Lincoln MARK VIII problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
706 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
75,660 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1989 to 2000 model years. Data snapshot: . 190 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting:Headlights is the most frequently named component, appearing in 446 of 706 complaints (63.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 34 | 4.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 17 | 2.4% |
| Steering behavior | 17 | 2.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 1.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 0.8% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 0.7% |
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 | 446 |
| Exterior Lighting | 31 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 31 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 29 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Concealment Devices | 21 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 10 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Unknown Or Other | 9 |
Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 446; Exterior Lighting: 31; Vehicle Speed Control: 31; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System: 29; Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Concealment Devices: 21; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 10; Electrical System: 9; Unknown Or Other: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 18 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 26 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 49 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 46 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 32 |
| 150,000 and above | 19 |
Under 25,000: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 26; 50,000 to 74,999: 49; 75,000 to 99,999: 46; 100,000 to 149,999: 32; 150,000 and above: 19
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (49). 516 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 13 |
| 1996 | 5 |
| 2000 | 86 |
| 2001 | 99 |
| 2002 | 195 |
| 2003 | 57 |
| 2004 | 44 |
| 2005 | 23 |
| 2006 | 84 |
| 2007 | 30 |
| 2008 | 32 |
| 2009 | 11 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 4 |
1995: 13; 1996: 5; 2000: 86; 2001: 99; 2002: 195; 2003: 57; 2004: 44; 2005: 23; 2006: 84; 2007: 30; 2008: 32; 2009: 11; 2010: 4; 2011: 5; 2012: 2; 2013: 4; 2014: 4; 2015: 4; 2016: 4
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting:Headlights leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 34 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 17 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 17 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 8012096 · 2002-06-18 (June 18, 2002)
DURING NORMAL BRAKING PEDAL WOULD INTERMITTENTLY GO TO THE FLOOR AND CAUSE EXTENED BRAKING DISTANCE BEFORE STOPPING. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8012096 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001481 · 2003-01-10 (January 10, 2003)
CONSUMER HAD THE MASTER CYLINDER, AND THE VACUUM BOOSTER REPLACED. THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE UNIT STARTED TO LEAK AND WAS REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR, IT WAS LEAKING WORSE THAN BEFORE. *JG *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 87,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001481 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10215045 · 2008-01-14 (January 14, 2008)
1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII WITH SPEED CONTROL SWITCH RECALL. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER DEACTIVATED THE SWITCH BUT DID NOT REPLACE THE WIRING ASSEMBLY. *KB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10215045 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10683462 · 2015-02-14 (February 14, 2015)
THEFT ALARM GOES OFF WHEN EVER IT WANTS TO. DOESN'T MATTER IF DAY OR NIGHT. THE BATTERY HAS TO BE DISCONNECTED TO SHUT IT OFF. THE CAR DOESN'T NEED TO BE DISTURBED FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10683462 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10392652 · 2011-03-23 (March 23, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND CAUSED A CRASH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS BUSTED AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000. UPDATED 06/02/11 UPDATED 06/24/1…
Owner-reported narrative. 147,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10392652 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 734234 · 2000-10-13 (October 13, 2000)
TANSMISSION REAR SEAL REPLACED, CONTINUED TO SLIP, THEN THE POWER STEERING PUMP WENT OUT AIR RIDE SYSTEM WAS REPLACED BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT 4 TIMES (2) FRONT (2) REAR.. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED ALARM WOULD GO OFF WHILE DRIVING LOCKS WHOULD LOCK ON YOU WHILE TRYING TO ENTER CAR IF YOU COULD BET THE LOCKS THE ALARM WOULD GO OFF .. ALTERNATOR WENT OUT AGTER I WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. VIBRATION IN CAR WHILD DRIVING AND IDILING. OVER HEATED NEW RADIATOR AND THERMOSTAT, 2 TIMING BELTS, INTAKE GASKE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 734234 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10157442 · 2006-05-12 (May 12, 2006)
FUEL TANK HOSE IS DESIGNED TO RUN AGAINST THE DRIVE SHAFT TO AVOID BEING PINCHED BY SUSPENSION. BUT OVER TIME THE CONSTANT RUNNING OF THE DRIVE SHAFT AGAINST THE HOSE WILL DETERIORATE IT CAUSING THE FUEL HOSE TO LEAK AND POSSIBLE FIR CAN RESULT! LINCOLN DESIGNED THE PLASTIC HOLDER TO HOLD HOSE AGAINST DRIVE SHAFT. THE PORTION OF MY DRIVE SHAFT THAT HAS BEEN RUBBING AGAINST THE FUEL HOSE HAS BEEN HIGHLY POLISHED TO A CHROME FINISH. FUEL HOSE IS LEAKING AT A GOOD RATE WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10157442 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10255893 · 2009-01-21 (January 21, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 LINCOLN MARK VIII. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED ITSELF. THE CONTACT COULD NOT DEACTIVATE THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. SHE PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND THE ENGINE REVVED BEFORE BURSTING INTO FLAMES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, BUT THE FUEL RAIL AND FUEL PUMP WERE DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC CENTER. THE DEALER INFORMED HER TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FIRE. SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AFTER THE FIRE OCCURRED. T…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10255893 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10220786 · 2008-03-11 (March 11, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOMETER, SPEEDOMETER, AND CRUISE CONTROL ALL MALFUNCTIONED ON HIS VEHICLE. SINCE THE FAILURES, THE ON-BOARD COMPUTER ALSO FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT, BASICALLY, THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD FAILED. THE AIR RIDE SYSTEM ALSO BEGAN TO LEAK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS FOR THE SPEEDOMETER WERE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR TRANSMISSION SERVICE AND IT CAME BACK WITH A TRANSMISSION LEAK. HE REPLACED A SCREW, BUT THE LEAK STIL…
Owner-reported narrative. 159,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10220786 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 726029 · 2000-07-26 (July 26, 2000)
AUTO TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS 1 OR 2 GEARS WHILE CRUISING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, RPM GOES OVER 4500 AND TIRES GRAB THE PAVEMENT.. THIS WILL CAUSE A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON ICY OR WET ROADS. THIS TRANSMISSION WAS A PROBLEM EARLIER AND WAS WORKED ON BY THE DEALER ABOUT 3 THOUSAND MILES AGO. BECAUSE IT WAS STORED ALL WINTER, IT WAS NOT EVIDENT TO THE OWNER THAT THE REPAIR WORSENED THE PROBLEM SHORT TRIPS ARE OK, IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN THE CAR IS WARM LIKE ON A TRIP OF OVER A 100 MILES. I REPORTED THE PROBLEMS TO THE LINCOLN CONSUMER NUMBER . …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 726029 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 551236 · 2000-03-07 (March 7, 2000)
FUEL PUMP FAILED THREE TIMES CAUSING THE VEHICLE STALL EACH TIME. YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 551236 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 ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1989 | 0 |
| 1992 | 0 |
| 1993 | 3 |
| 1994 | 2 |
| 1995 | 1 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 1997 | 1 |
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
1989: 0; 1992: 0; 1993: 3; 1994: 2; 1995: 1; 1996: 1; 1997: 1; 1998: 1; 1999: 0; 2000: 0