1988 Lincoln Continental
Safety Recalls & Notices
We found 16 safety recalls for the 1988 Lincoln Continental. Recalls are sourced from both NHTSA (US) and Transport Canada databases. Contact your authorized Lincoln dealer to schedule free repairs.
Summary
On certain vehicles with 3.0 Litre and 3.8 Litre engines, the body mounts on the rear corners of the subframe which supports the engine and transmission may become detached due to corrosion of the rear lower mount retaining plates, allowing the rear corners of the subframe to drop. Should this occur, steering could become very difficult, thereby adversely affecting vehicle control. Correction: modified lower body mounts and attaching bolts will be installed on affected vehicles.
Summary
NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.8 LITRE ENGINES. THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S 1105 - EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS. CORRECTION: PURGE VALVE AND HOSE ASSEMBLY WILL BE REPLACED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.
Summary
NOTE: VEHICLES LOCATED IN ONTARIO, QUEBEC, NEW BRUNSWICK, NOVA SCOTIA PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND AND NEWFOUNDLAND. THE COMPOSITE CONSTRUCTION FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ON THESE VEHCIES MAY CORRODE, WEAKEN AND FRACTURE, RESULTING IN A REDUCTION OF BRAKING PERFORMANCE. SUCH A FRACTURE WOULD RESULT IN LOSS OF BRAKING AT THE CORRESPONDING FRONT WHEEL WHICH COULD IN TURN RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE AND A POSSIBLE CRASH. CORRECTION: FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WILL BE REPLACED WITH FULL CAST ROTORS.
Summary
THIS RECALL COVERS TWO DEFECTS. (1) A NYLON SHIELDED WIRING HARNESS LOCATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT MAY EXPERIENCE MELTING OF THE NYLON SHIELD DURING EXTREME VEHICLE OPERATING CONDITIONS IN 100 PLUS DEGREE (FARENHEIT) WEATHER. MELTED NYLON COULD DROP ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE. CORRECTION: WIRING HARNESS WILL BE WRAPPED WITH A HEAT RESISTANT FIBERGLASS TAPE. (2) AN ELECTRICAL WIRE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH CONTROLS POWER TO THE BRAKE PUMP MOTOR MAY OVERHEAT AND TEMPORARILY LOSE CONTACT WITH THE SWITCH TERMINAL. SHOULD THIS OCCUR WHILE THE CAR IS BEING OPERATED, THE BRAKE PUMP MOTOR WILL STOP RUNNING BUT THE CAR WILL STILL BRAKE NORMALLY ONE TO FIVE TIMES AFTER THE RED WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND BEFORE REAR BRAKE FUNCTION AND POWER ASSIST TO THE FRONT BRAKES IS LOST. BECAUSE OF THE DECREASE IN BRAKING ABILITY, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT. CORRECTION: IGNITION SWITCH AND CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY WILL BE REPLACED WITH ONES INCORPORATING MODIFIED ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS.
Summary
THE SWIVEL TUBE MAY SEPARATE FROM THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE OPERATOR NOT BEING ABLE TO SHIFT FROM ONE OF THE DRIVE GEAR POSITIONS TO THE PARK POSITION EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SELECTOR WOULD INDICATE "PARK". IF THE VEHICLE WERE TO BE PARKED WITHOUT THE HANDBRAKE APPLIED, A ROLL AWAY CONDITION COULD OCCUR. CORRECTION: SHIFT CABLE WILL BE REPLACED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.
Summary
THE TORSION SPRINGS ATTACHED TO THE REAR SUSPENSION ARMS MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITH HIGH RESIDUAL FORMING STRESSES AT A BEND RADIUS. THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR A SPRING TO FRACTURE AND RUB AGAINST A REAR TIRE, EVENTUALLY RESULTING IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE. THIS COULD CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CORRECTION: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SPRING SEATS THAT ARE INTENDED TO RESTRICT THE SPRINGS FROM CONTACTING THE TIRES SHOULD THEY FRACTURE.
Summary
THE DRIVER AND FRONT SEAT PASSENGER INBOARD SEAT BELTS MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ANCHORED TO THE INBOARD SEAT TRACKS. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT ONE OF THE NUTS WAS NOT TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATION OR THE SEAT BELT ANCHOR WAS NOT ATTACHED TO A STUD. IF A NUT IS LOOSE, IT COULD BREAK OFF, ALLOWING THE BELT ANCHOR TO DISENGAGE THE STUD. AN UNATTACHED BELT ASSEMBLY WOULD NOT WITHSTAND AN IMPACT LOAD. CORRECTION: VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND INBOARD SEAT BELT ANCHORAGES WILL BE CORRECTED IF NECESSARY.
Summary
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, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGNIA, AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR LOWER SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT CAN EXPERIENCE STRESS CORROSION CRACKING IF SUBJECTED TO LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALTS. THIS CAN RESULT IN FRACTURE AND LOSS OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT ATTACHMENT. DETACHMENT OF THE BODY MOUNTS AT THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ALLOWS THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME TO DROP.
Potential Consequence
IF BOTH REAR CORNERS DROP, STEERING WOULD BECOME SUDDENLY VERY DIFFICULT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.
Summary
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TAURUS AND SABLES BUILT FROM 10-14-85 THROUGH 8-19-88, AND LINCOLN CONTINENTALS BUILT FROM 11-4-87 THROUGH 9-30-88 (EXCEPT 1989 - 1991 2.5L TAURUS AND 1989 - 1992 SHO). THE AFFECTED CARS WERE ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, AND WISCONSIN. THE BODY MOUNTS AT THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, MAY BECOME DETACHED DUE TO CORROSION OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT RETAINING PLATE. THIS WOULD ALLOW THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME TO DROP.
Potential Consequence
IF ONE OF THE REAR CORNERS DROPS, ONLY MINOR INDICATIONS OF A MALFUNCTION SUCH AS A CLUNKING NOISE OR SLIGHT CHANGE IN STEERING WHEEL ALIGNMENT ARE NOTICEABLE. HOWEVER, IF BOTH REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME DROP, STEERING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT, WHICH COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT VEHICLE CONTROL AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy
INSTALL A CORROSION-RESISTANT REINFORCING PLATE AND A NEW BOLT ON BOTH REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTS. THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN SUPERSEDED BY RECALL 98V-323.
Summary
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.
Potential Consequence
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 PULLS WHENTHE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS MAY INCREASE MINIMUMSTOPPING DISTANCES, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy
REPLACE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH FULL CAST FRONT BRAKE ROTORS.
16 Active Recalls
Requires attention
1988 Lincoln Continental Recall FAQs
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