IllustrationVERY-VERY POOR LIGHT OUTPUT FROM HEADLIGHT
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.
16 crash reports7 fire reports5 injury reports
Exterior Lighting complaints
172 reportsEVEN WHEN PROPERLY AIMED AND ADJUSTED, THE HIGHLIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE ENTIRELY TOO DIM TO ILLUMINATE THE ROAD AHEAD PROPERLY. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT NIGHT, IN FACT, ONE CAN ONLY SAFELY DRIVE IT BELOW APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH FOR THIS REASON. CONSEQUENTLY I AM FORCED TO DRIVE CONTINUOUSLY WITH HIGH-BEAMS WHEN DRIVING DU…
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EVEN WHEN PROPERLY AIMED AND ADJUSTED, THE HIGHLIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE ENTIRELY TOO DIM TO ILLUMINATE THE ROAD AHEAD PROPERLY. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT NIGHT, IN FACT, ONE CAN ONLY SAFELY DRIVE IT BELOW APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH FOR THIS REASON. CONSEQUENTLY I AM FORCED TO DRIVE CONTINUOUSLY WITH HIGH-BEAMS WHEN DRIVING DURING THE EVENING. IT IS THE ONLY WAY THE CAR CAN BE DRIVEN SAFELY AT NIGHT! MANY OTHER LINCOLN MARK VIII OWNERS WITH WHOM I'VE SPOKEN HAVE EXACTLY THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. *AK
THE HEADLIGHT ASSAMBLY HAS ALWAYS GIVEN OUT POOR LIGHT. THE DISPERSION IS VERY POOR AS IS THE VISIBILTY AT NIGHT TIME TRAVEL. HIGH BEAMS ARE AS GOOD AS LOW BEAMS ON AN AVERAGE CAR. *AK
HEADLIGHTS ON MODEL YEARS '93-'96 ARE AN EXTREMELY POOR DESIGN. IN MY OPINION, IT APPEARS REFLECTIVE COATING INSIDE EASLY BURNS OFF THE NEAR THE BULB. "LOW-BEAM" LIGHTING IS VERY POOR AND HAZARDOUS AFTER THIS OCCURS. THE ONLY FIX IS TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT MODULE AT A COST OF OVER $400 TO THE CONSUMER. UNACCEPTABLE. *AK
BAD HEADLIGHTS HAVE MADE DRIVING HAZARDOUS FOR FOR DRIVERS AND OTHER DRIVERS.
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH TO BE SAFE.
HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM, HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT (DRIVER HAS 20/20 VISION AND NO NIGHT BLINDNESS). THE SEAL AROUND THE REAR WINDOW IS BREAKING DOWN AND BUBBLING. I HAVE SEEN THIS ON 1998 MODELS OF THIS CAR AS WELL. LOOKING AT CARS MUCH OLDER AND NOT AS WELL MAINTAINED AS MINE, I NOTICE NO SUCH BREAKDOWN. I DO MEAN THE "FORD PIN…
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HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM, HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT (DRIVER HAS 20/20 VISION AND NO NIGHT BLINDNESS). THE SEAL AROUND THE REAR WINDOW IS BREAKING DOWN AND BUBBLING. I HAVE SEEN THIS ON 1998 MODELS OF THIS CAR AS WELL. LOOKING AT CARS MUCH OLDER AND NOT AS WELL MAINTAINED AS MINE, I NOTICE NO SUCH BREAKDOWN. I DO MEAN THE "FORD PINTO" TYPE OF OLD CLUNKER. THEY MAY SAY THAT THIS IS DUE TO THE HEAT IN FLORIDA, BUT DON'T THEY SELL THESE CARS HERE? THIS WILL COST IN EXCESS OF $1,000.00 BECAUSE THE WHOLE WINDOW WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS JUST BAD WORKMANSHIP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
FORD PROVIDED HID LAMPS AS AN OPTION ON 1996 MODEL YEAR AND STANDARD ON 1997 AND 1998. WHY NOT JUST STAY WITH THE STANDARD INCANDESCENT LAMPS IF THEY WERE ADEQUATE? ALL FIRST GENERATION MK8 OWNERS COMPLAIN OF THIS DEFECT.
HEADLIGHTS ON 93-96 ARE VERY DIM AND DANGEROUS TO THE PUBLIC. I HAVE TO RIDE AROUND WITH MY HIGHBEAMS ON TO PROVIDE PROPER LIGHTING THAT LOW BEAMS SHOULD PROVIDE. THE LOW BEAMS LOOK LIGHT PARKING LIGHTS. *AK
THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY LINCOLN ARE DANGEROUS. THEY HAVE BEEN DIM SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED THE CAR. WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT, IT IS HARD TO SEE THE ROAD AHEAD. IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE ANY HAZZARDS IN THE ROADWAY. I KNOW THAT IT IS THE CAR, AS WHEN I DRIVE MY OTHER CARS I HAVE NO PROBLEM SEEING THE ROAD OR HAZZARDS. I HAVE HAD …
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THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY LINCOLN ARE DANGEROUS. THEY HAVE BEEN DIM SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED THE CAR. WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT, IT IS HARD TO SEE THE ROAD AHEAD. IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE ANY HAZZARDS IN THE ROADWAY. I KNOW THAT IT IS THE CAR, AS WHEN I DRIVE MY OTHER CARS I HAVE NO PROBLEM SEEING THE ROAD OR HAZZARDS. I HAVE HAD MECHANICS CHECK THE ALIGNMENT OF MY HEADLIGHTS, AND THE ALIGNMENT IS CORRECT. I HAVE FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS PROBLEM. EVERY SINGLE PERSON I HAVE SPOKEN TO THAT OWNS A LINCOLN MARK VIII WITH THE SAME BODY STYLE AS MINE HAS REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE SPOKEN TO A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH THE TROUBLE OF PUTING 1996 H.I.D. HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES INTO THERE CARS. THAT SEEMS TO HAVE CURED THE PROBLEM FOR THEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. I REALLY HOPE YOU CAN HELP, AS THIS IS A SAFETY HAZZARD, AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO PURCHASE A NEW CAR.
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.