RecallMyCar

1989 Lincoln Continental Recalls, Complaints & Specs

4 safety recalls list the 1989 Lincoln Continental, and owners have filed 158 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

4
safety recalls
158
owner complaints to NHTSA
5 / 19
complaints citing a crash / fire
18
MPG combined (EPA)

4 safety recalls for the 1989 Lincoln Continental

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Frame and members (structure)

    NHTSA 98V323000 Reported 2,697,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles originally sold or currently registered in connecticut, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, iowa, kansas, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, nebraska, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, virginia, west…

    Remedy: Dealers will install subframe rear mount bolts, reinforcement plates, and plate nuts.

  2. Buckle assembly (seat belts)

    NHTSA 97V174000 Reported 63,400 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The front outboard seating position seat belt buckles may not latch or unlatch.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the front outboard seat belt buckle assemblies.

  3. Rotor (service brakes)

    NHTSA 91V134000 Reported 325,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Front disc brake rotors of the subject vehicles may experience severe corrosion if operated in areas where calcium chloride and sodium chloride are used extensively.

    Remedy: Replace front brake rotors with full cast front brake rotors.

  4. Retractor (seat belts)

    NHTSA 89V048000 Reported 750 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    The left side, rear seat belt retractor assembly may be improperly secured and could pull free of its mounting location.

    Remedy: Reinstall the retractor attachment bolt.

158 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1989 Lincoln Continental have filed 158 complaints with NHTSA; 5 describe a crash and 19 describe a fire. Reports cite 11 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 133,500 miles. Complaints peaked in 1996 with 42 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“The subframe on our 1989 continental rusted through which allows the engine to fall onto the steering gear and prevents steering. *tr”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 15, 2008 · Structure

“The head gasket is blown. I am losing coolent and thick white smoke is coming out at the tailpipe. I have not taken it to the mechanic yet but i am conviced from the color of the smoke and smell of th”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 15, 2004 · Engine and engine cooling

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1989 Lincoln Continental. Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined18 mpg
City / Highway15 / 23
FuelRegular
EPA classLarge Cars
Engine6 cyl, 3.8 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Compare Lincoln Continental model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Lincoln Continental model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1969 Lincoln Continental10
1974 Lincoln Continental10
1975 Lincoln Continental21
1977 Lincoln Continental11
1978 Lincoln Continental01
1979 Lincoln Continental22
1981 Lincoln Continental01
1982 Lincoln Continental11
1983 Lincoln Continental22
1984 Lincoln Continental26
1985 Lincoln Continental215
1986 Lincoln Continental58
1987 Lincoln Continental19
1988 Lincoln Continental984
1989 Lincoln Continental4158
1990 Lincoln Continental3158
1991 Lincoln Continental3203
1992 Lincoln Continental3126
1993 Lincoln Continental4121
1994 Lincoln Continental5190
1995 Lincoln Continental170
1996 Lincoln Continental248
1997 Lincoln Continental196
1998 Lincoln Continental172
1999 Lincoln Continental242
2000 Lincoln Continental363
2001 Lincoln Continental132
2002 Lincoln Continental033
2017 Lincoln Continental475
2018 Lincoln Continental221
2019 Lincoln Continental332
2020 Lincoln Continental27

Checking a specific 1989 Lincoln Continental

How do I know if my 1989 Lincoln Continental has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 1989 Lincoln Continental; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Lincoln dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 89V048000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Lincoln models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.