1988 Lincoln continental
Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1988 Lincoln continental is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 2 on record.
1988 Lincoln continental at a glance
Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.
1988 Lincoln continental recalls 9
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 S…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.
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, VERMON…
Fix: 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 THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN SUPERSEDED BY RECALL 98V-323.
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.
Fix: REPLACE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH FULL CAST FRONT BRAKE ROTORS.
PROCESS USED FOR CONNECTING THE GAS LINES WAS SUBSTANDARD.
Fix: INSTALL STANDARD GAS LINE COMPRESSION FITTINGS.
ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT THAT CONTROLS CURRENT TO BRAKE PUMP MOTOR RELAY, HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONING BLOWER MOTOR, TURN SIGNALS, AND A ELECTRONIC MESSAGE CENTER MAY OVERHEAT DUE TO INABILITY OF IGNITION CIRCUIT WIRING CONNECTIONS TO DISSIPATE HEAT GENERATED BY ELECTRICAL LOADS.
Fix: REPLACE IGNITION SWITCH AND MODIFY SWITCH WIRING.
NYLON SHIELDED WIRING HARNESS, LOCATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO HEAT DAMAGE AND MELTING OF THE NYLON MATERIAL IN 100 DEGREE PLUS WEATHER.
Fix: WRAP WIRING HARNESS WITH HEAT RESISTANT FIBERGLASS TAPE.
TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLES MAY NOT MEET FORDS PULL OUT LOAD SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE SWIVEL TUBE PORTION OF THE CABLE, WHICH COULD ALLOW THE SWIVEL TUBE TO SEPARATE FROM THE SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY.
Fix: REPLACE SHIFT CABLE.
TWO TORSION SPRINGS ATTACHED TO REAR SUSPENSION CONTROL ARMS MAY FRACTURE AND RUB AGAINST A REAR TIRE.
Fix: INSTALL TORSION SPRING SEATS TO RESTRICT THE SPRINGS FROM CONTACTING THE TIRE IF THEY SHOULD FRACTURE.
DRIVER AND RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER INBOARD SEAT BELTS MAY BE IMPROPERLY ANCHORED DUE TO LOOSE NUTS THAT COULD BACK OFF.
Fix: INBOARD SEAT BELT ANCHORAGES WILL BE CORRECTED TO PREVENT LOOSENING.
Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.
1988 Lincoln continental common problems
The most-reported problem areas across all 153 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.
1988 Lincoln continental MPG & running costs
Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov.
Estimated 5-year cost to own
A rough guide to what running a 1988 Lincoln continental costs over five years and 75,000 miles.
How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.
Dimensions & weight
Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1988 Lincoln continental. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.
Canadian recalls 7
Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 1988 Lincoln continental. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.
Structure
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 cont…
Transport Canada #1992166 · Dec 1992Emissions
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.
Transport Canada #1992099 · Aug 1992Brakes
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 STOP…
Transport Canada #1992039 · Apr 1992Electrical
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 FIBER…
Transport Canada #1988110 · Jul 1988Powertrain
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 REPLACE…
Transport Canada #1988087 · Jun 1988Suspension
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 W…
Transport Canada #1988033 · Mar 1988Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.
About the Lincoln continental
The Lincoln Continental is a series of mid-sized and full-sized luxury cars produced between 1939 and 2020 by Lincoln, a division of the American automaker Ford. The model line was introduced following the construction of a personal vehicle for Edsel Ford, who commissioned a coachbuilt 1939 Lincoln-Zephyr convertible, developed as a vacation vehicle to attract potential Lincoln buyers. In what would give the model line its name, the exterior was designed with European "continental" styling elements, including a rear-mounted spare tire.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.