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
What owners actually said
239 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2001
Exterior Lighting
LIGHTING IS TOTALLY INADEQUATE AT LOW BEAM. THIS IS A SERIOUS HEALTH HAZARD TO ALL NORTH AMERICANS. THE COMPANY HAS REBUFFED AND IGNORED MY ATTEMPTS TO SAVE HUMAN LIVES. THERE IS NO WAY THE LIGHTING IS APPROPRIATE - I HAVE SPENT $900 ON NEW LIGHT ASSEMBLIES AND HAVE DETERMINED A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW EXISTS WITH THIS AUTOMOBILE…
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LIGHTING IS TOTALLY INADEQUATE AT LOW BEAM. THIS IS A SERIOUS HEALTH HAZARD TO ALL NORTH AMERICANS. THE COMPANY HAS REBUFFED AND IGNORED MY ATTEMPTS TO SAVE HUMAN LIVES. THERE IS NO WAY THE LIGHTING IS APPROPRIATE - I HAVE SPENT $900 ON NEW LIGHT ASSEMBLIES AND HAVE DETERMINED A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW EXISTS WITH THIS AUTOMOBILE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #752266
Mileage unknown · Sep 16, 2001
Exterior Lighting
I BOUGHT THIS USED CAR FOR MY DAUGHTER. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE USELESS, THEY PROVIDE NO ILLUMINATION ON DIM SETTING, VERY LITTLE ON HIGH SETTING. I AM AFRAID FOR MY DAUGHTERS SAFETY DRIVING THIS CAR AFTER DARK.*AK
NHTSA ODI #752255
Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2001
Exterior Lighting
HEADLIGHTS ARE INADEQUATE, I HAVE POLISHED THE LENSES TO IMPROVE VISIBILITY,BUT WITH LIMITED IMPROVEMENT. ALL FORD PRODUCT HEAD LAMPS SEEM TO SUFFER THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT THE MARK VIII IS THE WORST DUE TO ITS SMALL HEADLIGHT DESIGN. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL AND HAVE MANUFACTURERS INSTALL A HIGHER QUALITY LEXAN FOR LIGHTING. THANK Y…
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HEADLIGHTS ARE INADEQUATE, I HAVE POLISHED THE LENSES TO IMPROVE VISIBILITY,BUT WITH LIMITED IMPROVEMENT. ALL FORD PRODUCT HEAD LAMPS SEEM TO SUFFER THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT THE MARK VIII IS THE WORST DUE TO ITS SMALL HEADLIGHT DESIGN. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL AND HAVE MANUFACTURERS INSTALL A HIGHER QUALITY LEXAN FOR LIGHTING. THANK YOU. *AK
NHTSA ODI #752193
Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2001
Exterior Lighting
HEADLIGHTS HAD CRACKS CAUSING MOISTURE TO SEEP IN. HEADLIGHTS WERE DIM, AND MADE IT VERY HARD TO SEE IN LIGHT AND DARK AREAS. CONSUMER WENT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT DETERMINED THAT CAPSULE WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. TOTAL COST WAS APPROXIMATELY $300, INCLUDING LABOR . CONSUMER WAS UNSURE OF HOW THE CAPSULE GO…
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HEADLIGHTS HAD CRACKS CAUSING MOISTURE TO SEEP IN. HEADLIGHTS WERE DIM, AND MADE IT VERY HARD TO SEE IN LIGHT AND DARK AREAS. CONSUMER WENT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT DETERMINED THAT CAPSULE WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. TOTAL COST WAS APPROXIMATELY $300, INCLUDING LABOR . CONSUMER WAS UNSURE OF HOW THE CAPSULE GOT CRACKED, AND WOULD IT HAPPEN AGAIN. *AK *SLC
NHTSA ODI #894272
Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2001
Exterior Lighting
THE STANDARD LOW BEAMS DON'T PUT OUT ENOUGH LIGHT TO SEE 10 FEET AHEAD OF CAR, I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH HIGH BEAM ON TO SEE WHAT I SHOULD WITH LOW BEAM. SO INAFFECT I HAVE NO HIGH BEAM TO SEE WITH WHEN I'M ON COUNTRY ROADS AT NIGHT. SOMEONE I'M SURE HAS ALREADY DIED BECAUSE OF THESE LIGHTS... AND I SURE ITS MORE THAN 1. TEST FOR …
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THE STANDARD LOW BEAMS DON'T PUT OUT ENOUGH LIGHT TO SEE 10 FEET AHEAD OF CAR, I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH HIGH BEAM ON TO SEE WHAT I SHOULD WITH LOW BEAM. SO INAFFECT I HAVE NO HIGH BEAM TO SEE WITH WHEN I'M ON COUNTRY ROADS AT NIGHT. SOMEONE I'M SURE HAS ALREADY DIED BECAUSE OF THESE LIGHTS... AND I SURE ITS MORE THAN 1. TEST FOR YOUR SELF AND YOU WILL SEE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #747514
Mileage unknown · May 24, 2001
Exterior Lighting
THE LIGHT PROVIDED BY THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT HEADLIGHTS IS INSUFFICIENT FOR SAFE DRIVING AT NIGHT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #745843
Mileage unknown · May 11, 2001
Exterior Lighting
HEADLAMPS ARE TOO DIM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #745215
Mileage unknown · May 1, 2001
Exterior Lighting
HEADLIGHTS ON LOW BEAM ARE WHOLLY INADEQUATE, FROM BROWNING OF LENS TO POOR REFLECTOR DESIGN. THIS CONSTSTUTES A DESIGN DEFECT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #744770
Mileage unknown · Apr 27, 2001
Electrical System
THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE VOLTAGE GOING INTO THE BULBS THEMSELVES AND IS POTENTIONALLY VERY DANGEROUS. IFEEL THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, AND SHOULD BE A RECALL SEEING AS THERE ARE SO MANY REPETETIVE COMPLAINTS.
NHTSA ODI #744628
Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2001
Exterior Lighting
HEADLIGHTS ARE TOO DIM AND IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD.THERE SHOULD BE A FACTORY RECALL. *AK
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.
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.
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
1
EA96019 · 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.
1993 Lincoln Mark Viii Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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