Model year guide

1991 Lincoln Continental

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1991 Lincoln Continental is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 2 on record.

1991 Lincoln Continental — representative photo
Representative photo

1991 Lincoln Continental at a glance

Safety recalls3
Owner complaints359
Combined18 mpg

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1991 Lincoln Continental recalls 3

Structure:frame And Members NHTSA Campaign #98V323000 · manufacturer #98S36 · 16/12/1998

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 Speed Control NHTSA Campaign #97V025000 · manufacturer #97S65 · 26/02/1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L ENGINES AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, IOWA, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. WATER CAN ACCUMULATE WITHIN THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE CONDU…

Fix: DEALERS WILL ADD A BOOT TO THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor NHTSA Campaign #91V134000 · 06/08/1991

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.

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.

1991 Lincoln Continental common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 359 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Hydraulic
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Suspension
Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.

1991 Lincoln Continental safety ratings

Frontal crash★★★★★
Frontal — driver★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 1991 Lincoln Continental 4-DR.. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

1991 Lincoln Continental MPG & running costs

Combined18 mpg
City15 mpg
Highway22 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,700
EPA size classLarge Cars
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd
Passenger volume104 cu ft
Cargo volume19 cu ft
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$6,500 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1991 Lincoln Continental costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$18,500
Fuel only$18,500
Per mile$0.25

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

Length
205.1 in
Width
72.8 in
Height
55.5 in
Wheelbase
109.1 in
Curb weight
3,671 lb

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1991 Lincoln Continental. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Canadian recalls 3

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 1991 Lincoln Continental. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Engine

DIRECT WATER SPRAY OR LONG TERM WET DRIVING CONDITIONS MAY CAUSE WATER TO ACCUMULATE IN THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE CONDUIT. UNDER COLD CONDITIONS THIS WATER COULD FREEZE AND PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO THE CLOSED POSITION WHEN THE SPEED CONTROL IS DISENGAGED. THIS COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT DRIVER CONTROL AND CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH. CORRECTION: MOISTURE WI…

Transport Canada #1997060 · Mar 1997

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 1992

Brakes

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 1992

Source: 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.

1991 Lincoln Continental vehicles on record

Other Lincoln Continental model years

1991 Lincoln Continental — frequently asked questions

Does the 1991 Lincoln Continental have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1991 Lincoln Continental. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 1991 Lincoln Continental?

Across all 359 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are engine and engine cooling, service brakes, hydraulic.

What is the 1991 Lincoln Continental safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 1991 Lincoln Continental crash-test ratings of frontal 3★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 1991 Lincoln Continental get?

The 1991 Lincoln Continental has a U.S. EPA estimate of 18 mpg combined (15 city / 22 highway).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.