Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 246 complaints with NHTSA about the 1989 Lincoln Continental, and it carries 5 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 43 | 17% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 32 | 13% |
| Electrical system | 29 | 12% |
| Service brakes | 26 | 11% |
| Suspension | 23 | 9% |
| Steering | 19 | 8% |
| Power train | 15 | 6% |
| Structure | 10 | 4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | 3% |
| Air bags | 6 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
THE SUBFRAME ON OUR 1989 CONTINENTAL RUSTED THROUGH WHICH ALLOWS THE ENGINE TO FALL ONTO THE STEERING GEAR AND PREVENTS STEERING. *TR
NHTSA complaint: 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 THE SMOKE.
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT KEEPS RELEASING ON ITSW OWN WHILE DRIVING. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
ALL FOUR AIR SPRING SUSPENSION LEAKED IN DIFFERENT TIMES THAT CAUSE FRONT PART OR REAR PART OF THE VEHICLE LOWER TO GROUND WHICH CAN NOT DRIVE. THE REAR AIR STRUTS PARTS EACH COST MORE THAN FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS AND THE F
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
THE TREAD ON TIRE HAD SHIFTED AND THERE WAS METAL SHOWING. THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACED ANOTHER TIRE PREVIOUSLY FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB
NHTSA complaint: Tires
CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE WHICH STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER. MR FUEL RAIL EXPLODED 3 INCH HOLE. INSTANT FIRE IN BACK OF ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING, WHEN TRYING TO APPLY BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND IT WAS HARD FOR VEHICLE TO STOP, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK CONSUMER STATED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK WHI
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED TO OPERATE CORRECTLY, OFTEN LOOSING CONTROL CENTER INFORMATION AND SOMETIMES PREVENTING THE CAR FROM OPERATING. CAR WAS TAKEN TO REPAIR STATION WHERE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND HARNESS WERE REPLACED
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 1989 Lincoln Continental. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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, PENNSYLVANI
Risk: IF BOTH REAR CORNERS DROP, STEERING WOULD BECOME SUDDENLY VERY DIFFICULT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.
THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATION 573. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. FORD IS INITIATING AN OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT WILL PROVIDE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, 12 YEARS AND UNLIMITED MILEAGE, FOR ALL SEAT BELT BUCKLES WITH FUNCTION
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THE OCCUPANT OF THE SEAT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND PERSONAL INJURY COULD OCCUR.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY, FOR 12 YEARS AND UNLIMITED MILEAGE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT OUTBOARD SEATING POSITION SEAT BELT BUCKLES MAY NOT LATCH OR UNLATCH.
Risk: THESE CONDITIONS COULD REDUCE SEAT BELT USAGE INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT OUTBOARD SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES.
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.
Risk: SEVERELY CORRODED ROTORS MAY FRACTURE OR SEPARATE NEARTHE INNER EDGES OF THE BRAKE DISCS RESULTING IN REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS,HIGHER THAN NORMAL PEDAL EFFORTS, LOUD GRINDING NOISES, AND MODERATE
Fix: REPLACE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH FULL CAST FRONT BRAKE ROTORS.
| Reliability raw | 81 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 78 | good |
| Maintenance | 75 | good |
| Depreciation | 72 | good |
| Performance | 59 | average |
| Efficiency | 35 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 246 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and seat belts is the most reported area with 43 of them (17%). There are 5 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 81/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1989 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 71/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.