IllustrationHEADLIGHT- NOT ENOUGH LIGHT IS PUT OUT TO SEE IN THE DARK, PUT NEW BULBS IN AND CLEANED LENES. SAFETY DEFECT
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 reportsHEADLIGHT LENSES CRACK & YELLOW MAKING SAFE NIGHT DRIVING IMPOSSIBLE. *JB
THE VEHICLES DASHBOARD STARTED SMOKING THEN THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. THE RECALL FOR THE HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT BREAKER (98V-009000) WAS PERFORMED PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THIS RECALL WAS DONE PRIOR TO THE CONSUMER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. *NLM
THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII ARE VIRTUALLY USELESS. WITH THE STANDARD REPLACEMENT BULBS I HAVE ABOUT TEN FEET VISIBILITY FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THIS IS WITH THE LOW BEAMS AND I HAVE ABOUT TWENTY TO THIRTY FEET VISIBILITY WITH THE HIGH BEAMS. I UPGRADED THE HIGH BEAMS TO A ONE HUNDRED WATT BULB TO GET UP TO ABOUT …
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THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII ARE VIRTUALLY USELESS. WITH THE STANDARD REPLACEMENT BULBS I HAVE ABOUT TEN FEET VISIBILITY FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THIS IS WITH THE LOW BEAMS AND I HAVE ABOUT TWENTY TO THIRTY FEET VISIBILITY WITH THE HIGH BEAMS. I UPGRADED THE HIGH BEAMS TO A ONE HUNDRED WATT BULB TO GET UP TO ABOUT FIFTY FEET VISIBILITY. THIS GIVES ME ABOUT TWO AND A HALF CAR LENGTHS VISIBILITY AT NIGHT. WHEN I AM MEETING ON COMING TRAFFIC AT NIGHT, ALL I CAN DO IS TO TRY AND NOT HIT THE HEADLIGHTS THAT ARE IN THE OTHER LANE. THE PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS IS THAT THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL INSIDE THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY BURNS AWAY AFTER ABOUT SIX MONTHS OF USE. NOW, I CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THE ASSEMBLIES TWICE A YEAR AND SHOULDN'T HAVE TO. I HAVE PURCHASED ADDITIONAL DRIVING LIGHTS TO AID IN BEING ABLE TO SEE THE ROAD. THEY ARE NOT VERY ATTRACTIVE ON MY CAR, BUT WHAT CHOICE DO I HAVE? IT APPEARS THAT I HAVE PURCHASED A "DAYTIME DRIVING ONLY" CAR. I CURRENTLY USE A MESSAGE BOARD ON THE INTERNET THAT IS TAYLORED TO THE MARK VIII. IT'S WEB SITE IS: WWW.MARKVIII.ORG .THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF MEMBERS ON THIS BOARD THAT ALL COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE GO TO THE MESSAGE BOARD AND DO A SEARCH FOR "HEADLIGHTS". I AM AFFRAID OF BEING CAUGHT OUT IN THE DARK FOR FEAR OF CAUSING AN ACCIDENT OR RUNNING OVER SOMEBODY. BY THE WAY, ALL OF THE PEOPLE FROM THE MARKVIII SITE THAT HAVE WRITTEN FORD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ALWAYS GET A REPLY SAYING THAT "WE HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM". I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT STARTING THE FOURTH YEAR THAT THE MARK VIII WAS MANUFACTURED, FORD STARTED USING THE HID LIGHTS ON THESE CARS. IN MY OWN OPINION, I THINK FORD RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AND APPLIED A FIX. NOW THEY DON'T WANT TO OWN UP TO IT. THIS FORM ASKES ME FOR AN "INCIDENT DATE". THERE HAS NOT YET BEEN AN INCIDENT RELATED TO MY VERY OWN CAR. I'M SURE THAT SOMEBODY OUT THERE HAS HAD AN ACCIDENT RELATED TO POOR VISIBILITY. SO I AM JUST GOING TO PUT IN TODAY'S DATE.
1993-1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII HEADLIGHTS ARE ALL FAULTY. THEY TURN YELLOW AFTER ABOUT 6 MONTHS OF PURCHASE, THESE UNITS ARE NOT CHEAP, ABOUT $800 FOR A NEW HEADLIGHT SYSTEM. I CONSTANTLY DRIVE WITH MY BRIGHT LIGHTS ON AND I STILL CANT EVEN SEE THE LINES ON THE ROAD. TRY DRIVING WITH YOUR HEADLIGHTS OFF AND THATS HOW THE MARK VII…
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1993-1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII HEADLIGHTS ARE ALL FAULTY. THEY TURN YELLOW AFTER ABOUT 6 MONTHS OF PURCHASE, THESE UNITS ARE NOT CHEAP, ABOUT $800 FOR A NEW HEADLIGHT SYSTEM. I CONSTANTLY DRIVE WITH MY BRIGHT LIGHTS ON AND I STILL CANT EVEN SEE THE LINES ON THE ROAD. TRY DRIVING WITH YOUR HEADLIGHTS OFF AND THATS HOW THE MARK VIII'S ARE. THIS IS A BIG SAFTEY ISSUE TOO WHICH FORD SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THIS A LONG TIME AGO. ITS SICK HOW THEY DONT WANT TO RECALL IT BECAUSE OF THE MONEY ISSUE, BUT IT CAN AND WILL SAVE LIFES. PLEASE WRITE ME A EMAIL BACK SHOWING THE STATUS OF THIS DEBATE TO EXCURSION7227@AOL.COM
THE HEADLIGHT DEVICES ARE BURN OUT AND THE LENSE ARE NOT REFLECTING LIGHT. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS
THE HEADLIGHTS ON '93-'96 MARK VIII'S ALL GET CLOUDY TO THE POINT OF NOT BEING USABLE. THIS CONDITION IS NOTED ON MANY WEBSITES. I KNOW PERSONALLY 7 MARK VIII'S THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM-IN FACT EVERY ONE I HAVE PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF HAS THE PROBLEM. IT CAN NOT BE CORRECTED EXCEPT FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AN…
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THE HEADLIGHTS ON '93-'96 MARK VIII'S ALL GET CLOUDY TO THE POINT OF NOT BEING USABLE. THIS CONDITION IS NOTED ON MANY WEBSITES. I KNOW PERSONALLY 7 MARK VIII'S THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM-IN FACT EVERY ONE I HAVE PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF HAS THE PROBLEM. IT CAN NOT BE CORRECTED EXCEPT FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND THE DEALERS DO NOT RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM. IT IS A DESIGN FLAW DUE TO THE PLASTIC LENS DISCOLORING. MR
REFLECTIVE COATING INSIDE OF HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY BURNED AWAY CAUSING LOW LIGHT OUTPUT. CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN AT NIGHT. MR
POOR LIGHTING DUE TO YELLOWING LENS' AND POOR DESIGN. NLM
THE HEADLIGHT LENSES OR HIDS ON MY 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII HAS TURN YELLOW MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE A NIGHT ESPECIALLY WHEN ITS ON LOW BEAM.*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.