1997 Lincoln MARK VIII problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
71 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
64,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 34 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting:Headlights is the most frequently named component, appearing in 24 of 71 complaints (33.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 6 | 8.5% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 4.2% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 2.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 24 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 16 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Equipment:Electrical | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Concealment Devices | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 24; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System: 16; Vehicle Speed Control: 8; Exterior Lighting: 3; Electrical System: 2; Equipment:Electrical: 2; Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Concealment Devices: 2; Steering: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 37 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2002 | 13 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
2000: 3; 2001: 7; 2002: 13; 2003: 14; 2004: 5; 2005: 4; 2006: 6; 2007: 5; 2008: 8; 2009: 3; 2012: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting:Headlights leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10040831 · 2003-09-27 (September 27, 2003)
WINSHIELD WASHER BOTTOM, BROKE, ASSEMBLY INCLUDES SIGNAL LIGHT, WIPPERS, LOW/HIGH BEEM AND FLASHERS SWITCH, STEERING WHEEL AND AIR BAG HAVE TO BE REMOVED TO REPLACE PART, ABOUT TWO HOURS OF LABOR AND $200, ACCORDING TO DEALER. DEALER SHOULD MADE THIS A TWO PIECE PART TO MAKE JOB EASIERAND LESS SPENSIVE. DRIVER'S AJUSMENT HAS TO BE RESETED EVERY TIME YOU START THE VEHICLE, CAUSE UNKNOWN.
Owner-reported narrative. 45,670 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040831 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10701392 · 2015-03-24 (March 24, 2015)
VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING DOWN A BUSY URBAN STREET AND WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION, THE DRIVER BEGIN TURNING SLIGHTLY TO CHANGE LANES AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, LEAVING THE VEHICLE WITH NO STEERING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 61,540 miles reported. Look up ODI 10701392 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10220456 · 2008-03-08 (March 8, 2008)
IN NOV 2007 FORD MAILED ME A RECALL NOTICE ON THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM ON MY 1997 MARK VIII 05S28. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED HARNISH LINCOLN MERCURY, PUYALLUP, WA AND WAS SCHEDUKED. IT IS A 37 MILE ROUND TRIP FROM MY HOME. THEY TOOK MY MARK VIII FOR LESS THA 1/2 HOUR AND ADVISED ME THAT FORD HAD NOT SENT THEM THE REPLACEMENT PART; BUT THEY WOULD CONTACT ME WHEN IT CAME IN. ON MARCH 4, 2008, I RECEIVED A NEW RECALL NOTICE INSTRUCTING ME TO CONTACT A DEALER. AGAIN, I CONTACTED THEIR HARNISH DEALER AND WAS SCHEDULED. AGAIN ,I DROVE THE 37 …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10220456 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 738078 · 2000-12-20 (December 20, 2000)
GAS GAUGE AND ELECTRONIC MESSAGE CENTER DISPLAY ERRONEOUS FUEL INFORMATION THAT RESULTS IN AN UNPREDICTABLE OUT-OF-GAS CONDITION WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER AND STALLS WITH NO POWER FOR ACCELERATION AND IMPAIRED BRAKING AND STEERING. THIS UNEXPECTED OUT-OF-GAS CONDITION DUE TO ERRONEOUS DASHBOARD INDICATORS PLACES THE VEHICLE, DRIVER, AND OCCUPANTS IN JEOPARDY OF POTENTIAL PERSONAL INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. THIS PROBLEM IS SIMILAR TO TSBS BC2303970501/ITEM SB052799 AND BC105799705/ITEM SB052859. MOST…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 738078 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10223396 · 2008-04-04 (April 4, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIRED. THE DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR AN HOUR AND THEN ADVISED HER THAT SHE WOULD NEED THE BRAKE LINE REPAIRED BEFORE THEY COULD PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO REPORT THIS AND THEY INFORMED HER THAT WHATEVER THE SERVICE DEALER STATED, IS WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO HEED. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE POWERTRAIN AND RECALL NUMBER WERE U…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10223396 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10111103 · 2005-02-08 (February 8, 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
Owner-reported narrative. 49,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10111103 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10207414 · 2007-10-30 (October 30, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN MARK VIII. WHILE MERGING INTO TRAFFIC BETWEEN 5-10 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN MOVING ERRATICALLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE CABIN AND UNDER THE HOOD, ALONG WITH AN ELECTRICAL SMELL SURROUNDING THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER STOPPED THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE SMOKING CEASED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR A MECHANIC. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) WAS REFERENCED. THE SWITCH WAS DEACTIVATED, BUT HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS U…
Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10207414 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039785 · 2003-11-24 (November 24, 2003)
GAS GAUGE INDICATOR FAILED, IT DID NOT PROVIDE THE RIGHT INFORMATION. *AK THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT WITH LESS THAN 1/4 TANK OF GAS, THE CONSUMER ADDED TWO GALLONS OF GAS AND THE VEHICLE STILL DID NOT START, THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO LEVEL FOR TOWING AND THEN IT STARTED, THE PROBLEM HAPPENED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN ANGLE TO THE LEFT. THE DEALER REPLACED SEVERAL COMPONETS SUCH AS THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND GAS TANK, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *JB *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10039785 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10048738 · 2003-11-24 (November 24, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH FUEL TANK READINGS ON GAS GAUGE.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE GAS GAUGE MOVED ERRATICALLY WHILE DRIVING. THE CLUSTER FUEL GAUGE AND FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINED THE SAME. *JB *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10048738 at NHTSA ↗