LINCOLN MARK VII · model year

1998 LINCOLN MARK VII

12 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1998LINCOLNMARK VII carries 12 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 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 1998 MARK VII is visibility:rearview mirrors/devices:exterior with 2 filings, followed by power train:axle assembly (1) and power train:driveline:differential unit (1). 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 1998 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.

12
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

12 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR2
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY1
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT1
SUSPENSION:REAR1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD1
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT1
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1

Recent Complaints

20030113UNKNOWN OR OTHER

CONSUMER STATED WHEN DRIVING E AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WOULD COME ON, AND THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED.*JB

20030106VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT

1997/98 LINCOLN & FORD VEHICLE A/C/HEAT BLEND DOOR FAILURES THAT CAUSE FOGGING OF WINDSHIELDS IN COLD OR DAMP WEATHER

20030106VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

1997/98 LINCOLN & FORD VEHICLE A/C/HEAT BLEND DOOR FAILURES THAT CAUSE FOGGING OF WINDSHIELDS IN COLD OR DAMP WEATHER

20010629ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING AT LOW SPEEDS, RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER HAS REPLACED WIRING, FUEL PUMP, IGNITION, AND COMPUTER SEVERAL TIMES, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT PROBLEM.*AK POSSIBLE ENGINE PROBLEMS. *SLC

20010629ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING AT LOW SPEEDS, RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER HAS REPLACED WIRING, FUEL PUMP, IGNITION, AND COMPUTER SEVERAL TIMES, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT PROBLEM.*AK POSSIBLE ENGINE PROBLEMS. *SLC

20010629ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING AT LOW SPEEDS, RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER HAS REPLACED WIRING, FUEL PUMP, IGNITION, AND COMPUTER SEVERAL TIMES, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT PROBLEM.*AK POSSIBLE ENGINE PROBLEMS. *SLC

20010629ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING AT LOW SPEEDS, RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER HAS REPLACED WIRING, FUEL PUMP, IGNITION, AND COMPUTER SEVERAL TIMES, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT PROBLEM.*AK POSSIBLE ENGINE PROBLEMS. *SLC

19990623POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

THIS REPORT IS IN ACCORDANCE OF MY OWNER'S MANUAL THAT SUGGESTS I REPORT ANY SAFETY ISSUE TO THE NHSTA. UPON PURCHASING THE CAR WE REPORTED TO THE DEALER THAT, AMONGST OTHER PROBLEMS, THE REAR VIEW MIRROR VIBRATED AT HIGHWAY SPEED TO SUCH A DEGREE THAT WE COULD NOT MAKE OUT WHAT WAS BEHIND US WITHOUT GRABBING THE MIRROR TO STEADY IT (IN FACT, ON ONE OCCASSION I HAD TO GRAB THE MIRROR TO SEE THAT THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME FLASHING ITS LIGHTS WAS AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE TRYING TO PASS ME )WE RETURNED THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIR, THE DEALER ASSUMED IT WAS THE MIRROR, AND REPLACED THE MIRROR 3 TIMES. THEY ALSO SUGGESTED I PRY SOMETHING UNDER THE MIRROR TO STOP THE VIBRATION. EVENTUALLY THE DEALER DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS THE GOODYEAR TIRES, AS PREVIOUS YEARS EQUIPTED WITH MICHELINS DIDNT HAVE THAT PROBLEM, AND THAT THEY NOW HAD OTHER CARS COMING IN WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. GOODYEAR GRACIOUSLY REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES WITH A DIFFERENT MODEL TIRE. THE PROBLEM, THOUGH MINIMIZED SLIGHTLY, STILL EXISTED (PLE

19990623POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

THIS REPORT IS IN ACCORDANCE OF MY OWNER'S MANUAL THAT SUGGESTS I REPORT ANY SAFETY ISSUE TO THE NHSTA. UPON PURCHASING THE CAR WE REPORTED TO THE DEALER THAT, AMONGST OTHER PROBLEMS, THE REAR VIEW MIRROR VIBRATED AT HIGHWAY SPEED TO SUCH A DEGREE THAT WE COULD NOT MAKE OUT WHAT WAS BEHIND US WITHOUT GRABBING THE MIRROR TO STEADY IT (IN FACT, ON ONE OCCASSION I HAD TO GRAB THE MIRROR TO SEE THAT THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME FLASHING ITS LIGHTS WAS AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE TRYING TO PASS ME )WE RETURNED THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIR, THE DEALER ASSUMED IT WAS THE MIRROR, AND REPLACED THE MIRROR 3 TIMES. THEY ALSO SUGGESTED I PRY SOMETHING UNDER THE MIRROR TO STOP THE VIBRATION. EVENTUALLY THE DEALER DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS THE GOODYEAR TIRES, AS PREVIOUS YEARS EQUIPTED WITH MICHELINS DIDNT HAVE THAT PROBLEM, AND THAT THEY NOW HAD OTHER CARS COMING IN WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. GOODYEAR GRACIOUSLY REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES WITH A DIFFERENT MODEL TIRE. THE PROBLEM, THOUGH MINIMIZED SLIGHTLY, STILL EXISTED (PLE

19990623SUSPENSION:REAR

THIS REPORT IS IN ACCORDANCE OF MY OWNER'S MANUAL THAT SUGGESTS I REPORT ANY SAFETY ISSUE TO THE NHSTA. UPON PURCHASING THE CAR WE REPORTED TO THE DEALER THAT, AMONGST OTHER PROBLEMS, THE REAR VIEW MIRROR VIBRATED AT HIGHWAY SPEED TO SUCH A DEGREE THAT WE COULD NOT MAKE OUT WHAT WAS BEHIND US WITHOUT GRABBING THE MIRROR TO STEADY IT (IN FACT, ON ONE OCCASSION I HAD TO GRAB THE MIRROR TO SEE THAT THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME FLASHING ITS LIGHTS WAS AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE TRYING TO PASS ME )WE RETURNED THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIR, THE DEALER ASSUMED IT WAS THE MIRROR, AND REPLACED THE MIRROR 3 TIMES. THEY ALSO SUGGESTED I PRY SOMETHING UNDER THE MIRROR TO STOP THE VIBRATION. EVENTUALLY THE DEALER DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS THE GOODYEAR TIRES, AS PREVIOUS YEARS EQUIPTED WITH MICHELINS DIDNT HAVE THAT PROBLEM, AND THAT THEY NOW HAD OTHER CARS COMING IN WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. GOODYEAR GRACIOUSLY REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES WITH A DIFFERENT MODEL TIRE. THE PROBLEM, THOUGH MINIMIZED SLIGHTLY, STILL EXISTED (PLE

19990623VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

THIS REPORT IS IN ACCORDANCE OF MY OWNER'S MANUAL THAT SUGGESTS I REPORT ANY SAFETY ISSUE TO THE NHSTA. UPON PURCHASING THE CAR WE REPORTED TO THE DEALER THAT, AMONGST OTHER PROBLEMS, THE REAR VIEW MIRROR VIBRATED AT HIGHWAY SPEED TO SUCH A DEGREE THAT WE COULD NOT MAKE OUT WHAT WAS BEHIND US WITHOUT GRABBING THE MIRROR TO STEADY IT (IN FACT, ON ONE OCCASSION I HAD TO GRAB THE MIRROR TO SEE THAT THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME FLASHING ITS LIGHTS WAS AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE TRYING TO PASS ME )WE RETURNED THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIR, THE DEALER ASSUMED IT WAS THE MIRROR, AND REPLACED THE MIRROR 3 TIMES. THEY ALSO SUGGESTED I PRY SOMETHING UNDER THE MIRROR TO STOP THE VIBRATION. EVENTUALLY THE DEALER DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS THE GOODYEAR TIRES, AS PREVIOUS YEARS EQUIPTED WITH MICHELINS DIDNT HAVE THAT PROBLEM, AND THAT THEY NOW HAD OTHER CARS COMING IN WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. GOODYEAR GRACIOUSLY REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES WITH A DIFFERENT MODEL TIRE. THE PROBLEM, THOUGH MINIMIZED SLIGHTLY, STILL EXISTED (PLE

19990623VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

TO FOLLOW UP ON MY PREVIOUS SUBMISSION I FELT IT IMPORTANT TO MENTION THE FOLLOWING: 1) WE ARE BEGINNING "LEMON LAW" PROCEEDINGS ON THIS AUTOMOBILE 2) THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME "THEY WERE HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE MIRRORS" ON THIS CAR. 3)I WAS TOLD BY A 3RD PARTY THERE HAS BEEN AT LEAST ONE LEMON LAW BUY BACK ON THIS CAR, FOR THIS REASON. PLEASE TAKE THIS ISSUE SERIOUSLY, AS IT IS MORE THAN JUST A "SHAKEY REAR VIEW MIRROR" THAT I REPORTED TO YOU SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. THANK YOU. RICHARD HANSMEYER. *AK

Compare 1998LINCOLNMARK VII to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1998 LINCOLN MARK VII have?
The 1998 LINCOLN MARK VII has 12 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 LINCOLN MARK VII?
The most-complained component for the 1998 LINCOLN MARK VII is VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY and POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT.
Is the 1998 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.