1989 Lincoln Continental Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 1989 Lincoln Continental most often write about seat belt buckles and retractors that would not latch, released while driving, or were never fixed because dealers said recall parts were unavailable. A second cluster concerns the hydraulic ABS brake booster, where complaints describe the pedal going to the floor, and a third concerns the rear air suspension dropping the car onto its tires. Because these cars are now decades old, many reports reflect wear, corrosion and parts availability rather than only design.

1. 1
   Seat belts

   Seat belt buckles won't latch or release while driving

   • 36 complaints (23%)
   • median 37,000 mi at 15.1 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 1995–2003

   Owners describe front seat belt buckles that were hard to latch, appeared locked but came undone while driving, or had plastic pieces break off so the belt could not be used. Shoulder belts were also reported to go slack and not retract after use. Many complaints center on recall 97V174000 for the front outboard buckles: owners say the dealer had no parts, could not give a date, or told them the recall had already been handled. Reported across a wide mileage range on vehicles that were already well used when filed, mostly in the late 1990s.

   Recall 97V174000Recall 89V048000

   What to check: Latch and release each front buckle several times and pull on the belt to confirm it holds and retracts; ask whether the 97V174000 buckle recall was completed and keep any paperwork.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Nhtsa recall # 98 v 323 000, subframe and NHTSA recall #97 I 003 000, seat belt buckles were received from manufacturer. Took vehicle in for repairs and was informed nothing could be done because recall was taken care off. Consumer received manufacturer's recall on 22 sep 99, and took vehicle in to dealer on sep 29 1999. Seeking help from NHTSA in this matter.”

   NHTSA complaint #849646, filed 1999-09

   “Received recall notice (#97i003000), motorized seat belts. Called dealer. Took vehicle in. Was told to leave vehicle & will call to have it picked up. No calls. Checked & was told had no parts available for repairs. Parts available in 6 mos. & does not know when work will begin.”

   NHTSA complaint #823758, filed 1998-05
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake pedal goes to the floor (ABS hydraulic booster)

   • 14 complaints (9%)
   • typically at 9.8 yrs old
   • filed 1995–2000

   Complaints describe the brake pedal sinking to the floor with little or no braking, sometimes at low speed and sometimes when approaching a stop. Several owners point to the hydraulic booster or booster motor on the master cylinder and note that replacement parts were hard to find, with one owner reporting that the booster worked only intermittently. Others describe front rotors separating from the hub or being severely corroded. Reported on vehicles of unknown mileage, generally during ordinary driving and braking rather than under heavy use.

   Recall 91V134000

   What to check: Press the pedal firmly with the engine running and confirm it stays high and firm; ask when the booster, master cylinder and front rotors were last serviced, since some parts are scarce.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Power booster assembly has a high failure rate and is a troublesome system parts needed for repaires are no longer available wich is strange for a 11 year old vehicle considering the high problem rate of this brake system. The brake booster operates intermitently. Since I am a mechanic working for ford I see this problem often.”

   NHTSA complaint #727443, filed 2000-08

   “While driving down the street and applying brakes at stop sign and there were no brakes, causing consumer to go right through the stop sign. *akconsumer states brake switch in ABS system was replaced consumer sttes the pin somhow became stuck in the down position and did not return..”

   NHTSA complaint #805062, filed 1996-11
3. 3
   Suspension

   Rear air suspension drops the car to the ground

   • 13 complaints (8%)
   • typically at 10.0 yrs old
   • filed 1995–2003

   Owners report the rear of the car dropping onto the tires, sometimes with a loud noise while driving, and in some cases the front sinking as well or one corner rising while another falls. Dealers and mechanics typically replaced air springs, air struts or the height sensors, and some owners had the same part fail again after repair. One complaint notes sand working between the spring and strut body and cutting the rubber. Reported at driving speeds from about 30 to 40 mph and also while parked, on cars with repeated repairs over several years.

   What to check: Let the car sit overnight and check that it sits level with the compressor off, listen for the compressor running repeatedly, and ask whether air springs or struts have been replaced and when.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “About 2 years ago, while driving the vehicle between 30-35 MPH, the right rear strut went out. Driver was able to stop vehicle safely. The strut was replaced. In may or june of 1997 the left rear strut went out and was replaced. In january of 1998, one of the front struts went out. The strut has not been replaced. The vehicle has been parked in owner's garage since january of 1998.”

   NHTSA complaint #823841, filed 1998-06

   “While driving about 40 MPH driver heard loud noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. At the same time the rear end of vehicle dropped down on the tires. The air suspension system was replaced in june of 98 for the same problem. The dealer is not aware of the current problem at this time.”

   NHTSA complaint #836912, filed 1999-04
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Unexpected acceleration or a sticking gas pedal

   Mentioned in 7 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the car accelerating on its own, a gas pedal sticking to the floor, and cruise control climbing in speed and being hard to switch off. In some accounts the brakes could not stop the car and the engine had to be shut off; others link loss of power assist to an ignition switch failure. Reported at idle at a stop light, while pulling away, and on the highway, with no mileage pattern evident in the complaints.

   What to check: Check that the throttle cable and pedal return freely, test the cruise control and its cancel switch at low speed, and ask whether the ignition switch has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving and with no warning, when trying to apply brakes pedal went to the floor, and it was hard for vehicle to stop, causing an accident. Dealer notified. Consumer stated the accelerator pedal became stuck while driving on the frreway, when attempting to pull over to the emergency lane, consumer hit some debris that was in the lane which caused damage to the vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #8017572, filed 2002-08

   “While driving gas pedal got stuck to the floor, causing sudden acceleration. Consumer pressed the brakes, but brakes failed stop vehicle. Vehicle finally stopped after driving 4 miles. Gas pedal stuck at least four times”

   NHTSA complaint #850249, filed 1999-11
5. 5
   Steering

   Power steering hose or rack leaks, fluid on hot engine parts

   • 9 complaints (6%)
   • typically at 8.0 yrs old
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–1998

   Complaints describe power steering fluid leaking from the hose or rack, steering that felt like it was locking in curves, and in several cases fluid spraying onto the exhaust manifold or starter and catching fire. One owner reported a shop replacing the rack and then the hose without resolving the problem. Reported during ordinary driving and cornering, on cars that had covered substantial mileage before the leak appeared.

   What to check: Inspect the power steering hoses and rack for weeping or damp residue, check the fluid level, and look for fluid staining near the exhaust manifold and starter.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I did buy this car as is, but only test drove five miles. My wife drove the car home from the dealer and tried the crusie control and when it is turned on it keeps going up in speed and is hard to shut off this is very dangerious, also the steering trys to lock when going around a curve. I purchased the car 11/12/98 an called the dealer 11/14/98 to complain about it and the manager said they would take care of it, they had the car four days and I got it back 11/20/98 and it wasn't fixed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #700794, filed 1998-11

   “I purchased the car at 87,300 miles and put 1500-2000 miles on it. Worked like a dream = previous owner said he had taken care of certain problems that Lincoln mercury said could possible be wrong with this year model. (had receipts) - at an oil change I was informed that it needed looking at due to a power steering leak - took it in to a local mechanic the benz connection and they said it was the power steering rack - had it changed and still a major problem. So they replaced the power steering hose - then no power steering. …”

   NHTSA complaint #701592, filed 1998-12

Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the brake booster, air suspension, seat belt buckles and power steering hoses, since these are the areas owners write about most, and confirm which open recalls were completed. Parts for some of these systems are increasingly hard to source, so factor availability into the decision.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.