YearToAvoid

2018 Lincoln Continental Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2018 Lincoln Continental has a complaint index of 33, ranking 3rd-worst out of 4 model years, and earns a Good verdict. It has 20 complaints and 2 recalls, led by door latch and rearview camera issues.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
33/100
#3 of 4 Continental years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
20
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
2
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
1
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Top issue
Structure & Body
Best nearby year
2020
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
20
17 city / 25 hwy
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0

Top 2018 Lincoln Continental problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Structure & Body8 (40%)
  2. Electrical System4 (20%)
  3. Collision Avoidance & Cameras4 (20%)
  4. Other4 (20%)
  5. Engine1 (5%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (5%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain1 (5%)
  8. Visibility & Wipers1 (5%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Door latch pawl motors fail to fully engage, tied to a recall many owners say went unfixed for months due to part shortages.
  • Rear-view cameras display foggy or blurry images, especially in reverse, linked to a back-over prevention recall with delayed parts availability.
  • Instrument cluster deprograms itself and resets stored settings without driver input.
  • Exterior mirrors fold and unfold on their own, and the interior mirror changes position without being touched.
  • Heads-up display flashes multicolored lights onto the windshield unexpectedly.
  • Wipers and washers activate on their own or fail to respond to the control switch, sometimes draining the washer fluid reservoir.
2018 Lincoln Continental complaints: complaints filed per month2Mar 2019May 2020Jan 2022Mar 2023Mar 2025Jun 2026
20 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2019 to Sep 2026; peak Mar 2023 (2).

2018 Lincoln Continental recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 22V644000Aug 26, 2022Collision Avoidance & Cameras277,040 vehicles

    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.

    Risk: Lack of a clear rearview camera image can reduce the driver's visibility of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 14, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S51.

  2. NHTSA 19V077000Feb 11, 2019Structure & Body27,609 vehicles

    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.

    Risk: A door latch that is not fully engaged may result in a door opening while driving, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the latch assemblies on all four doors, free of charge. The recall began October 14, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S03.

2018 Lincoln Continental fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17 MPG
Highway
25 MPG
Combined
20 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,250
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2018 compared with other Continental years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002017201820192020
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2017Avoid10075420
2018Good3320220
2019Caution6732319.5
2020Best07219.5

All Lincoln Continental years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Lincoln Continental reliable?
Compared to other Continental years, 2018 rates Good, with a complaint index of 33 and 20 complaints, ranking 3rd-worst of 4 model years covered.
What problems does the 2018 Lincoln Continental have?
NHTSA complaints center on Structure & Body issues (40% of complaints, mostly door latches) and Electrical System glitches like mirrors, instrument cluster, and heads-up display malfunctions.
Does the 2018 Lincoln Continental have any recalls?
Yes, two recalls: one for door latch pawl motors that may not fully engage, and one for degraded rearview camera anti-reflective coating affecting the back-over prevention system.
How does the 2018 Continental compare to the 2017 and 2019 models?
The 2018 model (complaint index 33) is far better than the 2017 (index 100, Avoid) and better than the 2019 (index 67, Caution), though not as strong as the 2020 model (index 0, Best).
Were any 2018 Continental complaints tied to crashes or fires?
NHTSA data shows 1 crash and 0 fires reported among the 20 complaints for the 2018 Continental, with no injuries or deaths.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.