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1997 Lincoln Mark Viii

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 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

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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

34 reports with mileage · 56 unknown

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 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Visibility complaints

22 reports
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61,000 miles · Jul 21, 2009
Exterior LightingVisibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE KNOWN TO BURN OUT. THE PARTS ARE NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED SO THE ONLY WAY TO REPAIR THEM IS WITH A KIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS SEEMED LIKE AN EXPENSIVE TEMPORARY REMEDY. IN ADDITION, THE BLEND DOOR, WHICH OPENS THE CON…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE KNOWN TO BURN OUT. THE PARTS ARE NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED SO THE ONLY WAY TO REPAIR THEM IS WITH A KIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS SEEMED LIKE AN EXPENSIVE TEMPORARY REMEDY. IN ADDITION, THE BLEND DOOR, WHICH OPENS THE CONTROL FOR HOT AND COLD AIR TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD, DOES NOT WORK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS COULD BE REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT HE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR BECAUSE IT WAS CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS FAILURE, BUT NO DECISION ON HOW THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. HE WILL WAIT UNTIL A RECALL IS ISSUED FOR THIS FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,985. UPDATED 09/11/09 *BF UPDATED 09/15/09.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10277640

80,000 miles · Jan 28, 2009
Electrical SystemVisibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BLINDER DOOR WAS INOPERATIVE WHICH WILL NOT ALLOW HEAT TO COME FROM THE DEFROSTER.. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR FOUR YEARS, BUT WAS NEVER REPAIRED BECAUSE THE PART IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC. THE CONTACT IS HOPING THAT THE MANUFACTURER CHANGES THE PA…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BLINDER DOOR WAS INOPERATIVE WHICH WILL NOT ALLOW HEAT TO COME FROM THE DEFROSTER.. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR FOUR YEARS, BUT WAS NEVER REPAIRED BECAUSE THE PART IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC. THE CONTACT IS HOPING THAT THE MANUFACTURER CHANGES THE PART TO METAL. DUE TO THE BLINDER DOOR NOT WORKING, THE DEFROSTER FAILS TO WORK PROPERLY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 92,000. UPDATED 3/5/09 *CN UPDATED 03/10/09. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10256647

76,000 miles · Oct 20, 2008
Visibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BLENDER DOOR IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC AND BREAKS, WHICH CAUSES THE HEATER AND THE DEFROSTER TO FAIL. AS A CONSEQUENCE, HER VISIBILITY IS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED DURING COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT SHE WOUL…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BLENDER DOOR IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC AND BREAKS, WHICH CAUSES THE HEATER AND THE DEFROSTER TO FAIL. AS A CONSEQUENCE, HER VISIBILITY IS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED DURING COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE BLENDER DOOR AT AN EXPENSE EXCEEDING $1,000. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE COMPANY UTILIZES THE SAME PLASTIC PIECE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,000. UPDATED 11/12/08 *BF UPDATED 11/13/08. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10246123

80,000 miles · Jan 21, 2005
Visibility

COULDN'T GET MY WINDSHIELD DEFROSTED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10107704

89,000 miles · Jan 18, 2005
Visibility

WHEN PROCEEDING TO TURN ON THE HEAT IN MY CAR TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD I DISCOVERED THAT MY HEAT DID NOT WORK, AND THAT THE A/C ONLY BLEW COLD AIR. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY THE BLEND DOOR BREAKING OVER TIME. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THAT FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT; BUT, WILL NOT PRO…

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WHEN PROCEEDING TO TURN ON THE HEAT IN MY CAR TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD I DISCOVERED THAT MY HEAT DID NOT WORK, AND THAT THE A/C ONLY BLEW COLD AIR. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY THE BLEND DOOR BREAKING OVER TIME. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THAT FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT; BUT, WILL NOT PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS NEEDED. THIS REPAIR IS NEEDED ON ALMOST ALL MARK VIII'S AFTER TIME. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10106592

39,212 miles · Dec 14, 2004
EquipmentVisibility

FAILURE OF BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR ON 1997 LINCOLN MARK VIII WHICH RESULTS IN FAILURE OF HVAC. THIS PREVENTS DEFROSTER FROM FUNCTIONING TO CLEAR WINDSHIELD OF FOG OR ICE THUS RESULTING IN A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY. THIS PART FAILED IN MAY 3, 2002 AND WAS REPAIRED AT DEALERSHIP BY REPLACING THE PART. THE PART HAS FAILED …

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FAILURE OF BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR ON 1997 LINCOLN MARK VIII WHICH RESULTS IN FAILURE OF HVAC. THIS PREVENTS DEFROSTER FROM FUNCTIONING TO CLEAR WINDSHIELD OF FOG OR ICE THUS RESULTING IN A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY. THIS PART FAILED IN MAY 3, 2002 AND WAS REPAIRED AT DEALERSHIP BY REPLACING THE PART. THE PART HAS FAILED AGAIN IN DECEMDBER 12, 2004. THIS PART HAS FAILED TWICE WITHIN A LITTLE OVER 2 YEARS AND LESS THAN 32,000 MILES SINCE IT WAS REPLACED IN MAY 2002. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10102980

106,000 miles · Oct 14, 2004
Visibility

THE A/C BLEND DOOR MODULE ARM HAS FAILED ON MY CAR; THIS ARM CONTROLS THE AMOUNT OF HEAT THAT IS SENT THROUGH THE A/C, HEATING AND DEFROST VENTS. IF IT DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY, IT WILL NOT REMOVE FROST OR FOG FROM THE WINDSHIELD, THUS CREATING AN UNSAFE CONDITION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10095779

45,670 miles · Sep 27, 2003
SeatsVisibility

WINSHIELD WASHER BOTTOM, BROKE, ASSEMBLY INCLUDES SIGNAL LIGHT, WIPPERS, LOW/HIGH BEEM AND FLASHERS SWITCH, STEERING WHEEL AND AIR BAG HAVE TO BE REMOVED TO REPLACE PART, ABOUT TWO HOURS OF LABOR AND $200, ACCORDING TO DEALER. DEALER SHOULD MADE THIS A TWO PIECE PART TO MAKE JOB EASIERAND LESS SPENSIVE. DRIVER'S AJUSMENT HAS T…

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WINSHIELD WASHER BOTTOM, BROKE, ASSEMBLY INCLUDES SIGNAL LIGHT, WIPPERS, LOW/HIGH BEEM AND FLASHERS SWITCH, STEERING WHEEL AND AIR BAG HAVE TO BE REMOVED TO REPLACE PART, ABOUT TWO HOURS OF LABOR AND $200, ACCORDING TO DEALER. DEALER SHOULD MADE THIS A TWO PIECE PART TO MAKE JOB EASIERAND LESS SPENSIVE. DRIVER'S AJUSMENT HAS TO BE RESETED EVERY TIME YOU START THE VEHICLE, CAUSE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10040831

49,000 miles · Jun 6, 2003
Visibility

PROBLEMS WITH DEFROST BLOWING OUT COLD AIR INSTEAD OF HEAT TO DEFROST WINDSHIELD. *MR PH

NHTSA ODI #10022833

Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2003
Visibility

THE HEATER BLEND DOOR HAS FAILED PREVENTING DEFROSTING OF THE WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA ODI #10000929

Official recalls

1

07V336000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.