THEFT ALARM GOES OFF WHEN EVER IT WANTS TO. DOESN'T MATTER IF DAY OR NIGHT. THE BATTERY HAS TO BE DISCONNECTED TO SHUT IT OFF. THE CAR DOESN'T NEED TO BE DISTURBED FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. *TR
1993 Lincoln Mark Viii
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Mark Viii years
Owner complaints for the 1993 Lincoln Mark Viii are substantially higher than the model-year median of 86.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Mark Viii years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 41 of 239 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 172 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
239 reports1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE HIGH BEAM AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS PROBLEM. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE COULD NOT SEE AT NIGHT WITH THE HIGH BEAMS OR LOW BEAMS ON. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND CAUSED A CRASH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND CAUSED A CRASH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS BUSTED AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000. UPDATED 06/02/11 UPDATED 06/24/11 *BF STATUS UPDATE. 06/30/11
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE BRAKE LINE ERUPTED. HE CONTINUED TO PUMP THE BRAKES AS THE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. HE WAS ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS COVERED WITH RUST AN…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE BRAKE LINE ERUPTED. HE CONTINUED TO PUMP THE BRAKES AS THE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. HE WAS ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS COVERED WITH RUST AND WAS CAUSED BY SALT. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BRAKE LINE WITH NEW STEEL ONES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST OF $485. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000.
FORD MOTOR COMPANY, HAD A CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH THAT WAS DEFECTIVE, SO THEY DECIDED TO DO A RECALL. BUT IN STAGES, AS TO NOT SCARE OFF THE CONSUMERS. MY SON WAS DRIVING MY 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII, TO WHICH THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH HAD BEEN ACTIVATING. ON 12-9-06 MY SON WAS DRIVING HIS GIRLFRIEND HOME WHEN ___ CALLE…
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FORD MOTOR COMPANY, HAD A CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH THAT WAS DEFECTIVE, SO THEY DECIDED TO DO A RECALL. BUT IN STAGES, AS TO NOT SCARE OFF THE CONSUMERS. MY SON WAS DRIVING MY 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII, TO WHICH THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH HAD BEEN ACTIVATING. ON 12-9-06 MY SON WAS DRIVING HIS GIRLFRIEND HOME WHEN ___ CALLED HER SISTER TELLING HER SHE WAS RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD, AND THEN ____ CALLED ME SAYING ___ CALLED __ BUT SOMETHINGS WRONG WITH CAR JUMP OR UP AND THE CALL DROPPED. THE CAR LEFT THE ROAD HITTING TREE. I RECEIVED MY RECALL IN AUGUST OF 2007. THEN THE LAB RESULTS STATED INTERNAL FAILURE OF THE 05S28 SDCS, DEATH CERTIFICATE STATES ________ CAUSE OF DEATH; SMOKE INHALATION, WHICH MEANS THE CAR WAS ON FIRE BEFORE IT HIT THE TREE,THERMAL INJURIES DUE TO FIRE,MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISION. IT'S HARD TO DRIVE WHEN YOUR BEING BURNED TO DEATH. FORD CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH FIRE DEATH AS OF THIS DATE FORD DENIES THIS CLAIM . *TR UPDATED 11/8/2017*JS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLASTIC HEAD LAMP CASE BECOMES DIM OVER TIME AND HINDERS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE HEADLIGHTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE COULD NOT SEE 15 FEET IN FRONT OF HIM. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,811 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 11/07/08 *BF UP…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLASTIC HEAD LAMP CASE BECOMES DIM OVER TIME AND HINDERS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE HEADLIGHTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE COULD NOT SEE 15 FEET IN FRONT OF HIM. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,811 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 11/07/08 *BF UPDATED 11/07/08. *JB
HEADLIGHTS ON MY 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII ARE HORRIBLE CANT SEE AT NIGHT. *TR
THE LEVEL OF SEVERITY OF THE HEADLAMP PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE AT THE HIGHEST CONCERN. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE MADE COMPLAINTS AND REQUESTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING TO RECTIFY IT. WHEN THESE HEADLAMPS ARE ON AT NIGHT THERE IS NO ILLUMINATION -- NOT LITTLE ILLUMINATION -- VIRTUALLY NONE. HOW…
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THE LEVEL OF SEVERITY OF THE HEADLAMP PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE AT THE HIGHEST CONCERN. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE MADE COMPLAINTS AND REQUESTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING TO RECTIFY IT. WHEN THESE HEADLAMPS ARE ON AT NIGHT THERE IS NO ILLUMINATION -- NOT LITTLE ILLUMINATION -- VIRTUALLY NONE. HOW A PROBLEM OF THIS NATURE CAN RECEIVE LITTLE ATTENTION NOR AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY A TEST HASN'T EVEN BEEN REQUESTED IS BEYOND ANY REASONABLE UNDERSTANDING. IF DRASTIC VISUAL IMPAIRMENT IS NOT REASON ENOUGH TO WARRANT ACTION FROM THE NHTSA THEN REASON FOR THE NHTSA'S VERY EXISTENCE SHOULD EQUALLY STAND IN QUESTION. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOMETER, SPEEDOMETER, AND CRUISE CONTROL ALL MALFUNCTIONED ON HIS VEHICLE. SINCE THE FAILURES, THE ON-BOARD COMPUTER ALSO FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT, BASICALLY, THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD FAILED. THE AIR RIDE SYSTEM ALSO BEGAN TO LEAK. THE DEALER STAT…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOMETER, SPEEDOMETER, AND CRUISE CONTROL ALL MALFUNCTIONED ON HIS VEHICLE. SINCE THE FAILURES, THE ON-BOARD COMPUTER ALSO FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT, BASICALLY, THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD FAILED. THE AIR RIDE SYSTEM ALSO BEGAN TO LEAK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS FOR THE SPEEDOMETER WERE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR TRANSMISSION SERVICE AND IT CAME BACK WITH A TRANSMISSION LEAK. HE REPLACED A SCREW, BUT THE LEAK STILL EXISTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE PAID APPROXIMATELY $7,000 FOR THE REPAIRS AND THE FAILURE STILL CONTINUED. THE CONTACT WAS SENT A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND BELIEVED THAT THE RECALL CAUSED THE OTHER FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 161,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, IT CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE WIRES CONNECTED TO THE FIRE WALL AND THE DASHBOARD WERE AFFECTED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SPLICE THE WIRES ENOUGH TO START THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE NO PHOTOS AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, IT CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE WIRES CONNECTED TO THE FIRE WALL AND THE DASHBOARD WERE AFFECTED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SPLICE THE WIRES ENOUGH TO START THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE NO PHOTOS AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Official recalls
307V336000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Aug 3, 2007
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
98V009000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
Jan 21, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHTS CAN FLASH INTERMITTENTLY AS A RESULT OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING. THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS CAN GO OUT FOR BRIEF INTERVALS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION CAN AFFECT A DRIVER'S ABILITY TO NAVIGATE THE ROADWAY AND REDUCE THE VISIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLIGHT SWITCH THAT INCORPORATES A CRICUIT BREAKER OF REVISED DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF A WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR AND WIRING, IF NEEDED.
92V166000 · Seat Belts:front:retractor
Nov 18, 1992
THE LINK LEVER TRUNION ON THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING INSTALLATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE DAMAGED COMPONENT MAY BECOME DISLODGED DURING VEHICLEOPERATION, MAKING THE RETRACTOR VEHICLE-SENSITIVE LOCKING SYSTEM INOPERATIVE.THIS INCREASES THE POSSIBILTY OF A SERIOUS INJURY IN A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.
Remedy: THE RETRACTORS WILL BE REPLACED IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA96019 · Headlight Failure
Opened Jul 31, 1996 · Closed Jan 26, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
EXCESSIVE HEAT IN AN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED CIRCUIT BREAKER WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH CAUSED THAT CIRCUIT BREAKER TO OPEN FOR TIME PERIODS OF VARYING LENGTH TO COOL OFF.OPENING OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER IN THIS MANNER INTERRUPTS ELECTRIC CURRENT FLOW TO THE HEADLIGHTS, SHUTTING THEM OFF.HEADLIGHT OUTAGES HAVE RANGER FROM BRIEF FLICKERS (LESS THAN ONE SECOND) TO GREATER THAN 20 SECONDS.OVER TIME, THE OUTAGES GROW IN LENGTH AND DURATION BECAUSE OF HEAT-INDUCED DETERIORATION OF THE SWITCH AND ASSOCIATED WIRING.RECALL 98V-009 WILL APPLY TO APPROXIMATELY 506,000 TAURUS, SABLE, MARK VIII, AND CONTINENTAL VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM 1-DEC.-92 THROUGH 30-SEP-93 AT THE ATLANTA, CHICAGO,AND WIXOM ASSEMBLY PLANTS.87% OF MY 1992-1995 TAURUS/SABLE AND 97% OF MY 1993-1995 MARK VIII WARRANTY REPAIRS (HEADLIGHT SWITCH REPLACEMENT) INVOLVED VEHICLES BUILT DURING THE DEC. 92 - OCT. 93 BUILD RANGE.
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