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Lincoln · Known Issues

2017-2020 Lincoln Continental Problems & Issues

2017-2020 model years · NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports · Updated June 2026

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Issue summary

According to Au7o's research across NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports, the 2017-2020 Lincoln Continental has 6 documented known issues, with 3 rated critical. The most serious are Continental Door Latch Recall (NHTSA 19V-077 / Ford 19S03) — Affects Coach Doors Too ($0-$0 repair), Adaptive Steering fault — expensive steering module/wheel replacement ($1,200-$5,000 repair) and Door latch (E-latch) motor failure — doors may open while driving. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $1,200 to $5,000. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.

In This Article

  • Continental Safety/Recalls2
  • Continental Steering1
  • Continental Electrical2
  • Continental Body/Panels1
  • Recalls5
  • FAQ
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In This Article

  • Safety/Recalls2
  • Steering1
  • Electrical2
  • Body/Panels1
  • Recalls5
  • FAQ

All 6 Known Issues

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ALL YEARS2020201920182017

NHTSA recall 19V-077 (Ford reference 19S03) covers ~27,000 2017-2019 Lincoln Continentals built Nov 30 2015 - Nov 14 2018 at Ford's Flat Rock plant. Silicon contamination causes the electronic door-latch pawl motor to work intermittently or fail, which can lead to a door that will not close, a persistent "door ajar" warning, or — worst case — a door opening while the vehicle is in motion. All four doors are affected. The rare Coach Door (rear-hinged) Edition variants are covered as a subset of the same recall.

This issue also affects: Buick Enclave, Lincoln Navigator, Opel Astra

Common Symptoms

  • rear door opens unexpectedly
  • latch warning message

How to Fix

Check VIN at NHTSA recalls lookup (19V-077). Free dealer remedy: replacement of latch assemblies on all four doors. Until repaired, treat every door warning seriously — do not transport passengers if rear doors will not securely latch. Recall began March 2019.

Typical repair cost:$0 - $0

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The Continental's electronic door latches (E-latch) can fail because silicone contamination builds up on the latch pawl motor over time, preventing the latch from fully engaging. This can allow a door to appear closed but open unexpectedly while the vehicle is moving, or fail to latch at all. Ford issued safety recall 19S03 (NHTSA 19V077) covering roughly 27,000 vehicles built Nov 2015–Nov 2018 at the Flat Rock plant.

Common Symptoms

  • Door opens unexpectedly while driving
  • Door will not latch or stay closed
  • Door appears closed but is not secured
  • Latch motor clicks but does not engage

How to Fix

Take the vehicle to a Lincoln dealer for the open recall — dealers replace the latch assemblies on all four doors free of charge. Owners can confirm recall status by entering the VIN at owner.lincoln.com or on the NHTSA recall site.

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Continentals with Adaptive Steering can throw a 'Service Adaptive Steering' / steering fault warning, often disabling the variable-ratio steering feature. On 2018+ cars the actuator motor and controller are integrated into the steering wheel, so the entire wheel assembly may need replacement and reprogramming. Owners report dealer quotes ranging from roughly $1,200 to as high as $5,000.

Common Symptoms

  • 'Service Adaptive Steering' warning message
  • Steering assist / advanced steering fault light
  • Loss of variable-ratio steering feel
  • Heavier or inconsistent steering effort

How to Fix

Have the dealer pull steering codes; module/PCM/BCM reflashing is sometimes tried first but frequently the adaptive steering module (or, on 2018+, the steering wheel assembly) must be replaced and reconfigured. Because programming is required, this is typically a dealer-level repair rather than an independent shop fix.

Typical repair cost:$1,200 - $5,000

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High ConfidenceVerifiedReviewed Jun 2026

Owners report the 12V battery going dead from a parasitic draw, sometimes requiring multiple battery replacements before the real cause is found. Diagnoses have traced the drain to modules that fail to sleep — commonly the driver's seat module, but also door/liftgate switches and the telematics (modem) unit keeping the network awake with the key off. The result is a no-start after the car sits.

Common Symptoms

  • Dead battery after car sits overnight or a few days
  • Repeated battery replacements
  • No-start / clicking when cranking
  • Random interior lights or alarm activating

How to Fix

Have a shop perform a parasitic-draw test (key-off current draw) and isolate the offending module by pulling fuses/disconnecting modules one at a time. Replace the faulty module (driver's seat module is a frequent culprit) and update software where applicable; a healthy battery and clean grounds should be confirmed first.

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Medium ConfidenceVerifiedReviewed Jun 2026

On Continentals equipped with the 360-degree surround-view camera, the anti-reflective coating on an inner camera lens can crack and degrade from UV exposure, making the rearview/surround image appear foggy or cloudy. A degraded image reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle and increases crash risk. Ford recalled about 13,119 Continentals under campaign 22S51 (NHTSA 22V644).

Common Symptoms

  • Backup camera image looks foggy or cloudy
  • Hazy or milky rearview display
  • Surround-view image quality degrades over time

How to Fix

This is covered under safety recall 22S51 / NHTSA 22V644 — dealers replace the surround-view camera free of charge. Verify the recall is still open via VIN lookup at the NHTSA website or owner.lincoln.com.

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The power soft-close (cinching) doors can stop pulling themselves shut, leaving doors that won't fully cinch or that must be slammed. The cinch motor is integrated into the door latch control module and cannot be serviced separately, so a failure of the cinch function often coincides with the broader E-latch problems documented on the car. Multiple owners filed NHTSA complaints describing simultaneous exterior-latch and soft-close failures.

Common Symptoms

  • Door no longer pulls itself shut (soft-close inoperative)
  • Door must be slammed to close
  • Soft-close works intermittently or only on some doors
  • Ajar warning with door appearing closed

How to Fix

Scan for body/door module codes (these may not show on the dash). Because the cinch motor is part of the latch control module, the fix is replacement of the affected door's latch assembly/module at a dealer — frequently performed alongside the 19S03 door-latch recall work.

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NHTSA Recalls5 recalls

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Lincoln Continental vehicles. The door latch pawl motors may not function properly, possibly resulting in a door latch not fully engaging.

Campaign #19V07700011/02/2019

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2020 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and 2017-2020 Lincoln Continental vehicles equipped with the 360-degree camera system. Degradation of the camera's anit-reflective lens coating can lead to a foggy or cloudy rearview camera image.

Campaign #22V64400026/08/2022

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.

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Other Lincoln Models

Lincoln Aviator31Lincoln Nautilus22Lincoln Navigator18Lincoln MKZ10Lincoln MKX10Lincoln Town Car9

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common Lincoln Continental problems?

According to Au7o's research across NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports, the 2017-2020 Lincoln Continental has 6 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: Continental Door Latch Recall (NHTSA 19V-077 / Ford 19S03) — Affects Coach Doors Too, Adaptive Steering fault — expensive steering module/wheel replacement, Door latch (E-latch) motor failure — doors may open while driving. Of these, 3 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.

Is the Lincoln Continental reliable?

The 2017-2020 Lincoln Continental has 6 known issues compiled from NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports. 3 issues are rated critical: Continental Door Latch Recall (NHTSA 19V-077 / Ford 19S03) — Affects Coach Doors Too and Adaptive Steering fault — expensive steering module/wheel replacement and Door latch (E-latch) motor failure — doors may open while driving. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.

How much does it cost to fix common Lincoln Continental problems?

Repair costs for known Lincoln Continental issues range from $0 to $5,000, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, Continental Door Latch Recall (NHTSA 19V-077 / Ford 19S03) — Affects Coach Doors Too, typically costs $0-$0 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.

What year Lincoln Continental is the most reliable?

Reliability varies across model years of the Lincoln Continental. Based on documented issues, problems are most commonly reported in earlier model years. Au7o recommends checking the specific known issues for your target year before purchasing, and having a pre-purchase inspection performed by a qualified mechanic. Our known issues database covers the 2017-2020 Lincoln Continental with 6 documented issues compiled from NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports.

Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.

Data compiled from NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, automotive forums, and AI-assisted research. No aggregated owner-report counts available for this vehicle yet.

Campaign #25V44200027/06/2025

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles and 2017 Lincoln Continental vehicles. In the event of a crash, the driver's frontal air bag may not fully inflate or the air bag cushion may detach from the air bag module. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Campaign #17V12300027/02/2017

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2017 Lincoln Continental vehicles manufactured June 14, 2016, to September 23, 2016 and equipped with high intensity discharge (HID) headlights. The headlights may have been built with incorrect lenses, adversely affecting the turn signal visibility as well as not being properly marked. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Assoc. Equipment."

Campaign #16V73100012/10/2016

Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check recalls specific to your vehicle.

What is the 2017-2019 Lincoln Continental Continental Door Latch Recall (NHTSA 19V-077 / Ford 19S03) — Affects Coach Doors Too?

NHTSA recall 19V-077 (Ford reference 19S03) covers ~27,000 2017-2019 Lincoln Continentals built Nov 30 2015 - Nov 14 2018 at Ford's Flat Rock plant. Silicon contamination causes the electronic door-latch pawl motor to work intermittently or fail, which can lead to a door that wil… Repairs typically run $0-$0. Severity: high.

What is the 2017-2020 Lincoln Continental Adaptive Steering fault — expensive steering module/wheel replacement?

Continentals with Adaptive Steering can throw a 'Service Adaptive Steering' / steering fault warning, often disabling the variable-ratio steering feature. On 2018+ cars the actuator motor and controller are integrated into the steering wheel, so the entire wheel assembly may need… Repairs typically run $1,200-$5,000. Severity: high.

What is the 2017-2019 Lincoln Continental Door latch (E-latch) motor failure — doors may open while driving?

The Continental's electronic door latches (E-latch) can fail because silicone contamination builds up on the latch pawl motor over time, preventing the latch from fully engaging. This can allow a door to appear closed but open unexpectedly while the vehicle is moving, or fail to… Severity: high.

What is the 2017-2020 Lincoln Continental Parasitic battery drain / repeated dead battery?

Owners report the 12V battery going dead from a parasitic draw, sometimes requiring multiple battery replacements before the real cause is found. Diagnoses have traced the drain to modules that fail to sleep — commonly the driver's seat module, but also door/liftgate switches and… Severity: medium.

What is the 2017-2020 Lincoln Continental Foggy / cloudy 360-degree rearview camera image?

On Continentals equipped with the 360-degree surround-view camera, the anti-reflective coating on an inner camera lens can crack and degrade from UV exposure, making the rearview/surround image appear foggy or cloudy. A degraded image reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle… Severity: medium.

What is the 2017-2019 Lincoln Continental Soft-close door cinch motor failure?

The power soft-close (cinching) doors can stop pulling themselves shut, leaving doors that won't fully cinch or that must be slammed. The cinch motor is integrated into the door latch control module and cannot be serviced separately, so a failure of the cinch function often coinc… Severity: low.