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2020 Lincoln Continental

Gas
Large Cars
6 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
B
Safety Signal
89 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns 2
Complaints1 injured reported 7
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 21 mpg
2020201920182017

The 2020 Lincoln Continental is sold in the U.S. as a gas large sedan with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Continental FWD, is EPA-rated at 21 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 7 complaints, most often about the back over prevention. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Lincoln Continental — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Lincoln Continental · Photo: Dinkun Chen · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Continental FWDGasFWD2.7L 6-cyl turbo182721$3,200
Continental AWDGasAWD2.7L 6-cyl turbo172520$3,350
Continental FWDGasFWD3.7L 6-cyl172620$3,350
Continental AWDGasAWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo162419$3,550
Continental AWDGasAWD3.7L 6-cyl162419$3,550
Continental CoachGasAWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo162419$3,550

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 42248, 42247, 42251, 42249, 42250, 42435.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Continental AWD, Continental FWD, Continental Coach5 / 10California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
Continental AWD, Continental FWD3 / 10California LEV-III ULEV125 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleSedan/Saloon
Doors4
GVWR classClass 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders6
Displacement3 L
Engine configurationV-Shaped

Engine Output

Horsepower400 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Seating

Seat rows2
Seating capacity5 seats

Transmission

DrivetrainAWD/All-Wheel Drive
TransmissionAutomatic
Transmission speeds6

Driver assistance

Standard: Adaptive cruise control, Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking, Rear cross-traffic alert

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: Premier, Reserve). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length201.6 in
Width (body, without mirrors)75.2 in
Height58.7 in
Wheelbase117.7 in
Track, front63.4 in
Track, rear64.2 in
Curb weight4,224 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear59/41

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here one configuration: 4-door Sedan. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

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Factory warranty running out?

The 2020 Lincoln Continental is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (2)

Source: NHTSA recall database
●moderate

Back Over Prevention

25S72
200,237 vehicles 59% reported repaired
Problem 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. Risk A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.
NHTSA campaign 25V442000 reported Jun 27, 2025 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Back Over Prevention

22S51
277,040 vehicles 62% reported repaired
Problem 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. Fix 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V644000 reported Aug 26, 2022 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

Whether any of this applies to one specific Continental

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2020 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Lincoln publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2020 Lincoln Continental, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2020 Lincoln Continental

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

Find parts for this Continental →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
7complaints filed

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 1 injuries · 0 deaths reported

11 per 10,000 built · Lincoln reported 6,333 Continental built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2020: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 1

Most-cited components

Unspecified 2
Back Over Prevention 2
Electrical System 1
Service Brakes 1
Latches/Locks/Linkages 1

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

The contact owns a 2020 Lincoln Continental. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V644000 (Back Over Prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
Back Over Prevention Jul 6, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11530586
The contact owns a 2020 Lincoln Continental. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the front driver’s side door would not open from the inside. In addition, the rear passenger’s side door would not open from the outside. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.
Latches/Locks/Linkages at 93,000 miles Apr 2, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11580745
On my 2020 Lincoln Continental the brake pedal is about one inch higher then the gas pedal. On most cars the brake and gas pedals are even in height. On this car when I move my foot to stop the car I must lift my foot. A few times the side of my foot has hit the brake pedal causing a momentary delay in stopping
Service Brakes at 200 miles Oct 20, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11365371
The contact leased a 2020 Lincoln Continental. The contact stated that while opening the trunk from the dashboard and unloading groceries from the trunk, the trunk lid independently closed sticking his head. The contact mentioned that there was no chime and that the trunk was heavy.
Electrical System at 160 miles May 7, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11323767
The contact owns a 2020 Lincoln Continental. The contact stated that while shifted into reverse, the rear-view camera became foggy. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.
Back Over Prevention at 19,000 miles Apr 12, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11516679

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Lincoln itself: 1 death-or-injury claim on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 2 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 16 per 100,000 built. Every Continental model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆11%
4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆11%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 68
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-06-30
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 62 service bulletins, 4 others, 2 emissionss

Most often about: Electrical System, Equipment, Unknown Or Other, Power Train, Engine.

  • 25E08-S1 Other
    2026-06-30 · Power Train
  • Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Reprogramming
  • 25E08 S1 Emissions
    2026-04-14 · Power Train
  • NEW VEHICLE DELIVERY HOLD - Emissions Recall 25E08 – Supplement #1 Certain 2016 – 2019 Model Year Lincoln MKT, 2016 Model Year MKS, and 2017 - 2020 Model Year Continental Vehicles with 3.7L Engines Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Reprogramming
  • 25N17 Other
    2026-03-25 · Back Over Prevention — Rearview System Braking
  • Advance Notice – Customer Satisfaction Program 25N17 Certain 2015-2025 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines Rear View Camera Replacement If Required After Dealer Evaluation
  • SSM 54589 Other
    2026-02-17 · Electrical System
  • Some 2019-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC3 may experience various connectivity concerns with The Ford App Lincoln App including but not limited to: missing activation prompt pop-upon the vehicle's center display screen when attempting to activate vehicle through The Ford App Lincoln App, incorrect location global positioning system GPS reported through The Ford App Lincoln App,
  • 25E08 Emissions
    2025-12-13 · Power Train
  • Certain 2017 - 2020 Model Year Lincoln Continental Vehicles with 3.7L Engines Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Reprogramming
  • SSM 54366 Service bulletin
    2025-11-12 · Power Train
  • Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. Pinpoint test HK in the Powertrain Control and Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) or in Section 303-14 of the Workshop Manual (WSM) has been updated to address this concern.
  • SSM 54116 Service bulletin
    2025-08-07 · Electrical System
  • Various 2019-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 may experience a partially or fully black center display screen at start-up using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. This does not affect rear camera operation. This may be due to interference from the phone being connected into the media hub using a universal serial bus (USB) cable during SYNC system boot up. To correct his condition, a
  • SSM 53764 Service bulletin
    2025-05-13 · Power Train
  • Some 2020 Continental, 2020-2024 Edge/Nautilus, 2020-2025 Explorer/Aviator/Escape/Corsair/F-150/F-Super Duty/Ranger/Transit/E-Series, 2021-2025 Bronco, and 2022-2025 Maverick vehicles may require an engine cooling system flush to be performed for various concerns. Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 303-03 has been updated to eliminate the need to remove and install the radiator assembly to perform a r

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
B156D
B156D on Lincoln →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →5 bulletins
P0011
P0011 on Lincoln →
Camshaft timing on bank 1 is more advanced than commanded.Engine3 bulletins
P0012
P0012 on Lincoln →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine3 bulletins
P0014
P0014 on Lincoln →
The second camshaft on bank 1 is timed further advanced than commanded.Engine3 bulletins
P0015
P0015 on Lincoln →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine3 bulletins
P0016
P0016 on Lincoln →
The crankshaft and camshaft are not where they should be relative to each other — timing, chain or phaser.Engine3 bulletins
P0017
P0017 on Lincoln →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine3 bulletins
P0018
P0018 on Lincoln →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine3 bulletins
P0019
P0019 on Lincoln →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine3 bulletins
P0021
P0021 on Lincoln →
Camshaft timing on bank 2 is more advanced than commanded.Engine3 bulletins
P0022
P0022 on Lincoln →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine3 bulletins
P0024
P0024 on Lincoln →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine3 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2020 Lincoln Continental failed the emissions check on 1.4% of first inspections — lower than the 2.2% for every 2020 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.4% (every 2020 vehicle: 1.6%).

New York inspections 1.4%

failed emissions

210 initial inspections of 206 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2020 ContinentalEvery 2020 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check1.4%2.2%210
Failed the safety inspection1.4%1.6%210
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0%0.19%210
Miles driven a year6,8059,980odometer at inspection
Average odometer42,40762,630odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2020 vehicle” is every 2020 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Common questions about the 2020 Continental

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2020 Lincoln Continental have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 2 recall campaigns for the 2020 Lincoln Continental. The most serious on file is 25V442000, covering Back Over Prevention. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2020 Lincoln Continental?

NHTSA gave the 2020 Lincoln Continental 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it B (89/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Lincoln Continental?

Across the 6 EPA-rated configurations of the 2020 Lincoln Continental, the best EPA combined figure is 21 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2020 Lincoln Continental?

Transport Canada measured it at 201.6 in long, 75.2 in wide (body, without mirrors), 58.7 in tall, on a 117.7 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,224 lb. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2020 Lincoln Continental?

Owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Lincoln Continental, most often about unspecified, back over prevention, electrical system. Of those, 1 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2020 Lincoln Continental?

The EPA smog rating for the 2020 Lincoln Continental runs 3 to 5 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III ULEV125, California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2020 Lincoln Continental?

The manufacturer has filed 68 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2020 Lincoln Continental, most often covering electrical system, equipment, unknown or other. The most recent is dated 2026-06-30. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2020 Lincoln Continental do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2020 Lincoln Continental failed the emissions check on 1.4% of first inspections — lower than the 2.2% for every 2020 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.4% (every 2020 vehicle: 1.6%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations6 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates6 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls2NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints7NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings2 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins68NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
InvestigationsnoneNHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationNo defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA13 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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