NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls and 21 owner complaints for the 2018 Lincoln Continental. Most complaints involve latches/locks/linkages (6) and electrical system (5). The EPA rates it 19–21 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.
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.
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.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
“The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln Continental. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the message "Driver Door Fault - Use Inside Override Lever Map Pocket" was displayed and a chime sounded, disabling the Auto Hold, Cruise Control mode, and other functions. The message "Door Latch Fault" was displayed on the Ford Mobile App. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V077000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages). Additionally, the wrench warning light was illuminated. The contact associated the failure with Emissions Recall: 25E08. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the dealer retrieved an unrelated DTC for catalytic converter bank 2 below threshold, and the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by the dealer. The contact planned to take the vehicle to an independent mechanic for the repair. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired three times for an oil pan gasket leak, which the contact associated with a TSB. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.”
“The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln Continental. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the battery charge drained unexpectedly. The headlights and warning lights were flashing on and off with the horn honking unintendedly. The vehicle was towed to a dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with electrical failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 67,000.”
“The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln Continental. The contact received recall notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V644000 (Back Over Prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while shifted into reverse(R), the rear-view camera displayed blurry images. The contact stated that several undisclosed dealers were contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental FWD Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 2.7 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 27 | 21 | $3,050 | 424 |
| Continental AWD Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 2.7 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive | 17 | 25 | 20 | $3,200 | 451 |
| Continental FWD Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 26 | 20 | $3,200 | 440 |
| Continental AWD Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L · All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 24 | 19 | $3,400 | 466 |
| Continental AWD Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 24 | 19 | $3,400 | 467 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
2 safety recalls as of Oct 28, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 21 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are latches/locks/linkages (6), electrical system (5), back over prevention (4). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2018 Lincoln Continental at 19–21 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (5 versions rated).
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2018 Lincoln Continental 5 out of 5 stars overall.