IllustrationHEADLIGHTS ARE DIMMED, MAKING IT HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC SAID IT WAS DUE TO A FILM BUILD UP ON HEADLIGHTS/ LENSES AND BULBS. *AK
1993 Lincoln Mark Viii
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Mark Viii years
Owner complaints for the 1993 Lincoln Mark Viii are substantially higher than the model-year median of 86.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Mark Viii years →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: 41 of 239 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.
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 172 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
16 crash reports7 fire reports5 injury reports
Exterior Lighting complaints
172 reportsI BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 1995. I HAVE ALWAYS FOUND HEADLIGHTS TO BE EXTREMELY DIM, AND DANGEROUS IN CERTAIN LIGHTING CONDITIONS.*AK
THE HEADLIGHTS AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BECOMES DULL CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO BECOME DIM AND HARD TO SEE AT WHILE YOU DRIVE AT NIGHT,I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OF THE SAME TYPE CARS WITH THIS PROBLEM.IT SEEMS TO BE IN THE MATERIAL OF WHICH THE HEADLIGHTS ARE MADE OUT OF.AND IT DOESN'T SEEM SAFE TO DRIVE WHEN HEADLIGHT BECOME THIS AWAY…
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THE HEADLIGHTS AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BECOMES DULL CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO BECOME DIM AND HARD TO SEE AT WHILE YOU DRIVE AT NIGHT,I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OF THE SAME TYPE CARS WITH THIS PROBLEM.IT SEEMS TO BE IN THE MATERIAL OF WHICH THE HEADLIGHTS ARE MADE OUT OF.AND IT DOESN'T SEEM SAFE TO DRIVE WHEN HEADLIGHT BECOME THIS AWAY,UNLESS YOU GO TO DEALER AND PURCHASE A NEW SET FOR THEM TO DO THE SAME THING WITHIN A SHORT TIME ALSO.*AK
HEADLIGHT HOUSING DETERIORATES FROM WITHIN, PROJECTED LIGHT FROM FUNCTIONING BULBS REDUCED TO UNSAFE LEVELS.*AK
HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM, AFFECTING VISIBILITY. *AK THE REFLECTIVE PART OF THE HEAD LAMP WAS BURNED, RESULTING IN YELLOWISH BEAM THAT DOES NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD. THE CUSTOMER INDICATED A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. *YH
HEADLIGHT LENSES DISCOLORED DUE TO HEAT GENERATED FROM LAMPS. DUE TO DISCOLORATION OF THE LENSES THE LIGHT OUTPUT IS LOWER THAN OPTIMAL MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT ON UNLIGHTED ROADWAYS. THE DEALERS ONLY SUGGESTION WAS TO REPLACE THE LENSES AT MY EXPENSE. I FEEL THIS PROBLEM IS A DEFECT IN MATERIAL USED TO MAKE THE LE…
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HEADLIGHT LENSES DISCOLORED DUE TO HEAT GENERATED FROM LAMPS. DUE TO DISCOLORATION OF THE LENSES THE LIGHT OUTPUT IS LOWER THAN OPTIMAL MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT ON UNLIGHTED ROADWAYS. THE DEALERS ONLY SUGGESTION WAS TO REPLACE THE LENSES AT MY EXPENSE. I FEEL THIS PROBLEM IS A DEFECT IN MATERIAL USED TO MAKE THE LENSES. *AK
HEADLIGHTS PROVIDE INADEQUATE ILLUMINATION. DRIVER IS NOT ABLE TO SEE BEYOND APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET DOWN THE ROAD UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDTIONS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
HEADLAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE ROADWAY SUFFICENTLY TO SAFELY OPERATE VEHICLE AFTER DARK. *AK
MY LINCOLN MARK VIII'S HEADLIGHT COVERS ARE SO CRAZED/FOGGY THAT I HAVE TO OPERATE THE HEADLIGHTS ON HIGH AT ALL TIMES JUST TO DRIVE. I REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO LINCOLN AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL/PROBLEM AND THEY WOULD DO NOTHING TO CORRECT. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT I HAVE OBSERVED ON AT LEAST 6 OTHER MK VIII VEHICLES…
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MY LINCOLN MARK VIII'S HEADLIGHT COVERS ARE SO CRAZED/FOGGY THAT I HAVE TO OPERATE THE HEADLIGHTS ON HIGH AT ALL TIMES JUST TO DRIVE. I REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO LINCOLN AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL/PROBLEM AND THEY WOULD DO NOTHING TO CORRECT. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT I HAVE OBSERVED ON AT LEAST 6 OTHER MK VIII VEHICLES. I HOPE YOU CAN HAVE MORE LUCK AS LINCOLN WANTS IN EXCESS OF $200 A UNIT FOR THE LENSES. I FEEL THAT THE WRONG TYPE OF LEXAN/PLASTIC WAS USED FOR THIS ASSEMBLY WITH INSUFFICIENT UV PROTECTION.
THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SO DIM ON LOW BEAM THAT YOU CAN HARDLY DRIVE AT NIGHT, AND COMPLETE NEW ONE DO NOT HELP. EVERY ONE THAT I HAVE TALKED TO HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS (93-95 MARK VIII)
Official recalls
307V336000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Aug 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 & remedy
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.
98V009000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
Jan 21, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHTS CAN FLASH INTERMITTENTLY AS A RESULT OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING. THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS CAN GO OUT FOR BRIEF INTERVALS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION CAN AFFECT A DRIVER'S ABILITY TO NAVIGATE THE ROADWAY AND REDUCE THE VISIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLIGHT SWITCH THAT INCORPORATES A CRICUIT BREAKER OF REVISED DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF A WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR AND WIRING, IF NEEDED.
92V166000 · Seat Belts:front:retractor
Nov 18, 1992
THE LINK LEVER TRUNION ON THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING INSTALLATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE DAMAGED COMPONENT MAY BECOME DISLODGED DURING VEHICLEOPERATION, MAKING THE RETRACTOR VEHICLE-SENSITIVE LOCKING SYSTEM INOPERATIVE.THIS INCREASES THE POSSIBILTY OF A SERIOUS INJURY IN A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.
Remedy: THE RETRACTORS WILL BE REPLACED IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.
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
1EA96019 · Headlight Failure
Opened Jul 31, 1996 · Closed Jan 26, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
EXCESSIVE HEAT IN AN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED CIRCUIT BREAKER WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH CAUSED THAT CIRCUIT BREAKER TO OPEN FOR TIME PERIODS OF VARYING LENGTH TO COOL OFF.OPENING OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER IN THIS MANNER INTERRUPTS ELECTRIC CURRENT FLOW TO THE HEADLIGHTS, SHUTTING THEM OFF.HEADLIGHT OUTAGES HAVE RANGER FROM BRIEF FLICKERS (LESS THAN ONE SECOND) TO GREATER THAN 20 SECONDS.OVER TIME, THE OUTAGES GROW IN LENGTH AND DURATION BECAUSE OF HEAT-INDUCED DETERIORATION OF THE SWITCH AND ASSOCIATED WIRING.RECALL 98V-009 WILL APPLY TO APPROXIMATELY 506,000 TAURUS, SABLE, MARK VIII, AND CONTINENTAL VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM 1-DEC.-92 THROUGH 30-SEP-93 AT THE ATLANTA, CHICAGO,AND WIXOM ASSEMBLY PLANTS.87% OF MY 1992-1995 TAURUS/SABLE AND 97% OF MY 1993-1995 MARK VIII WARRANTY REPAIRS (HEADLIGHT SWITCH REPLACEMENT) INVOLVED VEHICLES BUILT DURING THE DEC. 92 - OCT. 93 BUILD RANGE.