2000 Lincoln Continental

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

68/100

Be careful

AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 68 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Lincoln Continental, and it carries 4 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
Air bags	11	16%
Suspension	7	10%
Tires	6	9%
Power train	5	7%
Electrical system	4	6%
Visibility	3	4%
Vehicle speed control	2	3%
Seat belts	2	3%
Engine and engine cooling	2	3%
Seats	2	3%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

The contact owns a 1979 Lincoln Continental. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked and turned off, there was smoke coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the rear end near the driver's side of the veh
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

A NEIGHBOR POINTED OUT THAT THE AUTOMOBILE WAS SITTING SEVERAL INCHES LOWER THAN NORMAL CLOSER TO GROUND WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. I BEGAN TO CHECK ON THIS EVERY TIME I WENT TO USE THE CAR. SOMETIMES VEHICLE WAS NORMAL
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY AS THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKE
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE HOOD TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE E
NHTSA complaint: Engine

I WAS ENTERING THE VEHICLE FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEN THE AIRBAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPOLOYED, STRIKING ME IN THE FACE & ARM. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RAPIDLY ACCELERATE TO 90 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXIT A HIGHWAY OFF-RAMP BU
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING NOISE. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND HAD PUNCTURED TH
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MIDDLE REAR SEAT BELT FAILED TO UNLOCK AND REMAINED IN THE LOCKED POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTA
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2000 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.

Seat belts:front:anchorage 99V250000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MAY HAVE A PIN SHAFT IN THE SWITCHABLE ELR/ALR MECHANISM THAT IS INCORRECTLY FORMED. IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, THE SWITCHING MECHANISM COULD BECOME NONFUNCTIONAL, PREVENTING THE SEAT BELT WEBBING FROM BEING EXTRACTED FROM THE RETRACTO

Risk: IF THE MECHANISM MALFUNCTIONS AND DOES NOT ALLOW THE WEBBING TO BE EXTRACTED, THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT COULD NOT BE WORN BY A VEHICLE OCCUPANT. IN THE EVENT THAT THE MECHANISM DOES NOT ALLOW THE ALR

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT ASSEMBLIES. ASSEMBLIES WITH JULIAN DATE CODES OF 200 THROUGH 223 ARE SUSPECT AND WILL BE REPLACED.

Air bags:frontal 03V144000

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG COULD DEPLOY AS A RESULT OF UNDERBODY IMPACTS NEAR THE SENSORS, SUCH AS THOSE OCCURRING FROM PIECES OF GRAVEL OR DEBRIS THROWN FROM THE WHEELS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED AT MODERATE TO HIGH SPEED OR BEING ACCELERATED.

Fix: DEALERS WILL RECALIBRATE THE AIR BAG SENSORS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 31, 2003. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LINCOLN AT 1-800-521-4140.

Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor 01V258000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND LIGHT AND MEDIUM DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS. A SWITCH LOCATED IN THE PLASTIC COVER OF THE WIPER MOTOR GEAR CASE COULD MALFUNCTION AND OVERHEAT, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN LOSS OF INTERMITTENT WIPER FUNCTION, LOSS OF WIPER PARK FUNCTION, COMPL

Risk: LOSS OF VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE ON THE WIPER MOTOR. MOTORS BUILT WITH THE SUSPECT TIME FRAME WILL HAVE THE WIPER MOTOR GEAR CASE COVER REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 20, 2001. OWNERS

The seven scores

Reliability raw	80	excellent
Longevity est.	76	good
Maintenance	64	average
Depreciation	72	good
Performance	63	average
Efficiency	32	below average

How it compares in its class

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

Reliability: better than 42% of midsize & large cars
Longevity: better than 43% 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 80: 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 76: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2000 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 2000 Lincoln Continental?

Owners have filed 68 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 11 of them (16%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 2000 Lincoln Continental reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 80/100 (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 2000 Lincoln Continental last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 76/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2000 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2000 Lincoln Continental?

AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 68/100. 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.