Total Complaints
286 filings
LINCOLN MARK VIII · model year
286 NHTSA complaints, 20 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1993LINCOLNMARK VIII carries 286 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 20 crashes, 9 fires, 10 injuries, and 12 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 1993 MARK VIII is exterior lighting:headlights with 170 filings, followed by exterior lighting:headlights:switch (10) and vehicle speed control (8). 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 1993 MARK VIII, 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.
Total Complaints
286 filings
Crashes Reported
20 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 170 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH | 10 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 8 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 6 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES | 6 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 4 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 4 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT | 3 |
| AIR BAGS | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 3 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM | 3 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR | 3 |
| VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES | 3 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH | 3 |
THEFT ALARM GOES OFF WHEN EVER IT WANTS TO. DOESN'T MATTER IF DAY OR NIGHT. THE BATTERY HAS TO BE DISCONNECTED TO SHUT IT OFF. THE CAR DOESN'T NEED TO BE DISTURBED FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. *TR
Mileage: 90,000
1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE HIGH BEAM AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS PROBLEM. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE COULD NOT SEE AT NIGHT WITH THE HIGH BEAMS OR LOW BEAMS ON. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND CAUSED A CRASH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS BUSTED AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000. UPDATED 06/02/11 UPDATED 06/24/11 *BF STATUS UPDATE. 06/30/11
Mileage: 147,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND CAUSED A CRASH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS BUSTED AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000. UPDATED 06/02/11 UPDATED 06/24/11 *BF STATUS UPDATE. 06/30/11
Mileage: 147,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE BRAKE LINE ERUPTED. HE CONTINUED TO PUMP THE BRAKES AS THE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. HE WAS ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS COVERED WITH RUST AND WAS CAUSED BY SALT. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BRAKE LINE WITH NEW STEEL ONES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST OF $485. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000.
Mileage: 172,000
FORD MOTOR COMPANY, HAD A CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH THAT WAS DEFECTIVE, SO THEY DECIDED TO DO A RECALL. BUT IN STAGES, AS TO NOT SCARE OFF THE CONSUMERS. MY SON WAS DRIVING MY 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII, TO WHICH THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH HAD BEEN ACTIVATING. ON 12-9-06 MY SON WAS DRIVING HIS GIRLFRIEND HOME WHEN ___ CALLED HER SISTER TELLING HER SHE WAS RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD, AND THEN ____ CALLED ME SAYING ___ CALLED __ BUT SOMETHINGS WRONG WITH CAR JUMP OR UP AND THE CALL DROPPED. THE CAR LEFT THE ROAD HITTING TREE. I RECEIVED MY RECALL IN AUGUST OF 2007. THEN THE LAB RESULTS STATED INTERNAL FAILURE OF THE 05S28 SDCS, DEATH CERTIFICATE STATES ________ CAUSE OF DEATH; SMOKE INHALATION, WHICH MEANS THE CAR WAS ON FIRE BEFORE IT HIT THE TREE,THERMAL INJURIES DUE TO FIRE,MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISION. IT'S HARD TO DRIVE WHEN YOUR BEING BURNED TO DEATH. FORD CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH FIRE DEATH AS OF THIS DATE FORD DENIES THIS CLAIM . *TR UPDATED 11/8/2017*JS
Mileage: 86,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLASTIC HEAD LAMP CASE BECOMES DIM OVER TIME AND HINDERS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE HEADLIGHTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE COULD NOT SEE 15 FEET IN FRONT OF HIM. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,811 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 11/07/08 *BF UPDATED 11/07/08. *JB
Mileage: 110,000
HEADLIGHTS ON MY 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII ARE HORRIBLE CANT SEE AT NIGHT. *TR
Mileage: 114,000
THE LEVEL OF SEVERITY OF THE HEADLAMP PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE AT THE HIGHEST CONCERN. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE MADE COMPLAINTS AND REQUESTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING TO RECTIFY IT. WHEN THESE HEADLAMPS ARE ON AT NIGHT THERE IS NO ILLUMINATION -- NOT LITTLE ILLUMINATION -- VIRTUALLY NONE. HOW A PROBLEM OF THIS NATURE CAN RECEIVE LITTLE ATTENTION NOR AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY A TEST HASN'T EVEN BEEN REQUESTED IS BEYOND ANY REASONABLE UNDERSTANDING. IF DRASTIC VISUAL IMPAIRMENT IS NOT REASON ENOUGH TO WARRANT ACTION FROM THE NHTSA THEN REASON FOR THE NHTSA'S VERY EXISTENCE SHOULD EQUALLY STAND IN QUESTION. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOMETER, SPEEDOMETER, AND CRUISE CONTROL ALL MALFUNCTIONED ON HIS VEHICLE. SINCE THE FAILURES, THE ON-BOARD COMPUTER ALSO FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT, BASICALLY, THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD FAILED. THE AIR RIDE SYSTEM ALSO BEGAN TO LEAK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS FOR THE SPEEDOMETER WERE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR TRANSMISSION SERVICE AND IT CAME BACK WITH A TRANSMISSION LEAK. HE REPLACED A SCREW, BUT THE LEAK STILL EXISTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE PAID APPROXIMATELY $7,000 FOR THE REPAIRS AND THE FAILURE STILL CONTINUED. THE CONTACT WAS SENT A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND BELIEVED THAT THE RECALL CAUSED THE OTHER FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 161,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000.
Mileage: 159,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOMETER, SPEEDOMETER, AND CRUISE CONTROL ALL MALFUNCTIONED ON HIS VEHICLE. SINCE THE FAILURES, THE ON-BOARD COMPUTER ALSO FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT, BASICALLY, THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD FAILED. THE AIR RIDE SYSTEM ALSO BEGAN TO LEAK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS FOR THE SPEEDOMETER WERE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR TRANSMISSION SERVICE AND IT CAME BACK WITH A TRANSMISSION LEAK. HE REPLACED A SCREW, BUT THE LEAK STILL EXISTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE PAID APPROXIMATELY $7,000 FOR THE REPAIRS AND THE FAILURE STILL CONTINUED. THE CONTACT WAS SENT A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND BELIEVED THAT THE RECALL CAUSED THE OTHER FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 161,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000.
Mileage: 159,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, IT CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE WIRES CONNECTED TO THE FIRE WALL AND THE DASHBOARD WERE AFFECTED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SPLICE THE WIRES ENOUGH TO START THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE NO PHOTOS AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Mileage: 55,000
1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII WITH SPEED CONTROL SWITCH RECALL. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER DEACTIVATED THE SWITCH BUT DID NOT REPLACE THE WIRING ASSEMBLY. *KB
DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHTS NOT DISPLAYING ENOUGH LIGHT TO SEE AT NIGHT. *CN
Mileage: 80,000
MY 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII HEAD LIGHTS ARE DEFECTIVE. THEY ARE CLOUDED OVER FROM AGE OR THE ENVIRONMENT. MAKES THE ROAD AND OBJECTS HARD TO SEE. *TR
Mileage: 55,000
MY 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII HEAD LIGHTS ARE DEFECTIVE. THEY ARE CLOUDED OVER FROM AGE OR THE ENVIRONMENT. MAKES THE ROAD AND OBJECTS HARD TO SEE. *TR
Mileage: 55,000
CAR IS UNUSABLE AT NIGHT DUE TO POOR HEADLIGHT DESIGN/BUILD QUALITY. PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENSES REQUIRE REGULAR REPOLISHING TO REMOVE HAZE. CHROME INSIDE HEADLIGHTS HAS BURNED OFF FROM THE HEAT OF THE OEM BULBS, RESULTING IN VIRTUALLY NO LIGHT OUTPUT ON ROAD. WILL REQUIRE RECHROMING. THIS IS THE 2ND SET OF OEM HEADLIGHTS TO DISPLAY THESE SYMPTOMS ON THIS CAR. *TR
Mileage: 85,000
I AM AN OWNER OF A GENERATION 1 LINCOLN MARK VIII (1993). THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY CAR (BRIGHTS AND REGULAR) ARE HORRIBLE. I HAVE TRIED REPLACING THE BULBS WITH DIFFERENT AFTERMARKET BRANDS, AND NOTHING HELPS. THIS IS A MAJOR COMPLAINT ABOUT THE GEN 1 MARK VIII'S ACCORDING TO THE OTHER OWNERS I KNOW. *TR
Mileage: 95,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER REGARDING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE REPAIR ORDER STATED THAT THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH WAS DISCONNECTED. HOWEVER, WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED AND DEACTIVATED AS NORMAL. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
HEADLAMPS IN THESE VEHICLES ARE NON-FUNCTIONING. THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH THE 1996 HID SYSTEM. NIGHT VISIBILITY IS ZERO. THE DRIVER CANNOT SEE AT NIGHT. THIS CAR CLEARLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS MATTER GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF CONTENT WRITTEN ABOUT ITS FAMOUS HEADLAMP FAILURE. THERE IS NO VEHICLE WITH POORER HEADLAMP ILLUMINATION. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THESE CARS AT NIGHT. *JB. UPDATED 01/02/08. *LJ UPATED 12/12/07
Mileage: 1
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.