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1988 Lincoln ContinentalProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 84 owner complaints about the 1988 Lincoln Continental, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 9 safety recalls.

45
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.2× the Continental median · #7 of 19 years by complaints
Safety recalls9Free fix at dealersOwner complaints8419 with a crash, fire or injuryTop problem33Electrical system

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through June 28, 2002. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1988 Lincoln Continental has problems

84 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system338
Service brakes, hydraulic203
Structure131
Engine and engine cooling100
Suspension91
Steering90
Power train80
Vehicle speed control41
Equipment30
9 other systems155

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

9 recalls

1988 Lincoln Continental recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Structure: frame and members

Recall 98V-323 · Dec 16, 1998 · 2,697,000 vehicles

Risk. IF BOTH REAR CORNERS DROP, STEERING WOULD BECOME SUDDENLY VERY DIFFICULT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Structure: frame and members

Recall 93V-106 · Jun 23, 1993 · 1,610,000 vehicles

Risk. IF ONE OF THE REAR CORNERS DROPS, ONLY MINOR INDICATIONS OF A MALFUNCTION SUCH AS A CLUNKING NOISE OR SLIGHT CHANGE IN STEERING WHEEL ALIGNMENT ARE NOTICEABLE.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Disc: rotor

Recall 91V-134 · Aug 6, 1991 · 325,000 vehicles

Risk. SEVERELY CORRODED ROTORS MAY FRACTURE OR SEPARATE NEARTHE INNER EDGES OF THE BRAKE DISCS RESULTING IN REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS,HIGHER THAN NORMAL PEDAL…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 5 more recalls
–no report yet

Electrical system: wiring

Recall 88V-118 · Jul 22, 1988 · 28,000 vehicles

Risk. BRAKE PUMP MOTOR WILL NOT OPERATE, SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCINGBRAKING CAPABILITY; BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WILL COME ON.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Wiring: front underhood

Recall 88V-114 · Jul 19, 1988 · 26,000 vehicles

Risk. MELTED NYLON SHIELD COULD DRIP ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDAND RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Lever and linkage: column shift

Recall 88V-101 · Jun 27, 1988 · 22,893 vehicles

Risk. OPERATOR WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT FROM ONE OF THEDRIVE GEARS INTO PARK POSITION.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Springs: coil springs

Recall 88V-030 · Mar 11, 1988 · 8,848 vehicles

Risk. THIS COULD RESULT IN SUDDEN LOSS OF TIRE INFLATIONPRESSURE WITH POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Seat belts

Recall 88V-027 · Mar 8, 1988 · 4,500 vehicles

Risk. BELT ANCHOR COULD DISENGAGE THE STUD; AN UNATTACHED BELTASSEMBLY WOULD NOT WITHSTAND AN IMPACT LOAD.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Lincoln.

Best & worst years

1988 vs. every other Continental year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Continental median. How we score

'69'74'75'77'78'79'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'17'18'19'20
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
11 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1988 Lincoln Continental, and the recalls they led to.

  1. ALLEGED DEFECTIVE TIE RODSDP95004 · closed Aug 30, 1995
    No recall
  2. BRAKE DISC HUB SEPARATIONSEA90045 · closed Sep 12, 1991
    Led to recall 91V-134
  3. SUB-FRM/UNIBODY ABSOR.FAILEA92040 · closed Jun 30, 1993
    Led to recall 93V-106
  4. BROKEN TIE RODSEA94008 · closed Feb 27, 1995
    No recall
  5. ABS FAILUREPE88100 · closed Apr 17, 1989
    No recall
  6. AIR SUSPENSION FAILUREPE89026 · closed Apr 12, 1989
    No recall
  7. PS PUMP PULLEY BREAKSPE89157 · closed Sep 15, 1989
    No recall
  8. ENGINE MOUNT FAILUREPE92014 · closed Jun 25, 1992
    No recall
  9. SUB-FRM/UNIBODY ABSOR.FAILPE92056 · closed Nov 30, 1992
    No recall
  10. BROKEN TIE RODSPE93058 · closed Feb 16, 1994
    No recall
  11. REAR LOWER SUBFRAME ASSEMBLYRQ97009 · closed Feb 16, 1999
    Led to recall 93V-106
In owners' words

What Continental owners report

Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT WILL NOT COME ON UNTIL CONSUMER PUSHES ON THROTTLE SWITCH. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Complaint 8012880 · Jun 28, 2002
WHILE DRIVING, SMELT BURNING WIRES, TURNED OFF IGNITION, VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART, TOTALLY DEAD; IGNITION SWITCH BURNED INTERNALLY, SWITCH/WIRING REPLACED.*AK
Complaint 984759 · May 22, 1996
INITIALLY EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS STARTING, DEALER FOUND WIRING ON TWO SEPARATE OCCAISIONS HAD BURNT INSIDE STEERING COLUMN, AND REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH. *AK
Complaint 983476 · Apr 23, 1996

Own a 1988 Continental?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.