1998 Lincoln Mark Viii Problems

I'VE HAD THIS GEM SINCE 2010, BOUGHT WITH 30,000 MILES...NOW HAS 104,000 MILES. IT WAS GREAT UNTIL 2014. WHERE DO I START? (1) NO HEAT- BROKEN BLENDER DOOR ACTUATOR...MANUALLY SET IT TO THE WARM SETTING FOR THE WINTER BEHIND GLOVE BOX. (2) DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLE SNAPPED LAST YEAR(REPLACED FOR $100)...AND NOW THIS YEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE SNAPPED. (3) DOORS ARE CONSTANTLY "AJAR", ALTERNATING FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER. (4) BALL JOINT IS STARTING TO WEAR BADLY, (5) DRIVER'S SEAT WON'T RECLINE, (6) STEERING WHEEL WON'T MOVE FORWARD/BACKWARD ANYMORE, (7) SUSPENSION IS STARTING TO GO...FRONT END LOWERS TO GROUND AFTER SHUTTING DOWN ENGINE. I'M SURE THERE'S MORE THAT I CAN'T THINK OF.

THE HEATER WILL NOT BLOW HOT AIR, NO DEFROSTER, CAN'T SEE OUT OF WINDSHIELD. *KB

UPDATE TO LAST COMPLAINT: THE PASSENGER SIDE HID HEADLIGHT HAS FAILED, NO REPLACEMENT EXCEPT $1000 CONVERSION KIT. HAVE TO DRIVE WITH ONLY "BRIGHTS" ON FROM NOW ON. DANGER TO MYSELF AND THOSE I'M PASSING, PLUS IF THE "BRIGHTS" AREN'T ON, THEN I HAVE NO HEADLIGHTS AND COULD GET PULLED OVER. PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINT/CONTROL ARM BROKE WHILE DRIVING AND TIRE FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING IN PARKING LOT AT WORK. AFTER REPAIR, HEARING A BAD CREAKING NOISE. AIR SUSPENSION HAS TO FILL UP ALL THE WAY WHEN I START THE VEHICLE EVEN AFTER 5 MINUTES OF IT BEING SHUT OFF. HAVE PAID $1,200 FOR REPAIRS OF SUSPENSION AND STEERING IN 6 MONTHS. (THAT'S WITH MY DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT). SERIOUSLY, I'VE HEARD TOO MUCH ABOUT DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS, HEADLIGHTS, NO HEAT, DOOR HANDLES SNAPPING OFF, AND THE AIR SUSPENSION GOING BAD. WHY IS FORD NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THESE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE PARTS??? BECAUSE THE CAR IS RARE AND THEY DON'T MAKE THEM ANYMORE???

I OWN A 1998 LINCOLN MARK VIII. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE 1999. RECENTLY, ONE OF THE HEADLIGHT LAMPS BURNED OUT. I ATTEMPTED TO BUY A REPLACEMENT BULB AT SEVERAL AUTO PARTS STORES WITHOUT SUCCESS. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL LINCOLN DEALERS AND FOUND THAT THE BULB (SYLVANIA 9500) IS NO LONGER MANUFACTURED. I ALSO FOUND THAT THERE IS NO STOCK OF AVAILABLE BULBS IN THE UNITED STATES EXCEPT FOR USED BULBS ON E-BAY. (FOR $199). I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET AND DETERMINED THAT LINCOLN'S REMEDY FOR THIS PROBLEM WAS TO SELL A CONVERSION KIT (FROM HID LIGHTS TO HALOGEN) FOR OVER $1,000.00. I DO NOT KNOW IF THEY ARE CHARGING $1,000.00 FOR A PAIR OF LIGHTS OR FOR ONLY ONE SIDE. AT THIS POINT I CANNOT SAFELY DRIVE MY VEHICLE AFTER DARK. I CANNOT FIND A REASONABLY PRICED REPLACEMENT PART. I AM LEFT WITH LINCOLN'S "REMEDY" OF SPENDING AT LEAST $1,000 TO REPLACE A HEADLIGHT BULB. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT IF I DO DRIVE THE CAR WITH ONE HEADLIGHT OUT THE OTHER ONE MAY GO OUT LEAVING ME WITH NO HEADLAMPS. *TR

UPDATE TO LAST COMPLAINT: THE PASSENGER SIDE HID HEADLIGHT HAS FAILED, NO REPLACEMENT EXCEPT $1000 CONVERSION KIT. HAVE TO DRIVE WITH ONLY "BRIGHTS" ON FROM NOW ON. DANGER TO MYSELF AND THOSE I'M PASSING, PLUS IF THE "BRIGHTS" AREN'T ON, THEN I HAVE NO HEADLIGHTS AND COULD GET PULLED OVER. PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINT/CONTROL ARM BROKE WHILE DRIVING AND TIRE FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING IN PARKING LOT AT WORK. AFTER REPAIR, HEARING A BAD CREAKING NOISE. AIR SUSPENSION HAS TO FILL UP ALL THE WAY WHEN I START THE VEHICLE EVEN AFTER 5 MINUTES OF IT BEING SHUT OFF. HAVE PAID $1,200 FOR REPAIRS OF SUSPENSION AND STEERING IN 6 MONTHS. (THAT'S WITH MY DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT). SERIOUSLY, I'VE HEARD TOO MUCH ABOUT DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS, HEADLIGHTS, NO HEAT, DOOR HANDLES SNAPPING OFF, AND THE AIR SUSPENSION GOING BAD. WHY IS FORD NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THESE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE PARTS??? BECAUSE THE CAR IS RARE AND THEY DON'T MAKE THEM ANYMORE???

I'VE HAD THIS GEM SINCE 2010, BOUGHT WITH 30,000 MILES...NOW HAS 104,000 MILES. IT WAS GREAT UNTIL 2014. WHERE DO I START? (1) NO HEAT- BROKEN BLENDER DOOR ACTUATOR...MANUALLY SET IT TO THE WARM SETTING FOR THE WINTER BEHIND GLOVE BOX. (2) DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLE SNAPPED LAST YEAR(REPLACED FOR $100)...AND NOW THIS YEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE SNAPPED. (3) DOORS ARE CONSTANTLY "AJAR", ALTERNATING FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER. (4) BALL JOINT IS STARTING TO WEAR BADLY, (5) DRIVER'S SEAT WON'T RECLINE, (6) STEERING WHEEL WON'T MOVE FORWARD/BACKWARD ANYMORE, (7) SUSPENSION IS STARTING TO GO...FRONT END LOWERS TO GROUND AFTER SHUTTING DOWN ENGINE. I'M SURE THERE'S MORE THAT I CAN'T THINK OF.

MY 1998 LINCOLN MARKVIII OUTSIDE DRIVER DOOR HANDLE BROKE I HAVE 59,000 MILES ON IT ,IT COST $70.00 FOR THE PART,$40.00 TO PAINT THE THING,OVER @200.00 LABOR,(IGOT TO KEEP THE BROKEN ONE !),I FEEL THAT FORD KNOWS OF THIS DEFECT IN MATERIALS<CHANGED THE METAL MIX AND CURE, BUT FAIL TO BE RESPONSIBLE OF THIS SAFETY-DEFECT>>SEE ALSO #10052604 PLUS COUNTLESS OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM>

I BOUGHT A 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII 2 YEARS AGO. NOT TO LONG AFTER OWNING IT THE DRIVERS SIDE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE WHILE TRYING TO OPEN IT. (50,000 MILES). $122.00 TO FIX. I TRADED THE 96 FOR A 98 MARK VIII . I WENT TO GET INTO MY CAR AND THE DRIVERS OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE AGAIN.(52,000 MILES)$257.00 TO FIX (DEFECTED PART). *AK

THE BRAKES CAN QUIT WORKING AFTER THE AUTOMATIC PARKING BRAKE RELEASE SOLENOID FAILS TO RELEASE THE REAR BRAKES WHEN THE TRANSMISSION LEVER IS MOVED OUT OF PARK. THE REAR BRAKES WILL THEN OVERHEAT AFTER SEVERAL MILES, WHICH CAUSES THE BRAKE FLUID TO EVENTUALLY BOIL AND BE EXPELLED FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE FIRST SYMPTOM IS THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKING BECOMES ERRATIC. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE BRAKING SYSTEM TOTALLY FAILED TO STOP THE CAR DUE TO LACK OF BRAKE FLUID IN THE MASTER CYLINDER. PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL RAPIDLY AND SHEER LUCK ARE THE ONLY THINGS THAT HAVE PREVENTED A MAJOR CRASH (SO FAR...)! THE REAR BRAKE PADS AND FLUID HAVE BEEN REPLACED, BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE NO FIX AVAILABLE THAT WOULD PREVENT THE PROBLEM FROM RE-OCCURRING. THIS SAFETY DEFECT APPEARS TO BE CAUSED BY THE PARKING BRAKE POSITION SENSOR SWITCH FAILING TO NOTIFY THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE THAT THE PARKING BRAKE IS SET,, SO THE CONTROLLING SOFTWARE DOESN'T BOTHER TO RELEASE THE BRAKE AT DRIVE-OFF. THE WARNING LIGHT ALSO FAILS TO INDICATE A PROBLEM TO THE DRIVER, WHICH MAKES THIS A VERY DANGEROUS COMBINATION OF HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE FAILURE AFTER THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED TO MY WIFE TWICE, I BEGAN TO DRIVE THE CAR TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING. SURE ENOUGH, AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS, THE PROBLEM OCCURRED EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED ABOVE. THE ONLY WORKAROUND IS TO USE THE EMERGENCY MECHANICAL RELEASE BEFORE DRIVING OFF. IF ONE FORGETS TO DO THIS, THERE IS NO WAY OF KNOWING THAT THE REAR BRAKES ARE DRAGGING AND IMPENDING BRAKE FAILURE IS A CERTAINTY..

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN MARK VIII. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR ABS FAILED. THE DEALER COULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE REAR WHEEL ABS SENSOR WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. REPORT 238373 WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER ATTEMPTED TO LOCATE THE PART, BUT THE PART WAS NO LONGER IN PRODUCTION; THEREFORE; THEY COULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE DEALER DISCONNECTED THE REAR ABS SENSOR TO ENSURE THAT THE REAR BRAKES WOULD FUNCTION PROPERLY; YET, IT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE AND THE ABS LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE CONSTANTLY. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 88,000. UPDATED 8/25/10 *CN UPDATED 08/27/10

UPDATE TO LAST COMPLAINT: THE PASSENGER SIDE HID HEADLIGHT HAS FAILED, NO REPLACEMENT EXCEPT $1000 CONVERSION KIT. HAVE TO DRIVE WITH ONLY "BRIGHTS" ON FROM NOW ON. DANGER TO MYSELF AND THOSE I'M PASSING, PLUS IF THE "BRIGHTS" AREN'T ON, THEN I HAVE NO HEADLIGHTS AND COULD GET PULLED OVER. PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINT/CONTROL ARM BROKE WHILE DRIVING AND TIRE FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING IN PARKING LOT AT WORK. AFTER REPAIR, HEARING A BAD CREAKING NOISE. AIR SUSPENSION HAS TO FILL UP ALL THE WAY WHEN I START THE VEHICLE EVEN AFTER 5 MINUTES OF IT BEING SHUT OFF. HAVE PAID $1,200 FOR REPAIRS OF SUSPENSION AND STEERING IN 6 MONTHS. (THAT'S WITH MY DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT). SERIOUSLY, I'VE HEARD TOO MUCH ABOUT DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS, HEADLIGHTS, NO HEAT, DOOR HANDLES SNAPPING OFF, AND THE AIR SUSPENSION GOING BAD. WHY IS FORD NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THESE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE PARTS??? BECAUSE THE CAR IS RARE AND THEY DON'T MAKE THEM ANYMORE???

VEHICLE WAS RUNNING VERY ROUGH, AND MISSING. ALSO, STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

1998 MARK VIII CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TS THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TOWED WHEN HE NOTICED FLAMES FROM HIS REAR VIEW MIRROR. *JB

VEHICLE WAS RUNNING VERY ROUGH, AND MISSING. ALSO, STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

I'VE HAD THIS GEM SINCE 2010, BOUGHT WITH 30,000 MILES...NOW HAS 104,000 MILES. IT WAS GREAT UNTIL 2014. WHERE DO I START? (1) NO HEAT- BROKEN BLENDER DOOR ACTUATOR...MANUALLY SET IT TO THE WARM SETTING FOR THE WINTER BEHIND GLOVE BOX. (2) DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLE SNAPPED LAST YEAR(REPLACED FOR $100)...AND NOW THIS YEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE SNAPPED. (3) DOORS ARE CONSTANTLY "AJAR", ALTERNATING FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER. (4) BALL JOINT IS STARTING TO WEAR BADLY, (5) DRIVER'S SEAT WON'T RECLINE, (6) STEERING WHEEL WON'T MOVE FORWARD/BACKWARD ANYMORE, (7) SUSPENSION IS STARTING TO GO...FRONT END LOWERS TO GROUND AFTER SHUTTING DOWN ENGINE. I'M SURE THERE'S MORE THAT I CAN'T THINK OF.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN MARK VIII. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR ABS FAILED. THE DEALER COULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE REAR WHEEL ABS SENSOR WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. REPORT 238373 WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER ATTEMPTED TO LOCATE THE PART, BUT THE PART WAS NO LONGER IN PRODUCTION; THEREFORE; THEY COULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE DEALER DISCONNECTED THE REAR ABS SENSOR TO ENSURE THAT THE REAR BRAKES WOULD FUNCTION PROPERLY; YET, IT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE AND THE ABS LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE CONSTANTLY. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 88,000. UPDATED 8/25/10 *CN UPDATED 08/27/10

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR RECALL NUMBER 05S28 REGARDING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL IN AUGUST OF 2007. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHEN THE PART WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE RECALL HAS SURPASSED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE REPAIR. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000. UPDATED 02-14-08 *BF

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE IN AUGUST OF 2007 FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM IN DECEMBER OF 2007 THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH HAS NOT BEEN DISCONNECTED. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE PURCHASE DATE AND RECALL NUMBER WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,000.

THE BRAKES CAN QUIT WORKING AFTER THE AUTOMATIC PARKING BRAKE RELEASE SOLENOID FAILS TO RELEASE THE REAR BRAKES WHEN THE TRANSMISSION LEVER IS MOVED OUT OF PARK. THE REAR BRAKES WILL THEN OVERHEAT AFTER SEVERAL MILES, WHICH CAUSES THE BRAKE FLUID TO EVENTUALLY BOIL AND BE EXPELLED FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE FIRST SYMPTOM IS THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKING BECOMES ERRATIC. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE BRAKING SYSTEM TOTALLY FAILED TO STOP THE CAR DUE TO LACK OF BRAKE FLUID IN THE MASTER CYLINDER. PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL RAPIDLY AND SHEER LUCK ARE THE ONLY THINGS THAT HAVE PREVENTED A MAJOR CRASH (SO FAR...)! THE REAR BRAKE PADS AND FLUID HAVE BEEN REPLACED, BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE NO FIX AVAILABLE THAT WOULD PREVENT THE PROBLEM FROM RE-OCCURRING. THIS SAFETY DEFECT APPEARS TO BE CAUSED BY THE PARKING BRAKE POSITION SENSOR SWITCH FAILING TO NOTIFY THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE THAT THE PARKING BRAKE IS SET,, SO THE CONTROLLING SOFTWARE DOESN'T BOTHER TO RELEASE THE BRAKE AT DRIVE-OFF. THE WARNING LIGHT ALSO FAILS TO INDICATE A PROBLEM TO THE DRIVER, WHICH MAKES THIS A VERY DANGEROUS COMBINATION OF HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE FAILURE AFTER THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED TO MY WIFE TWICE, I BEGAN TO DRIVE THE CAR TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING. SURE ENOUGH, AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS, THE PROBLEM OCCURRED EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED ABOVE. THE ONLY WORKAROUND IS TO USE THE EMERGENCY MECHANICAL RELEASE BEFORE DRIVING OFF. IF ONE FORGETS TO DO THIS, THERE IS NO WAY OF KNOWING THAT THE REAR BRAKES ARE DRAGGING AND IMPENDING BRAKE FAILURE IS A CERTAINTY..

AIR CONDITIONER FAILED. YH

WE HAVE OWNED A MARK VII AND A MARK VIII LINCOLN. BOTH CARS HAD SERIOUS PAINT DETERIORATION. WE ALWAYS HAVE OUR AUTOMOBILES HAND WASHED. WE WOULD LIKE TO REPLACE ONE OF THE AUTOS WITH ANOTHER LINCOLN, HOWEVER, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE BOTH OF THE CARS PAINTED. HIS MUST BE A FAULT OF YOUR PAINT. IS THERE ANY COMPENSATION? I HESITATE TO BUY ANOTHER LINCOLN. *AK

HEATER/AC BLENDER DOOR FAILURE RESULTING IN NO HEAT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE WHICH IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR SINCE DASH HAS TO BE PULLED---QUOTED BY DEALER TO BE $738. BECAUSE OF SO MANY OCCURRENCES WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A DEFECT THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPAIR? *NLM

AIR CONDITIONER FAILED. YH

AIR CONDITIONER'S VACUUM LINE DISCONNECTED. YH

CAR ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WHEN IN SNOW OR IN GRAVEL OR POOR TRACTION . THE ENGINE HAS NO POWER AND ACTS LIKE IT IS FLOODED . TOOK CAR TO LINCOLN DEALERSHIP IN BOISE ID. ROUNDTREE LINCOLN EXPLAINED PROBLEM WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A NATURAL THING FOR THIS CAR. THIS PROBLEM CREATES A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU CANNOT MOVE THE CAR IT SIMPLY SHUTS DOWN YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRICATED PLEASE CONTACT ME REGARDING ADDTIONAL INFORMATOIN. *AK

DRIVE TRAIN EXPERIENCING VIBRATION / NOISE. *YC

REAR AXLE BEARING FAILED. MJS

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WENT ON AND LINCOLN/MERCURY DEALERSHIP SAYS THE AIRBAG MAY DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING OR MAY NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. REPLACEMENT/REPAIR OF THE CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY SHOULD BE COVERED BY FORD/LINCOLN SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY DEVICE ONLY AND NOT A MECHANICAL DEVICE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, TREAD WAS SEPARATING FROM TIRES, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HEAVILY VIBRATE. DEALER NOTIFIED. SIZE P2256016.*AK *JB