Total Complaints
33 filings
LINCOLN MARK VII · model year
1988 LINCOLN MARK VII
33 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988LINCOLNMARK VII 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, 6 fires, 4 injuries, 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 1988 MARK VII is seat belts:front:buckle assembly with 3 filings, followed by electrical system:wiring:front underhood (3) and electrical system:ignition:switch (3). 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 1988 MARK VII, 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
6
Fires
4
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 |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 3 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 3 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:SOLENOID | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:PADS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20010815SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT HAD TO BE REPLACED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS BECAUSE RETRACTOR FAILED TO RETRACT. PARTS WERE REPLACED ONCE BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY, AND OTHER PARTS WERE REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WITH DEALER PARTS. WOULD LIKE NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK
20001025TIRES:TREAD/BELT
UNIROYAL TIRE P225 60 R16 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION CAUSING OTHER DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. *SLC
20001024TIRES:TREAD/BELT
UNIROYAL TIRE P225 60 R16 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION CAUSING OTHER DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. *SLC
20001017SEATS
DRIVERS SEAT MOUNTING FAILED. *ET
20000926TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THE UNIROYAL TIGAR PAW RADIAL P225/60R16 TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *MJS
20000918SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, THE BRAKE PEDAL IS HARD AND THERE IS NO BRAKES WHATSOVER , NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU PUSH DOWN. AFTER STOPPING WITH EMERGENCY BRAKES, THE BRAKES RETURN TO NORMAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES AND WE HAVE HAD THE CAR SERVICED BY OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER AS WELL AS OTHER REPAIR CENTERS AND THEY CANNOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THIS CAR IS UNAFE TO DRIVE AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. IT IS TOO VALUABLE TO JUNK BUT WE MAY HAVE TO.
20000911SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, THE BRAKE PEDAL IS HARD AND THERE IS NO BRAKES WHATSOVER , NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU PUSH DOWN. AFTER STOPPING WITH EMERGENCY BRAKES, THE BRAKES RETURN TO NORMAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES AND WE HAVE HAD THE CAR SERVICED BY OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER AS WELL AS OTHER REPAIR CENTERS AND THEY CANNOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THIS CAR IS UNAFE TO DRIVE AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. IT IS TOO VALUABLE TO JUNK BUT WE MAY HAVE TO.
20000831TIRES
TIGER PAW GTS WITH ONLY 45,000 MILES AFTERMARKET, TIRE SIZE P225/60R16, DOT # BEXONC2U436. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED ,AND PIECES OF RUBBER DESTROYED MIRRORS AND WHEELWELL ABOUT APPROX, $1,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND PULL OVER TO RIGHT INTO THE GRASS MEDIAN. ALSO, 5 DAYS PRIOR TO INCIDENT FELT A VIBRATION AND THOUGHT IT HAD TO DO WITH GEARS, BUT ACTUALLY IT WAS THE TIRES IN THE PROCESS OF SEPARATING. *AK THE CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE UNIROYAL RUBBER COMPANY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE CAUSED BY THE TIRE FAILURE. *YH
19990719SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ALONG WITH BRAKES FAILING (WHICH I JUST HAD REPLACED) THE A/C, TURN SIGNALS, POWER LOCKS, AND WINDOWS ALSO FAILED. *AK
19990719EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
ALONG WITH BRAKES FAILING (WHICH I JUST HAD REPLACED) THE A/C, TURN SIGNALS, POWER LOCKS, AND WINDOWS ALSO FAILED. *AK
19990719STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
ALONG WITH BRAKES FAILING (WHICH I JUST HAD REPLACED) THE A/C, TURN SIGNALS, POWER LOCKS, AND WINDOWS ALSO FAILED. *AK
19990719VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
ALONG WITH BRAKES FAILING (WHICH I JUST HAD REPLACED) THE A/C, TURN SIGNALS, POWER LOCKS, AND WINDOWS ALSO FAILED. *AK
19990623EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNING BROWN WITH AGE. REPLACING BULBS DO NOT HELP. THERE IS NO AFTER-MARKET REPLACEMENT FOR THIS ITEM. MANY CARES FORM BOTH FORD AND LINCOLN ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE DIM AND THE LIGHT PRODUCED BY THE BULB IS DIMMED BY THE PLASTIC COVERING. THERE ARE A GREAT NUMBER OF THESE CARS ON THE ROAD (BOTH FORD AND LINCOLNS THAT ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS NO WORK AROUND FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT IS VERY DIFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD DURING RAIN AND FOG WITH THESE LIGHTS. *AK
19990519FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
DECORATIVE BLACK, PLASTIC COMPONENT'S GLUE ROTTED OFF OF INTAKE MANIFOLD. THEN DROPPED ONTO LEFT/BANK EXHAUST PIPES, CAUSING SMALL FIRE, SMOKE AND "SWEET" SMELLING FUMES. DRIVER WAS EXPOSED TO FUMES WHILE TRYING TO PULL VEHICLE OFF BUSY FREEWAY ONTO THE SHOULDER AND TRYING TO EXTINGUISH SMALL FLAMES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LOCAL SHOP WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED WHAT HAPPENED ( ALL THE PLASTIC DID NOT BURN AND YOU COULD TELL WHAT THE PLASTIC WAS FROM THE HALF THAT DID NOT BURN). FORD MOTOR COMPANY WOULD NOT -- EVEN WHEN DRIVER REQUESTED INFORMATION FROM THEIR MSDS DEPARTMENT -- DISCLOSE THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE PLASTIC OR HARMFUL EFFECTS IT MAY CREATE. THE DRIVER OF THIS PARTICULAR CAR HAD TO PAY AN INDEPENDENT LAB TO ANALYZE THE COMPOSITION. THIS HAD TO BE DONE DUE TO THE SEVERE SWELLING (TO THE POINT THAT THEIR SKIN WAS SPLITTING); NAUSIUSNESS, LOSS OF APPETITE, AND DRY COUGH THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED WITHIN THE FIRST 30 DAYS AFTER EXPOSURE (ALSO HOSPITALIZED TWICE DUE TO THESE CONDITI
19990505ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTICAL AND FUEL INJECTION COMPONENT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD
19990505FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
ELECTICAL AND FUEL INJECTION COMPONENT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD
19990325SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM
WHEN FRONT AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, THE VEHICLE JUST DROPPED. THE SUSPENSION ON THE LEFT REAR WENT OUT TWICE (ONCE IN DECEMBER OF 91 AND JANUARY OF 92).THE RIGHT FRONT AIR SUSPENSION IS OUT AT THIS TIME. THE VEHICLE IS BEING SERVICED BY DEALERSHIP FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK
19990322FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
FUEL INJECTOR LEAKS GAS, IT COULD CATCH ON FIRE. *AK
19980825CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN PARK AND TURNE DVEHICLE OFF. WHEN IGNITION WAS TURNED ON VEHICLE ACCELLERATED FOWARD. CONSUMER SLAMMED ON BRAKES AND VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, RESULTING IN A COLLISION.
19980807ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH ON VEHICLE CAUSE 80% BRAKE FAILURE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
Compare 1988LINCOLNMARK VII to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1988 LINCOLN MARK VII have?▼
The 1988 LINCOLN MARK VII has 33 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 6 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 LINCOLN MARK VII?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 LINCOLN MARK VII is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH.
Is the 1988 LINCOLN MARK VII 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.