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 · Apr 23, 2001
Exterior Lighting
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEADLAMPS ON MY CAR. THE LOW BEAMS ON BOTH HEADLAMS DON'T PUT OUT ENOUGH LIGHT TO SEE CLEARLY AT NIGHT. I HAVE CONTACTED LINCLON AND THEY DONT SEEM TO CARE! ALL OF THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL ON THE REAR OF THE LIGHT IS DISCOLORED OR MISSING, THUS NOT ALLOWING MUCH LIGHT TO BE TRANSMITTED TO THE ROAD. I HA…
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I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEADLAMPS ON MY CAR. THE LOW BEAMS ON BOTH HEADLAMS DON'T PUT OUT ENOUGH LIGHT TO SEE CLEARLY AT NIGHT. I HAVE CONTACTED LINCLON AND THEY DONT SEEM TO CARE! ALL OF THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL ON THE REAR OF THE LIGHT IS DISCOLORED OR MISSING, THUS NOT ALLOWING MUCH LIGHT TO BE TRANSMITTED TO THE ROAD. I HAVE INSTALLED BRIGHTER BULBS BUT THIS HELPS ONLY SLIGHTLY. I HAVE CONTACTED OTHER OWNERS OF THE MARK VIII AND ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IT SEEMS ALL 93-95' HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, LINCLON CHANGED THE DESIGN 1/2 WAY THROUGH THE 96 MODEL YEAR! LOOKS TO ME THAT THEY NEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM IF THEY MADE A CHANGE IN THE DESIGN!*AK
NHTSA ODI #744407
Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 2001
Exterior Lighting
HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH TO SEE ON DARK HIGHWAYS. REPLACED BULBS WITH 1OO WATTS, BUT LIGHT DOES NOT SHINE BRIGHT THRU THE LENS. ALL PASSENGERS HAVE ASKED IF MY LIGHTS ARE ON AT NIGHT. THEN THEY ASK IF I CAN SEE & I ANSWER NO.*AK
NHTSA ODI #743572
Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 2001
Exterior Lighting
HEADLIGHTS ARE OF EXTREMELY POOR DESIGN. THEY DO NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT ILLUMINATION OF THE ROAD UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS.
NHTSA ODI #743350
Mileage unknown · Mar 30, 2001
Exterior Lighting
HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM ON LOW BEAM AND NOT SAFE OVER 20 MPH.*AK
NHTSA ODI #743323
Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2001
Exterior Lighting
MY HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY WEAK. WHEN IT IS RAINING OUTSIDE I CANNOT SEE THE RAOD AT ALL, SOMETIMES EVEN WITH MY HIGH BEAMS ON. IT HAS BECOME VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT, ESPECIALLY IN BAD WEATHER. I FEEL THE LIGHTS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED WITH A MORE POWERFUL SYSTEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #743259
Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2001
Exterior Lighting
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WORK PROPERLY BUT PROVIDE INSUFFICIENT LIGHTING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #743244
Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2001
Exterior Lighting
THE HEADLIGHTS ON ALL 1993-1996 NON LSC MODELS ARE VERY DIM AND DANGEROUS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #743236
Mileage unknown · Mar 11, 2001
Exterior Lighting
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #742240
Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 2001
Exterior Lighting
RECALL 98V00900 REMEDY DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM CONCERNING HEADLIGHTS. HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT DEALER FIRST REPLACED THE HEADLAMP SWITCH WHICH WAS COVERED BY RECALL 98V009, SECOND TIME DEALER REPLACED THE TURN SIGNAL, HIGH/LOW BEAM WIPER SWITCH, CONSUMER TO…
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RECALL 98V00900 REMEDY DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM CONCERNING HEADLIGHTS. HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT DEALER FIRST REPLACED THE HEADLAMP SWITCH WHICH WAS COVERED BY RECALL 98V009, SECOND TIME DEALER REPLACED THE TURN SIGNAL, HIGH/LOW BEAM WIPER SWITCH, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO AN ELECTRICAL SPECIALIST WHO FOUND A DEFECTIVE HEADLAMP SWITCH CONNECTOR THAT HAD MELTED, THE PROBLEM STILL HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #881858
Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 2001
Exterior Lighting
HEADLIGHT FAILURE AND INADEQUATE HEADLIGHTS - FOR THE 2ND TIME IN 2 YEARS MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE FAILED. THIS TIME I RAN OFF THE ROAD. HEADLAMP SWITCH WAS REPLACED 2 YEARS AGO BY DEALER AS A RECALL (1ST TIME MY HEADLIGHTS FAILED WHILE DRIVING). DEALER REFUSED TO FIX RECALLED ITEM AGAIN AND SAID THE COMBINATION/DIMMER SWITCH WAS T…
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HEADLIGHT FAILURE AND INADEQUATE HEADLIGHTS - FOR THE 2ND TIME IN 2 YEARS MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE FAILED. THIS TIME I RAN OFF THE ROAD. HEADLAMP SWITCH WAS REPLACED 2 YEARS AGO BY DEALER AS A RECALL (1ST TIME MY HEADLIGHTS FAILED WHILE DRIVING). DEALER REFUSED TO FIX RECALLED ITEM AGAIN AND SAID THE COMBINATION/DIMMER SWITCH WAS THE PROBLEM. I TOOK VEHICLE TO AUTO ELECTRIC SPECIALIST WHO FOUND MELTED HEADLAMP SWITCH CONNECTOR. REPLACED SWITCH AND CONNECTOR. HEADLAMPS ARE DIM AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. ELECTRIC SPECIALIST SAID REASON WAS BREAKDOWN OF REFLECTIVE COATING ON HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. I SEARCHED THE NHTSA COMPLAINTS DATABASE AND FOUND 92 OF THE 109 COMPLAINTS FOR MY VEHICLE DEALT WITH INADEQUATE HEADLIGHTS (UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT). HOW MANY COMPLAINTS/DEATHS ARE REQUIRED TO FIX THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PROBLEM? PLEASE DO SOMETHING. *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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