1997 Lincoln MARK VIII: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000486 · 2003-01-03 (January 3, 2003)
THE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR WHICH ALLOWS WARM AIR TO BE DIRECTED TO THE WINDSHIELD TO DEFROST IT BROKE AT A VERY BAD TIME. MY WINDSHIELD WAS FOGGED UP ON THE INTERSTATE AND WHEN I PUT THE CLIMATE CONTROL ON DEFROST, ALL I GOT WAS COLD AIR. NOT A VERY SAFE SET OF CONDITIONS. I HAVE SINCE READ THAT OVER 40 OF MY LINCOLN CAR CLUB MEMBERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PART BREAK. SOME REPORT AS MANY AS 3 FAILURES. THE LINCOLN DEALERSHIP QUOTES THE REPAIR AT APPROX. $700.00. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 88,095 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000486 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000569 · 2003-01-06 (January 6, 2003)
1997 LINCOLN MARK VIII DEFROSTER/HEATER/AC BLEND DOOR: THE BLEND DOOR ON MY 1997 LINCOLN HAS MALFUNCTIONED. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON ALL MARK VIII LINCOLNS CAUSING A MALFUNCTION IN THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER. THERE IS NO HEAT APPLIED TO THE WINDSHIELD WHILE ATTEMTING TO DEFROST. LINCOLN/FORD HAS IGNORED THIS VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND HAS OFFERED NO HELP. I AM SUGGESTING A RECALL BE MADE ON ALL 1997 AND 1998 LINCOLNS.
Owner-reported narrative. 63,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000569 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000707 · 2003-01-03 (January 3, 2003)
THERE IS A PART IN THE HEATER/DEFROSTER ON THE LINCOLN MARK VIII THAT IS PRONE TO FAILURE CAUSING LOSS OF HEAT OR A/C FOR USE IN DEFROSTING THE WINDSHIELD. THIS PART HAS FAILED REPEATEDLY, AND AS QUICKLY AS 1 YEAR AFTER REPLACEMENT BY THE DEALER. I PURCHASED A 1997 LINCOLN MARK VIII WITHIN IN THE PAST MONTH FROM WEISLEDER LINCOLN MERCURY, AMONG THE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE WAS THERE WAS NO HEAT. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE THE BLEND DOOR, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS REPAIR WILL BE NECESSARY AGAIN IN SHORT TIME BECAUSE THE CONSTRUCTION/ DESIGN OF …
Owner-reported narrative. 87,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000707 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000929 · 2003-01-10 (January 10, 2003)
THE HEATER BLEND DOOR HAS FAILED PREVENTING DEFROSTING OF THE WINDSHIELD.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000929 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005583 · 2003-02-10 (February 10, 2003)
LOW BEAM LIGHT (DRIVER'S SIDE) CEASED FUNCTION. OWNER'S MANUAL REQUIRES THAT ONLY FORD LINCOLN DEALER RENDERS REPAIR, AND THE LIGHT "UNIT" COSTS $750, WITH LABOR ESTIMATED AT $200 TO $400 ADDITIONAL. VEHICLE: 1997 FORD LINCOLN MARK VIII.
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005583 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022833 · 2003-06-06 (June 6, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH DEFROST BLOWING OUT COLD AIR INSTEAD OF HEAT TO DEFROST WINDSHIELD. *MR PH
Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10022833 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023080 · 2003-06-14 (June 14, 2003)
REPLACE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY,COST $700.00 FORD SHOULD PAY FOR THIS. SINCE IT WAS THEIR FAULT FOR NOT STOCKING PARTS. USED PARTS WERE USED. I HAVE NOT WAY OF KNOWING HOW LONG THIS WILL LAST. IF MY OTHER SIDE GOES OUT I AM FACING ANOTHER EXPENSE OF REPLACING IT SINCE IT IS THE LAW TO DRIVE WITH HEAD LIGHTS ON WHEN RAINING OR THROUGH A CONSTRUCTION ZONE HERE IN PA. WHY SHOULD I AS A CONSUMER HAVE TO PAY SUCH A HIGH COST TO REPAIR THESE LIGHTS. IF I HAD KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM I WOULD HAVE MADE SURE THAT I DID NOT BUY ONE OF THESE CARS,MADE IN J…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10023080 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023870 · 2003-06-27 (June 27, 2003)
WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOW-BEAM HID HEADLAMP BEGAN FAILING, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, SINCE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE ANYWHERE ELSE. THEN I FOUND OUT THAT PARTS WILL COST $780 ($200 FOR THE HEADLAMP + $580 FOR AN "UPGRADED" MOUNTING ASSEMBLY WHICH IS REQUIRED DUE TO PARTS OBSOLESCENCE AND A LINCOLN ENGINEERING MISTAKE). AFTER SOME COMPLAINING, I GOT FORD AND THE DEALER TO REDUCE COST TO $380 FOR PARTS PLUS $120 FOR LABOR. $500 TO REPLACE A HEADLIGHT (REQUIRED SAFETY FEATURE IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE! *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023870 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 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 ↗