1998 Lincoln Mark Viii Visibility 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.

NHTSA ID

10824162

Incident

Feb 1, 2010

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

NHTSA ID

10425496

Incident

Sep 14, 2011

Mileage

49,789 mi

WEATHER CHANGE. HEATER BLEND DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. NO DEFROSTER OR HEATER IN WINTER WEATHER CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH SEEING OUT WINDSHIELD AND HYPOTHERMIA. I'VE HAD FIXED TWICE AT A COST OF $900 EACH TIME. ON ANY FORUM DEALING WITH THE MARK VIII IT IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE PART. IT SHOULD BE A MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE PARTS WHICH CAUSE TRAFFIC HAZARDS, I.E., FAILURE TO DEFROST DUE TO BLEND DOOR NOT OPENING. PART IS LESS THAN $10, REPAIR IS LABOR INTENSIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10259728

Incident

Oct 1, 2007

Mileage

23,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN MARK VIII. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT COULD NOT SEE THROUGH A SMALL PORTION OF THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR MIRROR. APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS LATER, THE CONTACT COULD NOT SEE OUT OF THE ENTIRE MIRROR. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS FAILURE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,875 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,775.

NHTSA ID

10233023

Incident

Jun 13, 2008

Mileage

24,775 mi

THE BLEND DOOR THAT CONTROLS THE HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONING HAS STOPPED WORKING AND HAS RENDERED MY HEATING / COOLING SYSTEM DYSFUNCTIONAL. THIS SEEMS TO BE A WIDELY KNOWN ISSUE FOR THIS CAR (1998 LINCOLN MARK VIII LSC) - IT POSES A DANGEROUS AND TANGIBLE THREAT TO SAFETY CONSIDERING HEAT WILL NOT WORK TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS AND FRONT WINDSHIELD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10211874

Incident

Dec 13, 2007

Mileage

85,500 mi

CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH HEATER-A/C BLEND DOOR FAILURE RESULTING IN LACK OF DEFOGGING OF WINDSHIELD AND POOR VISIBILITY. ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT IN CHANGING OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS. THIS FAILURE HAS BEEN REPORTED TO YOUR OFFICES MANY TIMES IN THE PAST 5 YEARS WITH LINCOLN AND FORD VEHICLES . THE COST OF REPAIR IS BETWEEN $500-$2000 DOLLARS. FORD HAS APPARENTLY MADE CHANGES TO STRENGTHEN THE BLEND DOOR LEVER BUT REFUSES TO ADMIT DESIGN FAILURE NOR WILL WARRANT THE ITEM. NHTSA HAS YET TO TAKE ANY ACTION ON THE CONSUMER'S PART. WE ARE THE PUBLIC AND YOUR CHARTER IS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO US, NOT THE AUTO MAKER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10142943

Incident

Nov 16, 2005

HEATER/AC BLENDER DOOR-DOORS,FAIL TO OPERATE AND OR HAVE "NO" TEMPETURE CONTROL,RESULTING IN POOR VISIBLITY.FOGGING ETC,LACK OF DEFROSTING AND OR A COLD DRIVER..SEE PREVIOUS 768368,768427,768529,768796,768173.7689173,769183,769959,10003517,10005626,10023956,10075009,AND NOW MINE ! THE ONLY THING THAT CHANGED IS THE COST OF REPAIRS BY THE DEALER HAS GONE UP. I HAVE A WRITTEN ESTIMATE FOR( THE DASH HAS TO BE REMOVED) $680.00 LABOR.. PARTS AS FOUND/ TO BE $38.00,,$68.00,,$5.00,,$35.00 AND THAN MAYBE $350.00 MORE FOR A PLEMUM.. ($1,176.00) I UNDERSTAND THAT FORD HAS REPLACED THE PARTS WITH BETTER VERSIONS AS TO MATERIALS THAT WITH STAND THE DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES IT IS SUBJECT TOO.THIS APPARENT LACK OF ACTION BY NHTSA IS CAUSE FOR CONCERN AS TO YOUR UNINTEREST IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY NOT KNOWING HOW MANY OTHER VEHICLES ARE OUT THEIR WITH THIS HAZARDOUS DEFECT. HELP US,PROTECT US ,,THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ID

10103960

Incident

Oct 6, 2004

Mileage

56,200 mi

ELECTRONIC TEMPERATURE CONTROL FAILURES PREVENTS WINDSHIELD CLEARING WHEN INTERNAL TO EXTERNAL TEMPERTAURE DIFFERENTIAL FOGS THE GLASS. BLEND DOOR FAILS ON A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF LINCOLN MARK VIII MODELS. MINE HAPPENS TO BE A 1998. *AK IT'S BOUND TO LEAD TO ACCIDENTS

NHTSA ID

10075009

Incident

Apr 6, 2004

Mileage

65,639 mi

AT DIFFERENT TIMES THE DOOR AJAR INDICATOR WILL COME ON. THIS CAUSES THE INTERIOR LIGHTS IN THE VEHICHLE TO LIGHT UP AND IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS AT NIGHT. OFTEN TIMES IT WILL SWITCH FROM THE DRIVERS DOOR TO THE RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR AND ON OCCASION WILL INDICATE BOTH.(ONE GOES OUT AND THE OTHER STARTS) THIS ALSO CAUSES THE ALARM SYSTEM TO ENGAGE. WHEN I EXIT THE VEHICLE, IF SENSORS INDICATE THAT ONE OF THE DOORS IS STILL AJAR, THE ALARM ACTIVATES INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10052376

Incident

Dec 1, 2003

Mileage

74,000 mi

I HAVE BEEN REVIEWING THE FILE ON LINCOLN MARK 8'S '97 & 98 AND NOTICED THAT THERE WERE AT LEAST 10 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE VENTILATION/HEATING/A/C BLEND DOOR PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DOES IT TAKE UNTIL YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT???? THIS IS NOT ONLY A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR TO MAKE, BUT FAILURE, WHICH CAN HAPPEN WITHOUT WARNING, RESULTS IN WINDSHIELD FOGGING AND INABILITY OF THE SYSTEM TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD . THE LINCOLNS OF DISTINCTION CLUB, WHICH SUPPORTS MARK 8'S HAVE HAD OVER 30-40 FAILURES TO DATE, SOME REPEATEDLY. WE NOW FOUND THAT THIS FAILURE HAPPENS IN LINCOLN TOWN CAR/ TARAUS, ETC, AND THAT FORD HAS RECENTLY CHANGED THE REPLACEMENT PART DESIGNATION. THIS STRIKES US AS AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT DON'T WANT TO BELLY UP TO THE BAR AND ADMIT IT . CAN'T YOUR OFFICES DO ANYTHING OR IS THIS JUST A WASTE OF OUR TIME TRYING TO GET A GOVERNMENT AGENCY TO MOVE ON SOMETHING THAT THEY CLAIM THEY WANT TO ASSIST BUT ENDS IN FRUSTATION OF THE CITIZENS WHO TAKE YOUR CHARTER SERIOUSLY?.

NHTSA ID

10005626

Incident

Feb 10, 2003

BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR IS BROKEN. THIS CAUSES A SERIOUS VISIBILITY HAZARD DO TO FOG ON THE WINDOWS THAT COULD LEAD TO PERSONAL INJURY.

NHTSA ID

10003517

Incident

Nov 5, 1998

Mileage

64,049 mi

BLEND DOOR NO HEAT OR DEFROST ONLY COLD AIR. DT

NHTSA ID

769959

Incident

Sep 1, 2002

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER CONDITIONS, I NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS GETTING CLOUDED OVER. TURNED ON MY HA/C TO DEFOG THE WINDSHIELD BUT ONLY COLD AIR CAME OUT ADDING GREATLY TO THE WINDSHIELD FOGGING. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BEFORE RUNNING INTO OPPOSITE LANES OF TRAFFIC SINCE I COULDN'T SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD. I GOT A CLOTH AND WIPED IT CLEAR TO PROCEDE. TOOK TO LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM TO THESE CARS ASWELL AS TOWN CARS IN THAT THE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR CAUSES THE DOOR'S ARM TO BREAK IN A SET POSITION. THUS IF BROKE ON HOT SETTING YOU GET ONLY HEATED AIR- VICE VERSA ON A COLD SETTING. IT WAS AN APPARENTLY POORLY DESIGNED PLASTIC ITEM; HOWEVER THE CHARGE TO FIX IT WITH ANOTHER SIMILAR ARM WOULD BE OVER $500 BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO TAKE THE DASH OFF THE CAR MAKE THE REPAIR, THOUGH THE PART IS LSS THAN $35.00. I COULD NOT AFFORD THE REPAIR AT THAT TIME, SO A TECHNICIAN SHOWED ME HOW TO LAY UNDER THE DASH AND MANUALLY PULL THE DOOR TO EITHER HOT OR COLD. DT

NHTSA ID

769183

Incident

Oct 12, 2002

THE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR ARM IS A COMMON FAILURE ON THESE CARS. DUE TO THEIR POOR CRAFTSMANSHIP, THEY ARE ALMOST GUARANTEED TO FAIL EVENTUALLY. HAVING NO HEAT IN THE WINTER CAN BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. NOT BEING ABLE TO DEFROST WINDOWS IS THE MOST OBVIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. THIS DEFECT SHOULD BE ON A NATIONAL RECALL. DT

NHTSA ID

769173

Incident

Sep 25, 2002

AIR BLEND DOOR MALFUNCTIONS CAUSING NO HEAT TO BLOW ON WINDSHIELD IN COLD WEATHER WILL CAUSE FOGGED UP WINDSHIELD ALSO. BOTH CONDITIONS CAUSE POOR VISIBILITY. DT

NHTSA ID

768796

Incident

Oct 11, 2002

RAINY DAY/MOIST CONDITIONS/HEAT TEMP. UNCONTROLLABLE CAUSING IMMEDIATE STRONG "FOG-UP" OF WINDSHIELD AT HIGHWAY SPEED. MR

NHTSA ID

768529

Incident

Oct 16, 2002

ACTUATOR FAILS, THUS NEVER ALLOWING TEMPERATURE TO CHANGE IN CAR. WINDSHIELD FOGS UP CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD. MR

NHTSA ID

768427

Incident

Oct 4, 2002

THE PART FAILURE IS A CRACKED PLASTIC ARM ACTUATOR ATTACHED TO THE MOTOR THAT CONTROLS THE FLOW OF AIR TO THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER. WHEN THE PART CRACKED, THE BLEND DOOR MOTOR IS NOT ABLE TO DIRECT AIR TO THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER. I HAD THE PART REPLACED BY A LOCAL LINCOLN DEALER (THEY HAD TO REMOVE THE ENTIRE DASH BOARD TO REPLACE THE BLEND DOOR MOTOR AND ARM - NOT SOLD SEPARATLY) THIS YEAR. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT, AND IT OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING. MR

NHTSA ID

768368

WINDSHIELD REARVIEW MIRROR (ELECTROCHROMIC) VIBRATES ON ROUGH ROAD SURFACES -AND- AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. THIS IMPARTS AN EXTREMELY BLURRED IMAGE. THE ORIGINAL MIRROR WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THE REPLACEMENT EXHIBITS THIS PROBLEM ALSO.*AK

NHTSA ID

748297

Incident

Jun 1, 1999

DRIVER'S DOOR OUTSIDE MIRROR FAILED. DOES NOT REFECT ANYMORE AND YOU SEE DOUBLE WHEN LOOKING AT IT. ELECTROCHROMATIC FEATURE OF THIS MIRROR FAILED. HAVE SEEN MANY REPORTS OF THIS FAILURE BUT MOST MUST HAVE BEEN REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS SAFETY DEFECT IN THESE MIRRORS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR SERIOUS INJURY SINCE YOU CANNOT SEE ONCE THEY FAIL. *AK

NHTSA ID

746456

Incident

Dec 5, 2000

THE ON-BOARD COMPUTER INDICATES THAT THE "DRIVERS DOOR IS AJAR". THE SIGN DOES NOT GO OUT WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENED AND CLOSED AGAIN. WHEN DOOR LOCKS ARE DEPRESSED, THEY POP UP AGAIN AND THE DOORS WILL NOT LOCK AT ALL. THE ONLY OPERABLE SETTING OF THE HEATER BLOWER MOTOR IS HIGH FAN/ THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY BALLAST IS DEFECTIVE AND THE LOWBEAM SETTING IS DIM. IT CANNOT BE REPAIRED BY REPLACING THE LAMP.

NHTSA ID

739944

FRONT MIRROR OXIDIZED DUE TO LEAKS IN SEALING. YH

NHTSA ID

608866

Incident

Dec 1, 1998

EXTERIOR DRIVER'S SIDE REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY FAILED. MJS

NHTSA ID

606919

Incident

Sep 24, 1998

REAR VIEW MIRROR VIBRATES AND CAUSES BLURRED VISION DEPENDING ON ROAD SURFACES.

NHTSA ID

540358

Incident

Jun 21, 1998