1995 Lincoln Continental Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report two things: headlamps that dim as the plastic lenses cloud and yellow, and a rear air suspension that sags or quits, giving a rough or lopsided ride. Complaints also cluster around glare and reflection problems from the windshield and interior mirror, and around occasional engine no-start or head gasket trouble. Many reports come on higher-mileage cars, though lighting and glare complaints are often logged earlier in the car's life.

1. 1
   Exterior lighting

   Clouded, yellowed headlight lenses and dim output

   • 9 complaints (13%)
   • median 40,822 mi at 10.7 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1996–2007

   Complaints describe the clear plastic headlight covers turning yellow or developing an opaque haze, which cuts the amount of light reaching the road at night. Several owners say the lamps are a sealed one-piece assembly, so the whole unit has to be replaced rather than just a bulb, and one report put the cost of each unit in the low hundreds of dollars. Some describe an additional problem where the automatic lamp control module shuts the headlights off unexpectedly; that system is the subject of a federal recall, and one owner reported a repeat failure after the module was replaced. Reports appear from roughly 36,000 to 45,000 miles onward, with some owners noticing the discoloration well into the car's later years.

   Recall 96V009000

   What to check: Look at both headlight housings in daylight for yellowing or cloudiness, and compare brightness against a wall at night. Ask whether recall 96V009000 for the autolamp module was performed, and confirm the headlights still work with the switch left in automatic.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Clear plastic lenses that cover headlights have started to change to a yellowish color. Headlights don't shine through lenses bright enough, making it hard to see. Consumer has contacted dealer.”

   NHTSA complaint #894125, filed 2001-08

   “Recall 96v009000 repairs on headlamp module was done in may 2001. Part was also replaced on october 25, 2001. It failed again on november 3, 2001, leaving consumer without headlights at night.”

   NHTSA complaint #898823, filed 2001-11
2. 2
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield and mirror glare, reflection and distortion

   • 7 complaints (10%)
   • typically at 4.5 yrs old
   • filed 1995–2003

   Complaints describe excessive glare through the windshield and side glass in bright sun and from oncoming headlights, to the point that owners say they have to pull over or shade the top of the windshield. Others report the self-dimming interior mirror developing bubbles, cloudiness or distortion, or failing so it can no longer dim, and one owner says the mirror was replaced several times. A separate group describes dashboard and console lighting reflecting into the glass at night and impairing the view. Reported across a wide mileage range, from cars with no mileage noted up to about 131,000 miles; glare reports appear in both daylight and night driving.

   What to check: Check the interior mirror for discoloration or fluid marks and confirm it still dims, and drive the car toward low sun to judge windshield glare. Verify the defroster clears the whole windshield, not just small round spots.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Unable to get dealers to comply with NHTSA campaign id number 95v012000. Light or glare is so bad that are unable to see the road or dash during the day and night. No problem during the day if day is dark or sun is not bright. Necessary to pull over to the side of road when tis occurs or cover upper part of windshield or drivers side of window.”

   NHTSA complaint #705889, filed 1999-04

   “Console lights reflect into drivers portion of windshield and rearview mirrors. Please describe details. Tt consumer states at night there are 2 sets of lights from the dashboard that reflect into the windshield on the driver side, 3 panels of lights reflect onto the driver side window, consumer states this is very distracting and makes it hard to see.”

   NHTSA complaint #973696, filed 1995-10
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   Intermittent no-start after warm shutdown, head gasket leaks

   • 7 complaints (10%)
   • median 100,500 mi at 10.5 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2006

   Several owners describe the engine refusing to restart after being driven and shut off, most often on warm days and after a short trip. Dealers are reported as unable to reproduce the fault, and more than one owner reports repeated head gasket failures, one repaired under warranty and another paid for out of pocket. Separate reports mention an engine cooling fan catching fire and a strong exhaust-like odor entering the cabin. No-start reports come after only a few miles of driving in warm weather; head gasket reports cluster on cars above 90,000 miles.

   What to check: Start the car cold, drive it until warm, shut it off and restart after a few minutes. Check coolant level and look for oily residue or bubbles in the coolant reservoir, and ask whether the head gaskets have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Problem one: intermittent no-start when car had been standing after initial warmup. Problem two: sluggish transmission for about a year, then hard shifts, and squeal noises, burnt and discolored fluid”

   NHTSA complaint #10068964, filed 2004-01, 93,000 miles

   “Nhtsa investigations# 3264-ea-96-024 and 3109-pe-96-033: consumer states, the engine fan cooler took fire. Dealer has been notified. Please provide further information. Ts”

   NHTSA complaint #8021565, filed 2002-10
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Automatic door locks and 'door ajar' warning

   • 6 complaints (9%)
   • typically at 6.5 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2005

   Complaints describe the automatic door lock system failing, with the car showing a door-open warning even though every door is shut, which prevents the doors from locking and keeps the interior lights on. Owners link this to repeated battery drain, and one report notes water leaking onto the passenger side floors after rain. Others describe a door that would not stay latched and door components that stopped operating. Reported over a broad mileage range, often on cars driven in rain or wet conditions.

   What to check: Close every door and watch whether the door-ajar indicator goes out and the locks set, then check the carpets on the passenger side for dampness after rain.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “January 10th the 'door ajar' sensor came on and the interior lights were on. I checked all 4 doors, they were all closed and the lights remained on. I then pushed the 'reset' button for the sensor and the lights then would go off for a brief time and come back on. Then, today january 11th the same thing occurred but after the car was turned off for a couple of hours the problem increased. I started the car, the 'door ajar' sensor came on along with the lights. Again the doors were checked, they were all shut. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10106161, filed 2005-01

   “Car's automatic door lock system is not working. Somewhere inside one of the doors or in a control panel, this item is malfunctioning-indicating that one of the doors is open. When the door is open the car will not lock. I have driven this car with children in the back seat and cannot lock the doors. In addition, another problem occurs because all interior lights remain on because this door open signal is on. This constant problem has caused me to lose 1 ford battery in 3 months and the one in the car now is weak. …”

   NHTSA complaint #726219, filed 2000-07
5. 5
   Suspension

   Rear air suspension sags or quits

   • 5 complaints (7%)
   • typically at 5.6 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2004

   Owners describe the air suspension dropping intermittently, leaving one side of the car lower than the other or the whole rear sitting down, with a rough ride while driving. In some reports the car bottoms out or the rear end sags enough to affect handling. Dealers are described as inspecting or ordering parts, and in one case a stabilizer bar was replaced but was on back order. Mostly reported on higher-mileage cars, generally above 90,000 miles.

   What to check: Let the car sit overnight and check that it sits level, then start it and listen for the air compressor running and the rear rising. Ask whether the air springs, compressor or ride-height sensors have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Ntire right side of the vehicle is lower than the left side due to suspension failure. Also, doors operate intermittently/ radio doesn't work/ motor keeps moving when consumer stops vehicle/ in the daytime consumer is unable to read anything on dashboard. Due the structure of the vehicle, and consumer has to turn on the inside lights to read dashboard.”

   NHTSA complaint #849960, filed 1999-10

   “Driver side front door window moves out of chanel and jams. Driver side front power window motor failed. Driver side front door fails to lock automatically. Air conditioning vents fail to open. Air conditioning blows on windshield only. Irratic shifting of transmission from 1st to 2nd gear. Slipping of transmission when power is applied. Failure of all 4 suspension. Failure of brakes senting car into uncontrolable fish tailing and 360 degree spinout at 40 mile/per hour.”

   NHTSA complaint #10069661, filed 2004-01

Buying note. On this model year, inspect the headlight housings, the rear air suspension and the interior mirror before buying, since those are the most common complaints. Ask for records of the autolamp recall and of any head gasket, air spring or suspension work, and budget for aging plastic and rubber parts on a car of this age.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 47 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.