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U.S. public vehicle records

1998 Lincoln MARK VIII: complaints, problems and recalls

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.

Owner-reported patterns

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.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior711.5%
Braking behavior58.2%
Transmission and shifting11.6%

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.

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
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System12
Exterior Lighting:Headlights6
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip4
Suspension:Front4
Visibility4
Engine And Engine Cooling3
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch3
Unknown Or Other3

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.

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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0002
25,000 to 49,9993
50,000 to 74,99913
75,000 to 99,9993
100,000 to 149,9994
150,000 and above1

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.

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
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20006
20016
200212
20034
20048
20054
20064
20074
20084
20092
20101
20114
20162

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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10003517 · 2003-01-28 (January 28, 2003)

BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR IS BROKEN. THIS CAUSES A SERIOUS VISIBILITY HAZARD DO TO FOG ON THE WINDOWS THAT COULD LEAD TO PERSONAL INJURY.

Owner-reported narrative. 64,049 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003517 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10005626 · 2003-02-10 (February 10, 2003)

I HAVE BEEN REVIEWING THE FILE ON LINCOLN MARK 8'S '97 & 98 AND NOTICED THAT THERE WERE AT LEAST 10 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE VENTILATION/HEATING/A/C BLEND DOOR PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DOES IT TAKE UNTIL YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT???? THIS IS NOT ONLY A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR TO MAKE, BUT FAILURE, WHICH CAN HAPPEN WITHOUT WARNING, RESULTS IN WINDSHIELD FOGGING AND INABILITY OF THE SYSTEM TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD . THE LINCOLNS OF DISTINCTION CLUB, WHICH SUPPORTS MARK 8'S HAVE HAD OVER 30-40 FAILURES TO DATE, SOME REPEATEDLY. WE …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005626 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10023956 · 2003-06-28 (June 28, 2003)

HEATER/AC BLENDER DOOR FAILURE RESULTING IN NO HEAT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE WHICH IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR SINCE DASH HAS TO BE PULLED---QUOTED BY DEALER TO BE $738. BECAUSE OF SO MANY OCCURRENCES WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A DEFECT THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPAIR? *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10023956 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10038640 · 2003-09-10 (September 10, 2003)

STEERING HAS MALFUNCTIONED.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10038640 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10052376 · 2004-01-05 (January 5, 2004)

AT DIFFERENT TIMES THE DOOR AJAR INDICATOR WILL COME ON. THIS CAUSES THE INTERIOR LIGHTS IN THE VEHICHLE TO LIGHT UP AND IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS AT NIGHT. OFTEN TIMES IT WILL SWITCH FROM THE DRIVERS DOOR TO THE RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR AND ON OCCASION WILL INDICATE BOTH.(ONE GOES OUT AND THE OTHER STARTS) THIS ALSO CAUSES THE ALARM SYSTEM TO ENGAGE. WHEN I EXIT THE VEHICLE, IF SENSORS INDICATE THAT ONE OF THE DOORS IS STILL AJAR, THE ALARM ACTIVATES INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052376 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10052604 · 2004-01-07 (January 7, 2004)

I BOUGHT A 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII 2 YEARS AGO. NOT TO LONG AFTER OWNING IT THE DRIVERS SIDE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE WHILE TRYING TO OPEN IT. (50,000 MILES). $122.00 TO FIX. I TRADED THE 96 FOR A 98 MARK VIII . I WENT TO GET INTO MY CAR AND THE DRIVERS OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE AGAIN.(52,000 MILES)$257.00 TO FIX (DEFECTED PART). *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052604 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10055624 · 2004-03-17 (March 17, 2004)

PROBLEMS WITH HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM THAT HAS OCCURRED 4 TIMES. *AK *MR

Owner-reported narrative. 54,473 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055624 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10072972 · 2004-05-21 (May 21, 2004)

WE HAVE OWNED A MARK VII AND A MARK VIII LINCOLN. BOTH CARS HAD SERIOUS PAINT DETERIORATION. WE ALWAYS HAVE OUR AUTOMOBILES HAND WASHED. WE WOULD LIKE TO REPLACE ONE OF THE AUTOS WITH ANOTHER LINCOLN, HOWEVER, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE BOTH OF THE CARS PAINTED. HIS MUST BE A FAULT OF YOUR PAINT. IS THERE ANY COMPENSATION? I HESITATE TO BUY ANOTHER LINCOLN. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10072972 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 ↗