRAKE. I PARTICULARLY NOTICE THIS TO OCCUR WHEN I COME OFF THE FREEWAY BUT IT ALSO OCCURS DURING NORMAL OPERATION. I TOOK MY CAR IN JUNE OF THIS MONTH FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY COULD NOT GET IT TO ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN. IT IS NOW OCT. 2008 AND THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE MEANING THIS HAPPENS NOW ABOUT 4 TO 6 TIMES A DAY. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF MY SITUATION AND THEY HAVE THE HISTORY ON MY CAR BUT I'M THE ONE STUCK WITH THE BILL OF GETTING IT FIXED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS THE LAST COUPLE OF TIMES WORKED OUT A DISCOUNT BECAUSE THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM BUT I STILL HAVE TO PAY BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAS USUALLY RUN OUT. THEY DO SHOW ME TAKING IT IN BEFORE THE WARRANTY RUNS OUT BUT THEY CAN NEVER SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM UNTIL IT IS SO BAD TO THE POINT OF DANGEROUS AND THE CAR IS DOING IT ALL THE TIME, USUALLY AFTER THE WARRANTY. *TR
SECURITY FLASHES RAPIDLY WHICH PREVENTS THE IGNITION FROM STARTING. IT ROLLS OK BUT WILL NOT CRANK UP TO RUN. THIS PROBLEM STARTED ALMOST A YEAR AGO, BUT AFTER A LITTLE WAIT IT WOULD FINALLY CRANK. IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS WE HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR ABOUT 4 TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. ON MAR , 2008 WE WERE LEFT STRANDED IN BILOXI, MS REQUIRING A TOW TO THE EASTERBROOK DEALERSHIP FROM WHERE THE AUTOMOBILE WAS PURCHASED IN 2004. AT TIMES THE SECURITY LIGHT WOULD FLASH NORMALLY, AND ON THOSE TIMES WE COULD DRIVE ANYWHERE WE LIKED WITHOUT WORRY. FROM OUR PROGRESSIVE DRIVE INSURANCE WEBPAGE I RAN ACROSS A NHTA ITEM # 619266 COVERING THIS COMPLAINT IN 1998 LINCOLN CONTINENTALS WHICH WAS A TECHNICAL BULLETIN. WE HAD NEVER EVEN HEARD OF OR RECEIVED A NOTICE OF THIS. I FEEL THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE $369.00 REPAIR OF THIS VEHICLE NOT EVEN SPEAKING OF THE PAIN AND WORRY IT HAS CAUSED AND MISSED DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS AND SUCH. OUR FIRST INCIDENT WAS IN 2006 WHEN, AT OUR EXPENSE, WE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, WHEN IT FAILED ON INTERSTATE 63, LEAVING US STRANDED, HAVING TO BE TOWED, AND WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR OVER A WEEK. *TR
Showing 12 of 72 complaints.