1992 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL Complaints

1994 I PURCHASED A USED 1992 CONTINENTIAL STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. IN OCTOBER 1996 WITH 64293 MILES ON VEHICLE, AND OUT OF WARRANTY, THE HEAD-GASKETS FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1,521.66. I BELIEVE HEAD GASKETS SHOULD LAST AT LEAST 100K MILES AND THAT THIS ENGINE HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS KNOWN TO FORD MOTOR CO. AS IS EVIDENCED BY THEIR TSB 98-4-9, FOR THE 1988-94 3.8L ENGINE. PLEASE CONTINUE TO PURSUE FORD MOTOR TO HONOR THIS VEHICLE YEAR, ALONG WITH THE PROGRESS YOU HAVE MADE FOR LATER YEAR VEHICLES WITH THIS ENGINE. *AK

FORD'S 3.8L ENGINE HAS EXPERIENCED MANY HEAD GASKET FAILURES. MY 1992 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL EXPERIENCED A FAILED HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AT 91,830 MILES. FORD HAS EXTENDED ENGINE WARRANTIES ON LATER CONTINENTALS. IF THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WHICH IS CONTRIBUTING TO THESE FAILURES, FORD SHOULD HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY IN THE REPAIR COSTS FOR EARLIER MODELS IN ADDITION TO THE LATER MODELS THAT THEY ARE NOW COVERING. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT WHICH MAY CAUSE VEHICLE TO STALL UNEXPECTEDLY AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED THE GASKET AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK DUE TO GASKET FAILURE ANTIFREEZE LEAKED INTO CYLINDERS CAUSING ROUGH IDLE. *YH

THE REAR AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE SITS ABOUT TWO INCHES OFF THE GROUND. *MJS

AIR PUMP IN WHICH THE AIR IS IN AND THE SHOCK/STRUTS BROKE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO DOWN TO THE GROUND. *AK

A WIRE GROUNDED IN THE FUEL TANK, CAUSING FIRES INSIDE THE TANK. WIRING NEEDS TO BE REWIRED. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLES GAS TANK TO EXPLODE. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE.

MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM, RECALL COMPONENT HOWEVER OWNER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL, RECENT REPAIR OF THE BLOWN HEAD GASKET WAS POSSIBLY RELATED TO THE RECALL COMPONENT FAILURE (92M77).

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED AND REPAIRS DONE BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURS. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

BEGAN NOTICING GAS SMELL IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AT HIGHER AIR TEMPURATURES. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED PROBLEM WITH VAPOR RETURN LINE AND REPAIRED USING A "VAPOR RETURN KIT" PROVIDED BY FORD-LINCOLN. WAS TOLD THAT PROBLEM OCCURRED MOST OFTEN AT HIGH AIR TEMPERATURES. TOTAL REPAIR COST WAS $329.30 (PARTS AND LABOR). I FEEL THAT THE GAS SMELL POSED A SAFETY HAZARD TO ME AND OCCUPANTS; THAT IT REPRESENTS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT; AND EFFECTS MANY VEHICLES.

WHILE PARKED THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION IN THE AIR CONDITIONER. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK