Avoid: 2021 (lowest Year Scores on complaints per year on the road, crash reports and recalls)
Best: 2005 (few owner reports)
8 model years of NHTSA owner complaints and recalls · How we grade
Across 7 model years, the Bentley Continental has 29 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 10 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are seats and wheels. 2021 drew the most complaints (12), 2009 the fewest (1).
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for Bentley Continental vehicles (US, public record).
Complaint volume by model year. Raw NHTSA totals, not adjusted for sales volume or time on the road, so older and higher-selling years accumulate more. Every year links to its full breakdown.
Highest: 2021 (12 complaints). Lowest: 2009 (1).
Owner sentiment is highly contextual, split between profound satisfaction with the vehicle's core attributes and significant apprehension regarding long-term ownership costs.
Parts and labor are described as "insanity," with examples including $16,000 for an infotainment unit, $24,000 per fender, $8,000 for a bumper cover, $6,000+ for air suspension refurbishment, and $2,000-$3,000 for brake service every 30,000 miles.
Plastic hoses perishing and dumping fluids, failing headliners, and various electronic module failures in older models.
Described as severe, particularly on newer models like the Bentayga, making resale financially painful.
Isolated note that early W12 engines had issues largely addressed in the Series II (2012+) models.
Owner insights cover all generations of the Continental. Individual model years are broken down above.
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