1989 Lincoln Continental
Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1989 Lincoln Continental is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 5 on record.
1989 Lincoln Continental at a glance
Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.
1989 Lincoln Continental recalls 5
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.
THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATION 573. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. FORD IS INITIATING AN OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT WILL PROVIDE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, 12 YEARS AND UNLIMITED MILEAGE, FOR ALL SEAT BELT BUCKLES WITH FUNCTIONAL CONCERNS.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY, FOR 12 YEARS AND UNLIMITED MILEAGE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT OUTBOARD SEATING POSITION SEAT BELT BUCKLES MAY NOT LATCH OR UNLATCH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT OUTBOARD SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES.
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.
THE LEFT SIDE, REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY MAY BE IMPROPERLY SECURED AND COULD PULL FREE OF ITS MOUNTING LOCATION.
Fix: REINSTALL THE RETRACTOR ATTACHMENT BOLT.
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.
1989 Lincoln Continental common problems
The most-reported problem areas across all 246 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.
1989 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 1989 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 1989 Lincoln Continental. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.
Canadian recalls 5
Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 1989 Lincoln Continental. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.
Seats And Restraints
THE FRONT OUTBOARD SEATING POSITION SEAT BELT BUCKLES ON THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT LATCH OR UNLATCH. THESE CONDITIONS COULD REDUCE BELT USAGE. IN THE EVENT OF SUDDEN STOP OR VEHICLE CRASH, THE RISK OF INJURY TO AN UNRESTRAINED OCCUPANT WOULD BE INCREASED. CORRECTION: FRONT OUTBOARD SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES WILL BE REPLACED.
Transport Canada #1997192 · Nov 1997Structure
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 1992Seats And Restraints
THE LEFT SIDE REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY MAY BE IMPROPERLY SECURED. IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR VEHICLE CRASH, THE PASSENGER USING THIS SEAT MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY RESTRAINED. CORRECTION: RETRACTOR MOUNTING WILL BE INSPECTED AND RETRACTOR ATTACHMENT BOLT WILL BE REINSTALLED IF NECESSARY.
Transport Canada #1989039 · Mar 1989Source: 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.