1995 Lincoln Continental

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

72/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 71 complaints with NHTSA about the 1995 Lincoln Continental, and it carries 2 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.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Exterior lighting	9	13%
Engine and engine cooling	8	11%
Visibility	8	11%
Structure	7	10%
Suspension	7	10%
Electrical system	5	7%
Seat belts	4	6%
Service brakes	3	4%
Power train	2	3%
Steering	2	3%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

I BOUGHT THE CAR ON 08/28/2010 AND ONLY DROVE IT THAT DAY. SINCE IT WAS A SATURDAY AND THEY CLOSED EARLY, I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL MONDAY TO CONTACT THEM. ON MONDAY, A REP FROM THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY SOLD THE CAR TO
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 10 MPH THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE PLACE OF RESIDENCE. THE FORD MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASS
NHTSA complaint: Power train

MY LEFT FRONT TIRE EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING AT APPROX 69 MPH ON I-85. THE TIRE HAD PROPER AIR PRESSURE AND NOTHING WAS RUN OVER TO MAKE A PUNCTURE. I THINK THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE BODY DUE TO POOR ADHESION TO THE
NHTSA complaint: Tires

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT RECALL #96V009000 DID NOT APPLY TO THIS VEHICLE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS MORE THAN 10 YEARS OLD. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURES AS MENTIONED
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting

1995 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL COOLING FAN FIRE. I EXTINGUISHED IT WITH H20 BEFORE FPD ARRIVED. *NM
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN RECALL 98V323000. VEHICLE MANIFESTED THE SAME PROBLEM AS LISTED IN THE RECALL CONCERNING REAR LOWER SUB FRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT THAT COULD EXPERIEN
NHTSA complaint: Structure

JANUARY 10TH THE 'DOOR AJAR' SENSOR CAME ON AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE ON. I CHECKED ALL 4 DOORS, THEY WERE ALL CLOSED AND THE LIGHTS REMAINED ON. I THEN PUSHED THE 'RESET' BUTTON FOR THE SENSOR AND THE LIGHTS THEN WOU
NHTSA complaint: Interior lighting

1995 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL BRAKE PROBLEMS. (NAR) *MR THE VEHICLE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED SEVERAL TIMES. EACH TIME IT WAS REPLACED IT FAILED AGAIN. THE DEALER(S) HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO PERMANENTLY FIX THE BRAKE PROBLEM. *NM
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1995 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.

Service brakes 16E026000

Bosch Brake Components LLC (Bosch) is recalling certain aftermarket replacement front brake pads, models Bosch QuietCast BC598 and BP765, Bosch Blue BE598 and BE598H, Prostop PD598 and PD765M, Duralast Gold DG598, Duralast MKD598, Stop Master ST598, UltraStop ULT598, UltraLife MX598 and MX765, Brake

Risk: A damaged or broken brake disc may reduce a vehicle's braking power, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Bosch will instruct the owners how to have the affected brake pads replaced, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2016. Owners may contact Bosch customer service at 1-888-715-3616.

Exterior lighting 96V009000

A DEFECTIVE CONTROL MODULE IN THE "AUTOLAMP" SYSTEM CAN MALFUNCTION. IF THE "AUTOLAMP" SYSTEM IS BEING USED TO ACTIVATE THE EXTERIOR LIGHT (INCLUDING HEADLAMPS), THE HEADLAMPS COULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THIS WILL NOT OCCUR IF THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING IS TURNED ON MANUALLY BY THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.

Risk: IF THE HEADLAMPS SHUT OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE IMPAIRED INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE "AUTOLAMP" CONTROL MODULE. OWNERS ARE INSTRUCTED TO USE THE MANUAL HEADLAMP SWITCH UNTIL THE CONTROL MODULE CAN BE REPLACED.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	89	excellent
Longevity est.	80	excellent
Maintenance	64	average
Depreciation	72	good
Performance	63	average
Efficiency	35	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 66% of midsize & large cars
Longevity: better than 70% of midsize & large cars
Running costs: better than 29% of midsize & large cars
Value retention: better than 72% of midsize & large cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 89: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 80: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1995 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 64: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1995 Lincoln Continental?

Owners have filed 71 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and exterior lighting is the most reported area with 9 of them (13%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1995 Lincoln Continental reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 89/100 (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.

How long will a 1995 Lincoln Continental last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 80/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1995 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1995 Lincoln Continental?

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.