1999 Lincoln Continental Problems
- Complaints
- 42filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 90,000miles, 19 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 2campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 18 mpgcombined, 4.6L 8-cyl FWD · 15 city / 23 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1999 Lincoln Continental (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 42 consumer complaints for the 1999 Lincoln Continental. The part named most often is suspension, with 12 complaints (29% of the total), followed by air bags (9) and brakes (5). 19 of the complaints include a mileage, and 16% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 90,000 miles. Of all complaints, 6 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 7 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign and 2 NHTSA investigations filed under the same part.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
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.
- Suspension12 29%
- Air bags9 21%
- Brakes5 12%
- Engine cooling4 9.5%
- Exterior lighting2 4.8%
- Steering2 4.8%
- Equipment1 2.4%
- Fuel system1 2.4%
Also reported: Other or unknown (1).
Example complaints
Suspension: “My 1999 Lincoln Continental has a broken front coil spring that snapped while the car was sitting in my car port with no one near it. The broken coil spring also broke some plastic linkage part that is hanging down and punctured a brand new tire and the air bag light is also showing on the dashboard now. I know there was a recall for this spring problem #04s17 but ford says that the recall does not include the Lincoln. This car only has 43k on it, thank god no one was driving it when this happened, this is obviously a safety defect. …”
NHTSA complaint #10198703, filed 2007-08, 43,543 milesAir bags: “Dt: the caller sai while wife driving 55-60 MPH side/curtain airbag on the passenger's side deployed. Dealer said a rock might have hit the sensor and made it deploy. Manufacturer said they could offer no help for free. The caller said there was a safety update 03i44000 in 2003, not a recall concerning crash sensor.”
NHTSA complaint #10135986, filed 2005-09, 97,000 milesVehicle speed control: “While driving on gs parkway the car accelerated from 65 miles per hr to 100 miles per hr. And would not slow down even when stepping on the brake. The car was speeding out of control while in the middle lane. We then tried to get over to side of parkway onto a grassy hill so we would not hit any other cars. The car slowed down enough for me and my son to jump out on drivers side before the car went full speed ahead toward the parkway but hit a guard rail and flipped over. By some miracle my son and I were not hurt. …”
NHTSA complaint #10172830, filed 2006-11, 85,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
16% of the 19 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 65,500 and 134,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1999 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).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental FWD | 4.6L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 15 | 23 | 18 | $4,550 |
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
- 03V144000Apr 9, 2003Air bags › FrontalCovers: Lincoln Continental 1999–2000
On certain passenger vehicles, the driver and/or passenger side air bag could deploy as a result of underbody impacts near the sensors, such as those occurring from pieces of gravel or debris thrown from the wheels while the vehicle is being operated at…
- 98V269000Oct 27, 1998Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsCovers: Lincoln Continental 1999
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The fuel rail crossover hose was damaged during fuel rail assembly allowing fuel leakage.
Recall details for the 1999 Lincoln Continental → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
NHTSA investigations
- EA01012Inadvertent side air bag deploymentClosed · Apr 27, 2001
- PE00042Inadvertent side air bag deploymentClosed · Oct 16, 2000
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 7 on record; the latest 7 are shown.
- 10018745Nov 14, 2005Engine cooling. Wds cop kit diagnostic tip - coil on plug (cop) ignition systems - engine misfire or rough running.
- 10014086Dec 13, 2004Transmission and drivetrain. General (pcm) power train control module programming procedures.
- 10014062Dec 13, 2004Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors). Rear window defroster grid/integral antenna diagnosis and repair - terminal tab repair.
- 10013369Nov 1, 2004Transmission and drivetrain. General power train control module (pcm) programming procedures.
- 10011162Aug 23, 2004Engine cooling. Engine misfire or running - coil on plug (cop) ignition systems - wds cop kit diagnostic tips. To include various 2005 models. * ar this article 04161 supersedes tsb 03-14-04.
- 10011159Aug 9, 2004Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors). Rear window defroster grid/integral antenna diagnosis and repair - terminal tab repair.
- 10013060Oct 14, 2002Equipment. Climate control a/c service tech tips.
Other model years of the Lincoln Continental
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 7 | 5,000 | 2 | 5 | 21 | — | Not enough data |
| 2019 | 33 | 27,000 | 3 | 5 | 21 | Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years) | Rising |
| 2018 | 21 | 78,500 | 2 | 5 | 21 | — | Rising |
| 2017 | 75 | 50,000 | 4 | 5 | 21 | Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years) | Rising |
| 2002 | 33 | 60,500 | 0 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2001 | 32 | 75,000 | 1 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2000 | 63 | 86,500 | 3 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 1999 | 42 | 90,000 | 2 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 72 | 100,000 | 1 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 96 | 59,075 | 1 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 48 | 96,683 | 2 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 70 | 102,073 | 1 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 190 | 87,456 | 5 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 121 | 74,000 | 4 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 126 | 101,050 | 3 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 203 | 120,226 | 3 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1990 | 158 | 58,500 | 3 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1989 | 158 | 133,500 | 4 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1988 | 84 | — | 9 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1987 | 9 | — | 1 | — | 19 | — | Not enough data |
| 1986 | 8 | 90,000 | 5 | — | 19 | — | Not enough data |
| 1985 | 15 | — | 2 | — | 17 | — | Stable |
| 1984 | 6 | — | 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 1999 Lincoln Continental have?
NHTSA recorded 42 consumer complaints for the 1999 Lincoln Continental as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1999 Lincoln Continental is reported most often?
Suspension is named most often, in 12 complaints (29% of the total), followed by air bags with 9.
Has the 1999 Lincoln Continental been recalled?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1999 Lincoln Continental get?
The EPA rates the 1999 Lincoln Continental (Continental, 4.6L 8-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 15 city and 23 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1999 Lincoln Continental reported?
Among the 19 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 90,000 miles and the middle half falls between 65,500 and 134,000 miles; 16% 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.