IllustrationTHE HEADLIGHTS ON MY LICOLN ARE DEFECTIVE AND PROVIDE A VERY LOW LEVEL OF LIGHT ON THE ROAD. THIS BECAME MORE PREVELANT DURING A DRIVE IN A RURAL AREA WHILE ON VACATION. THE RIDE BECAME DANGEROUS AS THE ONLY WAY I COULD SAFELY SEE THE ROAD WAS WITH THE UTILIZATION OF MY HIGH BEAMS. THE MODEL IS A LINCOLN MARK VIII, 1994.*AK
1994 Lincoln Mark Viii
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1994 Lincoln Mark Viii do not stand out strongly from 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: 36 of 167 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 126 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
8 crash reports5 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
167 reportsHEADLIGHTS PLASTIC GOT GREY CAUSING POOR BRIGHTNESS. DEALER STATED CONSUMER NEEDED TO REPLACE HEADLIGHT COVER SYSTEM, AND WOULD COST $500.00, CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
HEADLIGHT OUTPUT IS NOT SUFFICIENT, LIGHTING IS VERY BAD, EVEN WITH BRAND NEW FACTORY REPLACEMENTS. IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THIS CAR AT NIGHT, AS THE ROAD IS NOT LIT OUT ENOUGH TO SEE PERSONS, ANIMALS OR OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE WAY. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE CARS AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO RESOLVE THAT, AS IT IS ONLY A …
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HEADLIGHT OUTPUT IS NOT SUFFICIENT, LIGHTING IS VERY BAD, EVEN WITH BRAND NEW FACTORY REPLACEMENTS. IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THIS CAR AT NIGHT, AS THE ROAD IS NOT LIT OUT ENOUGH TO SEE PERSONS, ANIMALS OR OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE WAY. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE CARS AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO RESOLVE THAT, AS IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL SOMEONE WILL HAVE AN ACCIDENT, HOPEFULLY NOT INVOLVING THE LOSS OF HUMAN LIFE. *JB
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER OFF/ON WHILE DRIVING. *TS
HEADLIGHTS ARE CLOUDY AND REFLECTIVE SURFACE INSIDE LIGHTS ARE PEELING NOT SURE IF THESE ARE ORIGINAL TO THE CAR OR FACTORY REPLACEMEMTS. ALSO,THE HEADLIGHTS UNSAFE AND VERY DIM! MY '93 ESCORT WITH 235,000 MILES AND ORIGINAL HEADLIGHTS IS BRIGHTER. DT
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE HEADLIGHT DIM INTERMITTENLY. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR
HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM. PROVIDE LITTLE OR NO APPRECIABLE ILLUMINATION IN NIGHT-TIME DRIVING AND NO ILLUMINATION IN RAIN CONDITIONS.*AK
DRIVING AT NIGHT IS VERY DANGEROUS SINCE THE CAR'S HEADLIGHTS ARE AS BRIGHT AS A CANDLE, A CANDLE MIGHT ACTUALLY BE BRIGHTER. WHEN I DRIVE AT NIGHT I SEE THE ROAD AHEAD THANKS TO THE STREET LIGHTS SINCE MY HEADLAMPS ARE JUST TERRIBLE. I HAVE DONE SOME SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET AND I HAVE FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM IS DO TO THE WAY T…
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DRIVING AT NIGHT IS VERY DANGEROUS SINCE THE CAR'S HEADLIGHTS ARE AS BRIGHT AS A CANDLE, A CANDLE MIGHT ACTUALLY BE BRIGHTER. WHEN I DRIVE AT NIGHT I SEE THE ROAD AHEAD THANKS TO THE STREET LIGHTS SINCE MY HEADLAMPS ARE JUST TERRIBLE. I HAVE DONE SOME SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET AND I HAVE FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM IS DO TO THE WAY THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY WAS MADE. THE 1993-1996 MARK VIII HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY DETERIORATES DUE TO THE HEAT PRODUCED BY THE HALOGEN BULBS. THE REFLECTIVE BACKING IN THE HEADLAMP HOUSING BURNS AWAY DO A DESINGS FLAW, THE MATERIALS USED IN THE MAKING OF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY CAN'T TAKE THE HEAT FROM THE BULBS, AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE THE CAR USES 9005 BULBS AS LOW BEAMS, THIS IS THE ONLY KNOWN CAR MANUFACTURED IN THE USA THAT USES THESE BULBS AS LOW BEAMS. FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HASN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT. FORD REPLACED THE HALOGEN ASSEMBLY FOR HID ASSEMBLIES IN THE 96 MODELS, THEY DID THIS EVENTHOUGH THE 97 MODEL WAS GOING TO BE REDESIGNED, THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM SO THEY REPLACED THE LIGHTS IN THE NEW 96 MODELS YET THEY DO NOTHING FOR THE OWNERS OF THE CARS THAT HAVE THE DEFECTIVE LIGHTS. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY HAS DIED DO TO THESE LIGHTS BUT I'M SURE THAT IF NOTHING IS DONE TO FIX THESE LIGHT SOMEONE WILL DIE IN AN ACCIDENT I CAN SAY THIS BECAUSE I HAVE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT AND JUST CAN'T SEE MUCH IN FRONT OF ME, IN DIM AREAS I'M PRACTICALLY BLIND AND IF I USED MY HIGH BEAMS I BLIND OTHER DRIVERS. EVEN IF I ONLY USED THE HIGH BEAM THE SAME PROBLEM AS WITH THE LOW BEAMS WOULD OCCUR SINCE IT IS A FLAW IN THE DESING OF THE UNIT.*AK
SOMETIMES THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT COMPLETELY, CONSUMER HAS BEEN INFORMED THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM. *SLC
NO DESCRIPTION GIVEN.*JB
Official recalls
207V336000 · 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.
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.