1989 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 1989 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
- Electrical318.8%
- Brakes318.8%
- Transmission212.5%
- Engine212.5%
- Exterior lighting212.5%
- Interior & seats16.3%
- Body & structure16.3%
- Driver assistance16.3%
- Seat belts16.3%
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
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
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
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 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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
OVERDRIVE SLIPS
EXTERIOR CLEAR COAT PAINT FAILED.
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
THE ENGINE STARTS SPORADICALLY. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE STARTS AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. DEALER CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
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
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 ?
EXTERIOR CLEAR COAT PAINT FAILED.
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
WHILE AT A RED LIGHT CONSUMER WAS REAR ENDED, DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED AND RECLINED BACKWARDS, CAUSING INJURY TO THE CONSUMER. *AK *ML
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
EXTERIOR CLEAR COAT PAINT FAILED.
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
WHEN CAR WAS STARED IT EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHICH CAUSE IT TO HIT A WALL INJURING THE DRIVER.
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
SEAT BELT LATCH BROKE ON DRIVER'S SIDE. DRIVER HAD THE SEATBELT ON, WENT TO UNLATCH SEATBELT TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE ,WAS UNABLE TO, SEATBELT BUCKLE WAS STUCK INSIDE LATCH. LATCH WOULD NOT RELEASE. HAD TO PULL OUT BUCKLE FROM LATCH TO GET OF VEHICLE. WHEN DOING SO, A PIECE INSIDE OF LATCH BROKE. BECAUSE OF THIS BUCKLE WILL NOT LATCH. *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 .