Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 179 complaints with NHTSA about the 1992 Lincoln Continental, and it carries 3 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 46 | 26% |
| Electrical system | 18 | 10% |
| Service brakes | 15 | 8% |
| Suspension | 14 | 8% |
| Structure | 14 | 8% |
| Vehicle speed control | 10 | 6% |
| Exterior lighting | 9 | 5% |
| Power train | 8 | 4% |
| Air bags | 8 | 4% |
| Equipment | 7 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE STEERING ABILITY SEIZED. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE CO
NHTSA complaint: Steering
THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I AM USING MY CRUISE CONTROL AND STEP ON THE BRAKE TO DISENGAGE IT THAT THE CAR ACTUALLY SPEEDS UP. I HAVE TO STEP ON THE BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES TO GET IT TO DISENGAGE. IT IS QUITE SCARY. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
THERE WERE TWO INCIDENTS SO FAR. APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS AGO AND 6 YEARS AGO. MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE SAME AREA OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BOTH TIMES... POSSIBLE THE SPEED CO
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 1995 LINCOLN MARK VIII HAVE BEGUN TO DIM SEVERELY. I REPLACED THE BULBS, THINKING THEY MAY BE THE PROBLEM, BUT IN DOING SO , I NOTICED THAT THE REFLECTIVE SURFACE INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT WAS VERY CLOUD
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH A FIRE STARTED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
HERE IS THE LIST OF PROBLEMS I'VE HAD WITH THIS CAR. 1.PURCHASED FROM BOB MULLEN AUTO BATAVIA NY MILAGE: 58702 ,JUNE 3RD 1999 2.RETURNED CAR 10 DAYS LATER , AC DIDN'T WORK, DEALER REPIRED AT HIS COST OF $500. 3.JAN 2000
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
VEHICLE BROKE DOWN WHILE HEADED SOUTH I95 ON 12/26/02 IN PETERBURG,VIRGINIA. FORCED TO RENT A CAR WHILE BEING REPAIRED. REPLACED HEAD GASKETS AND EGO SENSOR AND PERIPHERAL WORK NEEDED. COST: $1,215.89 PLUS RENTAL (STRAN
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
I OWN A 1992 LINCOLN MARK VII LSC. I HAVE 86,000 ORIGINAL MILES. THE CAR IS VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF. I HAVE PUT LOTS OF MONEY INTO EXHAUST SYSTEM, AND ALSO THE BRAKES. THE SUNROOF IS STARTING TO LEAK, THE FACTORY STEREO
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1992 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: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L ENGINES AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, IOWA, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, OH
Risk: DRIVER CONTROL OF VEHICLE SPEED USING THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM OR THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEM WOULD BE DIMINISHED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL ADD A BOOT TO THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE.
THESE VEHICLES ARE ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, IOWA, MINNESOTA, NEBRASKA, NORTH DAKOTA, AND SOUTH DAKOTA. THE VEHICLES INVOLVED ARE 1992-1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES WITH 3.0L ENGINES; 1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ WITH 2.3L ENGINES; 1992-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.8L ENG
Risk: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE SMOKE OR FLAMES FROM THE FAN AND/OR SHROUD, THE FAN ELECTRICAL WIRING, OR THE FAN MOTOR RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ELECTRICAL JUMPER HARNESS CONTAINING AN AUTOMATIC RESETTING CIRCUIT BREAKER TO PROTECT THE FAN MOTOR LOW SPEED CIRCUITRY FROM OVERHEATING.
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.
| Reliability raw | 83 | 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 179 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 46 of them (26%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 83/100 (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 1992 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 72/100. 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.