1998 Lincoln MARK VIII problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
61 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
64,844 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 26 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 61 complaints (19.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 7 | 11.5% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 8.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 12 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 4 |
| Suspension:Front | 4 |
| Visibility | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System: 12; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 4; Suspension:Front: 4; Visibility: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 13 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 35 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 | 6 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 12 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2016 | 2 |
2000: 6; 2001: 6; 2002: 12; 2003: 4; 2004: 8; 2005: 4; 2006: 4; 2007: 4; 2008: 4; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 4; 2016: 2
Pattern summary
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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 10038640 · 2003-09-10 (September 10, 2003)
STEERING HAS MALFUNCTIONED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10038640 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10080863 · 2004-07-12 (July 12, 2004)
I ROLAND MATOS PURCHASED A LINCOLN MARK VIII ON 06\27\01. BEAUTIFUL CAR . BUT 2 WEEKS AFTER I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE POWERTILT\TELESCOPE STEERING. IT WASN'T MOVING BACK AND FORTH ANY-MORE, AND DROPPING ITS BALL BEARINGS ON DRIVERSIDE MAT. SO I CALLED COUNTY LINE LEXUS WHERE I PURCHASED CAR, THEY TOLD ME THAT I BOUGHT THE CAR "AS IS" THEY DIRECTED ME TO FORD. I CALLED FORD AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE MANUFACTURE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. I HAD VEHICLE FOR LESS THAN A MONTH ,THAT I HAD TO PAY TO FIX IT. SO I CONTACTED NHTSA AND TOLD THEM T…
Owner-reported narrative. 58,158 miles reported. Look up ODI 10080863 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10186930 · 2007-04-03 (April 3, 2007)
THE FRONT ABS SPEED SENSOR HAS FAILED ON MY 1998 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS ONLY 50K MILES ON IT. THESE SENSORS HAVE BEEN DISCONTINUED BY FORD STARTING 2005. THEY ARE NOT INTERCHANGEABLE WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE AND NO AUTOMOTIVE PARTS STORE CARRIES THEM. FORD MADE CLOSE TO 18,000 LINCOLN MARK VIII IN 1998, THE ABS SENSOR IS CRUCIAL IN THE PROPER OPERATION OF THE ABS AS WELL AS THE TRACTION CONTROL, AS IT IS RIGHT NOW THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENTS AVAILABLE ANYWHERE. THE MARK VIIIS THAT HAVE AND WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM WILL…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10186930 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10342183 · 2010-07-09 (July 9, 2010)
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 A…
Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10342183 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10388611 · 2011-03-06 (March 6, 2011)
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. PUMPI…
Owner-reported narrative. 74,095 miles reported. Look up ODI 10388611 at NHTSA ↗