Total Complaints
33 filings
LINCOLN MARK · model year
1996 LINCOLN MARK
33 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996LINCOLNMARK carries 33 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1996 MARK is exterior lighting:headlights with 4 filings, followed by structure:body:door (4) and power train:automatic transmission:torque converter (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 15 investigation files overlapping the 1996 MARK, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
33
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 4 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 4 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 2 |
| EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING | 2 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 2 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20140123ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY REFLECTIVE COATING HAS ALL CLOUDED AND FLAKED OFF CAUSING HIGHLY UNSAFE NIGHT TIME DRIVING CONDITIONS. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON ISSUE WITH THE MARK VIII FOR MODEL YEARS 93-96 WITH THE STANDARD HALOGEN HEADLAMPS. FORD MOTOR CO. IS AWARE AND SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR / REPLACEMENT OF THE AFFECTED PARTS. *TR
Mileage: 73,000
20140123EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY REFLECTIVE COATING HAS ALL CLOUDED AND FLAKED OFF CAUSING HIGHLY UNSAFE NIGHT TIME DRIVING CONDITIONS. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON ISSUE WITH THE MARK VIII FOR MODEL YEARS 93-96 WITH THE STANDARD HALOGEN HEADLAMPS. FORD MOTOR CO. IS AWARE AND SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR / REPLACEMENT OF THE AFFECTED PARTS. *TR
Mileage: 73,000
20060815EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
I UNDERSTAND THAT LAMPS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR MY HID HEADLIGHTS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL BE UNSAFE AT NIGHT WHEN THEY EVENTUALLY REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. *NM
20020514POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT VIBRATION WHEN TRANSMISSION SHIFTS UP FROM THIRD TO FOURTH, TRANSMISSION GOT WORSE AND WOULD NOT DOWNSHIFT, DEALER REPLACED THE TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH. *SLC
20020514SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES VIBRATION WHILE BRAKING, DEALER REPLACED FRONT ROTORS. *SLC
20020514ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ENGINE PROBLEMS, ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND DEALER COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHY, DEALER REPLACED O2 SENSOR IN AN ATTEMPT TO REMEDY THE ILLUMINATING LIGHT, VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT, BOTH ENGINE COVERS CRACKED, THERMOSTAT AND GASKET WERE REPLACED, BEARING WAS DEFECTIVE, COOLING FAN FAILED, HOSE CLAMP TO THERMOSTAT WAS REINSTALLED, SECONDARY AIR INJECTION PUMP WAS REPLACED. *SLC
20020514VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
CDS WOULD POP OUT, RADIO WOULD SOMETIMES NOT TURN OFF, AFTER SEVERAL REPLACEMENTS, THE RADIO WOULD NOT SHUT OFF, DEALER REPLACED RADIO AGAIN. *SLC
20020514STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
CDS WOULD POP OUT, RADIO WOULD SOMETIMES NOT TURN OFF, AFTER SEVERAL REPLACEMENTS, THE RADIO WOULD NOT SHUT OFF, DEALER REPLACED RADIO AGAIN. *SLC
20020514EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
CDS WOULD POP OUT, RADIO WOULD SOMETIMES NOT TURN OFF, AFTER SEVERAL REPLACEMENTS, THE RADIO WOULD NOT SHUT OFF, DEALER REPLACED RADIO AGAIN. *SLC
20020514VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
DRIVERS SIDE VIEW MIRROR WAS LOOSE, WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH WOULD HAVE TO BE WIGGLED TO WORK, DEALER FOUND A SHORT IN THE WIPER SWITCH, SUNROOF WAS LEAKING AND MAKING NOISES, DEALER REPLACED THE STRIPPING AND NOW NEEDS TO MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT. *SLC
20020514VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING
DRIVERS SIDE VIEW MIRROR WAS LOOSE, WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH WOULD HAVE TO BE WIGGLED TO WORK, DEALER FOUND A SHORT IN THE WIPER SWITCH, SUNROOF WAS LEAKING AND MAKING NOISES, DEALER REPLACED THE STRIPPING AND NOW NEEDS TO MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT. *SLC
20020514VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
DRIVERS SIDE VIEW MIRROR WAS LOOSE, WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH WOULD HAVE TO BE WIGGLED TO WORK, DEALER FOUND A SHORT IN THE WIPER SWITCH, SUNROOF WAS LEAKING AND MAKING NOISES, DEALER REPLACED THE STRIPPING AND NOW NEEDS TO MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT. *SLC
20020514STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE SEAL WAS FALLING OFF, PASSENGER OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE, PAD ON THE DRIVERS DOOR BY THE CONTROL PANEL WAS FALLING OFF. *SLC
20020514EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
CHROME SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS LOOSE, DEALER REPLACED THE LENS ASSEMBLY. *SLC
20020514STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING. *SLC
20020514EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONER BEGAN TO BLOW HOT AIR. *SLC
20011024POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT VIBRATION WHEN TRANSMISSION SHIFTS UP FROM THIRD TO FOURTH, TRANSMISSION GOT WORSE AND WOULD NOT DOWNSHIFT, DEALER REPLACED THE TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH. *SLC
20011024SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES VIBRATION WHILE BRAKING, DEALER REPLACED FRONT ROTORS. *SLC
20011024ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ENGINE PROBLEMS, ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND DEALER COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHY, DEALER REPLACED O2 SENSOR IN AN ATTEMPT TO REMEDY THE ILLUMINATING LIGHT, VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT, BOTH ENGINE COVERS CRACKED, THERMOSTAT AND GASKET WERE REPLACED, BEARING WAS DEFECTIVE, COOLING FAN FAILED, HOSE CLAMP TO THERMOSTAT WAS REINSTALLED, SECONDARY AIR INJECTION PUMP WAS REPLACED. *SLC
20011024VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
CDS WOULD POP OUT, RADIO WOULD SOMETIMES NOT TURN OFF, AFTER SEVERAL REPLACEMENTS, THE RADIO WOULD NOT SHUT OFF, DEALER REPLACED RADIO AGAIN. *SLC
Compare 1996LINCOLNMARK to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1996 LINCOLN MARK have?▼
The 1996 LINCOLN MARK has 33 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 LINCOLN MARK?▼
The most-complained component for the 1996 LINCOLN MARK is EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER.
Is the 1996 LINCOLN MARK safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.