RoadVitals

1996 Lincoln Mark Viii Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
106
Latest Feb 5, 2016
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.
7
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Nov 4, 1996

What this page shows

Our database holds 106 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Lincoln Mark Viii. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 106 · page 1 of 5

Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 5, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS POOR VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT. THE HEADLIGHT LENSES HAD A CONSTANT FILM, WHICH AFFECTED THE LOW BEAMS. THE CONTACT CLEANED THE LENSES SEVERAL TIMES AND CHANGED THE BULBS, BUT THE VISIBILITY REMAINED POOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID
10824520
Incident
Nov 10, 2015
Mileage
150,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 17, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE VERY DIM AND CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000. UPDATED 07/07/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO BEYOND 50 FEET. THE REFLECTIVE PART INSIDE THE HEADLIGHTS WERE COMPLETELY BLACK. THE LIGHT BULBS WERE REPLACED THE FAILURE PERSISTED. UPDATED 05/28/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID
10658700
Incident
May 5, 2014
Mileage
112,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 9, 2013

VERY POOR HEADLIGHTS, CAUSING AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION WHILE ONLY BEING ABLE TO SEE A SHORT DISTANCE IN FRONT OF YOUR CAR AT NIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10551641
Incident
May 1, 2005
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 20, 2010

DRIVING ON TOLLWAY ABOUT 60 MPH AND TIRE BLEW OUT. NO KNOWLEDGE OF HITTING ANYTHING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10344170
Incident
Jul 19, 2010
Mileage
45,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 16, 2009
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE INFORMING HIM THAT THE WIRING HARNESS SWITCH COULD LEAK INTERNALLY, OVERHEAT, SMOKE, AND BURN. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE HAS OCCURRED WITH THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND WAS REPAIRED FOR $3800. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER DID NOT REPLACED OR REPAIR HIS WIRING HARNESS SWITCH; THEREFORE, HE HAD TO PERFORM THE REPAIR HIMSELF AND HE WILL NOT BE REIMBURSED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT IF THERE WAS A A RECALL THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED OTHER THAN THAT THE CONTACT IS LIABLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. NHTSA 07V336000, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL IS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,730

NHTSA ID
10284198
Incident
Sep 15, 2007
Mileage
58,730 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Jun 13, 2009

MY NAME IS J.M. CARTER AND I RESIDE IN HENRICO COUNTY VIRGINIA. ON MAY 12, 2009, ONE OF THE FOUR COOPER TIRES, GOLDEN FURY GFT ON MY CAR EXPLODED. THANK GOD NEITHER I NOR ANYONE ELSE WAS INJURED, BUT THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGES. I SUBMITTED A CLAIM IN GOOD FAITH TO COOPER, AND HAVE RECEIVED THEIR DENIAL STATING THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO AN IMPACT. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE TIRE, AND A VIDEO OF THE ROAD TRAVELED WHEN THE EXPLOSION (BLOW OUT) OCCURRED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10273712
Incident
May 12, 2009
Mileage
144,726 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 3, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CRUISE CONTROL IN AUGUST OF 2007. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO WAIT NINE MONTHS FOR THE PARTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL MARCH OF 2008. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,321.

NHTSA ID
10223240
Incident
Aug 16, 2007
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 3, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE VEHICLE HAS HIGH INTENSITY HEADLIGHTS, BUT ONE HEADLIGHT IS BRIGHT WHILE THE OTHER IS DIM. IN 2007, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED AND NOW THE DRIVER SIDE LAMP NEEDS REPLACING. FORD NO LONGER MAKES THE PART AND COULD NOT PROVIDE INFORMATION ON HOW IT COULD BE OBTAINED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000. UPDATE 04-02-08 *BF

NHTSA ID
10219876
Incident
Jan 10, 2008
Mileage
39,000 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Feb 19, 2008

PRODUCT RECALL = -SPEED CONTROL. AUG. 2007. DEALER DISCONNECTED IN 2007-NOT REPLACED...CAR NOW W/NO OVERDERIVE/SPEED CONTROL = WASTES GAS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10218516
Incident
Nov 3, 2007
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 22, 2007

THE HEADLIGHTS ON THESE CARS (GENERATION 1 LINCOLN MARK VIII, 1993 TO 1996) ARE AWFUL AND IT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND REPLACEMENTS-THE REFLECTIVE COATING ON THE INSIDE DETERIORATES, THE OUTER LENS GETS YELLOW AND DULL-DIFFICULT, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE AT NIGHT, ESPECIALLY LOW BEAMS-FORD SHOULD MAKE GOOD ON REPAIRS FOR THESE MODELS, THERE ARE THOUSANDS ON THE ROAD, ALL ARE A HAZARD TO THE OWNER AND TO OTHER DRIVERS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10212592
Incident
Dec 22, 2007
Mileage
2 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 29, 2007

CUSTOMER WANTS UPDATE TO CASE #10176001**CC

NHTSA ID
10187908
Incident
Nov 1, 2006
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 12, 2006

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII EQUIPPED WITH LUMINARC HIGH INTENSITY HEADLIGHTS. THE VEHICLE HAS 56,089 MILES. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT HAS FAILED AND APPARENTLY IS NO LONGER SERVICEABLE. THE MANUFACTURER'S DESIGN DID NOT ALLOW FOR THE SIMPLE REPLACEMENT OF A LIGHT BULB BUT INSTEAD REQUIRES THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $900.00 PLUS LABOR PER SIDE. 97 AND 98 MODELS ARE DESIGNED FOR SIMPLE BULB REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $260.00 PER BULB. WHILE INVESTIGATING THE FACILITATING OF HEAD LIGHT REPAIRS FOR MY AUTOMOBILE I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLIES FOR 1996 MODEL CARS ARE OBSOLETE AND REPLACEMENT BULBS FOR 1997-1998 MODEL CARS HAVE BEEN ON BACK ORDER FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS AND ARE NOT DUE TO BE AVAILABLE FOR ANOTHER 3-4 MONTHS. MY INTERNET RESEARCH HAS LED ME TO AN UNKNOWN NUMBER OF OWNERS IN SIMILAR PERIL. WE ARE ALL SCRAMBLING FOR SOLUTIONS TO KEEP OUR AUTOS ON THE ROAD BOTH SAFELY AND LEGALLY. INTERNET SEARCHES FOR USED PARTS (LINCOLN CUSTOMER SERVICE ACTUALLY REFERS YOU TO PRIVATE USED PARTS DEALERS RATHER THAN SUPPLY PARTS THEMSELVES), POSSIBLE NEW PARTS AND EVEN FABRICATED NEW LIGHT SYSTEMS (QUESTIONABLE LEGALITY) ARE BEING PURSUED. IT HAS BECOME APPARENT THAT THERE ARE NO GOOD SOLUTIONS AND WE OWNERS HAVE FEW OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO US. THE MANUFACTURER HAS DESIGNED A VEHICLE LIGHTING SYSTEM THAT HAS FAILED TO LAST OR BE SUCCESSFULLY SERVICED WITHIN THE VEHICLE'S USEFUL LIFESPAN. IN CLOSING, FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS CREATED A CLASS OF CAR OWNER THAT CAN NOT KEEP HIS CAR STREET LEGAL OR SAFE. FORD HAS ABANDONED THESE OWNERS TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES IN PURSUIT OF SAFETY. THESE ARE NOT ANCIENT CARS, THEY ARE WELL WITHIN THEIR USEFUL LIFESPAN AND FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FACILITATING THEIR SAFE OPERATION DURING THAT TIME. CURRENTLY, FORD HAS NO REASONABLE ANSWERS AND THE SITUATION THEY HAVE CREATED IS WHOLLY ABSURD. CORY A. DAVID. *NM

NHTSA ID
10176001
Incident
Nov 1, 2006
Mileage
56,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 5, 2006

VERY POOR HEADLIGHTS, CAUSING AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION WHILE ONLY BEING ABLE TO SEE A SHORT DISTANCE IN FRONT OF YOUR CAR AT NIGHT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10164620
Incident
Aug 5, 2006
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 19, 2006

LIGHTS GOES COMPLETELY OUT WHEN PLACED ON DIM. *NM

NHTSA ID
10162837
Incident
May 15, 2006
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 10, 2006

HEAD LIGHT ON THE MARK VIII ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH (LOW BEAM). *NM

NHTSA ID
10162026
Incident
Jul 10, 2006
Exterior lighting
Filed May 15, 2006

THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII ARE TERRIBLE, I'VE OWNED THE CAR FOR 8 YEARS AND HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS WITH VARIOUS AFTERMARKET BULBS AND NOTHING INCREASES THE HEADLIGHT POWER. *JB

NHTSA ID
10157611
Incident
Aug 15, 1998
Electrical
Filed Apr 24, 2006

DRIVERS SIDE HID UNIT ON MY 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII IS NOT WORKING AND I CAN NOT SEEM TO FIND ANOTHER ONE USED OR NEW TO REPLACE IT WITH, SEEMS TO BE A DEALER ONLY PART AND THE PARTS 'DEPTS. I"VE SPOKEN WITH WANT TO CHARGE ME $750.00 TO $850.00 FOR THE WHOLE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WITH THE HID UNIT, I CAN ONLY DRIVE DURING THE DAY AND CANNNOT DRIVE AT NIGHT IN FEAR OF GETTING PULLED OVER OR GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT!!!!!!!!!!!

NHTSA ID
10155999
Incident
Feb 14, 2006
Mileage
76,325 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 17, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SILVER REFLECTORS INSIDE THE HEADLIGHTS BURNED OUT. THIS MADE DRIVING AT NIGHT DIFFICULT DUE TO THE LACK OF LIGHT PRODUCED FROM THE HEADLIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHO DETERMINED THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 05/03/06

NHTSA ID
10155515
Incident
Apr 16, 2006
Mileage
85,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 11, 2006

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMPLAINT ABOUT MY LINCOLN MARK VIII HEADLIGHTS FROM 1993-1996. THE HEADLIGHTS AFTER A COUPLE YEARS BEGIN TO DEGRADE. THE REFLECTIVE COATING INSIDE THE PARABOLA TURNS CHALKY AND THEREFORE DOES NOT REFLECT LIGHT THE WAY IT WAS INTENDED. THIS MAKES FOR VERY POOR LIGHTING AT NIGHT WHICH COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. LINCOLN NEW ABOUT THIS AND SWITCHED TO HID (HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE) UNITS IN 1996, BUT ONLY ON THE LSC MODELS. FORD/LINCOLN SELLS THESE UNITS BUT AT A VERY VERY HIGH PRICE. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL AND HID'S INSTALLED IN THE CARS WITH THE DEFECTIVE HEADLAMPS BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. *NM

NHTSA ID
10155029
Incident
Apr 11, 2006
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 10, 2006

THE DESIGN OF THE HEADLIGHT LENSES ON THE 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII PROVIDES POOR NIGHT VISIBILITY DUE TO SEVER DEGRADATION OF OEM HEADLAMP SYSTEM. THE REFLECTIVE LENS ON THE INSIDE OF THE HOUSING HAS MELTED AWAY TO THE POINT THAT THIS MAKES NIGHT DRIVING DANGEROUS IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE WITH OUT SOME SORT OF AFTERMARKET LIGHTING SYSTEM OR OEM REPLACEMENTS WHICH WILL SOON FAIL AND CAUSE THE ISSUE ALL OVER AGAIN. *JB

NHTSA ID
10154961
Incident
Jan 10, 2006
Mileage
40,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 9, 2006

THE 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII WAS PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER 2005 AND THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN DETERIORATING CONSTANTLY SINCE PURCHASE. I NOW HAVE TO USE THE HIGH BEAM AT ALL TIMES AFTER DARK. OTHER CARS DO NOT EVEN FLASH THERE LIGHTS AT ME BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SO WEAK. ALL OF THE CHROME HAS FALLEN OFF OF THE SURFACES IN THE HEADLIGHTS SO NO LIGHT IS REFLECTED OUT OF THE LIGHTS! *NM

NHTSA ID
10154915
Incident
Dec 20, 2005
Mileage
138,795 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 31, 2006
Crash reported

THE HEADLIGHT COVERS (HOUSINGS?) FOR LINCOLN MARK VIII'S 93-98, CLOUD OVER (TURN GRAY INSIDE AND OUT) QUICKLY. THIS DEFECTIVE CLOUDING IN THE LIGHT COVERS RESULTS IN NIGHT DRIVING TO BE VERY HAZARDOUS, ALONG WITH RAIN AND FOG. THE KITS TO REPLACE THE LIGHTS AVERAGE AROUND 1,000. LINCOLN KNOWS OF THE VISIBILITY PROBLEM WHEN THE COVERS CLOUD OVER AND HAS NOT TAKEN CORRECTIVE ACTION. *NM

NHTSA ID
10154318
Incident
Sep 1, 1996
Mileage
50,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 29, 2006

I OWN A 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII AND AT NIGHT YOU CAN BARELY SEE THE ROAD EVEN WITH THE BRIGHTS ON. THE HOUSING LOOKS LIKE THE CLEAR PART HAS SEPARATED INTO ABOUT 3 LAYERS. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!! *NM

NHTSA ID
10154049
Incident
Mar 29, 2006
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 28, 2006

1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII HEADLIGHTS. CANNOT SEE AT NIGHT, SEVERE LACK OF ILLUMINATION, VERY DANGEROUS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10153916
Incident
Mar 20, 2006
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 17, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PLASTIC COVER FOR THE HEADLIGHTS ARE DISCOLORED. THIS DOES NOT ALLOW THE HEADLIGHT TO PROJECT ENOUGH LIGHT FOR NIGHT DRIVING. THE CONTACT HAS REPLACED THE LIGHT BULBS, BUT THIS HAS NOT IMPROVED VISIBILITY. THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 4/6/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID
10152973
Incident
Mar 17, 2006
Mileage
60,000 mi

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.

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