Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1998 Lincoln Continental
NHTSA data on file today
The 1998 Lincoln Continental has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 72 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #16E026000 Front Brake Pad Shims May Shift and Contact Disc NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #98V028000 FORD/FMVSS 108 NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 14 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 13 complaints
- Electrical System 7 complaints
- Power Train 7 complaints
- Visibility 6 complaints
- Seat Belts 5 complaints
Of the 72 complaints on file, 8 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 72 complaints, owners report 4 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
Evidence is limited, but complaints about engine and cooling, and vehicle speed control are notable. Two recall campaigns relate to brakes and headlights. Overall, this results in a below-average rating for reliability.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| engine and cooling | 80,000–120,000 miles | $500–$1,500 | common |
| vehicle speed control | 70,000–100,000 miles | $200–$800 | common |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake pad and rotor inspection
- Transmission fluid change
- Coolant flush and refill
- Tire rotation and balance
- Spark plug replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Overheating engine
- Erratic speed control
- Electrical system failures
- Unusual engine noises
- Transmission slipping
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1998 Lincoln Continental at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.