1997 Lincoln Mark Viii Exterior lighting Problems

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 ID

10277640

Incident

Jul 18, 2009

Mileage

61,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS BURNED OUT IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT BULB WAS UNAVAILABLE AND WOULD BE PLACED ON BACK ORDER. THEY ALSO REQUESTED A DEPOSIT FOR THE BULB, WHICH COST OVER $100. THE CONTACT CALLED SEVERAL FORD DEALERS AND THE MANUFACTURER, WHO ALL STATED THAT THE BULB WAS OBSOLETE AND WOULD NO LONGER BE MANUFACTURED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO DATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000. 4/01/09 *NJ UPDATED 04/06/09. *JB

NHTSA ID

10261551

Incident

Jul 10, 2007

Mileage

45,000 mi

UNABLE TO PURCHASE REPLACEMENT BULBS FOR 1997 LINCOLN MARK VIII HEADLAMPS "LOW BEAM".....HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE H-95 SYLVANIA. NO LONGER PRODUCED..........RETOFIT KIT IS $1200............CAR IS ELEVEN YEARS OLD........OUTRAGEOUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10246936

Incident

Oct 3, 2008

Mileage

158,400 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT ON HIS VEHICLE HAD BURNED OUT. HE WENT TO PURCHASE ANOTHER ONE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE NO LONGER MANUFACTURED. THE DEALER OFFERED A REMEDY KIT AT THE COST OF $740 TO INSTALL ANOTHER LIGHTING SYSTEM, WHICH WOULD TOTAL $1,200 AFTER THE INSTALLATION. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 145,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 144,900. UPDATED 07/15/08. *LJ UPDATED 07/15/08

NHTSA ID

10228974

Incident

Apr 27, 2008

Mileage

144,900 mi

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT (HID) ON RIGHT SIDE HAS FAILED AND NO REPLACEMENTS ARE OFFERED BY FACTORY OR DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10214224

Incident

Nov 3, 2007

Mileage

59,000 mi

HID LIGHTS KEEP BURNING OUT AND RUINING THE LENSES ON MY LINCOLN MARK VIII 1997 LSC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10212619

Incident

Dec 20, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT FAILED. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE THE BULB, HE COULD NOT GET THE BULB UNSCREWED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT KIT AND CHARGED HIM $700. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,941 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 50,000. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE THE RECALL PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE PERTAINING TO THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED A LETTER FROM FORD DENYING HIS CLAIM FOR A PARTIAL REIMBURSEMENT. THE DEALER STATED WARNING LIGHTS TROUBLE. UPDATED 10/03/07 *TR THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE HEADLIGHT REPLACEMENT. UPDATED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10203307

Incident

Jun 23, 2007

Mileage

49,941 mi

IN NOVEMBER OF 2006, THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT, LOW BEAM, WENT OUT IN MY 1997 LINCOLN MARK VIII. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH LATER, THE DRIVER'S SIDE, LOW BEAM, ALSO FAILED. I HAVE CHECKED WITH MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, AND TWO OTHER DEALERSHIPS. THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THIS PROBLEM, PERIOD, IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES. WHEN YOU CHECK WITH AFTER MARKET SUPPLIERS, YOU ARE TOLD YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH FORD. SINCE THE SPRING OF 2007 I CALL THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP MONTHLY TO CHECK ON WHEN PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. EACH MONTH, THEY CHECK THEIR DATA BASE, AND LEARN THAT THE REPLACEMENT KIT, COSTING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS, HAS BEEN PUSHED BACK A MONTH BEFORE IT WILL BE AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT TARGET DATE OF AVAILABILITY IS OCTOBER 2007. SO, FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW, I HAVE A LINCOLN THAT CANNOT BE DRIVEN AT NIGHT, NOR CAN IT BE REPAIRED AT ANY PRICE. I WROTE A LETTER TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY EARLY IN 2007 ABOUT THIS, AND RECEIVED A FORM LETTER TELLING TO GO TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER FOR PARTS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10201631

Incident

Nov 15, 2006

Mileage

88,500 mi

I HAVE A 97 LINCOLN MARK VIII AND I WAS TOLD BY SEVERAL FORD/LINCOLN MERCURY DEALERS THAT THE HEADLIGHT LOW BEAM BULBS, HID 9500, ARE NOT AVAILABLE. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, SYLVANIA, AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP TOLD ME THE LIGHT BULBS ARE NO LONGER MANUFACTURED. WHAT ARE THE SEVERAL THOUSAND OWNERS OF LINCOLN MARK VIII OWNERS EXPECTED TO DO? THIS IS A BLATANT SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY FEDERAL AUTHORITIES. I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO A NTSB REPRESENTATIVE, IF AVAILABLE, REGARDING THE LIGHTING ON THESE VEHICLES. THANK YOU FOR INVESTIGATING THIS ISSUE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10174745

Incident

Nov 12, 2006

Mileage

105,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BURNED OUT. WHEN THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, THE DEALER DETERMINED THE HEADLIGHT WAS ON BACKORDER. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO PLACE AN ORDER, ALTHOUGH THE PART WAS ON BACKORDER FOR TWO MONTHS.

NHTSA ID

10173060

Incident

Nov 6, 2006

Mileage

104,000 mi

NEITHER OF MY TWO LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WORK SO I'M HAVING TO USE MY HIGH BEAM LIGHTS WHICH I'M SURE IS DIFFICULT FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I AM CONSTANTLY SEARCHING THE INTERNET AND LOCAL SOURCES TO REPLACE MY HEADLIGHTS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10157150

Incident

May 10, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HID HEADLIGHT LOW BEAM WENT OUT ON THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A FORD RECALL #98B38, REGARDING THE HEADLIGHTS. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

NHTSA ID

10156556

Incident

May 1, 2006

Mileage

101,000 mi

BOTH HID HEADLIGHT BULBS FAILED WITHIN A 2 WEEK PERIOD. THE BULBS WERE $175 EACH. *NM

NHTSA ID

10155396

Incident

Feb 1, 2006

Mileage

61,000 mi

EXCESSIVE YELLOWING OF THE LENS FOR BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. THIS "HAZE" ACTS AS A DIFFUSER, EFFECTIVELY DIMINISHING NIGHT-TIME DRIVE ABILITY DUE TO THE LACK OF AVAILABLE LIGHT PASSING THROUGH SAID LENS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10153575

Incident

Aug 30, 2005

Mileage

90,000 mi

1997 LINCOLN MARK 8 HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THIS ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT WAS PITCH BLACK DARKNESS. THE CONSUMER HAD TO BANG ON THE COMPONENT IN ORDER FOR THE LIGHT TO COME ON. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSFORMERS AND THE BULBS HAD BLOWN ALL AT ONCE. THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH LINCOLN VEHICLES. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10121558

Incident

May 1, 2005

OWNER WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. ALL THE HEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT. OWNER PULLED OVER TO THE RIGHT. THEN, CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE REPAIRS FOR THIS DEFECT WOULD COST $2200.00. *AK

NHTSA ID

10111103

Incident

Feb 5, 2005

Mileage

49,200 mi

THE HEAD LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE HAVE BECOME OPAQUE OVER A FEW YEARS. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING LIKE THEY SHOULD. THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER AND THE LENS MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM. *NM *SC

NHTSA ID

10075647

Incident

Jun 17, 2003

Mileage

35,600 mi

THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE FULLY. THIS REDUCED THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. TSB 604850 WAS ISSUED (HEADLIGHT REPLACEMENT CAMPAIGN). THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK *SC

NHTSA ID

10049893

Mileage

50,000 mi

I RECENTLY TOOK MY 97 MARK VIII TO THE SHOP TO REPLACE THE LOW INTENSITY BEAM. THE COST OF THIS ITEM SPIRALED FROM $262.00 TO $1493.00 WITHIN A MATTER OF HOURS TO REPLACE ONE SET OF LIGHTS. THIS IS HIGHWAY ROBBERY AND USURY AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL . *LA

NHTSA ID

10047149

Incident

Nov 17, 2003

Mileage

60,000 mi

THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEAD LIGHT LENSES WERE FOGGED, WHICH LIMITED VISIBILITY. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

10038107

HEADLIGHTS ON MY 1997 LINCOLN MARK VIII SUDDENLY WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH CAUSING A NEAR FATAL CRASH. I LUCKILY RAN OFF THE ROAD INTO A MUDDY GRASSY AREA AND BECAME STUCK AND NOT KILLED. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP ONLY TO FIND I COULD NOT AFFORD TO GET THE LIGHTS REPAIRED BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS CAR COST $1600.00. THE BRIGHT LIGHTS STILL WORK, IT WAS ONLY THE DIMM LIGHTS THAT WENT OUT FOR NO REASON. THE MANUFACTURE OF THESE LIGHTS SHOULD BE PUNISHED FOR SELLING A PRODUCT THAT'S SUBSTANDARD TO MUCH CHEAPER AND SAFER HEADLIGHTS. IF A PAIR OF DIMM HEADLIGHTS COST $1600.00 THEY SHOULD LAST A LIFETIME. MY CAR HAS 60,000 MILES. I AM THINKING OF FILING A LAW SUIT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10037169

Incident

Apr 8, 2003

Mileage

55,000 mi

WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOW-BEAM HID HEADLAMP BEGAN FAILING, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, SINCE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE ANYWHERE ELSE. THEN I FOUND OUT THAT PARTS WILL COST $780 ($200 FOR THE HEADLAMP + $580 FOR AN "UPGRADED" MOUNTING ASSEMBLY WHICH IS REQUIRED DUE TO PARTS OBSOLESCENCE AND A LINCOLN ENGINEERING MISTAKE). AFTER SOME COMPLAINING, I GOT FORD AND THE DEALER TO REDUCE COST TO $380 FOR PARTS PLUS $120 FOR LABOR. $500 TO REPLACE A HEADLIGHT (REQUIRED SAFETY FEATURE IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE! *JB

NHTSA ID

10023870

Incident

Jun 20, 2003

Mileage

65,000 mi

REPLACE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY,COST $700.00 FORD SHOULD PAY FOR THIS. SINCE IT WAS THEIR FAULT FOR NOT STOCKING PARTS. USED PARTS WERE USED. I HAVE NOT WAY OF KNOWING HOW LONG THIS WILL LAST. IF MY OTHER SIDE GOES OUT I AM FACING ANOTHER EXPENSE OF REPLACING IT SINCE IT IS THE LAW TO DRIVE WITH HEAD LIGHTS ON WHEN RAINING OR THROUGH A CONSTRUCTION ZONE HERE IN PA. WHY SHOULD I AS A CONSUMER HAVE TO PAY SUCH A HIGH COST TO REPAIR THESE LIGHTS. IF I HAD KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM I WOULD HAVE MADE SURE THAT I DID NOT BUY ONE OF THESE CARS,MADE IN JAN. THROUGH MARCH. I FEEL FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE OF ITS DESIGN FLAW. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023080

Incident

Jun 12, 2003

LOW BEAM LIGHT (DRIVER'S SIDE) CEASED FUNCTION. OWNER'S MANUAL REQUIRES THAT ONLY FORD LINCOLN DEALER RENDERS REPAIR, AND THE LIGHT "UNIT" COSTS $750, WITH LABOR ESTIMATED AT $200 TO $400 ADDITIONAL. VEHICLE: 1997 FORD LINCOLN MARK VIII.

NHTSA ID

10005583

Incident

Feb 1, 2003

Mileage

44,000 mi

MARK VIIII'S MANUFACTURED DURING THE FIRST MONTHS OF 1997 WERE FITTED WITH A HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY THAT INCORPORATED AN INTEGRAL HID "LOW BEAM". THIS APPLIANCE WAS OBVIOUSLY INTENDED TO LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. ACCESS IS PROVIDED ONLY FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE HALOGEN "HIGH BEAM" BULBS. IN MID-YEAR, FORD REDESIGNED THE HEADLAMP TO ALSO PERMIT REPLACEMENT OF THE HID LIGHT SOURCE. IT NO LONGER SUPPORTS THE EARLIER MODEL. THE ONLY WAY TO RESTORE MINIMALLY LEGAL HEADLIGHT FUNCTION TO MY EARLY-1997 LINCOLN IS REPLACE THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY WITH A LATE 1997-1998 FIXTURE. MY DEALER ESTIMATES THE COST, INCLUDING LABOR, AT $1,150 TO $1,350 PER HEADLAMP. AT THAT PRICE, THE HEADLAMPS REPRESENT 1/3RD THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS NOT THE COST OF THE FAILED PART. THIS IS THE COST OF FORDS FAILURE TO SUPPORT A SEGMENT OF ITS FLEET AND ITS DECISION TO PASS THE COST OF CORRECTING AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW THROUGH TO CONSUMERS. THE SOCIAL COST IS THAT SUCH CORPORATE IRRESPONSIBILITY ENDANGERS THE PUBLIC. FEW WILL PAY 1/3RD THE VALUE OF A CAR TO MAINTAIN A LIGHT BULB. IF FORD DOES NOT HONOR ITS RESPONSIBILITIES, THE PUBLIC WILL OPERATE THE CARS ILLEGALLY. IN MARKETING THIS CAR, FORD TOUTED THE RELIABILITY TO BE HAD FOR $40,000. THE REALITY IS THAT THIS CARS TRUE USEFUL ECONOMIC LIFE IS NOT DEFINED BY THE EXTENDED-LIFE SPARK PLUGS, ANTI-RUST PROTECTION OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT FORD SO EAGERLY SOLD, BUT BY THE LONGEVITY OF A LIGHT BULB.*AK

NHTSA ID

760717

Incident

Apr 10, 2002