RoadVitals

1989 Lincoln Mark Vii

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
13
Latest Jan 7, 2004
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3
3 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 13 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Lincoln Mark Vii, most frequently naming the electrical, brakes and transmission categories. 15 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical318.8%
  • Brakes318.8%
  • Transmission212.5%
  • Engine212.5%
  • Exterior lighting212.5%
  • Interior & seats16.3%
  • Body & structure16.3%
  • Driver assistance16.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 13
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 7, 2004

HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY FAILED. ALL LIGHTS SHUT OFF. CAR HAS FEATURE THAT TURNS ON LIGHTS @ DARK ETC. HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY. 10 DEG. IN COLD TEMPS (<20DEG) ALL LIGHTS GO OFF UNEXPECTEDLY W/ NO PREDICTABLE PATTERN.*AK FIRST HAPPENED LAST YEAR ON FREEWAY @ 65 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, SUDDENLY NO LIGHTS. TOOK ABOUT 5-10 SECONDS TO FIND MANUAL SWITCH & TURN THEM ON. NOW I TRY TO REMEMBER TO TURN LIGHTS ON W/O USING THE AUTOMATIC SYSTEM IN COLD WEATHER. COULD HAVE BEEN REALLY EXCITING ON A DARK 2 LANE ROAD. SINCE ANY SYSTEM CAN FAIL, WHY DOESN'T IT DEFAULT TO ON ?

NHTSA ID
10052554
Incident
Jan 6, 2004
Mileage
177,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 31, 2001

WHILE DRIVING COULD STEP ON THE BRAKES PEDAL, BUT BRAKES WILL NOT OPERATE AT THE TIME OF APPLYING, ESPECIALLY IN COLD WHEATER. DEALER SAID THAT PROBLEM WAS WITH THE HYDRAULIC VACUUM SWITCH WHICH WILL NOT WORK ON TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
8001304
Incident
Oct 1, 2001
BrakesElectrical
Filed Sep 6, 2000

ELECTRIC PUMP FOR THE ABS IS LOCATED WITHIN THE WIRING OF ACCESSORY SIDE OF THE IGINITON SWITCH. IF THE SWITCH FAILS VHEICLE WILL LOSE ALL BRAKES WHILE DRIVING. THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL BECOME HARD AND VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. *AK

NHTSA ID
869673
Transmission
Filed Oct 11, 1999

OVERDRIVE SLIPS

NHTSA ID
713131
Incident
Jul 1, 1999
Electrical
Filed Aug 30, 1999
Fire reported

ELECTRICAL FAILURE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT RESULTED IN FIRE AFTER CAR WAS TURNED OFF. INSURANCE ADJUSTER BELIEVED IT WAS A FAILURE OF THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR. RESULTED IN THE COMPLETE LOSS OF THE CAR, IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, WITH ONLY 35,000 MILES ON IT SINCE NEW. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANY OTHER SIMILIAR COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN FILED BY OTHERS. THANK YOU, KURT PFEFFER

NHTSA ID
710696
Incident
Jul 30, 1999
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 29, 1999
Crash reported2 injuries reported

WHILE AT A RED LIGHT CONSUMER WAS REAR ENDED, DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED AND RECLINED BACKWARDS, CAUSING INJURY TO THE CONSUMER. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
843755
Incident
Mar 9, 1997
Electrical
Filed Oct 29, 1998

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE WHEN THE BATTERY BLEW UP, CAUSING ACID TO GET ALL OVER THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. *AK

NHTSA ID
829759
Incident
Oct 25, 1998
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 5, 1998
1 injury reported

WHEN CAR WAS STARED IT EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHICH CAUSE IT TO HIT A WALL INJURING THE DRIVER.

NHTSA ID
541820
Incident
Jul 16, 1998

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

01194

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THIS ARITLCE IS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON REPLACEMENT OF OLD STYLE HOOD LAMP SWITCH TO THE RVISED MECHANICAL HOOD LAMP SWITCH. *TT

01156

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC

01157

INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC

0015

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS

99222

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT

99196

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Lincoln Mark Vii by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1998500—
1997200—
1996200—
1995300—
1994100—
1993300—
1992300—
1991140040.8
1990120038.9
1989Viewing130044.4
1988261154.5
1987710—
1986851—
1985621—
1984131—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.