Home · 2017 Lincoln Continental · Complaints

What 74 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Lincoln Continental

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (74)Crash / fire / injury (2)Body & structure (20)Latches & locks (15)Electrical system (14)Backup camera & sensors (11)Seats (4)Engine (3)Steering (3)Transmission & drivetrain (3)Airbags (2)Brakes (2)

Newest first · 74 complaints · page 1 of 3

Jun 9, 2026Electrical systemBody & structure

Date of Incident: XXX Location: [XXX] Vehicle Speed: 0 Description: The right front and right rear doors on my 2017 Lincoln Continental (VIN: [XXX]) became completely inoperable from the outside — the exact same safety defect addressed under recall 19S03. The recall repair was previously performed by an authorized Ford/Lincoln dealer, however that repair has since failed, leaving me with the same dangerous condition the recall was issued to correct. A door that cannot be opened from the outside while driving creates a serious safety risk to both the driver and passengers. I was forced to hire a locksmith just to access my vehicle and subsequently paid $1,142 out of pocket for professional diagnosis and parts. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate the adequacy of the recall 19S03 repair, as it has clearly failed to permanently resolve the defect. Ford should be held accountable for ensuring their recall repairs are effective and lasting. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11742865

May 29, 2026Engine & coolingTransmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln Continental. The contact stated while at various speeds, the contact noticed that there was an abnormal burning oil odor coming from the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at various speeds on several occasions, the vehicle made an abnormal grinding sound, unexpectedly bounced and stalled. The message "4WD Off" was displayed. The vehicle was towed to different independent mechanics, and the transfer case was replaced twice; however, the failure persisted while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the transfer case needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired; however, the contact expressed safety concerns that the repair might only be temporary. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

NHTSA ODI 11740862

Apr 14, 2026Brakes

Vehicle: 2017 Lincoln Continental Black Label VIN: [XXX] I am reporting a seriously catastrophic brake system safety failure. The brake pedal intermittently travels to the floor with little to no resistance, resulting in a sudden loss of hydraulic braking pressure and significantly increased stopping distance. The braking response is spongy, inconsistent, and unreliable. A “Low Brake Fluid” warning appears despite no visible external leak, suggesting an internal hydraulic failure. I almost hit a vehicle from behind on several occasions before finally stopping to safety due to these issues that occurred. All of this occurred without any warning indication. The master brake cylinder has already been replaced with a true Lincoln/Ford part; however, the issue persists. This indicates a deeper system-level defect rather than normal wear and tear. The vehicle is currently unsafe and dangerous to operate due to the risk of complete or partial brake failure. Lincoln/Ford have already acknowledged that there is definitely an issue with the braking system. The failure symptoms are consistent with internal hydraulic brake system defects and are similar in nature to known issues reported in other Ford/Lincoln vehicles built on related platforms, including 2017–2018 Ford F-150 and Lincoln Navigator models (TSB 21-2241 and Recall [XXX] ), although this VIN is not currently included in a recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11731147

Apr 9, 2026

I have a 2017 Lincoln Continental that the passenger side front door will not open from the inside.

NHTSA ODI 11730206

Mar 30, 2026Body & structure

Doors open while driving , happened 4 times in the last month . Back right door and drivers door 2 occasions on both doors . On line it says all Lincoln Continentals from 2017 2018 and 2019 were recalled and there telling me mine is not on the recall . This is a very dangerous situation this is my wives car and she does not like driving it anymore .

NHTSA ODI 11727962

Mar 22, 2026Electrical systemBody & structure

The rear doors on my 2017 Lincoln Continental do not open from the outside when the exterior handle button is pressed. The doors do open from the inside. This failure is very similar to the symptoms described in Ford’s existing recall for defective door latches on 2017 Continental vehicles, but my VIN is not included in the recall. This is a safety hazard because first responders or bystanders may be unable to open the rear doors from outside during an emergency such as a fire or crash. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether the recall should be expanded to include additional VINs, including mine. The failure was intermittent initially and then the door latches eventually stopped working completely (from the exterior.

NHTSA ODI 11726206

Mar 17, 2026Engine

My car has had 1 or all 4 of the outside door latches fail for 3-4 times now over its lifetime. Only under warranty for 10 years or 100k miles. Very expensive repair, at 1500 for 1 latch, or 5500 for all 4. This is almost the value of the whole car now. This happens to ALL Lincoln Continentals and is very infamous & common for them & should be a lifetime recall warranty item for safety. Also, both Catalytic convertor show to be failing within 150k-165k miles which is way too soon. And another very expensive fix.

NHTSA ODI 11724828

Mar 11, 2026Body & structureDriver assistance

Upon startup 2 error messages appear. Driver Side Door Defaults Adaptive Cruise Control Default

NHTSA ODI 11723575

Feb 10, 2026Latches & locks

The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln Continental. The contact was unable to open the rear doors after several attempts. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V077000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,000.

NHTSA ODI 11717009

Jan 8, 2026Latches & locks

The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln Continental. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side door failed to open as intended. The contact had to exit the vehicle and used the exterior door handle to open the door. The contact stated that a warning light was illuminated, but had disappeared afterwards. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, approximately six months later, the front driver’s side door failed to open as intended. The door was opened using the exterior door handle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact received a renewal registration and was informed that there might be a recall on the VIN. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V077000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). However, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 11709785

Jan 7, 2026Electrical system

I have a 2017 Lincoln Continental that started off last year not letting me open one of my back doors from the outside (which I did take to the dealership and got a quote but was too expensive), two weeks ago, it was both back doors not opening from the outside, then last night, the front passenger door stopped opening from the outside. It does not matter if I have the doors locked or not, I cannot open the three doors from the outside. There is a recall for this condition, but not on my VIN. I am worried that I am not going to be able to get into my car at all soon, and this is concerning since I do take my husband and pets with me sometimes. My husband has had triple bypass surgery and if something happened and I could not get to him, this would be a major safety issue.

NHTSA ODI 11709303

Jan 1, 2026Electrical system

Can't open the passenger side front door from the inside.

NHTSA ODI 11708244

Sep 30, 2025Engine

antifreeze mix with oil , now my motor is bad only had care for 8 months , coolant system ran hot all of a sudden , warning light of overheating stopped asap and had car towed, first appearence on 09/28

NHTSA ODI 11690470

Aug 19, 2025Transmission & drivetrainBody & structureLatches & locks

The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln Continental. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V077000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). The contact had the trunk latch repaired under the recall. The contact stated that two years later the trunk latch failed. The trunk could be closed; however, the trunk failed to latch securely, and a rope was used to keep it securely closed. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while driving 40 MPH, the wrench warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the motor mount had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but denied assistance in covering the cost of the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000.

NHTSA ODI 11681625

Aug 5, 2025Electrical system

The 2017 Lincoln Continental started using electronic door latches. When they fail, there is no way to open the door from the outside other than to break the window. The driver side door is the only door that has an emergency escape latch. If someone is trapped inside the car, even though the door is unlocked, it will not open if the switch is faulty. There is a notice online calling out the issue [XXX] . I believe this is a safety issue because if a child or unconscious passenger is in the vehicle during an accident, the door cannot be opened without breaking the glass. They cost several hundred dollars to fix and should be on the MFR to replace due to safety concerns. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11678606

May 21, 2025Electrical system

Door default warning appears when starting the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11662367

Apr 16, 2025Electrical systemBody & structure

Rear passenger door will not open. Lincoln has active recalls on other VINs but mine is not included. I ask that mine be included. My door will occasionally pop open, but the most common problem is the handle will not engage from the outside. My Lincoln has the door handle on the trim piece. This is a common recall but my car is not included. It needs to be as not being able to open a door or it randomly opening poses threat or harm to myself and my family.

NHTSA ODI 11654915

Apr 7, 2025Body & structure

Driver side rear door does not open from outside nor the inside . This is a safety concern because in an event of emergency we need to be able to exit the vehicle through all doors

NHTSA ODI 11653086

Mar 17, 2025Latches & locks

The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln Continental. The contact stated that the rear passenger’s side door could not be opened from outside the vehicle while using the exterior door handle. The contact stated that the rear passenger’s side door was occasionally independently unlatched and was unsecured. The failure occurred while driving and while the vehicle was parked. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V077000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 112,000.

NHTSA ODI 11648674

Feb 6, 2025

THE FRONT RIGHT DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE. THE DOOR SWINGS OPEN AND DOES NOT LATCH CREATING A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE PASSENGER RIDING IN THE FRONT SEAT. MY CAR IS PRESENTLY AT PLANET FORD IN HOUSTON TEXAS WHERE THEY ARE CHARGING ME $2000 FOR THE REPAIR, WHICH I FEEL IS NOT MY FAULT FOR THIS DEFECTIVE ISSUE. THIS PROBLEM DID OCCUR EARLIER BUT WE WERE ABLE TO CORRECT IT BY CLICKING THE LOCK. THAT IS NO LONGER WORKING FOR US, SO WE TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIRS.

NHTSA ODI 11641163

Jan 30, 2025Latches & locks

The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln Continental. The contact stated that while pulling out of a parking spot, the message "Driver door latch not engaging" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was determined that all four door locks needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that all four door locks and the lock modules needed to be replaced and reprogrammed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 11,620.

NHTSA ODI 11639706

Jan 14, 2025Electrical system

Door latch failed and will not unlock the front passenger door. Dangerous situation if the battery dies. Similar recall but Lincoln said there's nothing they can do only 2019 was recalled for that. Would not make an exception. Dealer was surprised and advised me to report.

NHTSA ODI 11635827

Dec 31, 2024Electrical systemBody & structureBackup camera & sensors

Door warning

NHTSA ODI 11633468

Dec 26, 2024Body & structure

Recall 19V-077 was performed in 2019. On [XXX] The passenger front door was closed and is now unable to open again from the inside or outside. A message is displayed on the dash stating "passenger front door open". Called Lincoln corporate support and spoke with Elaine, she told me the recall has already been performed, and cannot be performed again under any type of warranty or extension as the recall had a cutoff date and has "expired". No parts warranty on the superseded parts either. Told me I will have to come out of my pocket for diagnosis and repairs of the faulty parts installed under their safety recall. Considering the door is not fully latched and can just randomly open on its own given the right conditions this is neglect for my safety and other drivers or pedestrians on the road that may be near the moving vehicle if the door were to open on its own. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11632522

Oct 3, 2024Brakes

The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln Continental. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 MPH and coming upon a red traffic light, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop, and the brake pedal went to the floorboard. The contact activated the parking brake to stop the vehicle. The contact became aware of brake fluid underneath the vehicle near the wheel and brake hose. The contact took the vehicle to a body shop nearby and a certified mechanic inspected the vehicle and diagnosed that the brake hose had failed. The brake hose and brake line had been replaced. The contact became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V162000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who confirmed that the brake hose had failed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that due to the failure not being caused due to an accident there would be no assistance. The failure mileage was 90,000.

NHTSA ODI 11617836

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Working with the data? Download all 74 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 21, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2017 Lincoln Continental verdict →