1988 Lincoln Mark Vii Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1988 Lincoln Mark Vii, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical723.3%
- Seat belts413.3%
- Brakes310.0%
- Tires & wheels310.0%
- Exterior lighting26.7%
- Engine26.7%
- Driver assistance26.7%
- Suspension26.7%
- Fuel system26.7%
- Visibility13.3%
- Interior & seats13.3%
- Body & structure13.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
ELECTICAL AND FUEL INJECTION COMPONENT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD
IGNITION SWITCH ON VEHICLE CAUSE 80% BRAKE FAILURE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT HAD TO BE REPLACED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS BECAUSE RETRACTOR FAILED TO RETRACT. PARTS WERE REPLACED ONCE BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY, AND OTHER PARTS WERE REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WITH DEALER PARTS. WOULD LIKE NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT AND SHOULDER BELT, ONCE LOCKED, IT DISCONNECTS OR UNLOCKS.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, THE BRAKE PEDAL IS HARD AND THERE IS NO BRAKES WHATSOVER , NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU PUSH DOWN. AFTER STOPPING WITH EMERGENCY BRAKES, THE BRAKES RETURN TO NORMAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES AND WE HAVE HAD THE CAR SERVICED BY OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER AS WELL AS OTHER REPAIR CENTERS AND THEY CANNOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THIS CAR IS UNAFE TO DRIVE AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. IT IS TOO VALUABLE TO JUNK BUT WE MAY HAVE TO.
ALONG WITH BRAKES FAILING (WHICH I JUST HAD REPLACED) THE A/C, TURN SIGNALS, POWER LOCKS, AND WINDOWS ALSO FAILED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
UNIROYAL TIRE P225 60 R16 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION CAUSING OTHER DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. *SLC
THE UNIROYAL TIGAR PAW RADIAL P225/60R16 TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *MJS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
ALONG WITH BRAKES FAILING (WHICH I JUST HAD REPLACED) THE A/C, TURN SIGNALS, POWER LOCKS, AND WINDOWS ALSO FAILED. *AK
HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNING BROWN WITH AGE. REPLACING BULBS DO NOT HELP. THERE IS NO AFTER-MARKET REPLACEMENT FOR THIS ITEM. MANY CARES FORM BOTH FORD AND LINCOLN ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE DIM AND THE LIGHT PRODUCED BY THE BULB IS DIMMED BY THE PLASTIC COVERING. THERE ARE A GREAT NUMBER OF THESE CARS ON THE ROAD (BOTH FORD AND LINCOLNS THAT ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS NO WORK AROUND FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT IS VERY DIFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD DURING RAIN AND FOG WITH THESE LIGHTS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
DECORATIVE BLACK, PLASTIC COMPONENT'S GLUE ROTTED OFF OF INTAKE MANIFOLD. THEN DROPPED ONTO LEFT/BANK EXHAUST PIPES, CAUSING SMALL FIRE, SMOKE AND "SWEET" SMELLING FUMES. DRIVER WAS EXPOSED TO FUMES WHILE TRYING TO PULL VEHICLE OFF BUSY FREEWAY ONTO THE SHOULDER AND TRYING TO EXTINGUISH SMALL FLAMES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LOCAL SHOP WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED WHAT HAPPENED ( ALL THE PLASTIC DID NOT BURN AND YOU COULD TELL WHAT THE PLASTIC WAS FROM THE HALF THAT DID NOT BURN). FORD MOTOR COMPANY WOULD NOT -- EVEN WHEN DRIVER REQUESTED INFORMATION FROM THEIR MSDS DEPARTMENT -- DISCLOSE THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE PLASTIC OR HARMFUL EFFECTS IT MAY CREATE. THE DRIVER OF THIS PARTICULAR CAR HAD TO PAY AN INDEPENDENT LAB TO ANALYZE THE COMPOSITION. THIS HAD TO BE DONE DUE TO THE SEVERE SWELLING (TO THE POINT THAT THEIR SKIN WAS SPLITTING); NAUSIUSNESS, LOSS OF APPETITE, AND DRY COUGH THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED WITHIN THE FIRST 30 DAYS AFTER EXPOSURE (ALSO HOSPITALIZED TWICE DUE TO THESE CONDITIONS WITHIN THE FIRST 30 DAYS); KIDNEY BIOPSY WAS POSITIVE, HAVE BEEN UNDER A PHYSICIAN'S CARE AT SHAND'S TEACHING HOSPITAL, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, GAINESVILLE. IT'S NOT FAIR THAT I WAS EXPOSED TO THIS -- FOR NO REASON -- NO ONE ELSE SHOULD HAVE TO GO THOUGH WHAT I HAD TO DO -- THANKS TO THE UNCOOPERATIVE FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEIR MSDS DEPARTMENT. I BELIEVE THAT IF I HAD ACCESS TO THE PLASTIC'S CHEMICAL COMPOSTION, MY RECOVERY TIME WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH LESS (STILL SEEKING TREATMENT FOR OCCASIONAL SPONTANEOUS SWELLING). THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND COOPERATION. PAMELA OAKES 11625-5 CLEVELAND AVENUE AVENUE, FORT MYERS, FL 33907 (941)278-0086. *AK
VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY STALLS IN TRAFFIC, ACCIDENT OCCURRED TO DO VEHICLE STALLING.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN PARK AND TURNE DVEHICLE OFF. WHEN IGNITION WAS TURNED ON VEHICLE ACCELLERATED FOWARD. CONSUMER SLAMMED ON BRAKES AND VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, RESULTING IN A COLLISION.
SLOWLY DRIVING AT 20MPH, TOOK FOOT OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL THE THROTTLE OPENED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO TAKE OFF IN EXCESSIVE SPEED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN FRONT AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, THE VEHICLE JUST DROPPED. THE SUSPENSION ON THE LEFT REAR WENT OUT TWICE (ONCE IN DECEMBER OF 91 AND JANUARY OF 92).THE RIGHT FRONT AIR SUSPENSION IS OUT AT THIS TIME. THE VEHICLE IS BEING SERVICED BY DEALERSHIP FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT AIR SUSPENSION FAILED, CAUSING THE FRONT END TO DROP DOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
ELECTICAL AND FUEL INJECTION COMPONENT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD
FUEL INJECTOR LEAKS GAS, IT COULD CATCH ON FIRE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
ALONG WITH BRAKES FAILING (WHICH I JUST HAD REPLACED) THE A/C, TURN SIGNALS, POWER LOCKS, AND WINDOWS ALSO FAILED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVERS SEAT MOUNTING FAILED. *ET
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
ALONG WITH BRAKES FAILING (WHICH I JUST HAD REPLACED) THE A/C, TURN SIGNALS, POWER LOCKS, AND WINDOWS ALSO FAILED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .