2002 Lincoln Continental

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

69/100

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 33 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Lincoln Continental, and it carries 1 recall. 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
Vehicle speed control	6	18%
Unknown or other	4	12%
Engine and engine cooling	3	9%
Seat belts	2	6%
Suspension	2	6%
Engine	1	3%
Power train	1	3%
Suspension	1	3%
Suspension	1	3%
Wheels	1	3%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

OIL PRESSURE SWITCH LIGHT CAME ON CHANGED OIL PRESSURE SWITCH BUT LIGHT STILL FLICKERS ON HAPPENS WHEN CAR IS IDLEING AT STOP LIGHTS ON CITY STREET
NHTSA complaint: Engine

SEAT BELTS IN REAR ARE ALL LOCKING UP AND WILL NOT ALLOW FOR PASSENGERS IN BACK TO BE BUCKLED PROPERLY
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts

THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, WAS BEING ACCELERATED TO ENTER A HIGHWAY. DUE TO TRAFFIC, THERE WAS A LET OFF ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO ALLOW ANOTHER DRIVER TO MERGE, AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT RES
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK AND RIVING UP AND BRAKES ETC. DID NOT WORK. RAN INTO A SIDEWALK SO IWOULD NOT HIT THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME.A CITY STREET GOING STRAIGHT.
NHTSA complaint: Power train

AFTER TURNING ON THE IGNITION AND PUTTING THE CAR IN GEAR, MY 2002 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL MADE AN EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES AND AFTER STARTING IT AGAIN EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE. AFTER ABOUT
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE, AND PUNCTURED THE FRONT TIRE. I WAS JUST BEGINNING TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVE-WAY. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE SHOP. HAD BOTH FRONT SPRINGS AND THE TIRE REPLACED. LUCKILY IT
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DECELERATE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ABRUPTLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD UPON ENGAGING AND REMAINED IN A STUCK POSITION. THERE WERE NUM
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2002 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.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	82	excellent
Longevity est.	77	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 47% of midsize & large cars
Longevity: better than 49% 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 82: 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 77: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2002 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 2002 Lincoln Continental?

Owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and vehicle speed control is the most reported area with 6 of them (18%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 2002 Lincoln Continental reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 82/100 (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 2002 Lincoln Continental last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 77/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2002 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2002 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 69/100. 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.