1993 Lincoln MARK VIII: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
201 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
90,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 model year. Data snapshot: . 41 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting:Headlights is the most frequently named component, appearing in 147 of 201 complaints (73.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 7 | 3.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 2.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 0.5% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 0.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.5% |
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 | 147 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Concealment Devices | 6 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 147; Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Concealment Devices: 6; Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Exterior Lighting: 4; Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3; Air Bags: 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 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 14 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 14; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 6
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (14). 160 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 | 6 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 2000 | 36 |
| 2001 | 34 |
| 2002 | 59 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 20 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 7 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
1995: 6; 1996: 1; 2000: 36; 2001: 34; 2002: 59; 2003: 14; 2004: 8; 2005: 5; 2006: 20; 2007: 6; 2008: 7; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting:Headlights leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000718 · 2003-01-04 (January 4, 2003)
1993-1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII HEADLIGHTS ARE ALL FAULTY. THEY TURN YELLOW AFTER ABOUT 6 MONTHS OF PURCHASE, THESE UNITS ARE NOT CHEAP, ABOUT $800 FOR A NEW HEADLIGHT SYSTEM. I CONSTANTLY DRIVE WITH MY BRIGHT LIGHTS ON AND I STILL CANT EVEN SEE THE LINES ON THE ROAD. TRY DRIVING WITH YOUR HEADLIGHTS OFF AND THATS HOW THE MARK VIII'S ARE. THIS IS A BIG SAFTEY ISSUE TOO WHICH FORD SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THIS A LONG TIME AGO. ITS SICK HOW THEY DONT WANT TO RECALL IT BECAUSE OF THE MONEY ISSUE, BUT IT CAN AND WILL SAVE LIFES. PLEASE WRITE ME A EMAI…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000718 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 10002649 · 2003-01-14 (January 14, 2003)
THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII ARE VIRTUALLY USELESS. WITH THE STANDARD REPLACEMENT BULBS I HAVE ABOUT TEN FEET VISIBILITY FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THIS IS WITH THE LOW BEAMS AND I HAVE ABOUT TWENTY TO THIRTY FEET VISIBILITY WITH THE HIGH BEAMS. I UPGRADED THE HIGH BEAMS TO A ONE HUNDRED WATT BULB TO GET UP TO ABOUT FIFTY FEET VISIBILITY. THIS GIVES ME ABOUT TWO AND A HALF CAR LENGTHS VISIBILITY AT NIGHT. WHEN I AM MEETING ON COMING TRAFFIC AT NIGHT, ALL I CAN DO IS TO TRY AND NOT HIT THE HEADLIGHTS THAT ARE IN THE OTHER LANE. THE P…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002649 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017144 · 2003-04-18 (April 18, 2003)
THE VEHICLES DASHBOARD STARTED SMOKING THEN THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. THE RECALL FOR THE HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT BREAKER (98V-009000) WAS PERFORMED PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THIS RECALL WAS DONE PRIOR TO THE CONSUMER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 87,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017144 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019044 · 2003-05-21 (May 21, 2003)
HEADLIGHT LENSES CRACK & YELLOW MAKING SAFE NIGHT DRIVING IMPOSSIBLE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 105,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019044 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020708 · 2003-05-29 (May 29, 2003)
HEADLIGHT- NOT ENOUGH LIGHT IS PUT OUT TO SEE IN THE DARK, PUT NEW BULBS IN AND CLEANED LENES. SAFETY DEFECT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020708 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021115 · 2003-06-05 (June 5, 2003)
PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHT LOW BEAMS. THE ARE SO LOW THAT YOU CANT USE THEM. I JUST GOT THE CAR AND WAS DRIVING USING THE LOW BEAMS WENT AROUND A CORNER THAT WAS NOT LIT AND WENT ON TO THE SHOULDER. ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. FROM THAT POINT I JUST USE THE HIGH BEAMS. IT IS AGAINST THE LAW BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE. PLEASE HELP RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM MAKE FORD DO THE RIGHT THING.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 107,235 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021115 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021286 · 2003-06-09 (June 9, 2003)
THE HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY POOR. THEY DON'T LIGHT THE ROAD IN FRONT OF ME. I'VE CLEANED THEM AND REPLACED THEM. THE DESIGN JUST DOESN'T ALLOW ENOUGH LIGHT TO SHINE ON THE ROAD.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021286 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
07V336000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 2007-08-03 (August 3, 2007)
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
NHTSA campaign record ↗92V166000 · Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
Reported: 1992-11-18 (November 18, 1992)
THE LINK LEVER TRUNION ON THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING INSTALLATION.
Consequence: THE DAMAGED COMPONENT MAY BECOME DISLODGED DURING VEHICLEOPERATION, MAKING THE RETRACTOR VEHICLE-SENSITIVE LOCKING SYSTEM INOPERATIVE.THIS INCREASES THE POSSIBILTY OF A SERIOUS INJURY IN A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.
Remedy: THE RETRACTORS WILL BE REPLACED IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.
NHTSA campaign record ↗98V009000 · Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch
Reported: 1998-01-21 (January 21, 1998)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHTS CAN FLASH INTERMITTENTLY AS A RESULT OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING. THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS CAN GO OUT FOR BRIEF INTERVALS.
Consequence: LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION CAN AFFECT A DRIVER'S ABILITY TO NAVIGATE THE ROADWAY AND REDUCE THE VISIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLIGHT SWITCH THAT INCORPORATES A CRICUIT BREAKER OF REVISED DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF A WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR AND WIRING, IF NEEDED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗