The Lincoln Continental is a large luxury sedan. This guide covers its two most recent generations: the front-wheel-drive V8 sedan sold for the 1995 to 2002 model years, and the sedan Lincoln brought back for 2017 to 2020. The older cars draw complaints about suspension, sudden acceleration and airbags, while the newer ones draw complaints about doors and cameras.
This guide ranks each Continental model year using NHTSA complaints and recalls and our years to avoid methodology. In short: the 2020 is the best year, the 2018 is a good choice, and the 2017 is the newer year to avoid.
Related: Lincoln MKS years to avoid, Cadillac XTS years to avoid, Toyota Avalon years to avoid.
How we rated the best and worst Lincoln Continental years
We put the most weight on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, and every count in this guide comes from NHTSA’s complaint and recall records.
The 1995 to 2002 cars have been on the road far longer than the 2017 to 2020 cars, so compare each year mainly with the other years of its own generation. Lincoln did not sell a Continental for the 2003 to 2016 model years.
Every Lincoln Continental model year ranked
| Model year | Verdict | NHTSA complaints | NHTSA recalls | Most-reported components |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Avoid | 70 | 2 | Exterior lighting, engine, suspension |
| 1996 | Caution | 48 | 3 | Suspension, visibility, power train |
| 1997 | Avoid | 96 | 2 | Visibility, steering, power train |
| 1998 | Avoid | 72 | 2 | Engine, vehicle speed control, electrical system |
| 1999 | Caution | 42 | 3 | Suspension, air bags, service brakes |
| 2000 | Avoid | 63 | 4 | Air bags, suspension, visibility |
| 2001 | Good | 32 | 2 | Suspension, electrical system, engine |
| 2002 | Good | 33 | 1 | Vehicle speed control, engine, suspension |
| 2017 | Avoid | 75 | 4 | Structure, latches/locks/linkages, electrical system |
| 2018 | Good | 21 | 2 | Latches/locks/linkages, electrical system, backover prevention |
| 2019 | Caution | 33 | 3 | Latches/locks/linkages, structure, backover prevention |
| 2020 | Best | 7 | 2 | Backover prevention, electrical system, latches/locks/linkages |
Most common Lincoln Continental problems
These are the problems that show up most in NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns.
1. Doors that will not latch (2017 to 2019)
Door complaints lead the 2017 to 2019. Owners describe doors that will not close or latch fully, a door that opened while driving, and rear doors that will not open from outside. Campaign 19V077 covers certain 2017 to 2019 Continentals with door latch pawl motors that may not work properly, so a door may not fully latch and could open while driving.
2. Foggy or blank rearview cameras (2017 to 2020)
Campaign 22V644 covers certain 2017 to 2020 Continentals with the 360-degree camera system, where the camera lens coating can degrade and leave a foggy or cloudy image. Campaign 25V442 covers certain 2019 and 2020 cars where the rearview camera may show a blank image or stay on after shifting out of reverse. Several owners report waiting for parts to complete the 22V644 repair.
3. Suspension and air suspension failures (1995 to 2002)
Suspension is the most-reported component overall, with 75 complaints, nearly all of them for the 1995 to 2002. Several 1995 and 1996 complaints describe the air suspension failing, leaving the car sagging or leaning to one side.
4. Sudden acceleration and stalling (1996 to 2002)
Vehicle speed control has 41 complaints, all for the 1996 to 2002, with 13 on the 1998. Owners describe the car surging or accelerating while braking or coming to a stop, and some report stalling. The 1996 and 1997 also have transmission recalls: campaigns 96V176 and 96V166 cover a park pawl that may not engage, which could let the car roll with the shifter in park.
5. Airbags that deploy without a crash (1999 and 2000)
The 1999 has 9 airbag complaints and the 2000 has 16, and many describe a front airbag going off with no crash. Campaign 03V144 covers certain 1999 and 2000 cars where an underbody impact near the sensors, such as gravel or debris, could deploy the driver or passenger airbag. On the newer car, campaign 17V123 covers certain 2017 Continentals where the driver airbag may not fully inflate in a crash.
Which Lincoln Continental years to avoid
Avoid: 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2017
The 1997 has 96 complaints, the most of any year. The 1995 has 70 complaints, including five that report a fire, mostly under the hood, and campaign 96V009 covers 1995 and 1996 cars where a fault in the automatic headlamp module could switch the headlamps off. The 1998 has 72 complaints, led by engine and sudden acceleration complaints, and the 2000 has 63, led by airbags.
The 2017 has 75 complaints and 4 recalls, the most of the newer cars, led by door latch and camera complaints.
Caution: 1996, 1999 and 2019
The 1996 has 48 complaints and 3 recalls, and the 1999 has 42 complaints and 3 recalls, including the airbag campaign. The 2019 has 33 complaints and is covered by the door latch and both camera recalls.
What is the best Lincoln Continental year
The 2020 is the best Continental year in NHTSA data, with 7 complaints and 2 recalls, both for the camera. The 2018 is also a good choice, with 21 complaints. If you want the older car, the 2001 and 2002 have the fewest complaints of that generation.
Lincoln Continental pre-purchase checklist
- Run the VIN through NHTSA’s recall lookup and confirm every open recall is complete.
- Open and close every door from inside and outside, and check that none shows a door-ajar warning.
- Check the rearview and 360-degree camera images for fog or a blank screen.
- On a 1995 to 2002 car, check that the air suspension holds the car level after it sits overnight.
- On a test drive, watch for surging, stalling or rough shifting.
- Have a mechanic inspect the car before you buy.
Better alternatives to consider
If you want a large, comfortable sedan, these models are worth comparing. Check the years to avoid for each one before you shop.
Is the Lincoln Continental reliable
The 1995 to 2002 Continental has a mixed NHTSA record, with suspension, sudden acceleration and airbag complaints. The 2017 to 2020 car has far fewer complaints, and the later years are the better buys. Make sure the door latch and camera recalls are done on any newer car.
Frequently asked questions
What years did Lincoln make the Continental?
The Continental name goes back decades. This guide covers the 1995 to 2002 model years and the 2017 to 2020 model years. There was no Continental for 2003 to 2016.
What is the most common problem with the Lincoln Continental?
On the newer car, door latch problems are the most common complaint. On the 1995 to 2002 car, suspension is the most-reported component.
What gas mileage does the Lincoln Continental get?
The 1995 to 2002 Continental with the 4.6-liter V8 is rated at 18 mpg combined. The 2017 to 2020 car is rated at 19 to 21 mpg combined, depending on the engine and drivetrain. See fueleconomy.gov for each version.
Which Lincoln Continental years should you avoid?
Avoid the 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2017 Continental. They have the most NHTSA complaints. The 2020 is the best year.