The 1998 Lincoln Continental has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 571,800 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 88 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the vehicle speed control. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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
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.
Complaints by component
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
10
3crashes1fires
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
5
1crashes1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
4
1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
3
2injuries
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
3
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
3
AIR BAGS
2
1crashes1injuries
Total complaints88
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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…”
“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…”
“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”
“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”
“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.”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1998 Lincoln Continental as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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