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1986 Lincoln Mark Vii

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 0 of 8 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Equipment. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports3 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

8 reports
Mileage unknown · Dec 12, 2003
Electrical SystemEquipmentService Brakes, Hydraulic

AIR CONDITIONER SHUT OFF/ DASH BUTTONS STOPPED WORKING, AND BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10050455

Mileage unknown · Apr 12, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

CONSUMER DOES NOT HAVE ORIGINAL RCALL LETTER 87V139000 FROM DEALER CONCERNING FUEL LINE LEAK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8007512

Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE HAS STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES AT ANY SPEED. REPAIR SHOP CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #895442

Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 2000
TiresFire

IN TRYING TO PULL OUT OF SNOW, THE REAR RIGHT TIRE CAUGHT FIRE DAMAGING THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY. YH

NHTSA ODI #551739

Mileage unknown · May 20, 1997
Electrical SystemFire

A SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED FIRE.

NHTSA ODI #517299

Mileage unknown · Apr 26, 1996
Electrical System

ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK CAUSED THE WIRES IN THE IGNITION TO BURN OUT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #983647

Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

VEHICLE PARKED IN GARAGE WHILE OWNER WAS ASLEEP. HUSBAND DIED OF SMOKE INHALATION.

NHTSA ODI #983230

Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 1996
Seats

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT MOVES FORWARD. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #982324

Official recalls

5

87V139000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Sep 4, 1987

SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.

Remedy: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.

86V108000 · Electrical System:ignition

Aug 8, 1986

THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER MAY HANG UP AND NOT FULLY RETURN TO THE "ON" POSITION FROM THE "START" POSITION AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE. IF THIS OCCURS, THE ENGINE WILL REMAIN RUNNING, BUT THE BATTERY CURRENT TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM SUPPLY MOTOR WILL BE INTERRUPTED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: WITH POWER TO MOST ACCESSORIES AND THE BRAKE SYSTEM SUPPLY MOTOR INTERRUPTED, THE POWER ASSIST TO THE FRONT BRAKE WILL BE LOST AND AFTER ABOUT 10 TO 15 NORMAL BRAKE STOPS, LOSS OF REAR BRAKE FUNCTION WILL RESULT, CAUSING INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. HOWEVER, THE INSTRUMENT BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE PRIOR TO REDUCED BRAKING CAPABILITY AND IF WARNING IS NOT HEEDED, AN ACCIDENT MAY OCCUR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: REPLACE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDERS WITH REVISED DESIGN CYLINDERS.

86V109000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:hydraulic

Aug 8, 1986

UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, CONTACTS IN BRAKE SYSTEM RELAY COULD REMAIN CLOSED, CAUSING THE BRAKE PUMP MOTOR TO RUN CONTINUOUSLY, CAUSING IT TO OVERHEAT AND EVENTUALLY FAIL. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SHOULD THE BRAKE SUPPLY MOTOR FAIL, THE POWER ASSIST TO THE FRONT BRAKES WILL BE LOST, AND AFTER ABOUT 10 TO 15 NORMAL BRAKE STOPS, LOSS OF REAR BRAKE FUNCTION WILL RESULT, CAUSING INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. HOWEVER, THE INSTRUMENT BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE PRIOR TO REDUCED BRAKING CAPABILITY AND IF WARNING IS NOT HEEDED, AN ACCIDENT MAY OCCUR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: REPLACE PUMP MOTOR RELAYS.

86V023000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip

Feb 10, 1986

WIRING CONNECTIONS IN AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR TO THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR FLUID LEVEL SENSORS WERE REVERSED AND FAIL TO INDICATE LOW FLUID LEVELS AS SPECIFIED BY FMVSS 105, HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SENSOR WILL NOT TRANSMIT SIGNAL TO BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WHEN THE FLUID LEVEL IS LESS THAN ONE FOURTH FULL. WITHOUT THIS WARNING SIGNAL THE FLUID LEVEL MAY DECREASE TO THE POINT WHERE PARTIAL OR COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKE WOULD BE EXPERIENCED AND MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: RE-CONFIGURE WIRING TO THE FLUID LEVEL SENSOR CONNECTOR.

85V115000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Sep 19, 1985

AN ALUMINUM CASTING FLASH ON THE FACE OF THE THROTTLE BODY MAY BREAK OFF AND BECOME TRAPPED BETWEEN THE THROTTLE PLATE AND THE BORE IN THE THROTTLE BODY. CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: THROTTLE MAY FAIL TO RETURN TO IDLE POSITION WHEN RELEASED AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: REMOVE EXCESS CASTING FLASH.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE86067 · Brake Failure

Opened Jul 29, 1986 · Closed Sep 9, 1986

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ANALYSIS:THE 8 COMPLAINTS IN ODI COMPLAINT FILE REVEALED SUDDEN BRAKEFAILURE.FORD HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN, 03250000, ON 1985 MARK VII'SFOR AN OUT OF POSITION WIRING HARNESS.IN THIS CASE THE BRAKING SENSORMAY SHORT CAUSING POWER BRAKE FAILURE.THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLSPERTAINING TO THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS SUGGESTED TOEVALUATE THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.STATUS:IR PREPARED.PROPOSED ACTION:TO OPEN A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ANALYSIS:THE 8 COMPLAINTS IN ODI COMPLAINT FILE REVEALED SUDDEN BRAKEFAILURE.FORD HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN, 03250000, ON 1985 MARK VII'SFOR AN OUT OF POSITION WIRING HARNESS.IN THIS CASE THE BRAKING SENSORMAY SHORT CAUSING POWER BRAKE FAILURE.THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLSPERTAINING TO THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS SUGGESTED TOEVALUATE THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.STATUS:IR PREPARED.PROPOSED ACTION:TO OPEN A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ANALYSIS:THE 8 COMPLAINTS IN ODI COMPLAINT FILE REVEALED SUDDEN BRAKEFAILURE.FORD HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN, 03250000, ON 1985 MARK VII'SFOR AN OUT OF POSITION WIRING HARNESS.IN THIS CASE THE BRAKING SENSORMAY SHORT CAUSING POWER BRAKE FAILURE.THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLSPERTAINING TO THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS SUGGESTED TOEVALUATE THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.STATUS:IR PREPARED.PROPOSED ACTION:TO OPEN A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION.