IllustrationTHE HEADLAMPS ON THE VEHICLE PROVIDED LITTLE LIGHT, AND THUS, LIMITED VISIBILTY IN LIGHTLESS SITUATIONS. ACCEPTABLE VISIBILTY IS LIMITED TO (AN ESTIMATED) 25 FT. EVEN CONSTANT USE OF THE HIGH BEAMS (WHICH IS A DANGER TO OTHER MOTORISTS, THOUGH MANY DO NOT SEEM TO NOTICE) PROVIDES LITTLE MORE THAN SLIGHTLY ACCEPTABLE LIGHT.*AK
1996 Lincoln Mark Viii
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Lincoln Mark Viii do not stand out strongly from 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: 26 of 106 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 77 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports
Exterior Lighting complaints
77 reportsHEADLIGHTS HAD GONE OUT. DEALERSHIP CLAIMED DEFECT EXISTED IN BALLAST WHICH WILL RESULT IN REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM. *AK
HEADLIGHTS ARE TOO DIM WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, VISIBILITY IS REDUCED, AND DRIVING IS DANGEROUS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK
HEAD LAMPS DO NOT PROJECT LIGHT OUT TO A SAFE DISTANCE. ONE SIDE (LEFT, DRIVERS) INSIDE THE LENS THE CHROME REFLECTING SURFACE HAS DISSINTEGRATED. THE OTHER SIDE JUST APPEARS DIM. ON A WET NIGHT WE DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE THIS CAR.*AK
HEADLAMP REFLECTOR DISCOLORING, CAUSING WEAK OUTPUT-FORD WILL NOT CORRECT. *AK
WHEN TURNING ON HEADLIGHTS THEY CAME ON BRIGHT. THEN, THEY JUST FADED OUT. CONSUMER HAS TO USE HIGH BEAMS TO SEE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT BOTH LIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
HEADLIGHTS HAVE GOTTEN DIMMER AS VEHICLE AGED. I DON'T EVEN LIKE TO DRIVE IT AT NIGHT ANYMORE. *AK
HEAD LIGHTS ARE VERY DIM WHEN LIT. I CAN BARELY NOTICE IF LIGHTS ARE ON. I FEEL THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURY DUE TO DECREASE OF VISIBILITY. I TRY NOT TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND CORRECTIVE ACTION TAKEN. *AK
LOW BEAM LIGHT FAILED. REPLACEMENT WOULD COST $1500.00. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS PROVIDE VERY POOR ILLUMINATION CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR NIGHT DRIVING. THE CAUSE APPEARS TO BE A "HAZY OR FROSTY" CORROSION ON THE REFLECTORS OF THE LOW BEAMS. THE HIGH BEAMS EXHIBIT NO SUCH CORROSION AND ARE QUITE SATISFACTORY. SOME OWNERS HAVE ADDED "FOG OR DRIVING LIGHTS" TO HELP ALLIEVIATE …
Read full complaint
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS PROVIDE VERY POOR ILLUMINATION CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR NIGHT DRIVING. THE CAUSE APPEARS TO BE A "HAZY OR FROSTY" CORROSION ON THE REFLECTORS OF THE LOW BEAMS. THE HIGH BEAMS EXHIBIT NO SUCH CORROSION AND ARE QUITE SATISFACTORY. SOME OWNERS HAVE ADDED "FOG OR DRIVING LIGHTS" TO HELP ALLIEVIATE THE PROBLEM.*AK
Official recalls
107V336000 · 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.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.