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1992 Lincoln Continental

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1992 Continental.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1992 Lincoln Continental is a full‑size passenger car that sits on a robust platform and is equipped with an automatic 4‑speed transmission. Its powertrain requires 4.0 quarts of 5W‑30 API oil, and it achieves EPA ratings of 15 mpg city, 23 mpg highway, and 18 mpg combined—an indicative balance of comfort and fuel economy for the era. In the broader 1990‑2020 complaint data set, the Continental’s 179 owner complaints in 1992, primarily centered on engine and cooling systems, rank it below the peak 427 complaints of 1993 but well above the 7 complaints recorded in 2020, reflecting a moderate reliability profile that underscores the importance of attentive maintenance for this model year.

Model year2020 2019 2018 2017 2002 2001 2000 1999 1992

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.0 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy15/23/18 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Thermostat

RT1053 discontinued

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	205.1 in
Overall width	72.8 in
Overall height	55.5 in
Wheelbase	109.1 in
Curb weight	3671 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)	62/38

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	15 / 23 / 18 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	104 cu ft
Cargo volume	19 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Continental of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

10.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 10.50 sec — 1988 Signature Series

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1988	Signature Series 3.8L V6	10.50 sec	17.60 sec	140 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.0 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.0 qt

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 7,500 mi	Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 mi	Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Spark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1992 model year represents a notable dip in the complaint trajectory for this generation, with 179 complaints marking a 50 percent decrease from 1991's 359 and standing well below the subsequent spike to 427 complaints seen in 1993. While investigations remained elevated at 8—matching the highest count in the early generation sequence—recalls held steady at 3, identical to 1991 and significantly fewer than the 7 recalls issued for both 1993 and 1994. The data positions 1992 as a transitional year between the ascending complaint trend of 1990-1991 and the peak defect reporting period of 1993-1994, though the specific root causes for this temporary reduction are not specified in the federal record. Engine and cooling system issues dominated the 1992 docket with 46 complaints, followed by electrical concerns at 18, while fire-related complaints totaled 15 against only 4 crash-related filings. Given its comparatively lower complaint volume and recall count relative to the immediate successor years, 1992 emerges as a relatively favorable vintage within this generation's troubled early-1990s arc, provided prospective buyers thoroughly inspect the engine cooling and electrical systems.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

179

Owner complaints

4 involved a crash · 15 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91’92’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 179 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling46

Electrical System18

Service Brakes, Hydraulic15

Suspension14

Structure14

Vehicle Speed Control10

Exterior Lighting9

Power Train8

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

97V025000Vehicle Speed ControlReported 26/02/1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L ENGINES AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, IOWA, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN… Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A BOOT TO THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE.

97V019000Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:FanReported 25/02/1997

THESE VEHICLES ARE ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, IOWA, MINNESOTA, NEBRASKA, NORTH DAKOTA, AND SOUTH DAKOTA. THE VEHICLES INVOLVED ARE 1992-1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES WITH 3.0L… Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ELECTRICAL JUMPER HARNESS CONTAINING AN AUTOMATIC RESETTING CIRCUIT BREAKER TO PROTECT THE FAN MOTOR LOW SPEED CIRCUITRY FROM OVERHEATING.

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Continental. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Vehicles taking 4.0 qt Thermostat RT1053

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1992 Continental take?

4.0 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1992 Continental have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Continental get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 23 highway / 18 combined mpg.