IllustrationTHE HEADLAMPS ARE VERY DIM DUE TO THE REFLECTIVE COATING COMING OFF OF THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLAMPS. IT A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION YOU HAVE TO USE THE HI BEAMS TO BE ABLE TO SEE. ON THE DIM SETTING IT IS SIMILAR TO TRYING TO SEE WITH A CANDLE AS A LIGHT. *JB
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 reports1 YELLOWING OF HEAD LIGHTS 2 UNABLE TO SEE AT NIGHT . 3 NEW HEADLIGHTS OR HID HEADLIGHTS. *JB
THE REFLECTIVE COATING INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING BURNS OFF PREMATURELY RESULTING IN GREATLY REDUCED ILLUMINATION. I HAD TO BUY NEW HEADLIGHT HOUSINGS AT $235 EACH TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE SAFELY AT NIGHT. *NM
MY HEADLIGHTS ARE ALMOST COMPLETELY USELESS. THEY ARE YELLOW AND DINGY BECAUSE OF THE MATERIAL USED IN THEIR MANUFACTURE. IT POSES A MAJOR THREAT TO ME AND EVERYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD WHEN I HAVE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. THERE IS NO WAY TO PERMANENTLY FIX THEM, OTHER THAN TO MAKE NEW HEADLIGHTS THAT DON'T GLAZE OVER. *NM
HEADLIGHTS ON MY 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII ARE VERY DANGEROUS. THE LOW BEAMS ARE SO DIM THAT I AM FORCED TO DRIVE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS SET ON HIGH-BEAMS. THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL IN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS TO BLAME. IT IS BURNED OFF AND DULL. I'M NOT THE ONLY FIRST GENERATION MARK VIII OWNER WITH THIS PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO AFFE…
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HEADLIGHTS ON MY 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII ARE VERY DANGEROUS. THE LOW BEAMS ARE SO DIM THAT I AM FORCED TO DRIVE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS SET ON HIGH-BEAMS. THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL IN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS TO BLAME. IT IS BURNED OFF AND DULL. I'M NOT THE ONLY FIRST GENERATION MARK VIII OWNER WITH THIS PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO AFFECT ALL MODELS FROM 93 TO 96. *NM
HEADLAMP DESIGN FAILED FROM OUTSET. LITTLE DIFFERENCE AT NIGHT WITH HEADLAMPS ON OR OFF. THIS IS BEYOND DANGEROUS. "IMPROVED" BULBS AND POLISHING OF LENSES COULD NOT COMPENSATE FOR THE POOR FACTORY DESIGN. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 LINCOLN MARK EIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ALMOST HIT A GUARD RAIL. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 35 MINUTES THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED BACK ON. HE DID HAVE TO PLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH BETWEEN THE ON AND OFF INDI…
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DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 LINCOLN MARK EIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ALMOST HIT A GUARD RAIL. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 35 MINUTES THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED BACK ON. HE DID HAVE TO PLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH BETWEEN THE ON AND OFF INDICATOR TO GET THE HEADLIGHTS TO WORK. THE SERVICE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THERE IS A RECALL 98009000 REGARDING THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING: HEADLIGHT: SWITCH FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE RECALL REGARDING THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT HAS ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER DID NOT OWN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME THE REPAIR WAS DONE. *AK
I AM THE OWNER OF A 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII. ALL MARK VIII'S BUILT AS 1993 AND 1994 MODELS, AND BASE 1995 AND 1996 MODELS ARE FLAWED WITH HEADLIGHTS THAT, OVER TIME, BECOME VERY UNSAFE DUE TO DESIGN FLAWS. THE LOW BEAMS BECOME VERY DIM AS THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT WEARS DUE TO NORMAL USE. I AM A MEMBER OF SEVER…
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I AM THE OWNER OF A 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII. ALL MARK VIII'S BUILT AS 1993 AND 1994 MODELS, AND BASE 1995 AND 1996 MODELS ARE FLAWED WITH HEADLIGHTS THAT, OVER TIME, BECOME VERY UNSAFE DUE TO DESIGN FLAWS. THE LOW BEAMS BECOME VERY DIM AS THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT WEARS DUE TO NORMAL USE. I AM A MEMBER OF SEVERAL LINCOLN CLUBS, WITH MANY OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS COMMON PROBLEM. SOME EVEN RESORT TO DRIVING WITH THEIR HIGH BEAMS ON AT ALL TIMES, WHICH CAN CAUSE ANOTHER PROBLEM ALTOGETHER AS IT MAY BLIND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. THIS PROBLEM MAKES NIGHT DRIVING IN THESE CARS VERY DIFFICULT, AND IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY, I, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER MARK VIII OWNERS, FEEL THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND RESOLVED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND INTEREST IN THIS MATTER.*AK
I OWN A 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII AND THE HEADLIGHTS ARE TERRIBLE. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE DIM LIGHT OUTPUT WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I BELIEVE THE DESIGN OF THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS FLAWED WHICH CAUSES THE PLASTIC TO BURN AND THE REFLECTORS TO BE DAMAGED. FORD SHOULD REPLACE THE ASSEMBLY OR UPGRADE THE MARK VIII'S WITH…
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I OWN A 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII AND THE HEADLIGHTS ARE TERRIBLE. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE DIM LIGHT OUTPUT WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I BELIEVE THE DESIGN OF THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS FLAWED WHICH CAUSES THE PLASTIC TO BURN AND THE REFLECTORS TO BE DAMAGED. FORD SHOULD REPLACE THE ASSEMBLY OR UPGRADE THE MARK VIII'S WITH THE BAD DESIGN TO HID LIGHTS. *NM
THIS IS A COMPLAINT OF A NATURE OF FAILING HEADLIGHTS ON 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII HEADLIGHTS . THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS MODEL ARE UNSAFE AS ALL 1993-1996 FIRST GENERATIONS MARK VIII ARE.AFTER MANY HOURS OF RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET , AND THE MANY COMPLAINTS IV'E SINCE SEEN I BELIEVE FORD KNEW THIS PROBLEM EXSISTED. THESE CARS ARE VER…
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THIS IS A COMPLAINT OF A NATURE OF FAILING HEADLIGHTS ON 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII HEADLIGHTS . THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS MODEL ARE UNSAFE AS ALL 1993-1996 FIRST GENERATIONS MARK VIII ARE.AFTER MANY HOURS OF RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET , AND THE MANY COMPLAINTS IV'E SINCE SEEN I BELIEVE FORD KNEW THIS PROBLEM EXSISTED. THESE CARS ARE VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. AND THERE SEEMS TO BE NO FIX FOR THERE PROBLEM BUYING NEW HEADLIGHTS FROM FORD, OUR ONLY OPTION IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND NO SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM SINCE NEW ONES FAIL SHORTLEY AFTER BEING INSTALLED. *AK
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.