Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1998 record →
WINDSHIELD REARVIEW MIRROR (ELECTROCHROMIC) VIBRATES ON ROUGH ROAD SURFACES -AND- AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. THIS IMPARTS AN EXTREMELY BLURRED IMAGE. THE ORIGINAL MIRROR WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THE REPLACEMENT EXHIBITS THIS PROBLEM ALSO.*AK
THE WHEELS DEVELOPED STRESS CRACKS WITHIN FIVE MONTHS OF MY OWNING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND A FORD REPRESENTATIVE EACH "LOOKED" AT THE WHEELS WITHOUT REMOVING THEM FROM THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED ME THAT THE STRESS CRAKING WAS CAUSED BY AN "OVER TORQUING" OF THE LUG NUTS. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR SIX MONTHS AND I HAVE NEVER HAD THE FRONT WHEELS REMOVED. I DO NOT BELIEVE THE CRACKS ARE A RESULT OF "OVER-TORQUING" AND I AM SEEKING ANY ADDITIONAL FAILURE INFORMATION OF MY DESCRIPTION. I ALSO BELIEVE THE STRESS CRACK WILL CONTINUE TO WORSEN AND EVENTUALLY FAIL.*AK
WHEN DRIVING AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES TO MAKE A GRADUAL STOP EITHER ON WET OR DRY PAVEMENT BRAKE PEDAL GOES STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM OR DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK *SLC
DRIVER'S DOOR OUTSIDE MIRROR FAILED. DOES NOT REFECT ANYMORE AND YOU SEE DOUBLE WHEN LOOKING AT IT. ELECTROCHROMATIC FEATURE OF THIS MIRROR FAILED. HAVE SEEN MANY REPORTS OF THIS FAILURE BUT MOST MUST HAVE BEEN REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS SAFETY DEFECT IN THESE MIRRORS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR SERIOUS INJURY SINCE YOU CANNOT SEE ONCE THEY FAIL. *AK
THE ON-BOARD COMPUTER INDICATES THAT THE "DRIVERS DOOR IS AJAR". THE SIGN DOES NOT GO OUT WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENED AND CLOSED AGAIN. WHEN DOOR LOCKS ARE DEPRESSED, THEY POP UP AGAIN AND THE DOORS WILL NOT LOCK AT ALL. THE ONLY OPERABLE SETTING OF THE HEATER BLOWER MOTOR IS HIGH FAN/ THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY BALLAST IS DEFECTIVE AND THE LOWBEAM SETTING IS DIM. IT CANNOT BE REPAIRED BY REPLACING THE LAMP.
I CAN NOT GET THE HISTORY ON THIS CAR FOR THE TIME PERIOD 12/98 TO 5/2000, CAN YOU ADVISE ME?NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AND MAKING A NORMAL STOP, BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD. THERE WAS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BRAKING. DRIVER HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP VEHICLE. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
WHEN ENTERING A DARK TUNNEL HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS MOVED TO MANUAL SETTING TO OVERRIDE THE AUTOMATIC FEATURE, HEADLIGHTS COME ON IMMEDIATELY, AS THEY SHOULD, HOWEVER DASH LIGHTS ARE DELAYED UPTO 25 SECONDS CAUSING THE VECHICLE TO TRAVEL UP TO 1/2 MILE WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO MONITOR THE SPEEDOMETER OR CRITICAL GAUGES, OTHER LINCOLN MODELS I TESTED DON'T HAVE THIS DELAY IN THERE SYSTEM. THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT ACCORDING TO EVERYONE I TELL ABOUT IT, ALTHOUGH WASINGTON STATE LEMON LAW RULED AGAINST ME ON THIS MATTER AND ENCOURAGES THE MANUFACTOR TO CONTINUE TO PRODUCE A DEFECTIVE CAR. *AK
SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE, I HAVE RETURNED IT TO THE LINCOLN DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DUE TO COMPUTER FAILURE. THE CONPUTER CONSOLE READ THE GAS MILEAGE, DRIVER DOOR AJAR, OTHER VEHICLE ERRORS QUITE OFTEN. WHEN REQUESTED FOR AN ENGINEER FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO COME DOWN AND INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR COMPUTER MALFUNCTION PROBLEMS I WAS TOLD THAT THE FORD ENGINEER WAS SPOKEN TO OVER THE PHONE AND HE SUGESSTED TO WAIT AND THE COMPUTER WOULD RESET ITSELF NORMALLY. I FEEL THAT THE CONSTANCE MALFUNCTIONING OF THE COMPUTER COULD ALSO BE THE CASUE FOR THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING DOING THE ACCIDENT. WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE WRITER AS THE FREEDOM FORD LINCOLN MERCURY REPAIR SHOP ABOUT THE POSSIBLE AIRBAG PROBLEM I WAS TOLD THAT THE AIRBAG WAS LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GRILL (FENDER) AND UNLESS THE CAR WAS DAMAGED IN THAT PARTICULAR AREAR THEN THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY. I INIDICATED TO THE GENTLEMEN THAT THE ANSWER HE GAVE TO ME WAS NOT SATISFACTORY NOR WAS IT LOGICAL BECASUE IF I WAS HIT FROM THE REAR AT TA FAST RATE OF SPEED AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY BUT I HIT THE WINDSHIELD OR WENT THROUGH THE WINSHIELD THEN BASED ON HIS ANSWER OF SOLUTION THE AIRBAG STILL WILL NOT DEPLOY. I ASK THAT THE PROBLEM IS TAKEN MORE SERIOUS WITH FORD AND THE DEALER AND RECTIFIED IF THERE IS IN FACT IS A PROBLEM. I NEVER DID GET AN ANSWER FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY BEACUSE THE GENTLEMENT THAT ASSISTED ME WAS VERY CONDESENDING TO SAY THE LESS AND NOT COOPERATIVE. *AK
CAR ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WHEN IN SNOW OR IN GRAVEL OR POOR TRACTION . THE ENGINE HAS NO POWER AND ACTS LIKE IT IS FLOODED . TOOK CAR TO LINCOLN DEALERSHIP IN BOISE ID. ROUNDTREE LINCOLN EXPLAINED PROBLEM WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A NATURAL THING FOR THIS CAR. THIS PROBLEM CREATES A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU CANNOT MOVE THE CAR IT SIMPLY SHUTS DOWN YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRICATED PLEASE CONTACT ME REGARDING ADDTIONAL INFORMATOIN. *AK
ABS SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON FOR TWO HOURS OR MORE, THEN IT WENT OFF. SINCE THEN, INTERMITTENTLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT AT FULL STOP WHENEVER BRAKES WERE APPLIED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE UNTIL THEY GET THE CODE FROM THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE, WHEN IT OCCURRED. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN COLLISION WITH WALL OF HOME, VEHICLE TOTALED AND INJURIES DUE TO FAILURE. MJS
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS ARE HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE HEADLAMPS WHICH CAUSE PROBLEMS WITH VISIBILITY IN SNOW STORM CONDITIONS.
REAR AXLE BEARING FAILED. MJS
EXTERIOR DRIVER'S SIDE REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY FAILED. MJS
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING FRONT SUSPENSION OUT OF ALIGNMENT, CAUSING PULLING, JERKING AND VIBRATIONS. *YC
BATTERY FAILURE. *YC
DRIVE TRAIN EXPERIENCING VIBRATION / NOISE. *YC
FRONT LIGHT FAILED. MJS
AIR CONDITIONER'S VACUUM LINE DISCONNECTED. YH
RIGHT FRONT HEAD LAMP MALFUNCTION. YH
ON TWO OCCASIONS THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED, CAUSING VIBRATION, RESULTING IN VIOLENT STEERING. *YC
AIR CONDITIONER FAILED. YH
FRONT MIRROR OXIDIZED DUE TO LEAKS IN SEALING. YH
NOISE IN HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLY. YH
WHILE WARMING UP THE VEHICLE A FIRE STARTED FROM THE TRUNK DUE TO SOME WIRES CATCHING ON FIRE, AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO COME OUT AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. *AK
THE ENGINE WOULD FREEZE OR SHUT DOWN FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. NO WARNING GIVING. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER & VEHICLE PUT ON DIAGONISTIC MACHINE. NOTHING WAS FOUND WRONG. *AK
BOLT THAT HOLDS THE SEAT TO THE FRAME CAME OFF CAUSING SEAT TO FALL BACK.
PASSENGER LEANED BACK ON PASSENGER SEAT AND BOLT HOLDING FRAME TO BODY OF CAR CAME OUT. ALSO FOUND THAT ONLY ONE BOLT WAS INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY THE INSIDE BOLT WAS NEVER INSTALLED.
REAR VIEW MIRROR VIBRATES AND CAUSES BLURRED VISION DEPENDING ON ROAD SURFACES.
THE VEHICLE IDLES AT 3,000 RPMS WHEN IT SHOULD IDLE LESS THAN I,000. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED. DEALER INDICATD THAT THIS WAS THE 3RD MARK VIII THAT THEY HAD WITH SAME SYMPTOMS. *AK
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1998 Lincoln Mark Viii → · Every Mark Viii year → · How the figures are calculated →