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: 26 of 106 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 77 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
106 reports
138,795 miles · Apr 9, 2006
Exterior Lighting
THE 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII WAS PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER 2005 AND THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN DETERIORATING CONSTANTLY SINCE PURCHASE. I NOW HAVE TO USE THE HIGH BEAM AT ALL TIMES AFTER DARK. OTHER CARS DO NOT EVEN FLASH THERE LIGHTS AT ME BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SO WEAK. ALL OF THE CHROME HAS FALLEN OFF OF THE SURFACES IN THE HEADL…
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THE 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII WAS PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER 2005 AND THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN DETERIORATING CONSTANTLY SINCE PURCHASE. I NOW HAVE TO USE THE HIGH BEAM AT ALL TIMES AFTER DARK. OTHER CARS DO NOT EVEN FLASH THERE LIGHTS AT ME BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SO WEAK. ALL OF THE CHROME HAS FALLEN OFF OF THE SURFACES IN THE HEADLIGHTS SO NO LIGHT IS REFLECTED OUT OF THE LIGHTS! *NM
NHTSA ODI #10154915
50,000 miles · Mar 31, 2006
Exterior LightingCrash
THE HEADLIGHT COVERS (HOUSINGS?) FOR LINCOLN MARK VIII'S 93-98, CLOUD OVER (TURN GRAY INSIDE AND OUT) QUICKLY. THIS DEFECTIVE CLOUDING IN THE LIGHT COVERS RESULTS IN NIGHT DRIVING TO BE VERY HAZARDOUS, ALONG WITH RAIN AND FOG. THE KITS TO REPLACE THE LIGHTS AVERAGE AROUND 1,000. LINCOLN KNOWS OF THE VISIBILITY PROBLEM WHEN TH…
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THE HEADLIGHT COVERS (HOUSINGS?) FOR LINCOLN MARK VIII'S 93-98, CLOUD OVER (TURN GRAY INSIDE AND OUT) QUICKLY. THIS DEFECTIVE CLOUDING IN THE LIGHT COVERS RESULTS IN NIGHT DRIVING TO BE VERY HAZARDOUS, ALONG WITH RAIN AND FOG. THE KITS TO REPLACE THE LIGHTS AVERAGE AROUND 1,000. LINCOLN KNOWS OF THE VISIBILITY PROBLEM WHEN THE COVERS CLOUD OVER AND HAS NOT TAKEN CORRECTIVE ACTION. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10154318
Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2006
Exterior Lighting
I OWN A 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII AND AT NIGHT YOU CAN BARELY SEE THE ROAD EVEN WITH THE BRIGHTS ON. THE HOUSING LOOKS LIKE THE CLEAR PART HAS SEPARATED INTO ABOUT 3 LAYERS. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!! *NM
NHTSA ODI #10154049
Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2006
Exterior Lighting
1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII HEADLIGHTS. CANNOT SEE AT NIGHT, SEVERE LACK OF ILLUMINATION, VERY DANGEROUS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10153916
60,000 miles · Mar 17, 2006
Exterior Lighting
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PLASTIC COVER FOR THE HEADLIGHTS ARE DISCOLORED. THIS DOES NOT ALLOW THE HEADLIGHT TO PROJECT ENOUGH LIGHT FOR NIGHT DRIVING. THE CONTACT HAS REPLACED THE LIGHT BULBS, BUT THIS HAS NOT IMPROVED VISIBILITY. THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 4/6/2006 …
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PLASTIC COVER FOR THE HEADLIGHTS ARE DISCOLORED. THIS DOES NOT ALLOW THE HEADLIGHT TO PROJECT ENOUGH LIGHT FOR NIGHT DRIVING. THE CONTACT HAS REPLACED THE LIGHT BULBS, BUT THIS HAS NOT IMPROVED VISIBILITY. THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 4/6/2006 - *NM
NHTSA ODI #10152973
83,000 miles · Jan 26, 2006
Exterior Lighting
POOR HEADLIGHTS ON CAR. LIGHTS ARE AS EFFECTIVE AS A TWO CELL FLASH LIGHT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10148767
Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control
DT: THE CONSUMER HEARD OF PROBLEM WITH THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH ON SOME FORD LINCOLN MARK VIII. CONSUMER HAS FOUND THAT HER VEHICLE HAS THE SAME OR SIMILAR SWITCH THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO CAUSE FIRES IN SOME FORD VEHICLES. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HER VEHICLE INCLUDED THE RECALL FOR THE REMOVAL OF THIS PARTICULAR CRUISE C…
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DT: THE CONSUMER HEARD OF PROBLEM WITH THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH ON SOME FORD LINCOLN MARK VIII. CONSUMER HAS FOUND THAT HER VEHICLE HAS THE SAME OR SIMILAR SWITCH THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO CAUSE FIRES IN SOME FORD VEHICLES. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HER VEHICLE INCLUDED THE RECALL FOR THE REMOVAL OF THIS PARTICULAR CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10127693
80,000 miles · Feb 13, 2005
Exterior Lighting
POOR HEADLIGHT PERFORMANCE ON A 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII. I UNDERSTAND THIS RESULTS FROM A DESIGN PROBLEM IN MARK VIII'S OF THAT TIME PERIOD. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10110460
72,204 miles · Jan 11, 2005
Air BagsCrashInjury
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE SUDDENLY HIT A DEER. WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED CONSUMER WAS AFFECTED BY THE SUBSTANCE IT RELEASED. THE FIBERS DAMAGED HER NECK, FACE AND LEGS. CONSUMER HAS UNDER GONE SEVERAL SURGERIES FOR THIS INCIDENT. WHEN CONTACTING LINCOLN, THEY DO NOT WANT TO HAVE ANY PART IN ANY OF THIS. CONSUMER CALLED T…
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WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE SUDDENLY HIT A DEER. WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED CONSUMER WAS AFFECTED BY THE SUBSTANCE IT RELEASED. THE FIBERS DAMAGED HER NECK, FACE AND LEGS. CONSUMER HAS UNDER GONE SEVERAL SURGERIES FOR THIS INCIDENT. WHEN CONTACTING LINCOLN, THEY DO NOT WANT TO HAVE ANY PART IN ANY OF THIS. CONSUMER CALLED THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE IN WASHINGTON, WHICH WROTE A LETTER TO THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ( DOT). CONSUMER WAS STILL WAITING FOR SOME TYPE OF ACTION TO BE TAKEN .*AK...*AK
NHTSA ODI #10107216
Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury
AIR BAG WENT OFF AND BLACK FIBERS WENT INTO MY FACE, NECK AND LEGS. NOW I HAVE CRYSTAL BALLS OVER MY BODY. *BF IT WAS DARK, RAINY AND FOGGY WHEN THE CONSUMER HIT A DEER. *SC
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.
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.
1996 Lincoln Mark Viii Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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