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: 1 of 13 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 →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. 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 →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
13 reports
177,000 miles · Jan 7, 2004
Exterior Lighting
HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY FAILED. ALL LIGHTS SHUT OFF. CAR HAS FEATURE THAT TURNS ON LIGHTS @ DARK ETC. HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY. 10 DEG. IN COLD TEMPS (<20DEG) ALL LIGHTS GO OFF UNEXPECTEDLY W/ NO PREDICTABLE PATTERN.*AK FIRST HAPPENED LAST YEAR ON FREEWAY @ 65 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, SUDDENLY NO LIGHTS. TOOK ABOUT 5-10 SECONDS TO …
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HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY FAILED. ALL LIGHTS SHUT OFF. CAR HAS FEATURE THAT TURNS ON LIGHTS @ DARK ETC. HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY. 10 DEG. IN COLD TEMPS (<20DEG) ALL LIGHTS GO OFF UNEXPECTEDLY W/ NO PREDICTABLE PATTERN.*AK FIRST HAPPENED LAST YEAR ON FREEWAY @ 65 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, SUDDENLY NO LIGHTS. TOOK ABOUT 5-10 SECONDS TO FIND MANUAL SWITCH & TURN THEM ON. NOW I TRY TO REMEMBER TO TURN LIGHTS ON W/O USING THE AUTOMATIC SYSTEM IN COLD WEATHER. COULD HAVE BEEN REALLY EXCITING ON A DARK 2 LANE ROAD. SINCE ANY SYSTEM CAN FAIL, WHY DOESN'T IT DEFAULT TO ON ?
NHTSA ODI #10052554
Mileage unknown · Dec 31, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE DRIVING COULD STEP ON THE BRAKES PEDAL, BUT BRAKES WILL NOT OPERATE AT THE TIME OF APPLYING, ESPECIALLY IN COLD WHEATER. DEALER SAID THAT PROBLEM WAS WITH THE HYDRAULIC VACUUM SWITCH WHICH WILL NOT WORK ON TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8001304
Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2000
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic
ELECTRIC PUMP FOR THE ABS IS LOCATED WITHIN THE WIRING OF ACCESSORY SIDE OF THE IGINITON SWITCH. IF THE SWITCH FAILS VHEICLE WILL LOSE ALL BRAKES WHILE DRIVING. THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL BECOME HARD AND VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. *AK
NHTSA ODI #869673
Mileage unknown · Oct 11, 1999
Power Train
OVERDRIVE SLIPS
NHTSA ODI #713131
Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 1999
Electrical SystemFire
ELECTRICAL FAILURE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT RESULTED IN FIRE AFTER CAR WAS TURNED OFF. INSURANCE ADJUSTER BELIEVED IT WAS A FAILURE OF THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR. RESULTED IN THE COMPLETE LOSS OF THE CAR, IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, WITH ONLY 35,000 MILES ON IT SINCE NEW. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANY OTHER SIMILIAR COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN FIL…
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ELECTRICAL FAILURE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT RESULTED IN FIRE AFTER CAR WAS TURNED OFF. INSURANCE ADJUSTER BELIEVED IT WAS A FAILURE OF THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR. RESULTED IN THE COMPLETE LOSS OF THE CAR, IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, WITH ONLY 35,000 MILES ON IT SINCE NEW. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANY OTHER SIMILIAR COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN FILED BY OTHERS. THANK YOU, KURT PFEFFER
NHTSA ODI #710696
Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 1999
SeatsCrashInjury
WHILE AT A RED LIGHT CONSUMER WAS REAR ENDED, DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED AND RECLINED BACKWARDS, CAUSING INJURY TO THE CONSUMER. *AK *ML
NHTSA ODI #843755
Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 1998
Electrical System
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE WHEN THE BATTERY BLEW UP, CAUSING ACID TO GET ALL OVER THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #829759
Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 1998
Vehicle Speed ControlInjury
WHEN CAR WAS STARED IT EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHICH CAUSE IT TO HIT A WALL INJURING THE DRIVER.
NHTSA ODI #541820
Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 1997
Seat Belts
SEAT BELT LATCH BROKE ON DRIVER'S SIDE. DRIVER HAD THE SEATBELT ON, WENT TO UNLATCH SEATBELT TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE ,WAS UNABLE TO, SEATBELT BUCKLE WAS STUCK INSIDE LATCH. LATCH WOULD NOT RELEASE. HAD TO PULL OUT BUCKLE FROM LATCH TO GET OF VEHICLE. WHEN DOING SO, A PIECE INSIDE OF LATCH BROKE. BECAUSE OF THIS BUCKLE WILL NOT LA…
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SEAT BELT LATCH BROKE ON DRIVER'S SIDE. DRIVER HAD THE SEATBELT ON, WENT TO UNLATCH SEATBELT TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE ,WAS UNABLE TO, SEATBELT BUCKLE WAS STUCK INSIDE LATCH. LATCH WOULD NOT RELEASE. HAD TO PULL OUT BUCKLE FROM LATCH TO GET OF VEHICLE. WHEN DOING SO, A PIECE INSIDE OF LATCH BROKE. BECAUSE OF THIS BUCKLE WILL NOT LATCH. *AK
NHTSA ODI #819896
Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE ENGINE STARTS SPORADICALLY. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE STARTS AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. DEALER CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #818714
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1989 Lincoln Mark Vii Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year