Lincoln Continental ReliabilityAll Years Ranked (1980–2019)
Side-by-side AutoScores, risk levels, and owner-cost projections for every Lincoln Continental we've analyzed. Identify the best years to buy, the ones to avoid, and the problems that follow the Continental across generations.
Average AutoScore
69/100
Best Year
2000 Lincoln Continental
Score 78
Weakest Year
1988 Lincoln Continental
Score 55
Every Lincoln Continental Ranked
Sorted by AutoScore. Each link opens the full year-specific report.
A comfortable, powerful cruiser that demands vigilance for its complex, age-related luxury feature failures.
Top risks: Air Suspension System · HVAC System (Blend Door Actuators) · Engine (Intake Manifold)
A comfortable, powerful, and affordable luxury cruiser, but budget for the inevitable air suspension and climate control repairs.
Top risks: Air Suspension System · HVAC Blend Door Actuators · Intake Manifold
A comfortable, feature-rich luxury sedan offering great value, but be prepared for potential high-tech repair costs.
Top risks: Electrical/Infotainment System · Adaptive Suspension System · HVAC System
A comfortable, value-packed luxury sedan with a few technical quirks that require diligent ownership.
Top risks: Electrical & Infotainment · EcoBoost Engine Carbon Buildup & Leaks · Adaptive Suspension Components
A comfortable cruiser that demands a thorough pre-purchase inspection to mitigate moderate reliability risks.
Top risks: Electrical & Infotainment · Transmission · Engine (EcoBoost specific)
A comfortable, powerful cruiser, but be prepared for common and expensive repairs in key areas.
Top risks: Air Suspension System · HVAC Blend Door Actuators · Engine Intake Manifold
A quintessential American luxury experience that demands consistent care to navigate its vintage complexities.
Top risks: Electrical System · Vacuum System · Rust & Corrosion
A comfortable, classic cruiser whose long-term ownership hinges entirely on diligent maintenance and proactive repair of its well-known weak points.
Top risks: Air Suspension System · Electrical Accessories · Engine Head Gaskets (3.8L V6)
A supremely comfortable and powerful classic, but its complex air suspension will demand attention and your wallet.
Top risks: Air Suspension System · HVAC Blend Door Actuators · Electrical System (Minor Gremlins)
A majestic vintage cruiser, but only for those prepared for consistent maintenance and age-related quirks.
Top risks: Rust & Body Integrity · Fuel System (Carburetor & Vacuum) · Age-Related Electrical System
A comfortable, classic cruiser that requires consistent attention to its complex luxury features.
Top risks: Air Suspension System · Electrical System & Digital Dash · Vacuum Systems
A comfortable, powerful classic that requires dedicated care to keep its luxury features functioning.
Top risks: Air Suspension System · Electrical System & Accessories · Rust and Body Corrosion
A classic comfortable cruiser, but be prepared to tackle its signature air suspension and electrical gremlins.
Top risks: Electronic Air Suspension · Electrical System · Cooling System
A comfortable cruiser that demands a thorough pre-purchase inspection and a dedicated maintenance budget, primarily due to its intricate air suspension.
Top risks: Air Suspension System · Transmission (AOD-E/4R70W) · Electrical System
A comfortable, classic cruiser that requires an educated buyer and a realistic repair budget to enjoy reliably.
Top risks: Electronic Air Suspension · Electrical System · Transmission (AOD-E/4R70W)
A comfortable cruiser with a great engine, but prepare for potential costly repairs with its aging air suspension and transmission.
Top risks: Air Suspension System · Transmission (E4OD) · HVAC Blend Door Actuator
A comfortable, affordable classic that requires diligent attention to its complex luxury features to avoid costly surprises.
Top risks: Air Suspension System · 4R70W Automatic Transmission · HVAC Blend Door Actuators/Controls
A comfortable, powerful cruiser that demands a proactive approach to its known luxury-related weak points.
Top risks: Air Suspension System · HVAC Blend Door Actuator · Engine Oil Leaks
A charming, comfortable classic that demands an informed owner with patience and a budget for continuous, age-related upkeep.
Top risks: Air Suspension System · Electrical System & Accessories · Body & Frame Corrosion
A comfortable, stylish classic for the enthusiast, but be prepared for continuous maintenance, especially of its advanced (and problematic) features.
Top risks: Air Suspension System · Vacuum System Controls · Aging Electrical System
A comfortable, iconic cruiser, but its reliability is heavily dictated by the meticulousness of its previous owners and your willingness to tackle age-old issues.
Top risks: Air Suspension System · Electrical System · Body/Frame Rust & Corrosion
A comfortable cruiser that demands a diligent owner and a healthy repair budget to keep its unique luxury features functioning.
Top risks: Air Suspension System · 3.8L Essex V6 Engine (Head Gaskets) · Electrical System & Digital Dash
A comfortable, affordable classic that demands a significant commitment to addressing its well-documented mechanical shortcomings.
Top risks: Engine (3.8L Essex V6) · Air Suspension System · Electrical System
A comfortable cruiser that demands a significant commitment to maintaining its unique luxury features and addressing its known mechanical weaknesses.
Top risks: Air Suspension System · Engine Head Gaskets (3.8L V6) · Electrical System
A comfortable, stylish vintage statement, but be prepared for consistent and costly repairs, especially if the air suspension hasn't been addressed.
Top risks: Air Suspension System · Electrical System · Fuel System
Problems That Follow the Continental Across Generations
Issues that appear in the top-3 risks across multiple model years — the cost of ownership you can actually predict.
Air Suspension System
Appears in 18 model years · 72% of generations
Electrical System
Appears in 8 model years · 32% of generations
HVAC Blend Door Actuators
Appears in 3 model years · 12% of generations
Electrical System & Accessories
Appears in 2 model years · 8% of generations
Electrical System & Digital Dash
Appears in 2 model years · 8% of generations
Electronic Air Suspension
Appears in 2 model years · 8% of generations
Engine Head Gaskets (3.8L V6)
Appears in 2 model years · 8% of generations
Transmission (AOD-E/4R70W)
Appears in 2 model years · 8% of generations
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