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 · Nov 13, 2000
Exterior Lighting
HEADLIGHT LENSES DISCOLORED DUE TO HEAT GENERATED FROM LAMPS. DUE TO DISCOLORATION OF THE LENSES THE LIGHT OUTPUT IS LOWER THAN OPTIMAL MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT ON UNLIGHTED ROADWAYS. THE DEALERS ONLY SUGGESTION WAS TO REPLACE THE LENSES AT MY EXPENSE. I FEEL THIS PROBLEM IS A DEFECT IN MATERIAL USED TO MAKE THE LE…
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HEADLIGHT LENSES DISCOLORED DUE TO HEAT GENERATED FROM LAMPS. DUE TO DISCOLORATION OF THE LENSES THE LIGHT OUTPUT IS LOWER THAN OPTIMAL MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT ON UNLIGHTED ROADWAYS. THE DEALERS ONLY SUGGESTION WAS TO REPLACE THE LENSES AT MY EXPENSE. I FEEL THIS PROBLEM IS A DEFECT IN MATERIAL USED TO MAKE THE LENSES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #736224
Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2000
Exterior Lighting
HEADLIGHTS PROVIDE INADEQUATE ILLUMINATION. DRIVER IS NOT ABLE TO SEE BEYOND APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET DOWN THE ROAD UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDTIONS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #873840
Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2000
Exterior Lighting
HEADLAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE ROADWAY SUFFICENTLY TO SAFELY OPERATE VEHICLE AFTER DARK. *AK
NHTSA ODI #733635
Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 2000
Structure
WHENEVER STARTING VEHICLE UP, HEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SOMETIMES GO UP OR DOWN. PROBLEM WAS SPORADIC. HEIGHT SENSOR HAS MALFUNCTIONED WHEN DRIVING OVER 55MPH. VEHICLE'S HEIGHT WOULD GO DOWN SUDDENLY. TAKEN TO DEALER & PROBLEM NOT RESOLVED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #872161
Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 2000
Exterior Lighting
MY LINCOLN MARK VIII'S HEADLIGHT COVERS ARE SO CRAZED/FOGGY THAT I HAVE TO OPERATE THE HEADLIGHTS ON HIGH AT ALL TIMES JUST TO DRIVE. I REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO LINCOLN AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL/PROBLEM AND THEY WOULD DO NOTHING TO CORRECT. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT I HAVE OBSERVED ON AT LEAST 6 OTHER MK VIII VEHICLES…
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MY LINCOLN MARK VIII'S HEADLIGHT COVERS ARE SO CRAZED/FOGGY THAT I HAVE TO OPERATE THE HEADLIGHTS ON HIGH AT ALL TIMES JUST TO DRIVE. I REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO LINCOLN AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL/PROBLEM AND THEY WOULD DO NOTHING TO CORRECT. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT I HAVE OBSERVED ON AT LEAST 6 OTHER MK VIII VEHICLES. I HOPE YOU CAN HAVE MORE LUCK AS LINCOLN WANTS IN EXCESS OF $200 A UNIT FOR THE LENSES. I FEEL THAT THE WRONG TYPE OF LEXAN/PLASTIC WAS USED FOR THIS ASSEMBLY WITH INSUFFICIENT UV PROTECTION.
NHTSA ODI #732219
Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2000
Exterior Lighting
THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SO DIM ON LOW BEAM THAT YOU CAN HARDLY DRIVE AT NIGHT, AND COMPLETE NEW ONE DO NOT HELP. EVERY ONE THAT I HAVE TALKED TO HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS (93-95 MARK VIII)
NHTSA ODI #731930
Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2000
Exterior Lighting
VERY-VERY POOR LIGHT OUTPUT FROM HEADLIGHT
NHTSA ODI #731771
Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2000
Suspension
FRONT END KEEPS DROPPING. AIR SUPENSION MOTOR HAS BEEN PUT IN 2-3 TIMES. CURRENTLY, HASHAPPENED AGAIN. DEALER CAN'T GIVE AN EXPLANATION WHY IT KEEPS HAPPENING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #870651
Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2000
Exterior Lighting
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 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
NHTSA ODI #731491
Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2000
Exterior Lighting
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
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