NHTSA (USA)Medium Risk
At a glance
This page covers 6 recalls, 72 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2017 Lincoln Continental.
19–21 mpg combined
11.2–12.4 L/100km
Large Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 5 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Door latch and lock failures are the most consistent theme across 2017 Lincoln Continental complaints. Owners frequently report that doors fail to open from the outside, fail to open from the inside, or open unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion, with several owners noting the problem affects multiple doors and recurs after repair. The structural category draws a notable share of complaints as well, with owners describing body and frame-related concerns. The third major category involves the backup camera and rear detection system, where owners report the view being unreliable or the system failing to activate properly. Rounding out the picture, a smaller number of owners describe brake pedal behavior, specifically a spongy or inconsistent pedal that travels further than expected, though this appears in fewer reports than the door latch issues that dominate the complaint set.
72
Total Complaints
1
Crash-Related
1
With Injuries
By System
The 2017 Lincoln Continental has 6 recalls, the most serious being two separate door latch concerns and a driver's airbag that may fail to fully inflate or detach from its module during a crash, leaving the driver without proper protection.
The door latch issue affects vehicles where the pawl motor inside the latch mechanism may not function properly, preventing the latch from fully engaging when a door is closed. In either case, a door that is not fully latched can swing open while the vehicle is in motion, raising the risk of injury to occupants. Prior repair attempts did not fully resolve this issue, which is why it appears across more than one recall filing.
The driver's frontal airbag can either fail to fully inflate or have its cushion separate from the module at the moment of deployment, meaning the bag may not be in the right position or have enough pressure to cushion the driver in a collision.
On the visibility side, vehicles equipped with the optional 360-degree camera system can develop a foggy or cloudy image as the anti-reflective coating on the camera lens breaks down over time, reducing the driver's ability to see what is directly behind the vehicle when reversing. Separately, certain early-production examples built with high-intensity discharge headlights were fitted with incorrect lenses that reduce how visible the turn signals are to other drivers and pedestrians, and the lenses also lack the required compliance markings.
At a glance
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What can fail
The anti-reflective coating on the 360-degree camera system's lens can degrade, causing the rearview camera image to become foggy or cloudy.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the rearview camera at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The door latches may fail to fully secure when you close a door, which could cause it to open while driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the latch assemblies on all four doors.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The motors that operate the door latches may malfunction, preventing the latches from fully engaging and securing the doors.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the latch assemblies on all four doors at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
In a crash, the driver's front air bag may not fully inflate or the cushion may separate from the air bag module, reducing crash protection.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver's front air bag module at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The HID headlights may have been built with incorrect lenses that reduce turn signal visibility and lack proper markings, not meeting safety standards.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the headlights and replace them as needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Some vehicles with HID headlamps have incorrect lenses that don't meet safety standards. The lenses lack required markings and optical components needed for proper turn signal brightness, reducing visibility to other drivers and pedestrians.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect your headlamps and replace them if necessary.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
