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Lincoln ContinentalModel year report

1986 Lincoln Continental Problems

Complaints
8filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
90,000miles, 1 complaints with mileage
Recalls
5campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
19 mpgcombined, 5.0L 8-cyl RWD · 16 city / 24 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1986 Lincoln Continental (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 8 consumer complaints for the 1986 Lincoln Continental. The part named most often is brakes, with 2 complaints (25% of the total), followed by seats (2) and engine cooling (1). 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 90,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year. Brakes complaints overlap with 2 recall campaigns covering the hydraulic and 2 NHTSA investigations filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Brakes: “I own a 1986 Lincoln Continental that has a recall listed for the anti-lock brakes, 86v109000. The hydraulic brake pump has failed and midas told me about this recall and said I should have ford fix it. I went to schaumburg Lincoln mercury in schaumburg, illinois - and they said there was no recall. I called ford directly and they denied that there was a recall. Yet, on the national highway safety admin sight the recall ford now denies exists, is in fact listed. My vehicle has had the fuel system recall repaired, which ford admits, but never brake recall listed herein. …”

NHTSA complaint #10172589, filed 2006-11, 90,000 miles

Seats: “Seatback consisted of a stamped metal frame with opening in center and no supportive structure, driver fell through it upon impact, resulting in injury.”

NHTSA complaint #482617, filed 1995-03

Mileage when problems were reported

0% of the 1 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 90,000 and 90,000 miles.

0%0–100%10–250%25–500%50–75100%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (1 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 90,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

19955199619982006
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1986 Lincoln Continental version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Continental RWD5.0L 8-cyl4-speed automatic162419$3,550

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 1986 Lincoln Continental → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1986 Lincoln Continental.

Other model years of the Lincoln Continental

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202075,0002521—Not enough data
20193327,0003521Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Rising
20182178,5002521—Rising
20177550,0004521Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Rising
20023360,5000—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20013275,0001—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20006386,5003—18Not compared (before 2008)Rising
19994290,0002—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199872100,0001—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19979659,0751—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19964896,6832—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199570102,0731—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199419087,4565—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199312174,0004—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1992126101,0503—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1991203120,2263—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199015858,5003—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1989158133,5004—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
198884—9—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19879—1—19—Not enough data
1986890,0005—19—Not enough data
198515—2—17—Stable
19846—2—16—Not enough data

All Lincoln Continental model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1986 Lincoln Continental have?

NHTSA recorded 8 consumer complaints for the 1986 Lincoln Continental as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1986 Lincoln Continental is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 2 complaints (25% of the total), followed by seats with 2.

Has the 1986 Lincoln Continental been recalled?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1986 Lincoln Continental get?

The EPA rates the 1986 Lincoln Continental (Continental, 5.0L 8-cyl) at 19 mpg combined, 16 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1986 Lincoln Continental reported?

Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 90,000 miles and the middle half falls between 90,000 and 90,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.